January 2024 - TABLE SCRAPS Challenge - Link Party

My apologies to the early birds... Technical difficulties in releasing this post!

Welcome to the January 2024 edition of the TABLE SCRAPS Challenge here at the Joyful Quilter!!  I'll start with a little backstory, in case you are new here.  (Apologies to my regular readers since you already know all about it.) I'm a scrap quilter who had been setting up individual challenges for several years in conjunction with Angela's (RSC) Rainbow Scrap Challenge @ So Scrappy.  Participants from around the corner, across the country and around the world have been having SEW much fun and we all have MORE scraps to use, so I am pleased to offer the...

In 2024, we have a broad range of quilted items that are appropriate for linking to the Challenge.  Baskets and bins, along with pillows and pin cushions, are all qualifying projects.  Not just the toppers, runners, and mug rugs.  Basically, ANY small quilted item qualifies.  The main premise is that you USE the (new or old) SCRAPS from your cutting table (or your friend's cutting table - since that's where the majority of my scraps come from!)

There will be a prompt each month to help get your creative juices flowing.  While you are NOT required to use it in your project, the guiding word will be revealed at the end of each month's LINK PARTY post.  Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the following month's focus.  It, along with the RSC Color of the Month (as soon as Angela releases it - around the 1st of the month.) will also be added to the 2024 TABLE SCRAPS Challenge page at the top of the blog.

January's theme was...

SNOWFLAKES

Here's what transpired as a result...

The Color of the Month was Dark and/or Bright GREEN so I brought out that basket as the basis for my entry:

Then...

I searched for snowflakes in my fabric stash and found a roll of HSTs, a UFO that has been languishing for the longest time:

I began adding squares and arranging more of the 1.5" HST to arrive at the pattern I had in mind.  Whoops!  After laying out my plan, I discovered there was a need for MORE scraps:

It was such an arduous task that it took me 3 DAYS to complete the layout...

And a full day to sew the squares into rows:

The quilt top came together in stages over the course of another day.  First, pairs of rows...

Followed by pairs of pairs:

Finally, the top was complete:

I found a backing that works and layered it with a scrap of batting:

A few pins and my entry was ready for quilting:

Well... More than a FEW pins:

Can anyone tell me WHY the bobbin has to run out with only ONE corner left to quilt???

Ugh!!  Apparently, the phenomenon is NOT limited to longarm quilting:

Drum roll please...

This is my (nearly) completed entry for the January 2024 TABLE SCRAPS Challenge:

My little mini has been named Snowflake at Midnight.
~17.5" wide x 23.5" tall

I didn't have time before leaving for work to finish it up.  I did manage to trim up all but that final corner before heading out to my Monthly Evening Quilt Bee.

Did YOU include the Rainbow Scrap Challenge Color of the Month???

You bet I did!  The GREEN scraps didn't work enough to become a focus in my plan, but I managed to slip in a few squares.  Look for the gold stars in the photo below:

What's next, Joyful???

Another month will be here soon.  We'll have to wait to discover the Color of the month, but...

February's theme is:

HEARTS

Color of the Month was later announced as RED, so dig in!!

And now...

It's time for YOU to link up your GREEN and/or SNOWFLAKE project in the LINK PARTY below.  All entries MUST be submitted by Wednesday, January 31st @ 11:59PM (EST).

Until next time...

USE those table scraps!!!

#tablescrapschallenge2024

Sharing with Alycia

for

Finished (Or Not) Friday

(Finally) Joining Andree

for 

FreeMotion Mavericks

(with the first bit of FMQ that I've done in ages!)

UPDATE - 1/28/24...

My UFO quilt, SNOWFLAKE at Midnight, is done and bound!  Too bad it wasn't included on my list for the Winter 2024 (Ravelry) UFO Club!  Sigh... I'm still happy that it's finished: