Today we report final totals for December and the year 2024. Beginning tomorrow, we’ll start over for 2025. For new readers this is easy to do, just report what you have brought in and sent out over the past month, keeping a year to date total. There is only one rule, report as ‘out’ only what is completely finished, quilted and bound. For small items like purses or totes, they have to be finished and ready for use or gifting. The challenge is to complete things for gifts, or to use, and wrap up the projects in progress, not to create new UFOs. Know that it is fine to buy fabric now and then. As Murphy’s Law of Quilting tells us, for every project you’ll probably need to buy something. It might be another print, or some blender or background neutrals, or backing. This challenge just to keep us mindful to get what we need, but not go overboard. Fabric out can also be given away, or donated somewhere.
I got a commission in early December to sew a cross stitch into a wall hanging for a friend. Her daughter is an avid cross stitcher, and did this enormous Pokemon character piece. It took her at least a year to finish. But she didn’t leave enough on two of the edges to frame it. So, she wanted it made into something else.
When I got the call, I suggested a pillow, but the orientation of the piece is vertical. It was 24 inches wide x 35 inches tall, huge for a cross stitch piece. Just look at the stitching, it is perfect.
There was no way to quilt it. Any stitching I did would show, and ruin her work. So, I decided the best way to stabilize it for a wall hanging was to use fusible webbing. The mark of an expert cross stitcher is the back looks almost as good as the front, and this one did. I fused paper backed fusible webbing to the back side of the stitchery. The paper is peeled off.
Next I fused the batting to the top.
Then, I took it to the cutting table and squared it up, cutting off the excess on the edges to match the ones that were slim. Doing this after the fusing ensured the Aida cloth wouldn’t ravel. Finally, I added another layer of fusible webbing, and fused that to the backing.
I trimmed the backing to match the top, and then made a binding out of the same fabric. I stitched it to the backside first, then turned it to the top and topstitched as near to the fold as possible.
Ta-da!! All done. And the bonus is I sold a yard of fabric to get the project done.
Here’s a close view of the bottom corner. The work is so good, and I like the fabric my friend chose from my stash to finish it.
Other than that, I’ve had precious little time to sew. Between the car club events, board meetings, lunches and parties with friends, stamping cards, decorating for Christmas, then packing it all up, the only other quilting was on the Quilt of Valor. It took most of December to get it done. The binding is now done, too, along with the label finished on New Year’s Day. It is a large quilt, and counts out at 7 yards for top piecing, backing and binding.
But no guild freebie table meant nothing in either, so that is good.
So, here is where I came out for the last month, and the year.
December Fabric IN = +0
December Fabric OUT = –8
December Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = -8
Final 2024 Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -29-yards “out” – Woohoo!!
Your turn! If you need to check the comments to see where you were last month, click on Stashbusters December. Then copy and paste the form below into your comment and fill in your totals.
December Fabric IN = +
December Fabric OUT = –
December Net Total ( + In, or – Out) =
Final 2024 Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) =
How did you do this past year?
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Happy New Deals from Fat Quarter Shop!- 20% off the Basic of the Month Spotted by Moda, 30% Off the Notions of the Month from Mettler Threads, 30% off Patterns of the Month from Zen Chic, and see the Book of the Month Simple Reflections Journal by Kim Diehl. Check out Today’s Flash Sale and see the Precuts of the Week, too!
Sulky Threads, Stabilizers and New Gift Items
Tomorrow, Stashbusters starts over for 2025, so join us this coming year!
From My Carolina Home 
December was a busy month and only a few finishes but they count. I also continued to add my aunt’s fabrics as they are washed and pressed. Thankfully those are now all in stash!
December Fabric IN = +6
December Fabric OUT = –13
December Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = -7
Final 2024 Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -181.625
Several projects are cut and ready to sew. Hopefully I can finish them up early this year.
I wish you a very Happy, Healthy, Safe and Quilty 2025.
What a wonderful Stash Busting year you had. Hope you’ve got a little left to play with in 2025! Lol!
Well done on your totals for the year. And that hanging is smashing.
All the fabric in the house still fits in the space alloted, so I must have met my net zero goal, correct?! But, it’s January 3rd & I must buy some background for the next quilt I’m starting. Here we go again, LOL.
December Fabric IN = +0
December Fabric OUT = –9
December Net Total ( + In, or – Out) =-9
Final 2024 Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -86
Carole, your treatment of the cross stitch piece is perfection.
Good job!
Brilliant solution, Carole! I love how it turned out!!!
What great work by the friend’s daughter and by you, Carole! That piece is terrific eye candy!
December Fabric In: 0 yds;
December Fabric Out: 7.8 yds;
December Net Total: -7.8 yds;
Final Y-T-D Total: -75.55 yds.
WhooHoo!
Connie W.
You had a great 2024 Stash Busting year!
Thank you for this mindful reminder of working with our stash. This was a good year for you.
Here are my stat, which I am thrilled with:
December Fabric IN = +6
December Fabric OUT = –8.5
December Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = -2.5
Final 2024 Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -66!
66 yards out is quite an accomplishment. Great job!
December Fabric IN = +2.5
December Fabric OUT = –3.5
December Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = -1
Final 2024 Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = +7.25
Darn, ended up with a plus even though I tried to be mindful of my purchases. Let’s play this again in 2025! Maybe I’ll do better!
December Fabric IN = +187y
December Fabric OUT = –48.9
December Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = + 139.9
Final 2024 Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = +595y
How did you do this past year? I am happy with my year. I sewed up 400.5 yards of stash into finished quilts. I’ve done this for several years in a row and purchased minimally so had huge holes on my shelves. I have replenished the shelves now as well as now having an assortment of wide backings, having purchased 12 bolts (hence the big purchased # of yards). I also bought up a ladies stash: $165 for 126 yards. Couldn’t pass that up and I starting using it right away. I do track my expenditures and I averaged $4.31/yard this year!
Happy 2025 stitching everyone!
Carole, I just have to comment on the cross-stitch piece…amazing! That is a ton of work! Your solution worked beautifully!
Well, I made it back into the negative this month. Made flannel window snakes to keep some of the cold out and finished a table runner. Hoping this year will be way more productive as far as finishes. 11 tops still waiting to be quilted. Goal is to do one a month. Hope everyone had a great year!
December Fabric IN = +0
December Fabric OUT = –13.25 yds
December Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = -13.25 yds
Final 2024 Year to Date = -10 yds
Oh my goodness..The cross stitch piece is just perfect and you finished it off just perfect.
Carole, you are such an inspiration! I don’t know how you manage to complete so many great projects. Thanks for sharing your ideas, and your generosity and genuine caring for others. 😊
I missed reporting in for October and November, but kept track of my own numbers. 2025 needs to be a year of shrinking my list of UFOs!
December: In = 6 yd. Out = -1 yd. Total = +5 yds.
2024 totals: in = 84.5 yd. Out = -85.5 yd. Total out = -1 yd.
My goal was to end the year with a negative number and I squeaked by. I’m amazed at the total yardage that has moved in and out of my sewing room this year. Most fabric was in quilts stitched for charity.
Blessings to all for the new year!
December Fabric IN = + 0
December Fabric OUT = –18.3
December Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = 18.3
Final 2024 Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) =93.3 yards out the door!
Well, I did not meet my goal of 100 yards removed from my sewing room for 2024, but I came pretty close. If I had finished the binding on one remaining quilt, I would have made it. Alas, it is sitting looking at me begging for the binding. It will be done in January, I promise little novelty squares quilt.
Now it is time to make my list of “To Do/Make” Quilts mixed with my collection of “To Finish” quilts. Shooting for one to two quilts finished per month. That is reasonable for me since I have so many UFOS and WIP and a few gifts to make from scratch.
I so enjoy this tracking of progress. Thanks Carole
nothing in or out in December. Three tops at the long armer but obviously not done. Three table topper sewn from cut off corners but not quilted and bound. So that means same results as in November with 19.5 more yards in for the year than used. I consider that a success! Thanks for encouraging me to track this. On to next year.
Carole, thanks for showing how you finished the cross stitch piece into a wall hanging. I have a sampler I finished years ago that I would like to do something with and your instructions are very helpful.
I finished a quilt this month, yay! Still on the plus side for the year. I think my goal for next year will be to have a smaller net in amount, but hope to achieve that by finishing more projects, as I do love to visit different quilt shops on trips.
December Fabric IN = +1 3/4 yds
December Fabric OUT = – 11 7/8 yds
December Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = -10 1/8 yds
Final 2024 Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = +64 7/8 yds In
December Fabric IN = + .5
December Fabric OUT = – 3.5
December Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = -3
Final 2024 Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -128.5
My December report is easy….a big fat zero across the board! I am however, nearly finished quilting Alaska, so things will pick up now.
December In: 0 yards
December Out: 0 yards
December Net: 0 yards
Year to Date: -37.25 yards
december in +26
out for december 14.5
net for December +11.5
net for 2024 +24.75
You did very well this year Carole!
I am glad we are doing this again in 2025! I have been sorting through my stash this week to cull out and move on more yardage. And slowly moving projects closer toward the finish line!
i really like what you did with the cross stitch piece! It really makes it shine.
i hope that you have a great 2025!
I didn’t get much sewing done this month…Christmas activities kept me busy the entire month! I did, however, finish three pillowcases and one flannel quilt as a gift. My totals for December:
December Fabric IN = +3
December Fabric OUT = –7.5
December Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = -4.5
I had a great year reducing the fabric stash. I finished 3 UFOs, finished a variety of smaller projects (which all add up), but the biggest boost was the two fabric sales I participated in. 2024 was the best purge year I’ve ever had!
Final 2024 Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -140.75
I went shopping on Boxing Day…so I started the year up 1.25 yards. I only started participating in November, so I think I’ll skip the yearly totals. Looking forward to next year’s challenge!
I’ve finally had a chance to check my totals for December 2024. I only did a little sewing. Most of the month was busy with family, cooking & holiday activities. Overall I’m very pleased with my Stash Busting for 2024.
December Fabric IN = +0
December Fabric OUT = –1.7
December Net Total ( + In, or – Out) = -1.75
Final 2024 Year to Date (net total for the year, + In, or – Out) = -37.75
i Look forward to getting more out in 2025!
Thank you for keeping me motivated.