January Book Challenge: Stories to Stitch By

January Book Challenge: Stories to Stitch By

Welcome to the first month of Simple Simon and Company’s 2022 Book Challenge.

Today we are providing you with some stories to stitch by along with some pages and patterns that make the perfect pairing.

In other words….some reading and stitching inspiration!

The challenge for January is to start the Year by finishing a UFO….or….err…a UFB.

We all having bins, closets, or rooms full of our sewing and quilting UFO’s (UnFinished Objects) but many of us also have a few UFB’s (UnFinished Books) on the shelves as well. So this month choose a book that you own but have never read….or have started but have never finished.

This month I am looking at books that have been on my shelf a long time but I haven’t started like:

The Thirteenth Tale

The Historian

and The Hate U Give

As well a a few that I have started but never finished like:

The Age of Innocence

The Happiness Project

and Sarah’s Key

Or…..I have been considering a few books that I keep borrowing from the online library to listen to but haven’t listened to…time and time again like:

The House of Spirits

The Midnight Library

Dead Wake

and Unbroken

While I am trying to decide on which book to read this month here are some great patterns to sew up this month:

The following is a short round up of quilt patterns and sewing tutorials that all use scraps….because if we are reading books that we already have it seems only right to sew up quilts with fabric that we also…already have!

The Heart of the Home Log Cabin PDF Quilt Pattern is a perfect pattern for using up your scraps! (The entire quilt shown in this photo is made completely from scraps…including all of the white!)

It was so fun to sew up this quilt top and remember all the projects I had made with scraps. It is currently one of my favorite “couch quilts”….and I already have another one of these quilts in the works.

But….if you are looking for a pattern that can use up larger scrap pieces check out our “Big Fat Scrap Quilt Pattern“:

We designed this quilt pattern with large scrap pieces in mind…and every time I sew it up I love the results!

It’s scrappy, it’s fun, and it lets me use up those fabric pieces that I just can’t part with. (Or some of those pieces that I bought but had no idea what to do with.)

I’ve sewn up quite a few of these quilts and I feel like they are “bonus” quilts every time I get one done.

Then there is this quilt pattern that is actually a free pattern that you can find HERE:

It is our 100 Block Scrap Buster Quilt Pattern. It is such an easy sew which makes it a perfect project to work on while listening to a good book.

However, if you aren’t ready to jump into a new quilt top this month you could grab some scraps and stitch up these quilted pot holders:

Or

Use THIS TUTORIAL and some scraps to stitch up this quilted pillow:

Or you can just skip the sewing all together and make these Rag Wreaths:

No matter which project you choose they will all pair nicely with using up those fabric scraps that you already have while listening to and/or reading a book that you already have.

It’s a great way to start off the year…by finishing up something you’ve already started with supplies you already have!

Now…I’ve got to go choose my book and get started!

*Leave us a comment to let us know what book you are reading or what project you are working on this month!