What do YOU call the week in between Christmas and New Year's where you kind of forget what day it is?
Don't know if things are open or not so you have to google them?
Decide that things on the to-do list can just wait until NEXT YEAR to get done as it is less than a week away now?
We call it Chrimbo Limbo and that's just what it feels like. Life is on hold as we wait for this year to run out so we can jump into the next one ready to tackle what comes our way.
And because it's Chrimbo Limbo we are not rushing through this binding process...even if I did take the quilt off the machine (And forgot to jot down the nail of the quilting pattern, will get that today - sorry!) and did a trim up job to at least get things ready for putting the binding on.
Every time I explain this, I get comments of "What? You don't bind by long arm? WHY!?" As if I'm committing some kind of quilting faux pas or crime.
I've been long arm quilting since 1996. I quilted for the public for years. In all that time I have NEVER - not even with my own quilts - seen a quilt that was completely square in the corners and straight on the sides.
There is a lot of push and pull when it comes to quilting, the quilting actually shrinks up the top a bit due to the loft of the batting.
I want straight sides and square corners, so I trim first to make sure that happens. That means there might be a tiny bit of batting and backing beyond the quilt top where the top has scooted in a bit. It's all hidden in the binding seam, but the most important thing to me is that I want straight edges.
If the patchwork goes to the edge of the quilt like this, I will also be sure that I am trimming 1/4'' away from any points so they don't get chopped off in the binding.
I am much more able to manage the behavior of my binding by domestic machine with a walking foot, than I can with a longarm on channel lock.
The pink binding I had prepped for my Four Patch Fun quilt that I ended up rejecting because it was too printy against the border print.
The next time I went to sit down at it, Lola was on top of the quilt while it was op top of my big wicker stitching basket.
I guess Chrimbo Limbo is also the time for naps - whenever and wherever you want.
I let her sleep there. I picked up hexies while the guys watched some "blow up everything" kind of movie on Netflix.
There is no rush to get it done. We've still got several days of Chrimbo Limbo left - and since New Years Day is on a Thursday, that means the 4 day weekend is included.
This year, Chrimbo Limbo lasts through January 4th.
Quiltville Quote of the Day -
Ready for binding! And what did I use?
The pink binding I had prepped for my Four Patch Fun quilt that I ended up rejecting because it was too printy against the border print.
It's perfect, and I'm ready for some evenings of Chrimbo Limbo stitching!
Evidently so is Zoey.
And Ivy.
Now who's a pretty girl?
But as we say goodbye to 2025 I am excitedly looking forward to 2026 and the new things that holds to discover!
No holding back!
Well, maybe no holding back NEXT week.
Happy Chrimbo Limbo, everyone!
I love this quilt. Any idea as to when the pattern will be released? TMF Meyer
ReplyDeleteLove your explanation of Chrimbo Limbo. Also loved the sleeping pets photos :) Wishing you and all your family the best of health for 2026!
ReplyDeleteNever heard there week between called that. I'm finishing a few Quilts during this time. Fi n ishes that need to be in the Done column this year! Hubby says I can Quilt all I want this week. He'll do the dishes. Tree can come down later. I've been known to leave it up until my Birthday. Happy get up and get it done day!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing this morning as I wanted to put off all the cleaning chores this week and finish a quilt on the LA that have been giving me grief! I like your terminology for this week. Definitely feel like I’m in limbo!
ReplyDeleteI want to thank you for letting us know that in all your experience that you have never seen a quilt with all straight sides and four square corners. Now I don't feel bad when my quilts might be a little wonky. I just tell myself that I do the best I can and sometimes my best isn't as good as other times. Cindy E
ReplyDeleteWhat a happy quilt! Let's keep looking to the bright side of things for 2026.
ReplyDeleteBonnie - Can you please share the quilting pattern that you used for this quilt? It is absolutely stunning! Thanks
ReplyDeleteIt's usually a few months after completion before Bonnie gets the pattern released. Just keep watching for the release of "Crackers and Jam"
DeleteBonnie, I’m so excited for you and your family and of course 4 leg babies too. Isn’t it wonderful to have a chair with the boys watching the blow up shootem up movies and yet be in your own little world sewing and enjoying life? Good for you! Enjoy yourself, relax, laugh, sew, eat, laugh, hug, sew, eat, hug, laugh and RELAX! Thank you for giving to me! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteBonnie that's so funny! I never knew a long arm machine could do binding. Your explanation about squaring corners and edges makes complete sense. Thanks for sharing the info! Kathy M.
ReplyDeleteI use the week for a personal Quilt-A-Thon that I call the "7 Days of New Year's"! It's a chance to work on clean-up projects so as not to carry them into the New Year or do the prep for new projects and get set up for the more focused work on them. It's that rare part of the holiday season where the gifting/visiting pressure is off so it's easier to find time for yourself and snack your way through holiday leftovers, LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteI was reading the blog and told my husband about Chrismo Limbo - he loves this name!! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMakes sense to me. I was told to always 'let the quilt relax' overnight before you attempt to square a quilt up. This allows anything you may have stretched out-of-shape for the quilting process relax back to its' shape before you cut anything.
ReplyDeleteThat pink binding is perfect. I'm making stitching project bags this week, using up some yardage I love and batting scraps, playing with different weights of interfacing. The leftovers are made into small zipper pouches. Like you I can't see any stash reduction but it must be happening right?
ReplyDeleteI have heard this week called "Goblin week" --- curled up under cozy quilts with a good book & hot drink. I finished the binding on TWO quilts (ok, so one was a baby quilt, and the other is an adult-sized nap quilt, but it's the "two" that counts!), so I'm cutting out another quilt. I'm going to be starting 2026 out right by going on a quilting retreat on the 8th! Happy New Year to all the Quiltvillians!
ReplyDeleteThis time of year drives me nuts. Things no sooner open up again from Christmas when they close down again for NYE/New year. Trying to get anyone to answer at businesses or doctors is futile. Half the staff is still out. Forget it if you have something urgent. Everyone closes early on random days. Mail either will or won't run, and you'd better check the calendar before going to the P.O. I spent my Limbo Monday cleaning out and rearranging my pantry closet, making a list as I came across things I was low on. I had to laugh because I wrote crackers, and then awhile later, had to write jam under that. Crackers and jam! I think we should coin a new medical condition called Bonnie On The Brain. One symptom is standing in your pantry closet laughing.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the perfect week to just be home sewing, napping and eating yummy crockpot meals. My birthday always gets lumped into the "what the heck day is anyway" but when I was growing up it was ALWAYS the first day back after Christmas break. Retirement is good, who cares what day it is :0). Happy Sewing!
ReplyDeleteThis quilt is SO beautiful! For some reason I thought the blocks were much larger (I know, silly me), so when I see them in the quilt, it is just perfection. I love it. And the sleeping cat. Ours sleeps within our sight, but woe be unto us if we attempt to touch that royal body.
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