Hi and welcome 😁 I was out of town for my semi-annual visit to Toronto. I'm very happy to say that all is well with my eye. The vision isn't better but that's not what it's about. I'm very thankful that I have my eyes and that they are well. Since I've figured out how to thread a needle using a clip-on magnifier, I can just keep on going. Thanks for joining me today...better late than never.

Planning my SAHRR 2026

I didn't make my Round 6 block because I had no idea what I was doing and what I needed for my quilt. I'd rather take my time and think it through, than make blocks that I won't use. You've seen some of my other SAHRR finishes (or not quite finishes) and I tend to just put the blocks around the centre. Because my blocks this year are very different in sizes, I know that I need another strategy.

SAHRR 2026 - a flexible plan

When I saw Kathleen's layout after Round 6, it finally dawned on my that I didn't have to make rows of blocks and that I could add negative space into my design. So that's what I'm sort of planning. Below is the very flexible plan.

The top row will include my two larger blocks. In the space between them, I'll make one or two smaller versions of the Chicago geese block, depending on how much negative space I need. I'll use a solid Kona background that matches the centre blocks. I'm also thinking that I could use a few colours of the Kona background for that area. I'll try these options on my bed (my design wall is too small) and see what ~~looks~~ I like best.

will make four more 5" x 5" blocks for the other side of the centre block. They may be hour-glass blocks that I can alternate with those already made, or they may be other blocks (i.e. Round 6).

Under the centre blocks, I've decided to put my two purple blocks (called anvil blocks - thanks Daryl!) on the diagonal. This is a mockup, just to make sure that it would look OK. I'll be putting these two blocks together. I love how they look....another cool option would be to make more of these as a row. It's just too bad that there is so little contract in the blocks.

Anvil blocks (from Round 5) on the diagonal

Here is the last photo of all of my blocks so far.

Centre blocks and Round 1 to 5 blocks

Next steps:

Choose fabric for the 2" borders around the centre blocks. I've got these extending over the two vertical rows of blocks.
Make 4 5" x 5" blocks for the second vertical row - more hour-glass;

or something different.

Make 2 5" x 5" Chicago geese blocks for the top row and choose background fabric; or

Piece a few background fabrics for the top row as negative space.

Make 2 more anvil blocks on the diagonal for the bottom row; or

Piece background fabric as negative space

Choose fabric for the outer border. If it's 4" wide, the quilt would be roughly 41" x 45". If that's not big enough, I may either make it wider or add more borders....???

March One Monthly Goal (OMG)

This project is my March OMG. I really want to finish it on time for the parage on March 25th. At the very least I will have a flimsy done, but ideally the whole thing! It'll just depend on what else is happening in my life.😊

A finished flimsy for my March OMG

What I learned

I knew when Round 6 was Quilter's Choice that I had design decisions to make.
It takes me a lot of effort to find a block and then make it and I really didn't want to waste that time.
One of the first decisions to make is how big and what do I do with this quilt? I often don't really consider this but the project will be too large for a wall hanging and I'm not sure that the colours are great for a kid's quilt. That means that I'll have another lap quilt - Yay! but I do want it to be useful. I'll be deciding on the finished size once I've put most of this plan together.
I would have liked to put the blocks on the design block as I've sketched them but the design wall is way too small.
I'm sorry that my post is late but I'm really glad that I got to think this through. Now I have a plan, a list of things to do....so let's get it done!

Related links

Kathleen McMusing - 2026 SAHRR - Round 6 Quilter's Choice
SAHRR so far
- Project Quilting 17.4 and SAHRR, Round 5, February 22, 2026
- SAHRR Round 4 and I Quilted This! February 11, 2026
- Project Quilting & SAHRR Round 3, February 07, 2026
- A Quilter's Cove QAL Link-up and SAHRR, January 31, 2026
- SAHRR Round 1 - hour-glass block, January 26, 2026
- Starting Things and I Quilted This!, January 15, 2026

Linking parties

I'll be linking up to many fun linking parties, including March's OMG. You may want to check some out! Monday Musings, Design Wall Monday, Sew & Tell, Put your foot down, Needle & Thread Thursday,

I Quilted This!

Welcome to the I Quilted This! linking party that celebrates quilting on a domestic machine or custom quilting on a long-arm. Feel free to link up and share any recent project, even if you're not quilting it! Here are the posts that included FMQ, ruler work and walking foot quilting last week. Thanks for linking up 😊 and feel free to grab the button.

Preeti of Sew Preeti Quilts created this lovely quilt, Forget Me Not. It was published in Quilters World Spring 2026 Issue which focuses on "Modern Quilts with Classic Roots". The colours are so adorable! You'll want to read her article to find out more.

Forget Me Not quilt by Preeti

Preeti's Forget Me Not quilt in Quilters World Spring 2026 Issue

Frédérique at Quilting Patchwork Appliqué posted pictures of 7 lovely BB quilts made by Muriel. These were donated to the neonatal unit at their hospital. You'll want to check them all out!