The Challenge Factory discussion

There has been a resurgence in the last 10 years or so. Sewists from all over the world are bringing the art of quilting back to life.

One way for quilters to enjoy their hobby is to participate in a 'quilt along'. A typical quilt along involves a host posting on a blog or website a different tutorial each week or month that lets quilters at home complete a project by following along.

The Challenge Factory is hosting its first quilt along, and you're invited to join in. To create a beautiful project by the end of the month, you must read at least one book that is inspired by a classic quilt block.

Duration: September 1 - 30, 2023
No page limit.
You can repeat tasks as many times as you'd like.

September's quilt block - anvil block

Not only did quilt patterns reflect the daily work of the women who helped to homestead the prairie, they told the story of the challenging work of the men.

The Anvil pattern represented one of the necessary and important activities of the early settlers - blacksmithing.

Other old-fashioned and basic patterns include Saw-Tooth, Bowknot, Carpenter's Wheel, Compass, and Monkey Wrench.

By 1890, catalogue sales included quilt patterns. If a woman ordered her yard goods from Sears or Wards, she could purchase any of 800 designs for just a dime.

By the early 1900's, magazines went a step beyond publishing patterns. Some had a column where readers could share favorite patterns and new ones they had designed. Quilters were no longer restricted to only quilt patterns known in their region. From bustling city to lonely farmhouse, women could be making the same quilt.

Quilting projects (reading levels):
a potholder - 1 book
a table runner - 2 to 3 books
a wall hanging - 4 to 5 books
a baby quilt - 6 -7 books
a throw - 8 -9 books
a twin size quilt - 10+ books

To make one anvil block, read a book:
1. - that might make you reflect about an important issue
2. - with a man as the main character
3. - that is necessary to a different reading challenge than this one
4. - with black lettering on the cover
5. - where the MC uses more than one tool
6. - with 'catalogue' in the text of the book
7. - set in the 1890s or earlier
8. - first published in the 1900s
9. - where the MC reads a magazine or something similar
10. - where the MC lives in a bustling city (your definition)

TCF's Quilt Along - September (anvil block)
a wall hanging - 4 to 5 books
Read: 5


To make one anvil block, read a book:
1. - that might make you reflect about an important issue
2. - with a man as the main character
3. - that is necessary to a different reading challenge than this one
The Valley of Lost Children David Barbur 9/4/23
4. - with black lettering on the cover
Two Hearts Surrendered Tamara Ferguson 9/2/23
All the Dead Shall Weep Charlaine Harris 9/11/23
5. - where the MC uses more than one tool
6. - with 'catalogue' in the text of the book
7. - set in the 1890s or earlier
8. - first published in the 1900s
1954 Corn-Farm Boy Lois Lenski 9/13/23
9. - where the MC reads a magazine or something similar
10. - where the MC lives in a bustling city (your definition)
Out of Nowhere Sandra Brown 9/5/23

Another great challenge. Thank you!

TCF's Quilt Along: Anvil block (September 2023)
Duration: September (1 - 30,) 2023
Quilting project: a twin size quilt
Completed: 23/10+
No page limit, You can repeat tasks as many times as you'd like.


To make one anvil block, read a book:
1. - that might make you reflect about an important issue
* Ein amerikanischer Traum: die Geschichte meiner Familie=Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama 4* 9/3 - several issues
* Das geheime Leben der Bäume: Was sie fühlen, wie sie kommunizieren - die Entdeckung einer verborgenen Welt=The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate: Discoveries from a Secret World by Peter Wohlleben 4* 9/7 - trees and old woods as well as their importance to the (local) ecosystems
* Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah 3* 9/10 - apartheid, race and social justice

2. - with a man as the main character
* Schiffe versenken (Battleships/lit: Sinking Ships) by Moritz Matthies 5* 9/1 - Phil is the only man among the three male MCs (the other two are meerkats:-D)
* Medicine Men: Extreme Appalachian Doctoring by Carolyn Jourdan 3* 9/4 - most of the contributing authors were male
* Frozen in Ice by Cynthia Eden 5* 9/11 - male (and female) MC(s)
* Three Swedish Mountain Men by Lily Gold 4.5* 9/12 - three male (and a female) MCs
* Broken Souls by Andi Rhodes 3* 9/15 - Micah Mallory is one of the two MCs
* Ice Cold Saint by Cynthia Eden 3.5* 9/24 - a male (& female) MC
* Alana Candler, Marked for Murder by Joanie Bruce 4* 9/25 - a male (& female) MC
* Kindred in Death by J.D. Robb 4* 9/28 - a male (& female) MC
* Elizabeth Bennet's Wedding: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Olivia Kane 2* 9/28 - a male (& female) MC

3. - that is necessary to a different reading challenge than this one
* Seconds to Live by Melinda Leigh 4* 9/2 - used for 3 other challenges so far (Monster team - witch (leg 2), dinosaur DNA testing & ultimate card came - week 24, task 2)
* The Ghost of Marlow House by Bobbi Holmes 4* 9/14 - used for 3 other challenges so far (Monster team - ghost (arm 1), dinosaur DNA testing & ultimate card came - week 32, task 2)
* Cookies, Corpses and the Deadly Haunt by Rachael Stapleton 1* 9/18 - used mainly for Monster team - ghost (leg 2)
* Tapas, Carrot Cake and a Corpse by Sherri Bryan 3* 9/26 - used mainly for Monster team - Frankenstein (Arm 2)

4. - with black lettering on the cover
5. - where the MC uses more than one tool
6. - with 'catalogue' in the text of the book (most of my books use the alternate form catalog)
* Louisiana Longshot book 3 in Miss Fortune Series Boxset 1 by Jana Deleon 5* 9/17 - I haven’t even begun to catalog my aunt’s belongings (chapter 13, page 153)
* Lethal Bayou Beauty book 2 in Miss Fortune Series Boxset 1 by Jana Deleon 5* 9/19 - Sandy-Sue’s work, cataloging the estate (ch. 6, p. 348)
* Swamp Sniper book 3 in Miss Fortune Series Boxset 1 by Jana Deleon 5* 9/20 - take the longest to catalog her books (ch. 25, p. 796)

7. - set in the 1890s or earlier

8. - first published in the 1900s
* The Witch and Other Stories by Anton Chekhov 0* 9/6 - first published in 1932

9. - where the MC reads a magazine or something similar
* Knitlandia: A Knitter Sees the World by Clara Parkes 2* 9/4 - knitting magazines

10. - where the MC lives in a bustling city
* A Day In August by Reis Armstrong 2* 9/10 - first in New Orleans, than almost a year in Houston, before going back again
* Falling for the Ice Queen by Cynthia Eden 5* 9/22 - set in Houston
*

I already have some questions :-D

Task:
2. - with a man as the main character: would you accept those with a couple or a group (including at least one man) too, or only those with one male MC?
3. - that is necessary to a different reading challenge than this one: only challenges or Books of the month as well?
6. - with 'catalogue' in the text of the book: do I assume correctly plural and other verb forms (e.g. cataloguing) will work too?

Agnieszka wrote: "I already have some questions :-D

Task:
2. - with a man as the main character: would you accept those with a couple or a group (including at least one man) too, or only those with one male MC?
3. - that is necessary to a different reading challenge than this one: only challenges or Books of the month as well?
6. - with 'catalogue' in the text of the book: do I assume correctly plural and other verb forms (e.g. cataloguing) will work too?"

2. at least one male main character
3. Book of the Month will work just fine
3. plural and other verb forms are okay

Quilting - September 2023

twin size quilt - 10+ books

To make one anvil block, read a book:
1. - that might make you reflect about an important issue
Little Beach Street Bakery 09/02 ==> aging, mental health, expansion
Muddled Through 09/18 ==> expansion/development

2. - with a man as the main character
Lord James Harrington and the Autumn Mystery 09/03
A Fistful of Collars 09/13

3. - that is necessary to a different reading challenge than this one
A Sprinkling of Murder 09/01
To Live & Die In Dixie 09/01
The Beverly Hills Beatles Burglary

4. - with black lettering on the cover
Mystery of the Tea Cup Quilt 09/09
Death by Dissertation 09/15

5. - where the MC uses more than one tool
6. - with 'catalogue' in the text of the book

7. - set in the 1890s or earlier
Murder at the Royal Botanic Gardens 09/08
Murder at the Serpentine Bridge 09/12

8. - first published in the 1900s
Mrs. Pollifax on Safari 09/05 - 1976
Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station 09/05 - 1983

9. - where the MC reads a magazine or something similar

10. - where the MC lives in a bustling city
Bleeding Heart Yard 09/03
Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha 09/06 - 1985

September's quilt block - anvil block

Read 10 books

Quilting projects (reading levels):
a twin size quilt - 10+ books DONE!

To make one anvil block, read a book:

1. - that might make you reflect about an important issue
Finding Home: Rainbow Haven Beach Book 4 by Sylvia Price 9/4/23 4stars (pedophilia)
Undercover Amish (Covert Police Detectives Unit #1) by Ashley Emma 9/19/23 5stars (domestic abuse and kidnapping)

2. - with a man as the main character
Perfect Bragg (Bragg Brothers, #3) by D.E. Haggerty 9/9/23 4stars (Elder along with love interest Harmony)
The Wake-Up Call by Beth O'Leary 9/15/23 3.5stars (Lucas along with co-worker Izzy)

3. - that is necessary to a different reading challenge than this one
You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Toni Shiloh 9/10/23 4stars (T for author in September Scattegories)

4. - with black lettering on the cover
Toes in the Tulips: (Adventures of Gladys) by Katherine H. Brown 9/5/23 4stars

5. - where the MC uses more than one tool

6. - with 'catalogue' in the text of the book
Kindle location 1818 - "You can stop cataloging my numerous faults," he said with a laugh.
My Billionaire Cowboy Hero by Eliza McJames 9/4/23 4.5stars

7. - set in the 1890s or earlier
The Card Game by M.A. Jewell 9/17/23 4stars (1852)

8. - first published in the 1900s

9. - where the MC reads a magazine or something similar
Secret Baby for Dr. Dreamy: A Second Chance Medical Romance (Forbidden Doctors) by Sofia T Summers 9/2/23 4stars (Mindy when helping Georgia find the perfect flowers for her wedding bouquet)

10. - where the MC lives in a bustling city (your definition)
Every Duke Has His Day by Suzanne Enoch 9/17/23 4.5stars (London)

Lanelle wrote: "Agnieszka wrote: "I already have some questions :-D

Task:
2. - with a man as the main character: would you accept those with a couple or a group (including at least one man) too, or only those wit..."

Thank you!

TCF's Quilt Along - September (anvil block) - COMPLETED
Duration: September 1 - 30, 2023

Reading level: A wall hanging - 4 to 5 books
Completed: 5/5

To make one anvil block, read a book:
1. - that might make you reflect about an important issue
2. - with a man as the main character: Listen, Pitch/Lani Lynn Vale 9/2/23
3. - that is necessary to a different reading challenge than this one
4. - with black lettering on the cover: Zac and Mia/A.J. Betts 9/11/23
5. - where the MC uses more than one tool
6. - with 'catalogue' in the text of the book
7. - set in the 1890s or earlier: River Sing Me Home/Eleanor Shearer 9/27/23 (set in 1834)
8. - first published in the 1900s
9. - where the MC reads a magazine or something similar
10. - where the MC lives in a bustling city (your definition): High Stakes/Danielle Steel 9/10/23 (set in New York City); Baltimore Blues/Laura Lippman 9/17/23 (set in Baltimore)

TCF's Quilt Along - Anvil Block
September 2023

My Anvil Block Challenge (msg 11)

Level ➖ a twin size quilt ➖ 10+ books

Books read ➖ 18

✅1. Read a book that might make you reflect about an important issue
➖Asking for Trouble ➖ 09.04 ★★★★
➖Lotto Lucy ➖ 09.6 ★★★


✅2. Read a book with a man as the main character
➖Colt ➖ 09.22 ★★★★
➖Heat Stroke ➖ 09.20 ★★★★


✅3. Read a book that is necessary to a different reading challenge than this one
➖All Good Things... ➖ 09.03 ★★★
➖Stuck on You ➖ 09.22 ★★★


✅4. Read a book with black lettering on the cover
➖Advertising for Love ➖ 09.04 ★★★
➖Abandoned in Death ➖ 09.30 ★★★★


✅5. Read a book where the MC uses more than one tool
➖Nightwork ➖ 09.09 ★★★★
➖The Book of Life ➖ 09.16 ★★★


✅6. Read a book with 'catalogue' in the text of the book
➖flipping through catalogues [loc 42.3]
➖Every Rose ➖ 09.29 ★★★★
➖as he visually catalogued her external hurts. [loc 134.5]
➖Accidental Abduction ➖ 09.26 ★★★


✅7. Read a book set in the 1890s or earlier
➖The Wallflower Wager ➖ 09.17 ★★★★


✅8. Read a book first published in the 1900s
➖The Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog ➖ 09.27 ★★★★


✅9. Read a book where the MC reads a magazine or something similar
➖Her Perfect Stranger ➖ 09.17 ★★★★
➖Undead and Unappreciated ➖ 09.23 ★★★★


✅10. Read a book where the MC lives in a bustling city (your definition)
➖Eternal Kiss of Darkness ➖ 09.19 ★★★★
➖Beautiful Bombshell ➖ 09.16 ★★★★

TCF's Quilt Along - September (anvil block)
Duration: Sept 1-30, 2023
Reading level: A table runner (2-3 books)...maybe a wallhanging, but let's not get too crazy.

Completed: 2/3

To make one anvil block, read a book:
1. - that might make you reflect about an important issue
2. - with a man as the main character - Land of Wolves (Walt Longmire) - Read Sep 2
3. - that is necessary to a different reading challenge than this one
4. - with black lettering on the cover
5. - where the MC uses more than one tool
6. - with 'catalogue' in the text of the book
7. - set in the 1890s or earlier
8. - first published in the 1900s - Curtain: Poirot's Last Case (1975) Read Sept 11
9. - where the MC reads a magazine or something similar
10. - where the MC lives in a bustling city (your definition) - The Last Curtain Call (San Francisco)

ANVIL BLOCK QUILT

BABY QUILT 6-7 BOOKS



1. - that might make you reflect about an important issue

✅2. - with a man as the main character
The Girl in the Glass Box Finished 9/7/23 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jack Swyteck is a lawyer trying to help Julia an illegal immigrant from El Salvador from being deported by ICE

Shadow Meebook Finished 9/17/23⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was written from the point of view of Kenji who is part of the Reestablishment

3. - that is necessary to a different reading challenge than this one

4. - with black lettering on the cover

✅5. - where the MC uses more than one tool
Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder ebook Finished 9/10/23 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
She uses kitchen tools: knife and skillet
" I grabbed the knife to defend myself" p204
"I reached on the backseat and picked up the cast-iron skillet I'd taken from the kitchen" p498


6. - with 'catalogue' in the text of the book

✅7. - set in the 1890s or earlier
Egypt's Sister: A Novel of Cleopatra ebook finished 9/25/23
This was historical fiction and set in the time of Cleopatra, Ceasar, and Mark Anthony

8. - first published in the 1900s

✅9. - where the MC reads a magazine or something similar
The Hidden Corpse 9/17/23 ⭐⭐⭐
She is a food blogger so writes blogs. She was being featured in Cooking Now! magazine p159

✅10. - where the MC lives in a bustling city (your definition)
Mary Jane finished 9/3/23 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
book setting is in Baltimore, which is a major city in Maryland

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The Challenge Factory
TCF's Quilt Along - September (anvil block)
Duration: September 1 - 30, 2023

Progress: 0 out of 10

There has been a resurgence in the last 10 years or so. Sewists from all over the world are bringing the art of quilting back to life.

One way for quilters to enjoy their hobby is to participate in a 'quilt along'. A typical quilt along involves a host posting on a blog or website a different tutorial each week or month that lets quilters at home complete a project by following along.

The Challenge Factory is hosting its first quilt along, and you're invited to join in. To create a beautiful project by the end of the month, you must read at least one book that is inspired by a classic quilt block.

Not only did quilt patterns reflect the daily work of the women who helped to homestead the prairie, they told the story of the challenging work of the men.

The Anvil pattern represented one of the necessary and important activities of the early settlers - blacksmithing.

Other old-fashioned and basic patterns include Saw-Tooth, Bowknot, Carpenter's Wheel, Compass, and Monkey Wrench.

By 1890, catalogue sales included quilt patterns. If a woman ordered her yard goods from Sears or Wards, she could purchase any of 800 designs for just a dime.

By the early 1900's, magazines went a step beyond publishing patterns. Some had a column where readers could share favorite patterns and new ones they had designed. Quilters were no longer restricted to only quilt patterns known in their region. From bustling city to lonely farmhouse, women could be making the same quilt.

Quilting projects (reading levels):
a potholder - 1 book
a table runner - 2 to 3 books
a wall hanging - 4 to 5 books
a baby quilt - 6 -7 books
a throw - 8 -9 books
a twin size quilt - 10+ books

No page limit.
You can repeat tasks as many times as you'd like.

To make one anvil block, read a book:
1. - that might make you reflect about an important issue
2. - with a man as the main character
3. - that is necessary to a different reading challenge than this one
4. - with black lettering on the cover
5. - where the MC uses more than one tool
6. - with 'catalogue' in the text of the book
7. - set in the 1890s or earlier
8. - first published in the 1900s
9. - where the MC reads a magazine or something similar
10. - where the MC lives in a bustling city (your definition)

Finished on post #8

Read 10 books

FINISHED
TCF's Quilt Along - September (anvil block)
a wall hanging - 4 to 5 books
Read: 5


To make one anvil block, read a book:
1. - that might make you reflect about an important issue
2. - with a man as the main character
3. - that is necessary to a different reading challenge than this one
The Valley of Lost Children David Barbur 9/4/23
4. - with black lettering on the cover
Two Hearts Surrendered Tamara Ferguson 9/2/23
All the Dead Shall Weep Charlaine Harris 9/11/23
5. - where the MC uses more than one tool
6. - with 'catalogue' in the text of the book
7. - set in the 1890s or earlier
8. - first published in the 1900s
1954 Corn-Farm Boy Lois Lenski 9/13/23
9. - where the MC reads a magazine or something similar
10. - where the MC lives in a bustling city (your definition)
Out of Nowhere Sandra Brown 9/5/23

Completion Post:

I wish I had noticed this challenge earlier in the year. This was lots of fun.

TCF's Quilt Along - September - Anvil block
Duration: 9/1/23 - 9/30/23
Level: Table runner - 2 to 3 books
Progress: 11 of 3

Wow, this was easier than I expected.



To make one anvil block, read a book:
1. - that might make you reflect about an important issue
✅ A Simple Path by Mother Teresa (9/19/23) ~ poverty
2. - with a man as the main character
✅ Dead Beat by Jim Butcher (9/5/23) ~ Harry Dresden
✅ Reaper by Rachel Vincent (9/14/23) ~ Tod
3. - that is necessary to a different reading challenge than this one
✅ The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima (9/2/23) ~ Science Fiction and Fantasy Challenge
✅ Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger (9/11/23) ~ Coding the Dinosaur DNA
✅ The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel: The Lost Stories Collection by Michael Scott (9/30/23) - Coding the Dinosaur DNA
4. - with black lettering on the cover
✅ by Rick Riordan (9/27/23)
5. - where the MC uses more than one tool
6. - with 'catalogue' in the text of the book
7. - set in the 1890s or earlier
8. - first published in the 1900s
✅ Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery (9/13/23) ~ pub. 1923
9. - where the MC reads a magazine or something similar
10. - where the MC lives in a bustling city (your definition)
✅ Fox Forever by Mary E. Pearson (9/18/23) ~ Boston
✅ Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews (9/22/23) ~ Houston
✅ Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare ~ Los Angeles

Challenge complete! Thanks for hosting!
Updated post: My Anvil Block Challenge (msg 11)

Level ➖ a twin size quilt ➖ 10+ books

Books read ➖ 18

Finally took time to update my challenge - it was fun.

TCF's Quilt Along: Anvil block (September 2023)
Duration: September (1 - 30,) 2023
Quilting project: a twin size quilt
Completed: 23/10+
No page limit, You can repeat tasks as many times as you'd like.


To make one anvil block, read a book:
1. - that might make you reflect about an important issue
* Ein amerikanischer Traum: die Geschichte meiner Familie=Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama 4* 9/3 - several issues
* Das geheime Leben der Bäume: Was sie fühlen, wie sie kommunizieren - die Entdeckung einer verborgenen Welt=The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate: Discoveries from a Secret World by Peter Wohlleben 4* 9/7 - trees and old woods as well as their importance to the (local) ecosystems
* Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah 3* 9/10 - apartheid, race and social justice

2. - with a man as the main character
* Schiffe versenken (Battleships/lit: Sinking Ships) by Moritz Matthies 5* 9/1 - Phil is the only man among the three male MCs (the other two are meerkats:-D)
* Medicine Men: Extreme Appalachian Doctoring by Carolyn Jourdan 3* 9/4 - most of the contributing authors were male
* Frozen in Ice by Cynthia Eden 5* 9/11 - male (and female) MC(s)
* Three Swedish Mountain Men by Lily Gold 4.5* 9/12 - three male (and a female) MCs
* Broken Souls by Andi Rhodes 3* 9/15 - Micah Mallory is one of the two MCs
* Ice Cold Saint by Cynthia Eden 3.5* 9/24 - a male (& female) MC
* Alana Candler, Marked for Murder by Joanie Bruce 4* 9/25 - a male (& female) MC
* Kindred in Death by J.D. Robb 4* 9/28 - a male (& female) MC
* Elizabeth Bennet's Wedding: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Olivia Kane 2* 9/28 - a male (& female) MC

3. - that is necessary to a different reading challenge than this one
* Seconds to Live by Melinda Leigh 4* 9/2 - used for 3 other challenges so far (Monster team - witch (leg 2), dinosaur DNA testing & ultimate card came - week 24, task 2)
* The Ghost of Marlow House by Bobbi Holmes 4* 9/14 - used for 3 other challenges so far (Monster team - ghost (arm 1), dinosaur DNA testing & ultimate card came - week 32, task 2)
* Cookies, Corpses and the Deadly Haunt by Rachael Stapleton 1* 9/18 - used mainly for Monster team - ghost (leg 2)
* Tapas, Carrot Cake and a Corpse by Sherri Bryan 3* 9/26 - used mainly for Monster team - Frankenstein (Arm 2)

6. - with 'catalogue' in the text of the book (most of my books use the alternate form catalog)
* Louisiana Longshot book 3 in Miss Fortune Series Boxset 1 by Jana Deleon 5* 9/17 - I haven’t even begun to catalog my aunt’s belongings (chapter 13, page 153)
* Lethal Bayou Beauty book 2 in Miss Fortune Series Boxset 1 by Jana Deleon 5* 9/19 - Sandy-Sue’s work, cataloging the estate (ch. 6, p. 348)
* Swamp Sniper book 3 in Miss Fortune Series Boxset 1 by Jana Deleon 5* 9/20 - take the longest to catalog her books (ch. 25, p. 796)

8. - first published in the 1900s
* The Witch and Other Stories by Anton Chekhov 0* 9/6 - first published in 1932

9. - where the MC reads a magazine or something similar
* Knitlandia: A Knitter Sees the World by Clara Parkes 2* 9/4 - knitting magazines

10. - where the MC lives in a bustling city
* A Day In August by Reis Armstrong 2* 9/10 - first in New Orleans, than almost a year in Houston, before going back again
* Falling for the Ice Queen by Cynthia Eden 5* 9/22 - set in Houston