Happy New Year, quilters!
As we step into 2026, it's the perfect time to think about your quilting journey for the year ahead. If you're like most quilters, you probably have a growing pile of unfinished projects, a fabric stash that's taken over your craft room, and a list of techniques you've been meaning to try. Sound familiar?
This year can be different. With a little planning and realistic goal-setting, 2026 can be your most productive and enjoyable quilting year yet. Let's create a plan that excites you without overwhelming you.
Look Back Before You Plan Forward
Before diving into new projects, take a moment to reflect on your 2025 quilting journey...
2025 for me was rough! Dan's terminal cancer diagnosis and starting treatments then my mom passing away and dealing with Denmark's probate court about that, plus we had just recovered from Dan's parents passing away in the fall of 2024!
I didn't get to sew or quilt as much as I would have liked but my quilting studio is still my "happy place" I cut out most of my pieces with Accuquilt go dies and sew while listening to an audiobook!
Organizing
Using the Accuquilt dies (I have a lot!!) helps speed up the quilting process a lot! and my favorite dies are the QUBE sets plus several BOB dies for scrap quilting!
Here are just SOME of my dies
My go BIG is right by my ironing table fore easy access!
Before I start a project I usually design it in EQ8 (if it's new or at least print a new color version of it) then pick my fabrics, people are usually surprised how little fabric I have on my stash shelves and I kind of like it that way, I do have bolt of fabric for the website in another room but I don't cut from those unless I have a project planned!
I also keep scraps in little shoe boxes sorted by color.
When I have the fabrics picked out, I iron, turn around to the end of my studio table and cut the WOF strips I need for the project, then turn around around and cut the pieces and store each project in a plastic bin that's under my ironing table. I usually work on at least 4 projects at a time plus one scrappy "leader and ender" project.
The main 4 projects are the top bins in each column!
When I'm done with the quilt top I often take a picture on my design wall, plus my design wall has a "fake" brick wall curtain I pull down and pin the FINISHED quilt to so I can take a nice picture for my patterns! The design wall is batting stapled to a wooden frame, pretty simple.
When the top is done and ready to be quilted I write down the name and size of it on my dry erase board and mark if I have the binding/batting/ backing done as well as the month
This all keeps me very organized. Now you can plan your next quilting project!
Take a look at some of my quilting patterns here
1 comment
Thank you for this article! I’ve been wondering how you get so much done. Do you do all your cutting in one day for those 4-5 projects?