It's the last day of 2025, so hard to believe we are there again! I've been thinking through what I'm going to focus on in the sewing room in 2026, and I realized I usually have three categories of projects to sort through.
1. Works in Progress: (when do these become UFOs? I don't know!)
I ended 2024 with two quilts waiting to be quilted - one was finished up (Masala Box) and an older one is still hanging in the closet! Plus I added another quilt top to that to-be-quilted list. The Blueberry Taffy blocks were sewn into a top in August, and have been waiting for quilting ever since!
I've been ignoring this quilt top because
I got frustrated with how much the blue sashing/border fabric was fraying!
Maybe I will be brave and get it ready for quilting sometime in the new year.
But first...
A WiP that's really been nagging at me is Patchwork Hearts. Here's its current status - partially quilted! The first two rows are quilted, third is in progress, fourth and fifth haven't been touched except to cut the backing. I have plenty of batting now, so there's no excuse to not get back to it!
2. Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects for 2026:
I'm working on two to start the year. Jacob's Ladder blocks -
Blue is the January color for the RSC,
so I'm pulling out the blue stash this week!
And the house quilt project. I'm going to call this "A Year in the Neighborhood," with each house going with a season or holiday. The first one is in progress - there are snowflakes in it for January!
3. The "To-be-Determined" category! These are usually projects that involve participating in a quilt-along like the Stay at Home Round Robin (hosted by Quilting Gail) which starts in a couple weeks. I have my center block ready to go - it's a fall embroidery which will turn into a wall-hanging to go with the other seasons that I've made the last three years.
Another QAL I have enjoyed participating in for several years in a row is Sandra's Spring QAL at mmmquilts. I've participated in this one for 5 or 6 years now, and I always love the process and the finished quilt!
I'm sure other quilt-alongs will present themselves as the year goes on, and I'll keep them in mind, too. I enjoy the feeling of community that comes from connecting with other quilters who are working on a similar project.
4. I said there were three categories of quilt projects on my mind for the coming year, but I just realized there's actually a fourth, and that is charity/donation quilts or block drives. Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun than Housework runs a quilt charity called Many Hands and Many Hearts and I have sent her both finished quilts and quilt blocks in previous years, and I plan to do so again this coming year. I've been using the current blocks she is asking for as leader/enders this week.
I will never run out of projects to work on -
and I'm really glad about that!
Sharing at The Inquiring Quilter for Wednesday Wait Loss.
21 comments:
That is a packed list of to dos! You are way more organized than I am. I'm listing projects and seeing if I can finish a few! I sure like that fall embroidery!
I don’t have a list so much as a pile of UFO’s and WIP’s. Maybe I should make a list…
You are very organized! I love the embroidery for the SAHRR. Have you thought about zigzagging around the taffy quilt top to control the fraying?
I have a couple of RSC ideas …. I will need to dig out some blue and get started.
Gail at the cozy quilter
How about adding another border to the taffy blocks? I think that would frame them nicely. You are so organized! I'm still pondering. Happy New Year to you and Mike!
Those are great plans for the new year. I have been working on trying to come up with a new design for a mystery quilt along, and I just cannot seem to hit on anything that appeals to me. Right now, I want to finish some small projects, and two denim jacket projects. I also need to design and make a QOV. We'll see if inspiration strikes about a new design.
It's always fun to see your ongoing projects. I love Blueberry Taffy as well as Patchwork Hearts. I am leaning toward the SAHRR as well as possibly following the RSC in 2026 - we will see how that goes. Hope you have a fun NYE - is your "personal chef" son planning party foods? :D
What a lovely list of "to-dos"; they should keep you busy in the coming months...
hugs for a Happy Happy New Year--Julierose
So fun to see the 2026 projects. That house one looks fun. Jacob's ladder is always beautiful. Wishing you a wonderful 2026.
its almost 2026??? how !! how did it get here so fast. I love the projects you are going to work on... but the Jacobs ladder.... now I want to do that one..... I will watch yours grow with enthusiasm!!
Great list of cute projects. I especially love the neighborhood. It'll be fun to see each house get "built." Thanks for sharing on my weekly show and tell, Wednesday Wait Loss.
https://www.inquiringquilter.com/questions/2025/12/31/wednesday-wait-loss-465
Oh! I almost forgot to say--Happy New Year!
Oh Diann, I LOVE your fall embroidery block! I should get back to that. I would enjoy it more than trying to find the holes with the needle in cross stitch while I wear magnifying readers! You follow thru with your RSC SO MUCH BETTER than I do. I need to follow your good example.
Oh Diann, love your plan for "A Year in the Neighborhood ! Hopefully you have inspired me to get mine started rather than just planning! How big will your house block be??
I have faith in you that you will finish your quilt WIPs soon. You have some nice plans for 2026. I look forward to following along.
Oh my gosh, you have your plan for 2026 already. I'm still working on 2022, as in getting 2 RSC projects to flimsy stage to send to Cynthia for Many Hands and Many Hearts. Since I'm not able to go to FL this winter, maybe I can get off to a better start this year. Happy New Year to you, Mike and your son the chef.
Pat
You have several great projects that will be fun to watch as you grow your quilts. Happy New Year. Using your fall embroidery block for the SAHRR is a great idea.
I think having a long list of projects is what keeps us creating which in turn keeps us vibrant! Isn't that a lovely thought at our age??!! Lol! Glad to see you've got plenty of projects to keep you busy. Cheers to 2026!
Reading all of these 2026 goals, from you and others, is inspiring to me. That is a great thing, since I haven't been sewing for a few months now. I will be doing the DeClutter Challenge again, so that should get me going again, too! Always fun to see what you are up to, Diann! :)
I love the Jacob's Ladder - I made one once but gave it away. I will need to check out the charity quilt blog you mentioned, I think I used to have her on my reader and then lost her.
Oh oh! You are way ahead of me. I’m still trying to decide if I should start a new block for a quilt, or should I just keep finishing? What to do? What to do?
Love seeing all your WiPs Diann, lots happening! Happy New Year.
Looks like you have a nice road map for 2026 and some fun projects that need to be finished.
Post a Comment