2025 Quilting Habits: October Update
Click HERE or on the image above to see this month’s video.
My 2025 Quilting Goals/ Habits
How It Begun:
I decided in December 2023 and the beginning of January to change some things in my quilting life that just weren’t working for me. After evaluating the good, bad, and ugly, I came up with my top five habits I wanted to implement in 2024. If you want to check out those videos, here’s the 2024 Quilting Habit Goals playlist.
Since 2024 was so successful for me and helped inspire you, I am continuing this series in 2025! Each month I will update you on my progress. If you would like to follow along and create your own goals, I have a worksheet to help you. You can download this free blank worksheet HERE.
I will also offer a worksheet for each month, too. You can find October’s habit worksheet HERE. These videos and blogs have helped keep me accountable. After all, I know I will be reporting to all of YOU on this, and I don’t want to let you down. I highly recommend having someone to keep you accountable, if not in a public way like I am doing, then in a group of friends. It helps me so much!
Here are my 2025 quilting goals:
October Happenings
Here’s an update from the last time I posted:
The rest of September and beginning of October was a busy! I kicked things off by sharing my Scrappy Pumpkin Tutorial on September 14, and it’s been all things autumn ever since.
Earlier in the month, I spent a few wonderful days in the Lancaster area. I attended the AQS Quilt Show on September 10 and loved catching up with so many familiar faces. A big thank you to everyone who stopped to say hello! Later in the month, Mom and I went back to Lancaster to see Noah at Sight & Sound, which was such a fantastic experience.
At home, the harvest season is still in full swing. I made more sauce for the winter, snacked on sweet concord grapes from Dad’s garden, and picked up mums and pumpkins from local farms to bring a little fall color inside. Mom and I also made a trip to the Covered Bridge Festival in Bloomsburg, PA — always a favorite fall tradition!
In the sewing room, I took a much-needed break from filming and focused on finishing some long-term projects. I wrapped up my fall quilt from last year, pieced together the hexie quilt I started ages ago, completed my mile-a-minute house quilt top, and even found time to play with scraps from that project. I also stitched up a fun witch’s hat for my youngest son’s girlfriend, Katie. It was a request from her and she loved it! And just for something different, I made a quirky little ghost sweatshirt too.
September Update: How Did I Do?
Goal 1: No Home Zone
Score: 5/5
Look at how good this looks! It is so interesting that just taking Aunt Amy’s magic bin and the cart out of there helps so much! I would be lying if I said it looked like this ALL month. Sometimes I do pile some projects there or dump items in the corner, but I have been really good at cleaning it up regularly. I guess that’s the key, right? You can have an area like this (we all have an area like this, I think), but having a regular maintenance plan is important, too.
Glow: I did it! Most of the time!
Grow: Continue to keep up with this, especially going into the holiday season. Yikes!
Goal 2: Being Intentional with Quilting-Related Purchases
Score: 4/5
On Sept. 10, 2025, my friend Gail and I went to the AQS Quilt Show near Lancaster, PA. We had a blast! I bought a bunch of stuff, but, for the most part, these items were planned purchases. For example, I bought appliqué scissors to finish cutting away the backs of the hexie appliqué project, some adhesive thimbles, a few patterns I had my eye on, and some thread for machine quilting. I also bought some impulse things like some cool fabric, a show t-shirt, and some books, too. All in all, it was a great trip!
Later in the month, I bought the items to make a witch’s hat from my youngest son’s girlfriend, Katie. It turned out so cute! Overall, I was very intentional with my purchases!
Glow: Overall, I was very intentional with my purchases!
Grow: I had a mental list of the things I wanted to buy, which didn’t work out great. I forgot a few things! I am going to keep a running list on my phone to help me in the future.
Goal 3: Paring Down My Scraps
Score: 5/5
This has been another really great month in my scrap heaven I call my sewing space! Wow, did I get a lot done! First, I finished up my very old Mile-A-Minute Christmas quilt from October 2022. It’s about time, right? What was the hold up, you ask? I wanted to add more blocks, and this was the month to do it! I made 14 more of these wonderful scrap blocks, added the roofs, and stitched them on. YAY! Next, I worked on cutting away the backs of the hexagon blocks to reduce the bulk. I also worked on my leader and ender quilt blocks, made scrappy pumpkin blocks for a tutorial, and finished binding the scrappy Sew Merry quilt! It was a good scrappy month. I may have this goal established. What do you think?
Glow: Look at me using scraps! I am pretty pleased with myself.
Grow: Continue with the hard work at making this a habit.
Goal 4: Getting Out of My Quilting Comfort Zone
Score: 1/5
I know, I know. This is a little weird. Or cute. I guess it depends on how you look at it. Either way, this is the only outside-of-my-comfort-zone thing that I did this month. I really wasn’t all that brave at all! I got this free template from Quilter’s Candy. If you go to her Instagram, she has posts about it and you can comment and get the free pattern. She does have an actual pattern to use for the quilty part, but I wanted to try some of the leftover cutter quilt pieces I had from when I made these pillow covers. Looking at it now, it probably wasn’t the best choice for this because it really does look like this ghost is wearing a scarf. Sweatshirt fail, perhaps? HA! I purchased the sweatshirt at a thrift shop for .99, however. It was on the clearance rack. The sweatshirt is pilled and stained—perfect for this upcycle! I am thinking about removing this particular ghosty and making a new one from another piece of an old quilt, but for now, it is what it is! Oh! I also made a witch’s hat for my youngest son’s girlfriend’s birthday. I guess that counts, too, right?
Glow: I thought outside of the box some, but I still could have tried a few more brave things this month. And no, I still haven’t made that dang shirt!
Grow: Get out of your comfort zone, Kris! It is always worth it, even if this one was a bit of a fail. :)
Goal 5: Better Health/More Movement Breaks
Score: 5/5
Judging from your emails and messages (thank you for reaching out!), I know you know I took a bit of a break over that few weeks. I had some minor health stuff happening, some family stuff, and some good ol’ burnout happening. I am so proud of myself for listening to my body and recognizing these circumstances! I knew I needed a break, which I did. This was the best thing I could do for myself, which is why I am giving myself such a high score.
I enjoyed time with my family, went to the local farms to get mums and pumpkins without being rushed, took a few walks, ran errands, did some thrifting, and really recharged. Now I am back, ready to tackle the YouTube holiday season! YAY!
Glow: I am super proud of myself for listening to my body and my overall mental state. I am learning and growing.
Grow: Five weeks off is a luxury. I have a great job that allows me to do it. I am grateful. I am going to build these breaks into my schedule moving forward.
I would love to know how you are doing with your goals! Let me know in the comments.
Happy Quilting,
Kris
