2026 Quilting Goals
Check out the video that goes with this blog HERE.
Where It Started:
It is hard to believe that it it my third year doing this. Setting these yearly goals that I hope to turn into habits has changed my quilting life, and I hope it has changed your, too. Just to recap, 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.
My 2024 Quilting Goals/Habits
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. I also have blogs, as well. Here they are: 2024 Goal Announcement; February Update, April Update, August Update, September Update, October Update, and November Update.
Although I didn’t achieve all of these goals or develop all of these habits, I learned what I liked and didn’t like (for example, free motion quilting!). I also learned to pay attention to these areas and continue to improve over the years.
Since 2024 was so successful, I am continuing this series into 2025. Each month (or so—I do occasionally miss a month), I worked on goals for 2025, too! Giving updates to all of you helps me stay accountable and improves my success as well. But that isn’t the only reason I continue to do it. The biggest reason you have mentioned I have inspired you, too! YAY! For me, that’s what it is all about!
My 2025 Quilting Goals/Habits
Just like in 2024, I learned so much about myself, my quilting life, and myself in 2025 through this process. Overall, 2025 was a success! I made so many scrap quilts and projects, which helped me pare down those scraps (I still have a lot!); I was super intentional about my purchases; I tried new things and broke out of my comfort zone. Unfortunately, I still need to improve that No Home Zone (AKA: Dumping Area) and giving myself more movement breaks.
Without further ado, here are my Quilting Goals/Habits for 2026! If you would like to follow along and create your own goals, I have a list of I also have a free monthly worksheet to help track your goals each month.
These videos and blogs have helped keep my 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!
Deciding on Goals:
First, let’s talk about the differences between goals and habits, because honestly, I use these two terms interchangeably in this series. For me, there is a fine line between the two, especially when it comes to quilting and sewing.
Overall, habits are the building blocks that help you achieve your goals. While goals give you a vision and something to aim for, habits provide the daily consistency needed to get there. For example:
Goal: "I will make five quilts this year."
Habit: Setting aside time to plan, make, and finish the five quilts.
At the close of each year, I take time to reflect on the highlights, challenges, and lessons learned. This process gives me clarity on where changes are needed, areas for growth, and what I should release or leave behind. While countless things could fit into these categories, here are the top habits I’m committed to cultivating in 2026!
Want to work on your own quilting habits and goals? Here’s a tracking worksheet to help you!
Goal 1: Use It or Lose It
Have you ever purchased something and thought, “I will make this someday” or “I don’t know what I want to make with this, but I love it so much I have to have it”? Me, too. This year I am going to go through all of those someday projects, fabrics, tools, and kits and either use them or lose them.
Goal 2: Clean As I Go
Have you ever noticed that the chefs on all those cooking shows clean up their space as they go? This is where I got the idea for this goal. Why can’t we, as quilters, use the same strategy? I started testing this theory about a month ago. It is a game-changer! If we clean up as we go (especially with cutting), we won’t have the giant mess at the end! At least that is my plan for 2026. Follow along to see how it goes!
Goal 3: Curate & Catalog My Quilts
I have A LOT of quilts. A lot a lot. In my vintage and antique collection, I am sure I have well over 200 quilts. And they are stored everywhere! I have a lot of them in bags in my finished basement, but I do rotate them out and use them on shelves, ladders, and on beds and couches throughout the year. I don’t, however, have a great system for cataloging them, other than the Lessons from an Old Quilt videos, and I have so many I haven’t made video for yet! In 2026, I am going to through my entire collection and organize, catalog, and possible sell (yikes!) my quilts. This is the goal that I am most nervous about! Follow along to see how it goes!
Goal 4: Practicing Walking Foot Quilting
A few years ago, I set a goal to learn how to FMQ (Free Motion Quilt), and I gave it a try for a full year. I even took a class on it. Unfortunately, I didn’t like it at all. I did stick with it all year, but it wasn’t for me. Last year I started really playing with straight-line quilting with my walking foot and LOVED it! There are so many designs you can make! I want to continue to explore this in 2026.
Goal 5: Sewing 15 Minutes Each Day
I used to do this ever single day when I was teaching, but I got away from it over the years. I want to start doing this again. It is so good for my mental health. Since starting YouTube, I seem to only sew for videos. I need to change that! For Christmas 2025, my husband gave me the Tula Pink book 100 Modern Quilt Blocks, along with a bunch of orange (my favorite color!) fabric. This, I think, is going to be my starting off point. Will you join me? Let’s make this a habit!
I hope you are following along with these goals and setting your own goals for 2026!
Happy Quilting,
Kris
