Setting Quilting Habits & Goals
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned the importance of setting goals in all areas of my life. Goals keep me on track, help me evaluate my progress, and show me just how far I’ve come—and where I still want to go.
A few years ago, I decided to bring that same goal-setting mindset into my quilting and sewing practice. Instead of stitching aimlessly (or letting projects pile up in the Fabric Fallout Zone 😅), I began setting intentional quilting goals and building habits to support them. To stay accountable, I started documenting the process through monthly videos that track what’s working, what isn’t, and how my goals evolve over time.
This blog is a deeper look at that journey. Here, I share the actual quilting goals I set each year, how I create them, and the habits that help me follow through—without burnout or guilt. My hope is that by sharing what I’ve learned, you’ll feel inspired and equipped to set your own quilting goals and create habits that truly fit your life and creative style.
Goals & Habits: What’s The Difference?
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.
Setting Goals & Practicing Habits
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!
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. By taking time to really think about my current habits, what frustrated me, where I found success, and everything in between, I can determine where I want to grow and dream of the things I want to accomplish.
Want to work on your own quilting habits and goals? Here’s a tracking worksheet to help you!
Where It Started & Where We Are
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.
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.
If you would like to read more about the goals from 2025, you can check out the updates here on my website and the 2025 Quilting Habits and Goals playlist. Here are the blogs for each month for 2025: January Goal Announcement, February Update, March Update, April Update, May Update, August Update, September Update, October Update, November Update, and December Update.
My 2026 Quilting Goals/Habits
New year means new goals! This year I am excited to see how I grow more as a quilter using these goals as guides. I go into more details with these goals in the 2026 Quilting Goals blogs. Each month, I update my progress, the good and the not-so-good, and other events, activities, and projects I have been working on throughout the month. I use it as a way to keep myself accountable with a sprinkle of an online journal, too.
If you would like to read more about the Quilting Habits and Goals for 2026, you can check out the updates here on my website and the 2026 Quilting Habits and Goals playlist.
