First, let me say Happy New Year! Let’s hope it’s a good one– either way, I’m sure plenty of sewing time will take the edge off for us all.

I’m in a very hopeful and happy place– if you haven’t yet, take a moment to reflect on what you accomplished in 2025; there’s lots to learn about your own sewing habits and you can apply that knowledge going forward. I learned last year ONE THING AT A TIME is a very effective strategy for me, then I made a quilt-y wish list for 2026 that is completely unrealistic! We’ll see what happens– let’s go!

I’m extremely close to two finishes from last year, Brio and the Pioneer Woman as I call them. Both these projects got into a place pretty early last year where they ended up shelved. I’m pretty much gonna FORCE myself to finish both before I allow anything else to get picked up. Fortunately, this should be easy to do.

As part of my “one thing at a time” strategy, I’m thinking about why things get put away and how we can push through the obstacles. On “Brio,” I just got distracted with huge plans for a table runner and eight placemats. No thanks. I’m going back to the original design for a lap or wall quilt. I had to take apart a three block table runner I had already finished piecing, but I did get some reassembly done over the past week. So cheery– I love this thing.

On the Pioneer Woman project, I just fell out of love. I had such high hopes for these fabrics– I love Ree Drummond’s tableware, but these blocks came out too big and clunky and the colors are just too much of a big mix. It’s too close to being finished to stop now– I’ll gift it? Or could I tolerate it on my picnic table this summer?

So that would close out 2025. I’m super proud to say I finished anything new I started in 2025; for me, that’s an accomplishment. Here, in no particular order, is my quilt-y wish list for 2026. I have quite a few babies and a couple of weddings in my circle this year, so those are a driving force!

Pressed Flowers
You may recognize this as the BOM included with 2023-2024 Sew Sampler boxes.

Were you with me when I made my goal of sewing all the 2023 boxes? I did it– and I even kept up with the BOMs, too! You can see nine of them in the bottom corner of this photo. I do have all twelve done, I just need to dig them out. What stopped me from finishing?

Once I finished the blocks, I was very unhappy with the way the quilt was constructed– instead of just sewing the blocks “on point,” the designer added two big clunky HSTs to the all four corners of the flower blocks. To make matters worse, the diamonds created were then made of four unmatching, crooked, plaid pieces. Appalling, right? 😂

I started making separate setting blocks with the diamond in the middle, but was getting really tight on having enough fabric. So I’m going to dig this out, figure out where I was, possible find more fabric, and assemble it. I might give it as a wedding gift unless I find out the couple’s bedroom is a different color or the bride doesn’t like red.

Frivols Kit #11

A few years ago, I went on eBay and collected all 12 of these old Moda tins. I refuse to die until I finish all of them! Before you start thinking I only have two left to go, I’m not going in number order. I’m going in order of how much I like them. So I’m on number seven, and they are getting uglier as I go along! Just kidding– there’s only a couple that aren’t my taste. I do like #11, it seems like it would make a great baby gift, and it looks easy. I’m hoping to polish it off by the end of February.

Harlow’s First Birthday

I’m planning ahead for May! Wouldn’t this be a sweet gift with the number one on the top instead of a heart? It’s smallish– 22″ wide. A border, maybe? I could totally make this from stash.

The Mushroom Baby

There’s also a new baby on the way with a mushroom theme nursery– it’s a boy! This is a large quilt kit, but I’d love to make just 1/4 of it for a gift. The colors are perfect for this woodland loving couple.

Ice Cream Shop

My niece is getting married– all of her high school and college summers were spent doling out ice cream at a local shop– not too tough, right? She’d flip over this and it looks fun to make– you just need 12 fat quarters, 2 browns for the cones, and a background. That’s a August wedding, so I have plenty of time.

Posh Penelope

That’s it for gifting this year– this one is mine! I started this at a local quilt shop in October, and I signed up for a day next week to work on it. This project is a huge waste of fabric– let’s tell it like it is– and it’s complicated to make more than one block at a time. I’m going to get all my faculties in order and try to chain piece about 12 at once for my sewing day. Forty-two blocks are needed for the quilt as designed. Talk to me next week about how committed I still am to that! So far, I have three.

Night Flight

I’ve been working on this, block by block, since 2020. This used a fabulous Halloween collection and a pattern by Basic Grey when they were at the height of their powers. Just look at the white bats! The layout is fabulous, too.

This is the latest picture I can find of it and I believe I have three more blocks done than this, with nine to go. There’s no fussy sashing, just a border, and I’d love to finish it this year.

Prairie Meadow

Just looking at this picture makes me want to finish this project! Can you believe I’ve never completed a hand applique quilt? And the good news is, all twelve blocks are done– I just need to find them! 😂

What’s left to do is some thin sashing and a checkered border– that’s right in my wheelhouse. Let’s do it!

And now for NEW work– it’s not like the UFOs don’t go on forever– but I’ve had my eye on a couple of things that I picked up for almost 50% off over the Christmas sales– did you succumb?

Twas the Night

I’ve been obsessed with this for over a year– I actually mentioned it in this blog more than once. This is a big Fig Tree Quilts sampler and I’ve never made one– they are always fabulous! If you put things on your Wish List with Fat Quarter Shop, they obligingly mail you a notice when it goes on sale– 45% off last week!

I hate to be an enabler, but there’s still some kits left! It is written as a BOM, if you like that format, but I think I might just dive in over the summer. Don’t forget– one thing at a time!

Bridle Path

This isn’t even in my hot little hands yet, but I snagged it on eBay for just $140. Clearly, the scrolling needs to stop in 2026. After I finished “A Ribbon Runs Through It,” Sew’n Wild Oaks came up with this next kit that I liked even better!

It’s hard to see all the tiny pieces in this, but the center stars are just exquisite. This is also set up as a Block of the Month– I don’t see myself making this in one sitting though, so I would consider that approach just for this one. It’s how I was able to finish this beauty, even during our move.

This one isn’t quilted yet, and that reminds me of the swelling pile of flimsies to be longarmed as well.

Candy Cane Lane

You already knew about this cutie! I can’t back out now, because I’ve made a serious investment in fabric. I have to admit the interest in a Christmas project has totally waned for the obvious reasons. Erica Arndt is doing a sew along of it next year, so I thinking that would motivate me. She’s making one house at a time, but I’m thinking it would be quicker to make all the roofs, the candy canes, the blocks all at one time. Chain piecing is my friend!

And finally one I have my eye on– I don’t think it even comes out until May or June. This is perfect for my Appalachian Trail hikers!

So that’s it! A dozen quilts for 2026– I put my wish list in writing, so we can keep check on it! It will be fun to see how the year progresses– straight or sideways, I guarantee it will be fun. Big changes are coming to the Meadow– guess what? The Mushroom Baby I mentioned is our new grandson, due in July! This one is the DDs first and will be living just 500 ft down the road– we are thrilled to see the family continue to grow.

What are your quilt-y plans for 2026? Did you pick up any good quilt-y sales over the holiday? Let me know in the comments– I’d love to hear about it!

xox
Carol