The Quilts I Want to Finish Before the End of the Year

How are we already at the halfway point of 2026?

The first six months of the year went by in the blink of an eye. So much has happened, but there is also so much I haven't gotten to yet.

I have a few UFOs that found their way into my sewing room over the last six months. I haven't used my longarm machine nearly as much as I hoped. I still want to learn appliqué. And if I'm being honest, I should probably get started on my Christmas project if I want quilted stockings hanging for the whole family this December.

Every year I have big quilting dreams.

I'm going to finish more quilts.

I'm going to reduce my UFO pile.

I'm going to set aside dedicated sewing time every week.

And then life gets a vote.

Work gets busy. Family needs attention. New opportunities show up. Unexpected challenges arrive. Before you know it, six months have passed.

When I look back on the first half of 2026, I didn't actually finish any quilts.

Part of that was intentional. At the end of last year, I set a goal to upgrade my longarm machine. I accomplished that goal, but getting a new machine meant learning a new machine. I'm still in the process of getting comfortable with it, which means several projects are waiting patiently for their turn under the needle.

As a result, I have more works in progress than I planned.

But that doesn't mean the first half of the year was unsuccessful.

My quilting skills improved as I learned how to teach new sewists. I learned how to give my sewing machine a proper "facial" through regular maintenance. I attended my first QuiltCon. I joined a quilt guild. I fell in love with teaching.

Outside of quilting, I spent countless hours building Quiltable. My day job has been more stressful than I anticipated, but it has also given me clarity about what I want for my future.

The more I think about it, the more I realize success isn't measured only in finished quilts.

Sometimes success is learning a new skill.

Sometimes it's finding a new quilting community.

Sometimes it's gaining confidence.

And sometimes it's simply staying connected to a hobby you love during a busy season of life.

With that perspective in mind, I've been thinking about the quilts that are still calling my name for the second half of the year.

The Log Cabin

This quilt started in August 2025 during a Log Cabin class, and I had so much fun making it.

It was the perfect project for all of those jelly rolls I bought during the Joann closing sales. I loved the rhythm of building block after block and the little hit of satisfaction that comes with finishing each one.

In many ways, this quilt is responsible for a series of decisions that completely changed my sewing space. It was the quilt that convinced me I wanted a larger longarm machine. It eventually led to replacing my couch with quilting equipment. Looking back, that feels slightly ridiculous and completely understandable at the same time.

The biggest thing standing between me and finishing this quilt isn't time.

It's confidence.

I need to trust myself enough to load it onto the longarm and start quilting.

The Lazy Geese

I started this quilt in January as part of the Running Doe Quilt Co. Top Along.

I loved everything about this project. The pattern came together quickly, it showcased a fat quarter bundle beautifully, and it reminded me how enjoyable quilting can be when a pattern just clicks.

I think this quilt may eventually become a gift for a friend.

Honestly, there isn't much standing in the way of finishing it. Once I get comfortable using my longarm machine, this one is ready to move forward.

The real challenge is simply making the time.

Maybe that means bringing it to Craft Night.

Maybe it means taking a "mental health day" from work and spending it quilting instead.

A Charity Quilt

Earlier this summer, I attended my first East Cobb Quilt Guild Quilt Show.

I hadn't seriously considered joining a quilt guild before, but I was inspired by the charity work they do throughout the year.

One of my goals is to write a quilt pattern. Part of writing a pattern is testing it, and I can't think of a better way to test a new design than creating a quilt that will ultimately be donated.

I love the idea that this project could challenge me creatively while also serving someone else.

What I'm Not Going to Finish

I think this section is just as important as the quilts I hope to complete.

Not every project needs to be finished this year.

I have a Lone Star quilt that I absolutely love. I learned so much while making it, especially using interfacing. But I haven't decided how I want to quilt it yet. Part of me thinks it deserves custom quilting, and my skills aren't there yet.

So it can wait.

I also have a Lindy Quilt that I made primarily to use fabric from my stash. It may eventually become a gift. It may end up being donated. Right now, I don't know.

And that's okay too.

One of the biggest lessons I'm learning is that every project doesn't need immediate attention.

Sometimes "not right now" is a perfectly acceptable answer.

Choosing a Theme Instead of a To-Do List

A few years ago, I would have turned this reflection into a giant list of goals.

Finish twelve quilts.

Organize every bin.

Use every scrap.

Complete every UFO.

Now I'm more interested in choosing a theme.

Maybe your theme is:

Use What You Have - Maybe you want to shop your stash before buying more fabric.

Finish What You Started - Maybe it's finally time to tackle those UFOs.

Learn Something New - Maybe you want to try appliqué, foundation paper piecing, or free-motion quilting.

Quilt More Joyfully - Maybe you simply want to remove the pressure and enjoy the process again.

My theme for the rest of 2026 is simple:

Finish what I started that is still important to me.

That's an important distinction.

I have a bad habit of forcing myself to finish projects I no longer care about simply because I started them.

This year, I want to focus my energy on the projects that still excite me.

Clarity Over Certainty

None of us know exactly what the next six months will bring.

Life will change.

Plans will shift.

New opportunities will appear.

We won't get certainty.

But we can create clarity.

When we know what matters most, it's easier to take the next step.

I probably won't finish every quilt I dream about this year.

But I don't need to.

If I can identify the projects that matter most and take small steps toward them, that's enough.

The goal isn't finishing everything.

The goal is spending more time creating and less time wondering where to start.

Join the Mid-Year Quilting Reset

If you're looking at the second half of the year and wondering:

• Which projects should I focus on?

• What fabric do I already own?

• What do I actually want to make next?

Download the Mid-Year Quilting Reset.

Together we'll reflect on the first half of the year, identify what matters most, and create a simple plan for the months ahead.

No guilt. No pressure.

Just a little more clarity for the rest of your quilting year.