Are you ready to plan your quilting projects for 2026? Since this is the year for being organized, let’s get started.

Let’s start with our list from yesterday, our WIPs and UFOs. Which of those are your priorities to complete? There are probably one or two that are going to the top of the list.

Next, do you have any deadlines for this year? Baby quilts, gift quilts? Obviously those are going to be high on the list. Make a yearly calendar of anything that needs to be completed by a specific time.

Then, are there quilting projects that you wanted to do last year, but never got to? Or, are there some upcoming BOMs or sew-alongs that edge those projects down a notch or two? Prioritize your list with the projects you must finish and those you are most eager to begin.

Feeling organized yet? The cool thing about all these things on your list is that they can be juggled. WIPs can be worked on between monthly BOMs, which are typically just a block a month.
Many sew-alongs start at the beginning of the year, so you will want to get yourself ready with fabrics and supplies. Upcoming sew-alongs and BOMs will always include a preliminary information sheet outlining your fabric requirements and needed supplies for the projects. Make your shopping list, pull from your stash, and note the start date on your calendar.

For now, start with one or two projects and plan accordingly. The idea is that you “kit up” and get your ducks in a row before the project’s start date. Print out the materials list, starch and press that fabric, find a storage bin for the fabric and block, get the rulers and other materials lined up and ready to use.

Are you like me and get distracted by new and exciting projects throughout the year? Well, factor that into the equation and allow space for some spontaneity! If you fall in love with a new project out of the blue, by no means should you feel guilty about making room for it in your quilting agenda. Several times during the year, assess your list and see what is working for you. Maybe there is a project or two you can move down the priority level or even remove from the list. The point is to work on what is exciting for you and what gives you joy.

You are probably getting the idea that my organizational plan is somewhat fluid. I think that is ok. I have a rough idea of what I would like to accomplish, but it isn’t carved in stone. For the first projects of the year, those WIPs that have to be finished and the one or two BOMs or sew-alongs that start in January, by all means, get yourself organized. Every quarter, reassess the situation and make adjustments.

We’ve filled our notebook with lists and ideas, but there is something else to consider. One of the most important things about getting organized is planning the time to work on your project. It is all well and good to make lists of what you’d like to do and when it needs to be finished, but when exactly is it all going to happen? I highly recommend establishing a daily routine that includes designated sewing time. For me, this is usually after I have my coffee, check my email, get dressed and maybe walk the dog. By then, it is around 9:30. I go up to the sewing room, and I work on something until at least noon. You would be surprised at how much you can accomplish in two and a half hours a day! And hey, if you don’t have two and a half hours, see what you can do in one hour. Just get into your sewing space and do something.

I hope my thoughts on getting organized for a new year of sewing have been helpful. You may have your own methods of figuring out what to work on throughout the year, but the important thing is to have some idea of what you have going on and what you would like to accomplish. Happy sewing!