Is it too early to start thinking about quilting projects for 2027? Someone told me once that they thought of September as the real start of a year ahead. Some part of that thought sits well with me.
For some quilters, the idea of planning next year’s projects in October might sound a little premature. There are still quilts to finish, holiday projects to make, and probably more than a few UFOs waiting patiently for attention.
But I’ve been thinking about what my own quilting plans for 2026 were, and I’ve come to a different conclusion. Maybe this is actually a pretty good time to start thinking about what’s next.
Not because we need another deadline or because we should have our entire year and every quilting project mapped out before January 1. And definitely not because everything we planned for 2026 should have been completed by now. Instead, the last few months of the year give us a chance to pause, look back at what we thought we were going to do, and consider what we really want to carry forward. I find that taking a breath and looking back – and then forward is extremely helpful.
When Life Gets in the Way of Quilting Plans
I started 2026 with plenty of ideas. There were projects already in the works, projects I wanted to begin, and some new ideas I was excited to pursue. I had plans for my creative time and a pretty good idea of what I hoped to accomplish.
And then life happened …
Serious family health issues, eldercare responsibilities, and other things that simply needed my time and attention changed the way this year unfolded. My creative plans didn’t disappear, but they moved down the priority list (way down the list). I’m guessing I’m not the only quilter who has experienced something like this. So many of you I’ve talked with recently, had a year where, while the details were different, the impact on our creative plans was very similar.
Sometimes the reason a quilt doesn’t get finished has nothing to do with motivation, organization, or discipline. There are simply times when more important things demand our attention. That’s life, and it doesn’t make the unfinished quilt any less worthwhile.
The problem is that we can still be awfully hard on ourselves about those unfinished projects (or is that just me?) We remember what we planned to accomplish and forget everything else that happened along the way. Before I start planning 2027, I think it’s worth taking a little time to look honestly at 2026, not to make a list of everything I didn’t finish, but to see what the year actually taught me.
Before We Plan 2027, Let’s Look at 2026
Take a look at the quilting projects you thought you’d be working on this year. What happened? Maybe you finished everything on your list, and if so, congratulations! If you didn’t, though, don’t automatically label the year a failure. Instead, ask yourself a few different questions.
What did I actually finish?
Those projects count, even if they weren’t on your original list. Sometimes the projects that get completed are the ones that fit the moment, rather than the ones we carefully planned months earlier.
What am I still excited about?
Some projects have a way of staying in our thoughts even when they’ve been sitting untouched for months. If you still find yourself thinking about a particular quilt, that’s probably worth paying attention to.
Which projects no longer appeal to me?
It’s perfectly okay to change your mind. Something that seemed irresistible six months ago may not interest you anymore, and there’s no rule that says you have to finish every project simply because you once decided to make it.
Which quilting projects were postponed because something else became more important?
This is an especially important question. A postponed quilt isn’t necessarily an abandoned quilt. Sometimes it is simply a project waiting for its turn.
Did my plans reflect the quilter I was at the beginning of 2026, or the quilter I am now?
We’re allowed to change. Our interests change, our skills change, our available time changes, and sometimes our priorities change dramatically. Our quilting plans can change, too.
Give Yourself Credit for What DID Happen
When we look back at a year of quilting, it’s easy to measure success by finished quilts. Finished quilts certainly deserve to be celebrated, but they aren’t the only evidence of a productive creative year.
Maybe you learned a new technique, experimented with color, or finally figured out how to use a tool that had been sitting in your sewing room. Perhaps you organized your fabric, went to a quilt show, attended a retreat, took a class, or spent an afternoon talking about quilts with friends. You may have helped someone else with a project or started something completely unexpected.
Even finding a little time to sit at your sewing machine when you really needed it counts. Some years are about finishing, while others are about learning, experimenting, gathering inspiration, or simply getting through the year while keeping a little space for creativity.
There’s no rule that says every quilting year has to look the same.
Decide Which Quilting Projects Come With You Into 2027
Once you’ve looked honestly at the year behind you, it’s time to think about the quilting projects already surrounding you. Rather than immediately creating a list of everything you’d like to make next year, sort the projects you already have into three simple categories.
1 – Carry Forward:
These are the quilting projects you genuinely still want to make. Maybe you’ve already purchased the fabric, made some of the blocks, or simply been thinking about the project for months and still can’t wait to make it. Those are the projects worth carrying forward.
2 – Let Go:
This can be a surprisingly freeing category. Some quilting projects have been sitting around because we feel like we should finish them. If you don’t like the fabric anymore, don’t care for the pattern, have lost interest in the project, or simply can’t remember why you wanted to make it in the first place, perhaps it’s time to let it go.
Giving yourself permission to abandon a project isn’t failure. Sometimes it’s good quilty housekeeping. I have a box I use to gather these “Let It Go” items, and I make periodic donations to my quilt guild for our annual auction.
3 – Maybe:
Then there are the projects you’re not ready to give up but aren’t ready to commit to either. That’s okay, too. You don’t have to make every decision right now. Sometimes “not now” is a perfectly good quilting plan.
Start Thinking About Your 2027 Quilting Wish List
Once you’ve cleared away some of the pressure, you can start thinking about what you’d like to make next year. Notice that I’m calling this a wish list, not a to-do list. There’s a reason for that. A to-do list can make quilting feel like work, while a wish list leaves room for possibility.
Perhaps your 2027 list will include a project that stretches your skills, something that’s simply fun, or a quilt you’ve wanted to make for years. You might include a small project you can finish fairly quickly, something that uses fabric already in your stash, or a project that gives you an opportunity to experiment with a new technique or idea.
Most importantly, leave a little room for inspiration. Leave room for the project you haven’t discovered yet. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about quilting, it’s that the project we never planned for can sometimes become the one we’re most excited to make.
What Can You Do Now to Make 2027 Easier?
You don’t have to start sewing your 2027 quilting projects in October. There are plenty of things you can do now that will make the actual sewing more enjoyable when the new year arrives.
October: Take Inventory
- Start by looking at what you already have. Pull out your UFOs, kits, patterns, pre-cuts, fabrics, and projects in progress. Do you already have everything you need for some of the projects on your list? Are there projects that need only one or two missing supplies? Is there fabric you’ve been saving for “the right project” that might finally have a purpose?
- This is also a good time to take a realistic look at your sewing space. You don’t have to reorganize the entire room or embark on a major cleaning project. Even a little clearing and sorting can make it easier to begin something new.
November: Make Some Decisions
- Once you’ve taken inventory, start making choices. Which projects are definitely coming with you into 2027? Which ones belong in the “maybe” pile, and which ones are ready to be released?
- This might also be a good time to think about how many projects you realistically want to have underway at one time. There is no prize for having the longest project list. Five projects you’re genuinely excited about may serve you much better than twenty-five projects that make you feel behind before you’ve even started.
December: Prepare
- December can be a wonderful month for preparing projects without putting pressure on yourself to actually make them. Gather fabrics, find missing supplies, print patterns, organize project bags, and cut fabric for a project or two if that sounds appealing.
- You could also make a simple list of what needs to happen before each project is ready to sew. Consider creating at least one ready-to-sew project so that when you sit down at your sewing machine, everything you need is already waiting for you.
There’s something wonderful about opening a project bag and discovering that you don’t have to spend the first hour figuring out what comes next. No searching, no cutting, and no wondering where that one particular ruler ended up. You can simply sew.
Maybe 2027 Doesn’t Need a Perfect Plan
The more trips around the sun I gather, the less interested I am in creating a perfect plan. I still like having direction, and I still enjoy looking ahead and thinking about the projects I’d like to make. At the same time, I’ve learned that plans have to leave room for real life.
There will be interruptions and unexpected responsibilities. New ideas will appear, and there will be days when quilting is exactly what you need as well as days when it is the last thing on your mind. That’s okay.
Planning your quilting projects for 2027 isn’t about predicting exactly how many quilts you’ll finish. It’s about giving yourself some direction, identifying the projects that still make you smile, and preparing your sewing space, your supplies, and your imagination for the year ahead.
Most importantly, quilting is supposed to bring something good into your life. It doesn’t need to become another measure of whether you’ve accomplished enough.
Start Where You Are
So, yes, I’m thinking about 2027 already. Not because I’m finished with 2026. I’m definitely not. And not because I expect every project on my 2027 wish list to become a finished quilt.
I’m thinking about next year because this is a good time to pause, reflect, and make a little room for what’s ahead. I’ll look at the projects I planned for 2026, celebrate the ones I finished, reconsider the ones that no longer fit, and carry forward the ones that still make me excited to sew.
Then I’ll make a wish list for 2027. Not a contract. Not a deadline. Just a collection of possibilities.
We never really know what the next year will bring, but we can make sure we’re ready for a little more creativity when the opportunity comes along.
Happy Stitching!