Note: this post was originally published in December of 2016 and updated in January 2019. Hello! I’m trying to stay in organization mode right now…I have an entire week without too many commitments, and I’ve been careful to set aside this week for organizing and for some “just for me” sewing! I hope you’ll enjoy today’s post on 5 Tips for Setting Quilting Goals.
5 Tips for Setting Quilting Goals
The beginning of the year is the perfect time to take stock, evaluate, and set some realistic goals for the upcoming year! Here are some of my favorite ideas for getting organized so that you can have fun and accomplish your goals at the same time!
1. Review the projects you worked on and completed this year.
First, I’m always surprised to find that I’ve actually completed more projects than I realized. Reviewing the prior year’s projects is one of the most helpful tools for setting realistic quilting and sewing goals for the coming year.
2. Make a list of your finishes.
Next, I like to list my finishes from the prior year according to category. Some of the categories I used this year are: quilts, small quilts, bags, pillows, wall hangings, and accessories. Listing finishes like this helps us to realize how we spent our time. This process can also help us to evaluate what types of projects we want to focus on for the upcoming year.
3. Make a list of your works in progress.
Use any method for this. It’s helpful to have a paper list of works in progress to keep in the sewing room (and refer to as needed). For a terrific free download, AllPeopleQuilt has this handy form for tracking 12 projects. The most helpful part of this list is the status column. Even if you don’t finish this project, you can at least note your progress at the end of the year.
4. Make a list of projects you’d like to start this year.
This is always the most fun: there are so many possibilities! I am constantly thinking of new projects I want to work on. When I fail to write them down they just don’t get made. I try to keep this list to a dozen projects or fewer since I know more will get added to this list as the year goes on. Sometimes projects on this list never get started. And something else might replace it before I get to it. But I definitely feel like having this list keeps me from forgetting about a lot of want-to-makes.
5. Clean off all of your sewing and quilting work surfaces.
For me this always means cleaning off my cutting table, my sewing machine table, and my ironing board–these are the places where I tend to accumulate clutter! Try not to get distracted by fabric and projects you might find while doing this task. If you don’t have a designated place for some of your sewing tasks, make a concentrated effort to keep the areas you use extra clean: I did all of my cutting and sewing for over 15 years on our dining room table (not ideal, but you can make it work)!
I hope some of these ideas on 5 Tips for Setting Quilting Goals will be of help to you as your get ready for the new year. You might also enjoy: 10 Tips for a Great Year of Quilting. Happy quilting, and thanks so much for stopping by!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Quilting Dee says
I usually make a list of UFO's. After reading your post, a new positive list will happen. I'll like adding future projects too.
D
Brita says
Me, too. I make a UFO list, but didn't think to list those I finished, and especially projects I want to make. A friend gave me a journal last CHristmas, and I've written a few things, but I'm going to add the things you suggested. Thank you, and have a wonderful new year!
Brita says
Me, too. I make a UFO list, but didn't think to list those I finished, and especially projects I want to make. A friend gave me a journal last CHristmas, and I've written a few things, but I'm going to add the things you suggested. Thank you, and have a wonderful new year!
Jeanna says
These are great tips, Sherry. Will you BOM be scrappy so we can pull from our stash? Or do we wait for the first hint?
Tracey Holzer says
Great tips, Sherri! Your FW is coming along, heh? I'm excited to read more on your Block of the Month!! Enjoy the rest of '16!!
Jan A. says
Sherri, thanks for the great tips. I need to sit down and really go over what quilts I want to make in 2017. I have thoughts scattered all over and it would be great to have a single list.
Margaret says
Those are great suggestions, Sherri, and you have motivated me to get started organizing. Thanks a lot, and Happy New Year!
Hildy says
Thanks for you great tips especially the one with the positive list I always tend to focus on the projects I didn't finish.
A BOM from you? That sounds amazing!
Janice says
Those are great tips! Thanks so much for getting us going in organizing. While making my finished list, it surprised me how much I had actually accomplished! This year, I want to set a goal of documenting my work better. It inspires me to look back at my "finishes".
Deonn says
Thanks Sherrie, these are excellent suggestions – especially the one about cleaning off surfaces. I have lots of surfaces in my sewing/quilting rooms, and it seems that by the end of the year, I'm so buried in projects that there's not time to do much more than clear a path to the machine! And yes, becoming distracted by all the pretties is definitely a problem when cleaning up! I think I need a "sponsor" to come and check on me while I go through my little piles this week, getting all ready for another great year of making. Best wishes to you for a Happy New Year, and I look forward to your Mystery Block of the Month!
JanetD says
Thanks for your tips! I keep a little quilting journal where I write down my finishes by date and recipient. It's fun to review at year's end. I also start a spread sheet every January with my wip's and projects I'd like to make. I lost each step of the process and color it in as I go. Hoping to get a few more projects finished in these last days! Looking forward to your Bom!
Lucy says
Sherri, Thanks for all your tips. I just keep track of what I sew each day in a quilting diary, I will want to try your tips, I enjoy your blog and all your
tutorials. You make such great things.
Cathy Calloway says
I did 1 – 4 today. #5 will be a challenge! Good tips for how to start the new year. Thank you.
Janan Doster says
What great suggestions! We have just closed in our backporch to make it into my sewing room, I have a clean space, clean slate!! This weekend I will be starting to place my quilting things in there. I am super excited!!! I also purchased Lori Holts new Scrappy Project Planner and I hope to be pretty organized and productive in the new year. I have just created and printed my FIRST 2 patterns, and I have several new ones in the sketch process right now too. I am also excited about this! I also make T-shirt quilts, and was able to create two of those last year for my customers. Stop by my little blog for a visit: vintagebloomsquiltdesigns.blogspot.com
Diane Warburton says
This is useful handy info. I'm having a 'finish-a-long club in 2017, so i'my going to share this post with them. I particularly like the idea of noting what we finished this year first. That's a great mindset method.
Thanks.
Diane
Pat Gottshalk says
Thanks for the reminder that our glass is half full.
cherylh says
Dear Sherrie,
I am so happy that you came to our Flying Geese Quilt Guild, and that I discovered you. I always read everything you post (sooner or later) and you just seem to know how to make our lives as quilters and sewers so much better. I'd say in Yiddish you have "seichle", which means you are very wise. I am going to print out this amazing list of lists, and I am hoping I will follow it (and not misplace my lists, LOL) and figure out what I am doing.
Wishing you a satisfying, productive, and happy New Year.
Cherylh
Connie Kresin Campbell says
Great tips Sherri, I'm a list maker also and it really helps!
Bonnie says
Nice list of things to do as 2016 winds down. I already keep a running list of UFO's with status on my computer. At the end of each year I remove the finished items and add items I didn't finish to it. I am trying to finish a ridiculous number of UFOs and not start new UFOs. But the idea of keeping a separate list of finishes intrigues me. Must see if I can remember what I finished this year — which wasn't all that much compared to previous years. Then on to some new goals for me. Thanks for sharing this list.
Nann says
Thanks for the concise listing, Sherri.
I will post my annual reckoning on January 1. That summarizes my quilting year. In 2017 I'm going to challenge myself to try a couple of more ambitious (trickier) projects.
Stitches Quilting says
Love your post Sherri! Thanks. I need to post something similar. I love your idea of toting down things that I have already completed small or large. Even blog hop project along with their posts are an accomplishment along with writing patterns!!! Deanna
Carole Milner says
I have found a great way to keep track of my projects. It is an app called Quiltful. You can enter the project and update your progress at an time. You can even enter pictures of the project, fabric patterns, anything. One of the best things is since you always have your phone you can see your list at any time.
Monica Kostak says
i am in the office working on my UFO list and what i want to do list etc….i normally carry my little notebook with me. I know my last years UFO’s will become this years…. I didn’t by any fabric over the holidays and will work on sewing my stash, finishing my UFO’s and utilizing my Accuquilt, embroidery machine and my Brother Scan n Cut, which I’m still scared of, at least once a month, with my regular sewing ….I wasn’t planning on any quilt alongs or BOM programs either. My daughter gets married in November, I’m planning a shower too, and a new grand-baby in April, and my daughter graduates with her Master’s in may. I have enough to do…to finish. nd need to continue to work on my list and plan my sewing and crafting accordingly….