Exciting Additions

In last month’s blog, I shared the six projects I did not finish in 2025. Those unfinished pieces have now officially rolled over to my 2026 to-do list. One would think the sensible approach would be to focus exclusively on completing those six lingering projects before even considering anything new. That would certainly be the practical choice. But if you know me at all, you know that’s not how I operate. Sticking only to old projects feels a little too structured—and not nearly as exciting. So, true to form, I’ve added five more projects to my ever-growing list!

A new baby in the family definitely means new inspiration. Lindsay is expecting our fourth grandchild in just a few weeks, and I can hardly wait. Of course, a new grandbaby calls for a new counted cross-stitch Christmas stocking to hang on our mantel. I’ve already started stitching, knowing full well this labor-intensive project will take about six months to complete. I usually work on it in the evenings while winding down from the day. There’s something incredibly soothing about the repetitive motion of cross-stitching. The steady rhythm of needle and thread, the gradual appearance of a design row by row—it’s slow progress, but deeply satisfying. By the time December arrives, I’ll have another handmade treasure ready to welcome our newest family member.

Keeping with the baby theme, I’ve also started a quilt to hang on the nursery wall. Since Lindsay and Dustin decided to wait until birth to find out the baby’s gender, she chose a delightfully gender-neutral theme: puppies! After browsing online, she found an adorable pattern called Dogs Only, designed by Made By Marney. The quilt includes eleven puppy blocks and two paw-print blocks. Among the featured breeds are a dachshund, a beagle, a West Highland Terrier, a Saint Bernard, and an Airedale Terrier. Each block has its own personality, and watching those sweet puppy faces come together has been such a joy. Because I’m especially fond of paper piecing, this pattern has been right up my alley.

My next project was inspired by the Panama Quilt Guild. At one of last year’s meetings, members brought sewing machines, irons, and piles of fabric strips to create string quilt blocks together. It was such a fun, collaborative experience—and a fantastic way to use leftover fabric. At our final meeting of the year, our leader challenged us to make a scrappy quilt for donation to our chosen charity. I immediately knew I wanted to participate. I dove into my bin of fabric strips and was pleased to discover even more tucked away in my stash. Before long, I had sewn thirty 15-inch blocks. Now I just need to assemble them into a quilt top and add the quilting.

My fourth project comes from a kit I purchased last year from Connecting Threads during one of their tempting Daily Deal specials that arrives in my inbox each morning. Over the years, I’ve made several quilts from their kits and have always been pleased with the results. Their instructions are clear, the fabrics are high quality, and I almost always have leftovers for future scrap projects. This particular kit, called Tea in the Parlor, features a two-block design in black, teal, blue, and cream. I stitched the strip sets together during our guild’s sew days last month and am now ready to assemble the blocks. I’m hoping to make solid progress at our next sew days gathering.

Finally, Lindsay has requested a new Christmas tree skirt to add to her holiday décor. I have several patterns waiting in the wings, so my next step is simply choosing which design to make. It’s a good dilemma to have.

Just like in years past, I begin this year full of hope that I can complete many—if not all—of the projects on my list. Realistically, if I finish at least six, I’ll consider that a success.

So tell me, what’s on your to-do list for 2026?