✨🧵 New Year, 12 New Quilting Goals for a Confident, Joyful Year
(Because fabric is cheaper than therapy… mostly. 😉🧵)
With the start of a new year comes a flood of resolutions - exercise more, eat better, declutter everything, become a whole new person by February.
They're all well-intentioned.
They're also often abandoned somewhere between January 12th and the leftover holiday chocolate.
We know the real, lasting self-improvement happens in the sewing room.
But quilters?
This year, instead of setting goals rooted in pressure or perfection, let's set quilting goals that actually stick - goals that spark curiosity, build confidence, and make you want to sit down and sew.
No guilt.
No productivity shame.
Just progress, joy, and finished quilts.
Here are 12 New Year Quilting Goals (one for each month) to inspire your creative year ahead.
🧩 1. Try a New Pattern
You know the one.
The pattern you bought, printed, folded neatly… and then emotionally labeled “someday.”
✨ How to Actually Do This (Without Crying Into Your Fabric)
Trying a new pattern is supposed to be exciting - not an emotional endurance test. The goal isn't to prove anything. It's to stretch your skills just enough to feel proud of yourself when it clicks.
Here's how to make that happen in real life:
a. Choose a pattern that excites you… but doesn't absolutely terrify you.
If your first reaction is “Ooooh, I love this!” - good.
If your second reaction is “Wait… what are those blocks doing?” - also good.
If your third reaction is “I will never emotionally recover from this” - maybe save that one for later.
b. Great “stretch but not panic” patterns often include:
· simple layouts with interesting negative space
· large blocks that show off fabric (less piecing, more impact)
· one new element - not five (new block or new layout or new technique)
Soaring High Pattern by Lorna Costantini / Quilt Created by Stephanie Baisley
c. Actually read the pattern before cutting fabric.
Yes. The whole thing.
I know it feels rebellious to skip this step, but trust me - five minutes of reading can save you an hour of seam-ripping and questioning your life choices.
Pro tip: read it once with coffee, once with fabric nearby. Patterns behave differently when fabric is watching.
Commit to learning, not perfection.
This is big.
New patterns are not the place to demand flawless points, laser-straight seams, and instant mastery.
They are the place for:
Ø “Ohhh, that's how that works”
Ø “Well, that's… slightly off”
Ø “Next time, I'll know better”
That is success.
ü Let the first block be ugly. Seriously.
ü The first block is not the final exam.
ü It's a practice run. A rehearsal. A warm-up stretch for your brain.
Name it if you need to.
Ø “The Experimental Block.”
Ø “The Sacrificial Block.”
Ø “The One That Teaches the Lesson.”
Things usually improve dramatically after block one realizes it's not under pressure anymore.
Try patterns that introduce just one new skill.
If you're unsure where to start, look for patterns that gently introduce:
Ø curves with larger pieces (friendlier than tiny ones)
Ø angled seams without Y-seams
Ø improv elements with structure (guided improv is a gift)
Ø modern layouts that rely on colour and value, not complexity
You're building confidence, not climbing Everest in flip-flops.
Remind yourself: frustration is part of the process.
If a pattern stretches your brain, it might also stretch your patience. That doesn't mean you chose wrong - it means you're learning.
Take breaks. Walk away. Make tea.
Fabric is much more cooperative when you're not glaring at it.
New patterns don't just teach you construction - they teach you how you learn, how you problem-solve, and how capable you actually are.
And that's worth a few wonky blocks along the way. ☀🧵
Foundation Paper Piecing
Deco Daybreak by Whole Circle Studio
Curves
the Daybreak Quilt by The Geeky Bobbin
Improv (Gentle Guidance)
Lilla by Cheryl Arkison & Lotta Jansdotter
Precision Piecing & Matching Points
Upscale Plaid by Lo & Behold Stitchery
Half Square Rectangles (Intimidating but Amazing!!)
Quadrant Court by Sassafras Lane Designs
🌀 2. Learn a New Techniques
Curves. Improv. Y-seams. Bias edges. (Yes, Even Those Ones)
Anything that makes you whisper, “I don't know about this…” while slowly backing away from your cutting table.
That little voice? It doesn't mean you shouldn't try.
It means you've found the edge of your comfort zone - and that's exactly where learning lives.
The trick is making new techniques feel curious, not catastrophic.
✨ How to Make This Less Scary (and Way More Doable)
Practice on scraps. Truly.
Scraps exist for bravery.
They are emotionally expendable. You cannot hurt their feelings.
Use scraps to:
Ø sew one curve without committing to a whole quilt
Ø test a Y-seam just once
Ø play with improv without worrying about “wasting good fabric”
Scraps say, “Go ahead. Try. We've got nothing to lose.”
Expect awkward results at first.
Your first attempt is not supposed to be good.
It's supposed to teach you something.
New techniques often look like:
§ seams that don't quite meet
§ pieces that look
suspiciously like they're leaning
§ moments of “Why is this shaped like this???”
That's not failure - that's information.
Watch one tutorial. Maybe two. Then stop.
· Over-research is just procrastination in a fancy hat.
· One clear video or step-by-step guide is plenty. After that, your brain is full and your confidence starts leaking out.
Learn by doing. Fabric is a better teacher than YouTube spirals.
Sew slower than you think you need to. And breathe.
Fabric can sense panic.
It thrives on calm, gentle guidance.
Slow stitching helps with:
§ curves behaving themselves
§ bias edges not stretching into chaos
§ accuracy when things feel unfamiliar
There is no prize for speed when learning something new.
🌱 Gentle Technique Ideas to Try (Without Trauma)
If you want to stretch your skills without emotionally scarring yourself, start here:
Curves (Friendly Version):
§ look for patterns with larger curve pieces
§ avoid teeny-tiny curves at first (they are chaos goblins)
§ pin or clip generously - this is not the time to be minimalist
Curves are less scary once you realize they're just… seams that don't go straight.
Drunkard Path Quilt by Ethel Baisley
Improve Drunkard Path Blocks - Workshop with Cheryl Arkison
Improv (With a Safety Net):
§ start with guided improv or improv blocks inside a grid
§ limit your colour palette (too many choices = panic)
§ give yourself size constraints (“this block must end up 12½ inches”)
§ set a design guide constraints (creating an improv block based on a traditional design
Improv is freedom, not anarchy and one my favorite ways to be creative.
Y-Seams (The Reputation Is Worse Than the Reality):
§ try one Y-seam block, not a whole quilt
§ mark the seam intersection clearly
§ stop stitching exactly at the point - not past it, not “close enough”
Y-seams are dramatic but manageable once you understand the stopping point.
The Gypsy Wife by Jen Kingswell - crafted by Stephanie Baisley
(Beautiful Quilt Design but Y-Seams are Required)
Bias Edges (Handle With Care):
§ starch is your friend
§ minimal handling is your goal
§ cut, sew, and move on - don't fondle the fabric (we've all done it)
Bias edges misbehave when they're overhandled. Be firm but kind.
Boomerang Quilt Pattern by Jaybird Quilts - created by Stephanie
🧠 A Helpful Mindset Shift
Instead of asking:
“Am I doing this right?”
Try:
“What is this teaching me?”
That single question lowers the stakes and turns frustration into progress.
💛 The Truth No One Admits Out Loud
No one nails a new technique immediately.
Anyone who says they did is either lying… or blocking out trauma.
Every confident quilter you admire once:
ü mangled a curve
ü swore at a Y-seam
ü wondered why they chose this hobby
They kept going anyway.
And you can too - one brave scrap at a time. ☀🧵
3. Refining Your Quilting Skills (A.K.A. the Quiet Glow-Up)
This is the kind of quilting goal that doesn't look flashy on Instagram…
but suddenly your blocks fit better, your quilts lie flatter, and you feel mysteriously more confident.
No dramatic overhauls required.
Just a handful of small tweaks that quietly level you up.
Think of it as the quilting equivalent of good lighting and comfy shoes.
✨ Small Refinements That Make a Big Difference
Change your needle more often. Please.
If your machine starts sounding like it's punching fabric instead of sewing it, that needle has emotionally checked out.
A fresh needle:
· makes smoother stitches
· reduces skipped stitches
· is cheaper than wondering what's “wrong” with your machine
If in doubt, change it. Future-you will thank you.
Press - don't iron like you're mad at the fabric.
Your fabric is sensitive. It wants encouragement, not aggression.
Pressing means:
· lift, place, press, lift
· no dramatic back-and-forth scrubbing
· no stretching seams into existential crisis
Gentle pressing keeps your blocks:
✔ flatter
✔ more accurate
✔ less… wavy
Check your seam allowance occasionally (not obsessively).
You don't need to measure every seam like you're being graded.
But every now and then:
· sew a test seam
· measure it
· adjust if needed
Think of it as checking your map - not second-guessing every turn.
Slow down just enough to stay accurate.
Speed is great… until it's not
Slowing down helps with:
· matching points
· keeping seams straight
· avoiding that “why is this block bigger than the other one?” moment
You don't get bonus points for racing your sewing machine.
🧵 Skill-Refining Techniques Worth Trying
If you want to refine your skills without reinventing the wheel, try introducing one of these into your next project:
Chain piecing with intention
Still chain piece - just pause occasionally to check accuracy. Efficiency and quality can coexist.
Leaders and enders
Use those tiny leftover pieces to keep threads tidy and reduce waste. Bonus: fewer bird's nests.
Press seams intentionally
Try pressing:
· to the dark
· open (when it makes sense)
· in consistent directions for nesting
Small pressing choices make assembly smoother.
🧩 Patterns That Help You Refine Skills
Some patterns are sneaky teachers.
Look for:
· simple block patterns that repeat (great for consistency)
· designs that rely on alignment and value instead of complexity
· patterns with fewer pieces per block (less chaos, more focus)
When the pattern is simple, your skills get the spotlight.
🧠 A Gentle Mindset Shift
Refining skills isn't about being “better” than anyone else.
It's about making quilting feel calmer, smoother, and more enjoyable for you.
When things line up more easily, you relax.
When you relax, you sew better.
When you sew better, quilting becomes more fun.
Funny how that works.
💛 The Big Reminder
Ø You don't need to sew faster.
Ø You don't need to sew harder.
Ø You don't need to buy every new tool.
Ø You just need to sew a little more intentionally - and let the small wins stack up.
That's the quiet glow-up. And it looks really good on you. ☀🧵
🎨 4. Build Colour Confidence (Without Spiraling)
Let's clear this up right away: colour confidence is not something you're born with.
There is no secret quilter gene that makes some people “good at colour” and others doomed to second-guess forever.
Colour confidence is built - slowly, gently, one fabric pull at a time.
And yes, everyone (even the confident-looking quilters) has stood in front of a fabric stack thinking,
“Why does this feel harder than it should?”
You're not doing it wrong. You're learning.
✨ Practical Ways to Grow Colour Confidence (That Actually Work)
Pull fabrics and look at them in natural light.
Quilt shop lighting lies. Sewing room lighting exaggerates. Evening lighting is a chaos goblin.
a. Take your fabric pull near a window if you can. Suddenly:
ü colours behave differently
ü values become clearer
ü that “something feels off” feeling often makes sense
Fabric wants daylight truth.
b. Step back - distance reveals value.
When you're nose-to-fabric, everything looks equally important.
Take a few steps back. Squint a little.
If the shapes disappear, you may need more contrast. If your eyes know exactly where to go, you're on the right track.
Yes, squinting at fabric is a legitimate quilting technique.
c. Take a photo in black & white to check contrast.
This one feels almost too simple - but it works every time.
Your phone removes the colour drama and shows you:
ü where light and dark live
ü which fabrics blend together
ü whether your quilt will read clearly
If it works in black & white, it will work in colour.
Ø Trust your gut more than your fear.
Ø Your first instinct is often right.
Ø Your second thought is usually fear pretending to be logic.
If you keep reaching for the same types of colours, that's not a flaw - that's a style. Consistency is confidence in disguise.
🧵 Techniques That Build Colour Confidence (Sneakily)
If colour feels intimidating, let the pattern help you learn.
Try patterns that:
ü repeat simple blocks (less piecing stress = more colour focus)
ü rely on value contrast instead of complexity
ü use negative space to let colour breathe
These patterns teach your eye without overwhelming your brain.
🧩 Gentle Pattern & Technique Ideas to Try
ü Two- or three-colour quilts
ü Limiting your palette reduces overwhelm and sharpens decision-making.
ü Monochrome quilts with value variation
ü One colour, many shades = instant value training.
ü Scrappy backgrounds with a consistent foreground
ü Great for learning how contrast works across variety.
ü Colour swaps in the same pattern
Make the same block with different colour placements and watch how the mood changes.
It's like a masterclass in colour - without the lecture. Moda has great examples of this exercise.
🧠 A Helpful Reframe
Instead of asking:
“Do these colours go together?”
Try asking:
“What job is each colour doing?”
Background. Focus. Accent. Movement.
When colours have roles, decisions feel calmer.
💛 The Big Truth About Colour Confidence
The goal isn't perfect colour.
It's intentional colour.
ü Colour that supports the design.
ü Colour that feels good to sew.
ü Colour that you actually want to live with.
And guess what? That skill gets easier every single time you practice.
☀ Coming Soon: Colour Confidence Skill Builder 🎨
If you're reading this thinking, “I want more guidance without feeling overwhelmed,” you're in luck.
A Colour Confidence Skill Builder is coming soon - designed to help you:
· see value clearly
· trust your fabric pulls
· stop second-guessing
· and choose colour with calm confidence
Short lessons. Practical exercises. Zero pressure.
Stay tuned - your future fabric pulls are about to feel a whole lot easier. ☀🎨
🧵 5. Finish More Than You Start
(A Love Letter to Completion)
Starting a new project is thrilling.
Fresh pattern. Fresh fabric. Endless optimism.
Finishing a project, on the other hand?
That feels like a small miracle, a personal victory, and possibly a character achievement.
And yet… finishing is where confidence is built.
✨ How to Actually Finish Things (In the Real World)
Pick ONE project to focus on at a time.
I know. Rude.
But nothing slows progress like juggling five quilts at once, all competing for attention like needy toddlers.
Choose one project and make it the project until it's done. The others will wait. (They don't have a choice.)
Break it into tiny, non-intimidating steps.
“Finish the quilt” is too big. That's how we avoid things.
Try instead:
· “Sew borders”
· “Make the backing”
· “Quilt for 30 minutes”
· “Bind one side”
Tiny tasks feel doable - and done is contagious.
Schedule finishing tasks (yes, even binding).
Binding gets a bad reputation. Mostly because we leave it until the very end and then act surprised it didn't finish itself.
Put finishing steps on your calendar:
· quilting time
· trimming time
· binding time
Future-you loves a plan.
Choose finishing-friendly techniques.
If finishing feels like a slog, change how you finish.
Try:
· big stitch hand quilting for faster, more relaxed texture
· straight-line quilting for low-stress progress
· machine binding when needed (no guilt allowed)
Finished is better than perfect. Always.
🧩 Patterns That Help You Finish
Some patterns are designed for completion - they don't fight you.
Look for:
· large blocks (fewer pieces, faster wins)
· repeating blocks (muscle memory helps)
· simple layouts with strong colour impact
Confidence grows when projects actually cross the finish line.
🧠 A Helpful Mindset Shift
Instead of asking:
“Why haven't I finished this yet?”
Try:
“What's the next small step?”
Momentum comes from movement, not pressure.
🎉 Celebrate Finishes Loudly
ü Take photos.
ü Share them.
ü Hang the quilt.
ü Use the quilt.
Finished quilts deserve:
ü pride
ü visibility
ü snacks
You earned all of it.
💛 The Honest Truth
Finished quilts build confidence.
Unfinished ones quietly judge you from baskets, shelves, closets, and that one chair.
ü Finish the quilt.
ü Feel the confidence.
ü Repeat.
You've got this. ☀🧵
🗂 6. Organize One Small Area
(Repeat after me: not the whole studio.)
If you've ever said, “I'll just organize for a bit…” and then looked up three hours later surrounded by fabric piles and regret - you are not alone.
Organizing your entire sewing space is a trap. A beautifully labeled, time-sucking trap.
The goal here isn't perfection.
It's making your sewing time calmer and easier - without derailing your actual quilting.
✨ Keep This Goal Realistic (So You Actually Finish)
Choose one drawer, one bin, or one shelf.
Not a wall. Not a closet. Not “everything with scraps.”
Think:
§ the drawer where scissors go to disappear
§ the bin of “useful someday” notions
§ one shelf of fabric you actually reach for
If it fits on your table, you've chosen wisely.
Stop organizing when it's “better,” not perfect.
Perfection is how organizing turns into procrastination.
Better looks like:
§ you can find things again
§ nothing falls out when you open the drawer
§ your brain feels less tense
Close the drawer while you're winning.
Label if future-you needs help.
Future-you is creative, brilliant… and forgetful.
Simple labels save:
§ time
§ frustration
§ the “why do I have three of these?” moment
Painter's tape and a pen are perfectly acceptable. This is a quilt room, not a museum.
Walk away before it becomes a full-room spiral.
This is important.
The second you think:
“Well, while I'm here…”
That's your cue to stop.
Put things away. Take a breath. Go sew something. The studio will still exist tomorrow.
🧵 Organization That Supports Better Quilting
Organizing isn't about making things look pretty - it's about supporting your habits.
Try organizing by:
§ how often you use something (daily vs occasional)
§ project type (hand quilting, piecing, finishing)
§ “grab-and-go” tools you want within reach
If it helps you start sewing faster, it's working.
🧩 Small Technique Tweaks That Help Organization Stick
Create a “current project” zone
One bin or tray where everything for one project lives. Less setup, less mess, more progress.
Keep tools near where they're used
Scissors near cutting. Pins near the machine. Thread near b
oth. Revolutionary, honestly.
Corral scraps by size, not fantasy.
Let go of “I'll use this someday” scraps smaller than your patience. Keep what you actually reach for.
🧠 A Gentle Reframe
Organizing isn't about control.
It's about kindness.
§ Kindness to your time.
§ Kindness to your energy.
§ Kindness to the version of you who just wants to sit down and sew without digging through chaos.
💛 The Takeaway
Small organization wins create calmer sewing sessions.
Calmer sewing sessions create more quilting.
More quilting creates joy.
And that's the whole point. ☀🧵
🧶 7. Improve Your Relationship With Mistakes
(A.K.A. Stop Taking Quilt Errors Personally)
Let's say this out loud: mistakes happen.
They are not character flaws. They are not a sign you're “bad at quilting.” They are simply part of making things with your hands.
Every quilt has them. Even the beautiful ones. Especially the beautiful ones.
✨ A Gentler Way to Handle Mistakes
Ask: “Will this be visible from across the room?”
This question is magic.
If you have to:
§ squint
§ point
§ explain where to look
…then congratulations - it probably doesn't matter.
If not, consider letting it live.
Some mistakes are just… personality.
§ A slightly off point.
§ A seam that wandered a bit.
§ A block that's almost perfect.
These are not emergencies. They're evidence of a handmade process.
Use the seam ripper when it helps - not when it punishes.
The seam ripper is a tool, not a moral judge.
Ask yourself:
Will fixing this improve the quilt?
Or am I ripping because I feel annoyed at myself?
If it's the second one, step away. The quilt does not deserve your frustration.
Remember: quilts are not inspected by the Quilt Police.
No one is coming to check:
§ your seam allowance
§ your points
§ your life choices
Most people will say, “Wow, you made this?” and then wrap themselves in it immediately.
🧵 Techniques That Help You Make Peace With Mistakes
§ Improv or organic quilting designs (mistakes blend beautifully)
§ Big stitch hand quilting (forgiving, expressive, relaxed)
§ Scrappy patterns (perfection not required - variety is the point)
§ Textured quilting (the eye focuses on texture, not tiny errors)
Some techniques actually thrive on imperfection.
Nome Quilt Pattern by Lorna Costantini
💛 The Truth
Your quilt does not need to be flawless to be loved.
It needs to be finished, used, and enjoyed.
And honestly? A little wonkiness is how you know it's real.
🕰 8. Make Time for Short Sewing Sessions
(Because Waiting for “Someday” Is a Trap)
Waiting for a full, uninterrupted afternoon is how projects sit untouched for months.
Life is busy. Energy is limited.
Quilting still deserves a place - even in small doses.
✨ How to Make Short Sessions Actually Count
Keep one project set up and ready. 
If you have to:
§ dig out fabric
§ rethread the machine
§ remember where you left off
…you've already lost half your time.
One project. One spot. Ready to go.
Do one task at a time.
Not cutting and sewing and pressing.
Pick one:
§ cut pieces
§ sew seams
§ press blocks
Single-tasking is calmer and way more productive.
Set a timer for 20 minutes.
Short sessions feel less intimidating - and often turn into longer ones.
But even if they don't?
Twenty minutes still counts. Always.
Stop while it's still fun.
This is important.
Stopping mid-task:
§ preserves motivation
§ makes it easier to start again
§ keeps quilting joyful
Burnout is not a badge of honor.
🧩 Patterns & Techniques That Love Short Sessions
§ Block-based quilts (one block = one win)
§ Chain piecing (efficient and satisfying)
§ Hand stitching (easy to pick up and put down)
§ Simple, repeating layouts (no mental gymnastics required)
Just like the Tortoise and the Hare race, Consistency beats marathon sessions every single time.
🧵 9. Experiment With Thread
(Because Thread Deserves More Credit)
Thread is often treated like it's supposed to disappear quietly into the background.
But guess what?
It doesn't have to.
Thread can:
ü add texture
ü highlight design
ü change the mood of a quilt entirely
And experimenting with it is surprisingly low-risk.
✨ Easy, No-Stress Ways to Play With Thread
§ Try contrast thread on a scrap first.
§ Always test before committing.
§ Scraps exist to absorb our bold ideas.
You might be surprised how much you love contrast once you see it stitched.
§ Test different thread weights.
§ Thicker thread = more texture.
§ Finer thread = subtle detail.
Neither is better - they just do different jobs.
Use hand quilting as a design feature.
§ Big stitch quilting is forgiving, expressive, and deeply satisfying.
§ Uneven stitches? That's character.
§ Visible thread? That's the point.
§ Let thread show. It's allowed.
Baby Squash Blossom by Lorna Costantini
Your thread doesn't need to match perfectly.
It can:
§ echo a colour
§ add interest
§ guide the eye
Thread can be part of the design - not something to hide.
🧠 A Gentle Reframe
Instead of thinking:
“What thread won't be noticeable?”
Try:
“What thread will make this quilt more interesting?”
That's when things get fun.
💛 The Big Picture
ü Making peace with mistakes.
ü Showing up in small moments.
ü Letting thread be playful.
ü None of this is about perfection.
It's about building a quilting practice that fits your life - and makes you want to come back to it again and again.
And that? That's real confidence. ☀🧵
📚 10. Learn One Thing Deeply
(Because Trying to Learn Everything at Once Is a Fast Track to Burnout)
Trying to improve everything at the same time is exhausting.
It's also wildly ineffective.
Your brain can only absorb so much before it quietly shuts down and suggests reorganizing your thread instead.
The real confidence boost comes from choosing one thing and giving it your full attention - just for a little while.
✨ How to Choose Your “One Thing”
Pick the thing that currently makes you:
· hesitate
· second-guess
· sigh dramatically
That's usually where the biggest growth lives.
Great focus options include:
· colour value (seeing light, medium, dark clearly)
· pressing accuracy (flat blocks are underrated heroes)
· quilting density (how close or spaced quilting changes the feel)
· hand stitching technique (rhythm, stitch length, thread choice)
🧵 How to Learn It Without Overwhelm
Repeat instead of rushing.
Use the same technique in more than one project. Familiarity builds confidence faster than novelty.
Practice intentionally - not endlessly.
A few focused sessions beat hours of distracted sewing.
Notice improvement, not mastery.
If something feels slightly easier than last time, it's working.
🧩 Patterns That Support Deep Learning
Choose patterns that:
· repeat the same block or technique
· aren't overly complicated
· allow you to focus on the skill, not the instructions
Simple patterns are secretly the best teachers.
💛 The Reminder
You don't need to know everything.
You just need to know one thing better than you did last month.
That's how real confidence grows.
🪟 11. Let Your Quilts Be Yours
(Trends Are Optional. Joy Is Not.)
Trends are fun. They're inspiring. They can spark ideas.
But comparison?
That's the fastest way to forget why you started quilting in the first place.
Your quilts are allowed to look like you - not the algorithm.
✨ Ways to Protect Your Creative Voice
ü Make quilts you'd actually want in your home.
ü Not what's trending. Not what's popular.
ü What you would happily live with.
ü If you love neutrals - lean in.
ü If you love bold colour - go for it.
ü If you love both - congratulations, you contain multitudes.
Unfollow accounts that steal your joy.
If scrolling makes you feel:
v behind
v inadequate
v tense
It's okay to mute, unfollow, or take breaks. Inspiration should lift you up - not make you question yourself.
Remember: liking different things is allowed.
You don't need to justify your preferences.
Modern. Traditional. Minimal. Maximal.
There is room for all of it.
🧠 A Helpful Reframe
Instead of asking:
“Is this good enough?”
Try:
“Does this feel like me?”
That answer matters more.
💛 The Truth
Your style doesn't need approval.
It needs space to grow.
💛 12. Protect Your Joy
(The Most Important Quilting Goal of All)
This is the goal everything else supports.
· Skills matter.
· Accuracy helps.
· Confidence grows.
But joy?
Joy is the reason you're here.
✨ Ways to Guard It Fiercely (my favorite tips of all!!)
ü Ignore unsolicited opinions.
ü If you didn't ask for feedback, you're not required to absorb it.
ü Stop apologizing for being a beginner.
ü Everyone was new once. Literally everyone.
ü You don't need to shrink your excitement because you're still learning.
Celebrate progress - not perfection.
ü Did you learn something?
ü Did you finish something?
ü Did you enjoy yourself?
That counts. All of it counts.
Remember why you started quilting in the first place.
Maybe it was:
Ø creativity
Ø relaxation
Ø making something meaningful
Ø needing a break from everything else
That reason still matters.
🌟 Final Thought
Joy is not a bonus you earn after you get “good enough.”
It's the point.
Protect it. Nurture it.
Let it guide your quilting - and your goals.
You're doing better than you think. ☀🧵
Ready to Turn These Goals Into Practice? ☀🧵
If you're reading this and thinking, “Okay… I kinda want to try this, but I really don't want to overwhelm myself,” you're doing it exactly right.
Ø You don't need a massive plan.
Ø You don't need to reinvent yourself as a quilter by next month.
Ø You just need a place to start.
That's honestly what I love most about this little shop - it exists to make quilting feel a little less intimidating and a lot more doable. It's for real-life quilters who are figuring things out as they go, learning from the wonky bits, and still showing up because making things with fabric just feels good.
Quilting confidence doesn't come from doing everything right.
It comes from showing up, trying things, messing up a little, and realizing you're still okay. Still learning. Still creating.
That's what this year can look like:
Ø choosing curiosity over pressure
Ø letting yourself be a beginner (or an improving not-beginner)
Ø giving yourself permission to enjoy the process
Start small.
Take your time.
Let it be a little messy and a lot fun.
And just in case you need to hear this: you're not behind, you're not doing it wrong, and you're definitely not “late” to anything. Quilting isn't a race - it's a practice. Some days you move fast, some days you barely move at all, and both count. If you sit down, touch fabric, and enjoy even one small moment at the machine, that's progress. That's enough. And tomorrow, the quilt will still be there, waiting patiently for you.
Cheers and Happy Quilting!!!
Stephanie
P.S. If you only choose one quilting goal this year, let it be this: actually enjoy the process. The mess, the learning curves, the slightly wonky blocks - all of it. That's where the good stuff lives.
