PHD in 2026

I've reviewed how last year went. Decided on a strategy rather than goals for the year.  And finally filled out my PHD list for 2026 so I can link up with Ms. P Designs to see if I can actually earn a PHD in 2026. 

This will my 8th year to strive to get a PHD.  I probably won't earn one this year either, but it's good motivation.  My problem is I love piecing, not so much the finishing. Maybe I can work on that predilection this year. Here's my PHD list for 2026.   

 

If I can get 12 finishes, I'll be ecstatic. Seven is the most finishes I've ever had in one year.  Maybe this year will be different?  Only one quilt was finished in 2025. I'm going to set the bar low and be happy if I finish more than that no matter what the final count is.

My project progress graph has been reset as well. 

    

I have more quilts that need backing and quilting than anything else. If I can get the bars moved on any of those, I'll be really happy with this year's progress. Most of my blocks to finish are last year's new projects, with a few UFOs thrown in to round out the list. I'm just hoping for progress on most of those this year.  I have 4 new projects on the list for 2026. We'll see what happens with the 2027 BOM, someone else from the guild might want to take over. I'm not holding my breath there, but it might happen.

To Do List for the Week of 01/06/2026

It always seems so quiet after the first of the year.  My Guy went back to work yesterday, so I was home alone for the first time in a little over 2 weeks. I got used to having someone home, so yesterday seemed especially quiet. I'll get used to it, but it just adds to that let down feeling that happens to me after the bustle and fun of the holiday are over.  

My sewing time was a bit sparse before the weekend, but I tried to make up for it on Sunday.  Here's how I fared with last week's to do list. 

To Do List for 12/30/2025

1. 2026 Guild BOM: Finish February block, start March - progress

2. SAHRR: Start center block ✔

3. Magnificent Mystery: Work on Oct/Nov/Dec clues ✔

4. Lupine and Laughter: Press fabrics, start clues ✔

5. Wild and Goosey: Continue green blocks, start blue - progress

Not a bed week, there was progress on everything on the list.  For this week's to do list, I'm trying to reestablish a strategy that worked for me a couple of years ago. It's basically set a few priorities so that my to do list each week is only 4 or 5 items.  I like lots of variety in my sewing, but that means nothing really ever gets done.  If I want to finish any quilts this year, I need to make those a priority.

To Do List for 01/06/2026

1. 2026 Guild BOM: Finish February, start March blocks

The February block just needs one seam to be sewn to be a finished block.  So I'm close there.  The pieces for the March block are cut and ready for me to start on those. I'm going to try to Finish February, March and April before the end of January, then try to do 2 blocks a month till they are all done. I'm trying hard to stay ahead of things this year so I'm not panic sewing the day of the guild meeting. 

2. Kate's Choice: Assemble second row

This is my to be quilted by walking foot project for the month. My plan is to switch over to my walking foot after my late night sewing session at the quilt shop and stick with that for a couple of days before switching back to my normal set up to stay on track with my piecing projects. 

3. Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR, Quilting Gail): Finish center block

All the pieces are cut and I've got the first set of flying geese pined, ready to be stitched.  I'm excited to see how this comes together. The kick off showing all the center blocks for the designers is a week from Wednesday. So I have time, but I do need to get sewing on this one.  

4. Magnificent Mystery (Meadow Mist Designs): Work on Oct/Nov/Dec/Jan clues. 

The stack of completed components is rising, just slowly. I should finish the October clue (the Irish Chain blocks) this week. The pieces needed for the January clue need to be cut. I'll do that this afternoon, this is the project I'm going to take to late night sew. 

5. Wild and Goosey (Bonnie Hunter): Work on green blocks

Yes, I know the RSC color is blue this month. But after I complete these 2 blocks, just 4 more green are needed to finish off that color. So while I'm on a roll with those, I want to finish them. Hopefully I'll have time before the end of the month to finish a few blue ones.  

So that's my list for the week.  I'm hoping to limit my distractions and get some good stitching done this month.  Linking up with the Quilt Schmilt for To Do Tuesday.  

Weekend Sewing

My Girl and Queenie left Saturday afternoon to start the almost 10 hour trek back to Houston.  So the house felt really empty.  Perfect time to go hide in my sewing room for a bit. My priority for the week is to finish the February block for the guild BOM and get started on the center block for the SAHRR (Quilting Gail).  I'm almost done with the BOM block, but I can't show that till after the guild meeting.  I didn't start the SAHRR center, but did get all the fabric cut for it. 

I had to change out one of the fabrics because I didn't have enough of my first choice.  That's the problem with working with left overs, you have to make some compromises.  But it will still look good.  

The January clue for the Magnificent Mystery (Meadow Mist Designs). The only clue I have finished is September, but I'm close to finishing off the October clue. 

Just a few more of the Irish Chain blocks to make.  The reveal for this project comes out in February. I'm hoping to most of the way there with the component pieces by then.  

Linking up with Patchwork & Quilts and Sew and Tell Monday. 

Stitching Stuff: Week 1 of 2026

 

We are a few days into the new year.  I've spent some time in the sewing room, but also a lot of time looking back and then looking ahead.  My tracking spreadsheet is reset. So I'm ready for a new year on that front. Not so much on other fronts.  Personal preference has me making a clean break between last year and this year.  Here are my final stitching time metrics for 2025. 

• 15 minute days/Dec 2025 =30/31 days
• 15 minute days/2025 = 320/365 days
• Success rate = 87.67%

My goal was to stitch at least 75% of the days in 2025. So I met that goal.  In 2024, my success rate was 100%. To get that number takes dedication that I'm not sure I have.  If I can manage a success rate of more than 80% this year, I'll be happy.  Here's how 2026 is looking so far. 

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days (including the days last year)
• 15 minute days/Jan = 3/3 days
• 15 minute days/2026 = 3/3 days
• Success rate = 100%

So my reset has me back to 100%. We'll have to see how long I can maintain that.  

My Girl and Queenie left yesterday to head back to Houston.  The house always feels so empty once they are gone. No kitty doing her rounds in the morning.  No daughter napping on the couch with her kitty guarding her.  

We did learn something new about Queenie. It's been pretty cold here in Oklahoma and Queenie's gotten used to the balmy temps of south Texas.  She's not one for laying under things, but when I jokingly covered her up with the edge of the quilt one evening, she snuggled in and took a nap.  Something My Girl had never seen her do.  The rest of the trip she'd look for someone to come tuck her in for her evening nap on the couch. 

Are you back in the stitching groove after the holiday?

 

2026 Quilt Making Strategies

My ambitions for 2025 have been reviewed.  My PHD performance has been rehashed.  To my surprise, there was a lot more progress on projects than expected. Plus,  I finally slayed the dragon that I'd let quilting with a walking foot become. My biggest let down was just not moving projects to finished.  Consequently, my UFO list is bigger than it's ever been.  To address that long list, it seems like a strategy would be more helpful than goals.  

A couple of years ago, I tried to keep my to do lists to no more than 4 items: a priority project, a quilt to be quilted, an older UFO and a leaders and enders.  That year six quilts made it to completed. I'm going to adopt a similar strategy for 2026.  

Quilt Strategy for 2026

First Quarter (Jan to March)

•  Guild BOM
• Wild and Goosey leaders
•  2026 SAHRR, Magnificent Mystery, Lupine and Laughter
•  Walking foot quilting: Kate's Choice, Betty
•   External quilting: Chocolate Marshmallow

First quarter is a little different because there so many of the quilt alongs I enjoy start late in the year.  I won't be focusing on a UFO, but on keeping my 2025 projects from becoming UFOs.  

Second and Third Quarters

• Guild BOM
• Wild and Goosey leaders
• UFO to finish
• Walking foot quilting: two quilts
• External quilting: one quilt

Like first quarter, 4th quarter is the same strategy as first quarter since that's when most of the quilt alongs I sew along with come out. 

Fourth Quarter

• Guild BOM (2026 and 2027?)
• Wild and Goosey leaders
• 2026 Meadow Mist Mystery,  2026 Bonnie Hunter Mystery
• Walking foot quilting: 2 quilts
• External quilting: one quilt

The only other strategy that I'll keep for 2026 is to try to maintain my 15 minutes of stitching time a day.  I'll strive to keep that above 80% for the year.

2026 Projects:

Kate's Choice, Betty, Chilhowie, Glowing Hearts, Malted Mystery, Squared Away and On Ringo Lake

Chocolate Marshmallow, Indigo Way, 2024 Guild BOM, 2025 Guild BOM

Old Town, Good Fortune, Simply Sensational Summer Scrap Quilt, Celtic Solstice

Plans set in January always seem reasonable.  We'll see how these fair.  Linking up with Plans, Dreams and Goals for 2026.  I'm hoping this list is really plan and not just a dream!