2025 Final Countdown, Task One
Posted on December 29, 2025 by prairiemoonquilts in The Final CountdownEvery year, during The Final Countdown, I try to include one thinking/planning task, and I usually do that one on the last day. This year, I’m switching it up, and doing the thinking task on Day One.
And there are several facets to the task this year as well. I’m not making things super easy on us, because we have to do the hard stuff at some point! (And, as usual, this is meant for myself because I need it so much — I just like dragging you all along with me!)
Here’s Task One:
Make a list of all your projects
This means:
- • UFOs
- • Works in progress
- • Your Wish List
- • Everything you want to work on or currently have going
- • You could even include projects from other hobbies, just so you have them on a list somewhere. (I know some of you knit, cross stitch, and do rug hooking, so this is a good time to get all your lists updated!)
This is similar to the Project Assessment we did a couple years ago. (There are some good ideas in that post, if you would like to revisit it HERE.)
But I know I need to go over my list and update everything. Hopefully, my numbers have gone down!
I worked on getting actual finishes this year, so the projects could simply disappear from my lists, but others, I simply need to move from one list to the other, such as moving a completed top to the to-be-quilted list.
I’m still facing some tough decisions, like getting rid of some projects I don’t want to finish, downsizing some others, and pulling out some of the ones that will be quickest to finish just to get them off the list. And finding time to schedule the to-be-quilted ones into my longarm schedule.
And that’s where the second part of this task comes in:
Make a decision about each project
Divide your list up into sections, if you need to. Take a good hard look at each item on the list, and decide what you want to do about it. Here are a few options:
- • Don’t finish it. Give it away or recycle the parts back into your stash.
- • Downsize it. Potholder, table runner, wall quilt, placemats, instead of a king-sized bed quilt.
- • Think it over in a new way. Can you combine two projects into one? Use a simply pieced quilt top as the backing for another quilt? Cut up a project you’re not liking and make something else out of it?
- • Re-organize it. Are you stuck because of something you need? Forgot what you were doing? Need help with a technique? Can’t find it, or can’t find all its pieces and parts? Regroup and figure out what’s keeping you from finishing it, so you can get going on it again.
- • Finish it quickly. Just need to add borders? Prep a backing? Do the binding? Quilt it up real quick? Set some blocks together? Stop procrastinating and do that quick thing that will get it done and completely off your list.
- • Delete it. If it’s on your wish list, and you don’t wish to do it any more, delete it and forget about it. If you’ve decided never to make that pattern, give the pattern to a friend, or donate it at your quilting group. If it’s a kit, sell it to someone else who will love making it.
- • Schedule it. If it’s a project with a deadline, make sure it’s front and center, so you can get it done on time. If you need to schedule a spot with your longarm quilter (or schedule it into your own rotation), make the call and get it on that list. Sometimes, it’s helpful to give a project a deadline even if it doesn’t really have a firm one, just to trick yourself into finishing it more quickly. (Altho, this never works for me, for some reason — haha!)
I’m hoping to have a much more organized (and smaller list) within the next few days.
If you want to get fancy with your list, you could make note of what stage each project is in, and where it’s located in your studio. There are lots of ways to make this list work for you, so I encourage you to get the list made. It’ll feel really good to check projects off the list as you finish them this coming year, won’t it?
Don’t forget to check back in tomorrow for Task Two!
I have already updated my list for 2026. I keep a running list. I have moved some projects to the “on hold” list over the years. One or two were moved this year also. I will, however, take a look around and make sure I haven’t missed any hidden projects.
I have done this and put into a journal. Each day I have 2-3 tasks or projects to do and check them off. So far I have been consistent for a month. Look forward to reviewing at end of year.
I did a pretty good list last year and successfully finished several projects and removed them from my ongoing list. However, you have inspired me to take a look again and I realized that I have several lists lying around. So I will work on consolidating all of my lists in one place so I can more successfully prioritize projects. Most that are left are for my enjoyment, but I do have two commissioned quilts that have/need a deadline and a few projects that should have an end date applied.
I’ve started this today, but I am feeling completely overwhelmed with how many projects (UFOs & kits not even started yet) I have to list! I had to stop and take a mental health break and eat some lunch 😉 But I am determined to finish up my lists this afternoon. Thank you so much for the encouragement!
I’ve never tried to make a list before. And since I MUST cleanup my quilt room after the pre-holiday rush, this will be perfect timing to write it down while I’m moving it around 😄
Thank you for the encouragement to sort and really look at our hopes and dreams!I have been looking at UFO and “I Have to get going on this, NOW’S” all month! one tub is my “Get this quilted” tub. one is : I have this promised in my heart. then there is the “o goodness this. looks like fun!”.. BUT, just this morning I finished one of the 2 year old UFO pillows…right down to sewing the stuffing opening closed! I call this progress! and I may just have to stick to titled tubs and stuff on the design wall. I know one thing for sure: with only 9 easy blocks and a couple of borders to go my 2 year old twisted ribbons Hanukkah/Christmas tv quilt will be completely finished by the end of January… this! January😀
Oh man…that’s a BIG task…I will get a new notebook for this one!
I was sitting in my quilt room this afternoon, feeling a bit grumpy about all the things lying about and projects that need my attention. This post is a good reminder to just do an assessment, then make a plan. Thanks!
this is one thing I have always done. it helps me to know where I’m at. my list isn’t nearly as detailed as yours but it does prod me on. Last year I finally got atcleast 3 really old projects done.
I started doing this today, but plan to go through the containers that have my projects in that are here at the house and regroup my thoughts for this year. I have containers that were put in storage but I don’t remember what they are. I should put that as one of my ‘things to do’ this year. lol
1/2/26 I started going through containers and got through 2 of them and making a list. Kits-13/Panels-5/WIPs-6/Need borders-5/Ready to sandwich-1. This list will be added to as I go through more bins. I did find a couple of things that didn’t make me smile, so those are in a list of all their own. lol
The “make a decision about each project” with the first three suggestions: ‘Don’t finish it; Downsize it; or Think it over in a new way’ are extremely helpful. Thank you for these manageable suggestions!
Got my list updated. Also updated my notions list and location of each item. I am so tired of buying duplicates.
Hoping to get a lot done in the next year.
Yes! Exactly what I need to do and what I have been thinking of doing. I’m just seeing your post this evening and don’t have it in me to start tonight. I made such a list a few years back on a spreadsheet. I didn’t keep it up and wonder if I should update it or start over. There are some real conveniences with the digital format but I think I do better with writing it down and having a physical copy in my sewing room….and I really don’t like my laptop. Guess I’ve decided! I’m starting in the morning!
I need to do this and finish some quilts that just need a little attention and then start fresh.
Well, as soon as I put something on a list… I often avoid it. I have defective organizational genes. However, a quilt top that waited 8 years to make it to the long armers just came back. It was on the list for years and can finally be crossed off. I will go make a new list!
Love this, I have kept a list in my head for a long time however, my head seems to have a leak as I forget some things! My own a personal Quilting/Sewing Journal begins for 2026!
I got the list done but still need to make some. T timeline. I did put some items in pile to give away and some pulled fabric out to stash. Took quite a few hours.
I’ve got a running list of all my projects and their statuses as well as a 2025 specific list which I need to finalize. I guess I need to get get on that.
Each year my fce group gives quilts to the children who participate in SHOP WITH A COP. Barely had enough this year, so I looked around for some here to give for next year; usually I cannot do this at the last minute. I quilted one and found a second. Surprise to find it was already quilted and needed binding. Now I will finish this, wash them both and get them ready for Oct. 2026.
January will get 2 unfinished projects done. And on to March. Looking around while cleaning will unearth two more I am sure. Keep on trucking…
Marilyn Holder
Like others, I keep a running list of WIPs with the next step noted. I’ve made a fair amount of progress this year but adding my wish list of quilts to it may take a while…
I’m one of the most likely in my quilting group to actually stick with a project to completion. So I listed UFOs on the top of the page, and To Be Quilted halfway down the same page. You can guess what happened. I thought I might have around 10 UFOs. I actually have twice that many! who knew? The list is a wakeup call
I like lists! I’ve never made a UFO list because I often stick with a project to completion. I started my UFO list at the top of a page and the “To Be Quilted” list halfway down the page. you can guess what happened. I anticipated about 10 UFOs, but in fact I have twice that many! This list is eye opening!
This one I CAN do. I should have things updated in my room and on my blog by the end of the day on January 2. YAY!
I do a list of UFO’s every year. Last year’s list had 12 items and I got them all done by the end of fall. Somehow, that least being completed left me a loose ends and I just went through my sewing room and made my 2026 list and it has 28 things! Some are small, but I did my best to round up everything and put it on the list. I did look at one scrap project that I no longer had interest in and passed it on to my mom. She is really enjoying it as all the pieces were cut and stacked right sides together ready to sew.
I’m calling this one done. I know that I will undoubtedly find a couple of more when it warms up enough to dedicate a day to digging through bags and sorting. I have stuff still packed up from moving a couple of years ago.
Wow, this one will take several days for me and will work on it while I organize my sewing space (which is half of the basement). Hopefully I can get a lot of my UFO’s finished this year. I did finish one of my older UFO’s for a wedding present for a grandson and was delivered on Christmas day.
This took me a few days, but I’m glad to have got it done. It really adds up when you include other things like knitting and needlework. I found out that I have at least 50 things on the go!
I covered all your tasks!
https://swooze.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-final-countdown.html?m=1
Making out this list was a big eye opener. If you would have asked me how many unfinished UFO’s I had, it wouldn’t have been many, it was lots. And, kits – I would have said “I don’t buy kits.” Well if that’s true, I have to ask myself how did so many kits come to live in my studio. I’ve finally completed the list. I will go through it one last time and see if there are things that I really don’t want to do anymore. Thanks for the encouragement Shelly.
I tried! I started and got to 15, which I have decided to work on and did so with many this quarter. Long way to go…