I had big plans for 2026 about doing several quilt alongs with big names that were going on out there in the quilt world.

I don’t think I will go through the ones I had hoped to do and didn’t start at all because I can always go back and do them if I save the directions or blog posts or videos.

However, I am getting set to get caught up on some of the ones I didn’t start earlier in the year because I was trying to get caught up with my own projects. I had gotten so close to getting my own tops done that I was trying hard to focus by not getting distracted by making new tops or even finishing blocks up that I have already made. I was really trying to “finish up quilts!”

And I did.

I’ve still got many to share with you when I get a chance.

But, here are the ones I am going or have already started for the year and/or have serious plans to finish up in 2026. Always, things are flexible and can be postponed if life gets in the way.

There aren’t too many.

First up is

Corey Yoder’s 2026 year long mystery (it’s here if you are interested). It’s a medallion quilt and I do like medallion quilts and I also appreciate most of Corey’s designs so I’m probably going to like it.

Edyta Sitar’s 2026 mystery. I will work a couple of months behind anyway, so I can see what we are doing. Her quilts are usually masterpieces - If the colors are right. I believe this one is also a medallion of sorts. I’ve seen one lady who started it and it looks like it will be nice.

Here is her first blog post about it - as I am not seeing videos.

Jessica Dayon’s mystery Scrappy Sampler along from early 2026 - she shared the blocks and I had every intention of making it but didn’t get even started and she was already done! I did save the clues along the way, however.

Jessica Dayon’s Scrappy Days stars quilt - a sew along she’s already finished, but I’ve gotten mine worked up in EQ and am ready to go. I want to work out of my 2.5” strips bags. It’s just one block in different colors and backgrounds, so not a difficult one at all. I will probably make my stars wonky, however, and work with strips out of my 2.5” cut strips bags of the various colors.

There were three more I had hoped to be able to do as well, but I doubt I will get them done.

Naturally I have my own pile of at least 10 started tops that I want to see come together. Some of them have the blocks all finished and just need to be put together. So there’s that. I’m not depending on other people to give me something to do, but sometimes it is nice to just do something that takes no thought on my part other than choosing fabrics. I have a list of quilts of my own that need patterns, etc. So I do have plenty to do!

There is also a Riley Blake quilt along, a Moda one, and at least a couple more. I know Lori Holt has one going on also. So…if you are one who likes these kinds of things, there are a lot of them out there.

I know, in theory, I could do one as well, but there are already so many out there, that it doesn’t feel necessary. I mean, there are LOTS more going on in You Tube land! But I’m not doing them. I have several others that I’ve started with one block finished and want to get back and do them.

I am somewhat susceptible to those sew alongs when I think I like the kinds of things that that person does.

I usually like Sherry’s quilt alongs as well from A Quilting Life, but I started one of hers two years ago and the fabric and pieces are just sitting there, so until I get that one done, I don’t want to start another one as they are all kind of similar.

Those are mostly sampler type quilts and samplers haven’t been my favorite kind of quilt to make, but at times I do like them if the design ends up being something at least a little bit special.

I believe I’ve only made two sampler quilts - one was Lori Holt’s Mercantile and one was a BOM that I inherited the already finished pieces and I finished up the lady’s blocks into a top. I think I then gave the quilt away. That was in 2019. I actually think with this lady’s blocks, I added one block - to have the 12 complete blocks.

*A Hot Mess* - a leftover orphan block quilt

So maybe in the next 12 months or so you will see a couple more samplers by me here. I won’t be designing my own simply because the instructions on how to make each of the blocks is too involved and too much work when there are already websites with how to make blocks (example, Quilter’s Cache) and books of blocks available at second hand stores.

I like a sampler quilt if the setting is interesting (like the Mercantile quilt) but I am not really thrilled by them if they just look like my A Hot Mess (Sept 2018) quilt. We gave it away in a drawing and thankfully the lady who won it gave it to her son who liked it. Whew. I’m glad someone liked it! I think there is someone who will like just about any quilt out there…even a crazy one.

So, here you have - some of my hopes and dreams for making up some quilts that are or were quilt-alongs in 2026.

Have a great day wherever you are reading this!

Thanks so much for coming along with me on this journey

Be sure to check out what my sis has for you in the store here!

Feel free to browse the site.

Coming Down to Reality with some "Quilt Alongs"