I’m taking on a challenge that sounds a little wild — sewing 52 quilts in 52 weeks! The 52 Quilts Challenge is part quilting marathon, part creative journey, and part joyful experiment.
Read the full details about the challenge below. Click here for an index of completed weeks listed out in order. Let me know if you’re following along!! 🙂
Taking on the 52 Quilts Challenge
I love a challenge, I love thriftiness, I love projects, I love quilting, and I love quilting challenges specifically…
When I first told friends and family, they thought I was joking. My husband laughed and reminded me that I definitely have enough UFOs (unfinished objects) and fabric stash to pull this off. And he’s not wrong.
But this isn’t just about cranking out quilt after quilt. It’s about finding a consistent rhythm of creativity, finishing beloved WIPs, and bringing beauty and warmth to my family, friends, and home — one quilt at a time.
Quilting vs Fabric Collecting
I probably could just change the label of my hobby from quilter to fabric collector – no one would expect me use all this glorious color and design then – it’s meant to be collected! (And petted, and loved!)
But I don’t just want to be a fabric collector. All these years later, I’m still amazed with the process of taking small pieces of fabric – or chopping up larger pieces – and arranging them in new ways to make something even more interesting!
And the fact that it warms and snuggles us – super bonus!
The 52 Quilts Challenge
But back to the challenge – if I’m not going to just collect fabric and I seriously love to sew and quilt, then it’s about time I get some projects done.
As I mentioned in a previous post, this is not my first go-round of this challenge. This will actually be my 2nd attempt. Although I finished 7 or 8 quilts and quilted projects the first go-round, I still have more than enough to start this challenge back at the beginning.
Y’all – I’m so ridiculously excited to get this going again. I’ve had almost as much fun planning the 52 Quilts Challenge reboot as I do actually sewing! I have it all mapped out on a blog planner spreadsheet (just like I did last time). My heart is just swooning at all the projects that I’m so excited to get back to.
WIP/UFO List
I’ve got so many projects ahead to complete and share with you – back stories and all!
Here’s a sneak peek at some projects I’ll be finishing during the 52 Quilts Challenge:
- Color Wash Disappearing 9 Patch: This one is almost done! A gift for my daughter’s godparents’ grandbaby (say that 3x fast 😊), quilted with sweet strawberry designs.
- I Spy Low Volume Quilt: Blocks are done, still deciding between lap or twin size.
- Scrap Busting String Quilt: My very first king-size quilt, using scraps for a bold, colorful design.
- Scrap Surrounded Quilt: From the book Oh Scrap!, these blocks take me hours but are so satisfying.
- Christmas BOM (Block of the Month): Finished piecing the top last winter, now ready for binding — just in time for Christmas!
- And many more!!!
Any projects I should definitly add to my list for this year? Comment below and cheer me on!
Specifics of the 52 Quilts Challenge
This 52 Quilts Challenge is exactly that (with some grace sprinkled in). I am challenging myself to complete 52 quilts and quilted projects these next 52 weeks, starting October (2025).
These won’t all be king-sized quilts of course!
Included in this challenge is the VAST ARRAY of UFOs (Unfinished Objects) that I’ve stashed away in drawers, cupboards, and even have strewn about my sewing room at various stages of completion (WIPs – or Works In Progress).
I’ll be finishing and posting the full stories behind each completed project weekly (again with a smidge of grace here and there). Follow me on Instagram too for midweek updates!
Why 52 Quilts in 52 Weeks?
Challenges really speak to my love for projects and my drive to accomplish hard things.
I’ve taken on big challenges before — running half marathons, earning a doctorate, building a practice — and this year, I’m channeling that same drive into my quilting.
My mother also inspired me. She crocheted the most beautiful projects and was an avid reader. She loved her family dearly and I love that I’ve been able to carry on her creativity in some ways. My crochet leaves a lot to be desired, but I can sew!
What haven’t I been able to do? A lot! Ah, but such is life, we must make choices in our pursuits…
A Little More About My Why?
The challenge of it is definitely alluring – it’s a LOFTY goal for me! But it’s more than that.
As I celebrated a milestone birthday this year, I couldn’t help but reflect on where I’ve been and where I’m going. I said a lighthearted goodbye to the passing decade and took time to really think about the kind of life I want to create in this next decade.
The 52 Quilts Challenge isn’t just about sewing quilts — it’s about embracing creativity, setting bold goals, and carving out space for the things that truly bring me joy. This year, I’m choosing to celebrate not just with candles and cake, but with fabric, thread, and a journey that will keep me inspired all year long.
Really? A Quilt Each Week?
As far as the weekly part of the challenge? I think the weekly cadence will work well for me. I can get a little “streaky” at times. What I mean is that I have a tendency to launch into a project head-on, at the expense of other things I may have going on.
This weekly challenge will give me a set, paced structure. It’s like training for a marathon, but with fabric, thread, and a whole lot less sweating! It will help ensure that I’m living up to my goal this year of setting more time aside for the things I love.
Also, I love setting big goals (and sometimes failing boldly!). I love having purpose and if that purpose brings joy, beauty, and warms my family and friends, all the better…
The 52 Quilts Challenge FAQs
- Q: What counts as a quilt?
A: Anything that is sewn and has a quilted layer will count as a quilt for this project. This can be throw quilts, bed quilts, baby quilts, wall hangings, household projects. In fact, you’ll see examples of each of these this year!
- Q: Will every week be a big quilt finish?
A: Some weeks will be big finishes, others quick projects. Some are quilts I’ve already had in some stage of completion. Others are new starts that I had already planned to make “one day”.
- Q: How will WIPs/UFOs fit into the challenge?
A: Perfectly! I couldn’t possibly create 52 quilts from start to finish, one a week, for a year. I have a full-time job and a very busy family life and I need some down time to just be.
Some weeks I will be finally adding the binding to an otherwise finished quilt that’s been sitting far too long. Other weeks I may be finishing a quilt that I had started but wanted bigger. So of course I put it away (sarcastic eye roll!). Occasionally, it will be a new project from start to finish.
Mantra
But, I truly can’t over-exaggerate how many I already have started – more than enough to keep me going for a good while. I do definitely love a new project though! 😊 Uh oh, I’m in trouble.
Repeat after me: Thou shalt not add new projects until at least SOME WIPs/UFOs are done. We’ll see how long this lasts, ha!
WIP/UFO Roundup
To the left are some of my current WIPs and UFOs. Perhaps you’d expect me to say something like – “look, it’s so embarrassing”. But I don’t feel embarrassed. First, I know I’m not alone. Plus this just looks like weeks of pure stitching joy ahead!
You’ll be seeing some of these show up in early weeks of the challenge! Let me know if you’d like me to do a deep-dive post on UFO organization in an upcoming post!
How to Follow Along
Want to follow this crazy journey of mine? Easy!
My plan: Each week starting in October, I’ll post a new quilt reveal right here on the blog. Subscribe to follow along!
Early in the week, I’ll share planning tips, lessons learned, and behind-the-scenes stories. I’ll end the week with that week’s quilt reveal!
Also, you can follow me on Instagram and Pinterest to get even more quilting inspiration throughout the week!
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