Yes, I Started Another Quilt (And That’s a Good Thing)

You promised yourself you’d finish the last quilt you started before starting anything new.

But then… that fabric line you’ve been watching went on sale. Or you saw a color palette that gave you a jolt of excitement. Or a simple block idea started tugging at you like a loose thread. And before you know it, you’re pulling fabrics again, pairing them up, sketching something out. Just starting. Again.

And maybe, somewhere between choosing the background and pressing the first seams, a voice in your head pipes up: “You really should finish what you already started.”

I want to say something simple, and maybe a little radical: That voice isn’t always right.

Starting a new project isn’t a sign that you lack discipline or follow-through. It’s a sign that you’re alive to beauty, that you still feel the pull of creativity. That you haven’t stopped imagining.

What if we could honor that spark instead of silencing it?

Why We start New Projects (The Deeper Reasons)

It’s easy to think that starting a new project means we’ve lost focus or gotten distracted. That we’re procrastinating, avoiding, or somehow doing it “wrong.”

But that’s not what’s really happening

New ideas are a sign of inspiration, not distraction.

When you feel pulled toward a new block or find yourself dreaming up color combinations while shampooing your hair, that’s your creativity sparking. Your brain is seeing beauty, making connections, imagining something that didn’t exist before. That’s not a weakness. That’s creative vitality. That’s the whole reason we fell in love with quilting in the first place.

Each new project reflects something changing in you.

Sometimes it’s a fabric that catches your eye. Sometimes it’s a technique that suddenly feels possible. Sometimes it’s a design that speaks to your mood in a way you didn’t expect. Every new quilt you start holds a little echo of where you are right now — what you’re curious about, what you’re drawn to, what you need. That’s not inconsistency. That’s growth.

Quilting is emotional. We don’t just make quilts with our hands. We make them with our hearts. So, it’s no surprise that we might start something new when we need comfort, or joy, or a little sense of control in a world that feels too big. Maybe a new quilt feels like hope, or relief, or a way back to ourselves. That’s not a bad habit. That’s a wise response.

If you’ve ever wondered why you keep reaching for new ideas, new projects, new sparks… maybe it’s because you’re still awake to the joy of making. And that’s something to celebrate.

Let’s Reframe “Unfinished” Projects

We talk about unfinished quilts like they’re a problem to solve — a stack to reduce, a weight to carry, a shameful little secret in a bin somewhere.

But what if we looked at them differently? A quilt in progress isn’t a failure. It’s a project that’s still becoming, just like you are.

Some quilts come into the world all at once, fast and joyful. Others take the long road. And some? Some might never get finished. That doesn’t mean they didn’t matter. Maybe they taught you something. Maybe they brought you comfort for a season. Maybe they led you to the next idea.

Every project you start — and yes, even the ones you set aside — is part of your creative story.

The pile of WIPs isn’t a to-do list gone wrong. It’s a museum of moments, of inspiration, of trial and error, of experiments and energy and joy. And you get to decide what happens to each one. When and if it’s time to return, or release it, or remake it in a new way.

No shame. Just possibility.

A New Way to Think About Progress

In the world outside our sewing rooms, “progress” often gets measured in finishes — deadlines met, boxes checked, quilts bound, washed, labeled, and done. But if that’s the only way we define success in quilting, then most of us spend a lot of our time feeling behind. And that’s not fair or true.

What if we changed the definition? What if progress looked like pulling fabric because it made your heart skip? What if it sounded like a rotary cutter slicing through quiet? What if it felt like five minutes of stitching after a long day — just because you needed it?

Progress can be a single seam. Or even a single decision: “I think I’ll start something today, just for me.” It doesn’t have to be efficient. It doesn’t have to be linear. It doesn’t have to be finished. It just has to feel like you — choosing to stay connected to something that brings you satisfaction or even joy.

So yes, keep that stack of WIPs if they still bring a spark. And yes, start something new if it helps you find your rhythm again. There’s no quilting timeline you must follow. Only the one your heart is on.

If you have a stack of half-finished quilts, you’re not alone — you’re in the best kind of company. Here, we don’t hide our works in progress like secrets. We honor them as proof that we’re still reaching, still dreaming, still daring to make something beautiful. Every unfinished quilt, every new beginning, every unexpected idea — it’s all part of being a maker who’s alive to possibility. And around here, we celebrate that spark.

So if you’re starting something new (again), know this: you belong here. Your creative path — winding, branching, sometimes circling back on itself — is exactly right.

I’d love to hear about it, too. Tell me about the project you’re most excited about right now — whether it’s halfway finished or just a tiny spark. Drop a comment or send me an email. Let’s celebrate the beauty of creating, together.

Free Printables to Celebrate Your Creative Spark

Starting something new is worth honoring — and I created a couple of free resources to help you do just that.