Declutter Challenge 2026 - Day 5 - Patterns
- Karen
- Jan 5
- 3 min read
Today it’s all about patterns. And not all patterns are equal. Some we have in hard copy, and some we download. Some we pay a fair amount for, and some are free. So you might have several different categories depending on how you value them.
We often have a voracious appetite for them, grabbing them from as many places as possible. But if you have been making for a while, there will be so many that you outgrow or you'll realize that your tastes are for a different type of quilt, or you tried that technique and it’s just not your thing.
And if you value them, you need to have access to them so they’ll inspire you. So, it’s back to that shelf space. How much of a shelf do you want them to take up?
Now is the time to look through them and eliminate those that no longer inspire you. Have your recycling and donation bins ready. Any patterns that you have previously made, put into a separate pile. We will deal with those tomorrow on Day 6.
Part 1
The question that you should be asking yourself, and you need to be very careful here as it’s tricky, is:
Do I want to make this?
Set Your Timer.
Gather All Your Patterns (put any you've made in a pile for tomorrow).
Ask yourself, "Do I want to make this?" It's not "Can I make it?" With the limited amount of hours that you have available for quilting, is this a quilt that you want to make?
Do you want to make it?
Does it excite you?
Will it bring you joy?
And this might put your brain into a loop. Write down these questions so you can see them and pull yourself out of the mental spiral.
Define Your Pattern Capacity.
Sort and CULL. Remember move out anything that:
No longer inspires you
No longer fits your taste
Feels like obligation rather than joy
You’ve outgrown
You simply know you won’t make
We often get distracted with it only being a sheet of paper, so it’s not taking up space. Or, more than likely, we'll try to find a home for it. "Who could I make this quilt for?" And suddenly you put another project on the to-do list without pausing to ask if you really even like the pattern.
Personally, I love the design process of making a quilt. This is my happy place. All the quilty math, the block placement and playing with colours and prints. But, I now realize that I don't need a lot of written patterns as I can figure it out myself.
But please, do not judge your space from mine. You might love the piecing stage of making a quilt. Just give you the fabric requirements and you are good to go. So your pattern stack will be thicker than mine.
Don't Forget Your Digital Patterns!
There is a second part to this challenge. And that is the patterns on your computer. If you have purchased any patterns in the past two years, chances are that they came in a PDF.
Make a single folder for digital patterns (put it on your desktop for easy access).
Drag all PDF patterns into that folder.
Check old emails to ensure you downloaded everything. I find it is also useful to look at my credit card statements to find all the purchases
Rename files so they make sense.
Consider subfolders by designer, technique, or style.
If other downloads come to mind, add them to your brain dump list—don’t let them derail today’s task.
This might trigger thoughts of other downloads. Instead of searching for them now, put them in your brain dump.
Part 2
And when you’re done, reward yourself by working on your Declutter Challenge WIP or UFO. Even if it's only for 5 minutes.
Here are two videos I recommend for today:
Pick an easy scrapbuster from my patterns and playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLchS26NEYgVzcs6pPI-joll7Ow6BHGAv7
The link for prior days of the Declutter Challenge can be found here.
So was this an easy day or a hard day? Share your progress in the comments, FaceBook group or on Instagram to inspire others. We are all in this together. Don’t forget to use hashtag. #DeclutterChallenge2026.
I’ll see you tomorrow for Day Six
Take Care
Hello! I am loving the challenges, and look forward to them each day.
This comment is actually directed to Lee (lbdstrebel). You mentioned "Stretch and Sew"and that reminded me of something I saw yesterday during my Book Challenge. About 25 years ago, a co-worker was retiring to FLA and gifted me all her sewing and quilting books, etc. I have not sewn clothes in quite awhile. I have the Stretch and Sew Master Pattern (with over 14 Wardrobe Pieces!) and the Stretch and Sew Guide to Sewing on Knits. Both by Ann Person. If this is what you got rid of in the past, I would gladly send them to you!
Just let me know if you are interested!
Linda
As always, I am grateful for the time and effort you put into everything you do. I have been doing this challenge since 2021, even though it usually turns into a year long process due to the demands of elder parent care. And I don't look back at most of the stuff I've purged, especially the things I bought during Covid for side hobbies I'll never pursue. And I am grateful I have a group of quilting friends who happily receive what I pass along!
A few years back, I was ruthless in cleaning out old paper patterns. And I do have one regret. I had a number of Stretch and Sew patterns that I got rid of. My thou…
Thank you for the challenge! It’s stimulated me to look at other areas of my home. My desk, my kitchen, my bathroom. My whole home has benefited!