Chatterbox Quilts News for January 2026

​

Welcome to the January Chatterbox Quilts’ newsletter!

We made it! Yes, we survived the first month of 2026. While many of you may’ve been – and still may be – struggling with way too much snow (I hope you’re staying warm and safe) – we’ve had a fairly warm January in Calgary. I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop! 😉❄️☃️

What happened this month

To kick off 2026, I hosted the Fabric SOS Challenge. This annual challenge helps quilters get their fabric yardage sorted, organized and stored so it will be easy for them to select fabrics for upcoming projects. By joining this challenge in January, participants can get their fabric in perfect condition for the rest of the year. If you joined in the Fabric SOS Challenge this year, I hope that you enjoyed it and have given yourself a big pat on the back for your accomplishment. 👏🏻

I’ve been busy with guild presentations and have many more scheduled in February and March. I love connecting with other quilters through these virtual presentations and the Dresden Plate: A Creative Spin on Tradition has been very popular. I’ve just released a new presentation this year: Faux Trapunto: Add Interest and Texture to Your Quilts.

I’ll also be sharing this information in an upcoming Creative Spark Online Learning event later in the spring. It’s a fun and easy technique that offers so many exciting possibilities for your quilt projects (and, apparently, for your pets!😹).

​

If you belong to a guild and are looking for a speaker, please contact me at kim@chatterboxquilts.com. I have several presentations to choose from and they’re all informative, fun and can be presented no matter your guild location (gotta love technology!).

Tip

During the Fabric SOS Challenge, one of the participants asked what to do with fabrics in kits that you no longer wanted to make. A good question! This depends on the size of the fabric in the kit. If there are larger pieces, these can be added to your fabric stash – if you’re still interested in these fabrics. If there are smaller pieces, these will head to your scrap bin. If you are no longer in love with any of these fabrics, kits can be donated to charity organizations who would love to have it. Or maybe the kit would make a great gift for a fellow quilter. Lots of possibilities if you don’t want to make the kit and, once it’s out of your studio, there is more room to breathe…or buy more fabric. 😉🤣

YouTube Videos

Here are the new videos released in January for your viewing and learning pleasure (just click on the picture).

​

Coming Soon

In February we’re starting the first project of 2026 in The Quilter’s Way: Flying Diamonds. This is a pattern I designed for an Island Batik Ambassador project in 2024 that includes flying geese in its construction. I’m looking forward to sharing information about a quick and accurate method to make flying geese and to see TQW members’ versions of this project.

Of course there are more YouTube videos coming your way in 2026. I post two videos each week that are full of helpful quilting information and product reviews. If you aren’t already a subscriber to my Chatterbox Quilts’ YouTube channel, you can do so here. No cost, just lots of informative quilting videos coming your way each week. By subscribing and “liking” my videos, it really helps to get these videos out to other quilters.

There’s also something big happening in just a few days. I’m really excited about this one! 😃 You’ll get all the details in the next email.

Take care,

Kim

P.S. If you’re looking for a community of supportive quilters and want to have fun while learning new techniques (quilting should be fun, right?!), I invite you to try out The Quilter’s Way. Just click here for more details and to take advantage of the no-obligation 14-day free trial. Hope to see you in TQW!

*Note: I use affiliate links in my emails and, if you click on a link, I will receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase an item. It doesn’t cost you anything extra but does help me to continue to create helpful content for you.