Look back at 2019 Sewing

Who's ready for the new year? Not me. Not yet, anyway. I still need to eat turkey and put up the tree. But, I'm enjoying the calm before the holiday storm right now.

I subscribe to a sewing magazine, Sew News, and at the end of December's issue, they included a sewing goal chart to fill out. It gave me an idea to ask you if your sewing dreams were fulfilled for 2019. Did you complete projects, use up some stash fabric, or maybe you learned something entirely new?

Let's break down the year, together. This way, we can set new goals for 2020! It's gonna be a great year, can't you just feel it?

1. How many apparel items did you make? Simple items such as a headscarf, do count. ;)

2. How many new patterns did you sew up? Did you sew any a second or third time? A.k.a. the TNT (tried and true pattern).

3. What new fabrics or patterns did you purchase? Maybe you even discovered a new notion?

So now that your wheels are turning, let’s dive in a little deeper.

What type of projects do you enjoy making? An easy, one-hour bag, or do you love a three-day sewing bender? Drafting your own pattern for a special occasion, fully lined, fancy fabric dress? Or, maybe you're like me and fall in between and love to sew both types. It all depends on the mood.

A few more points the sewing chart asks you to fill out:

• Favorite makes

• Your proudest moment

• Fail moment (Oh, here’s a good one)

• A new skill

• Classes you’ve taken

• Challenges (good, bad, and the ugly)

• A make that feels like you, the most

• You planned on sewing ___________, but it didn't happen.

I encourage you to write down these prompts and make a list. Maybe start a sewing journal. I have a journal a friend gave me, maybe I’ll start using it for sewing thoughts too.

What do you want to add to your sewing dream list for 2020? Maybe you want to add more pants to sew up, or less pants. LOL. Heck, maybe you didn't sew anything this whole year because...life.

I can't wait to fill out the chart and tape it to my sewing wall.
Share your results in the comment section below. I'm really curious where everyone's at in their own sewing journey.

As always, thanks for hanging out with me, and happy sewing.

XO,

Annette

DIY Advent Calendar

Are you itching to do some holiday sewing? This advent calendar is a quick-ish sew if you want to whip up a fun Christmas item now! Get some stash-busting done too.

Tools needed:

• rotary cutter or scissors

• ruler

• 1/4 yard of a few different fabrics or scraps

• 1/2-3/4 yard of sturdy solid fabric for the front and back. (duck cloth, canvas, denim, etc.)

• Matching thread

• Iron on numbers, cutting machine with HTV vinyl, or template for sewing them on, if you don't embroider them. 

• All the sewing notions and a machine

• A piece of 1/2" wooden doweling and twine for hanging. 

Machine embroidered numbers on pockets

I chose Christmas fabrics similar in color, grabbed them, and started cutting. I liked the size of my phone, so I used it as a pattern. Find something around the house that is the size you want, and use that as a pattern template.

My phone roughly measured 6.5" by 3". I added 1 inch to the width and length for seam allowances to make rectangles. Fold them in half RST (right sides together) and stitch with a 1/2" seam allowance. Sew the sides only. Leave the bottom open, clip corners, turn out, and press flat. 

**If you decide to sew or embroider the numbers on, do this before sewing the pocket together. If you use vinyl or iron-on numbers, you can add the numbers after the pockets are sewn and turned.

Organize them vertically if you’d like.

After you have your pockets made, lay them out and switch around until you decide which assortment you love the best or go crazy. I liked the taller version better.

Arrange them in a horizontal way if you like that better.

I did this part backward, sorta. After laying the pockets out, I cut my fabric for them to be sewn onto. I measured the size of all the pockets and added 2" on each side. 5" to the top and 2" to the bottom. This allowed extra room for seams and the top to get turned down and stitched to create a loop for the wooden doweling.

I added length and width to the solid piece of fabric to sew the pockets onto.

I worked from the bottom up, sewing the bottom row of pockets first. You do what works best for you. :)

Measure from the bottom row of the pockets to see how much room you want.

Flip pockets the wrong side up and stitch along the open edge.

I sewed the second row 1/2" above from the top of the first row. You decide on your own spacing.

I decided to sew the bottoms of all the pockets on first. Then, I flipped them up to sew the sides. As you can see, I used pinking shears to keep the edges from unraveling. This whole project was on the fly and meant to be fun, without overthinking. Sometimes you just gotta sew something! LOL

Sewing the sides. Start from the bottom and go up, backstitch at the beginning and end.

Be sure to backstitch at the start and end of each pocket side. I also added extra stitching at the top where little hands will reach in and out to discover the treasures inside.

After you have all the pockets sewn on, it’s time to put it together.

Grab the backing fabric and pocket piece, and lay the pocket side RST on top of the backing fabric.

Pin or clip the pieces together, and sew a 1/2" seam allowance. Leave a 4"-5" gap at the top for turning. It’s a lot of fabric and layers so, you’ll want a nice size gap for turning out.

It’s starting to come together and look like an Advent calendar now.

Leave an opening for turning.

Clip the corners and trim thread tails. Turn out and top stitch around the whole calendar. 

Decide how big of a loop you need for your wood doweling to slide through, pin, and stitch to create the loop.

Fold the top over and pin in place.

Topstitch to create a tunnel.

Insert dowel, add string, and hang!

Slide the dowel through. Tie string or twine on each end with a double knot. Hang up and fill it with lots of little treasures.

You're done! Yay!!! Now, what do you fill it up with?

Filling it up

What are you going to fill the pockets with? Who is going to use the advent calendar? Little ones or big ones? I've listed some ideas below of what to put inside for all ages. Wrapping each item would make it extra fun and keep wandering eyes from peaking.

• Chapstick or lipgloss

• Fruit snacks

• Small fruits, a tiny orange

• Movie theater ticket

• Handmade coupons

• Small packs of beef jerky

• Cash

• $5 gift card

• Hair elastics or barrettes

• Small lego sets

• Candy

• Toy cars

• Earbuds

• USB stick

• SD card

• Crayons

• Package of nuts

• Hot cocoa packet

• Socks

• Soft gloves

• Squishy toys

• Stress ball

  These are just a few ideas, the sky is the limit on fun little treasures. Just think of anything that will fit in the palm of a hand.

Well, I'm off to buy some items to fill our calendar with. If you think of other ideas, please share those in the comments below. The more ideas, the merrier! Are you going to make an advent calendar? Or make one as a gift? Let me know in the comments below.

Merry Christmas,

Annette

Sewing Challenges to Participate In

The new year is here and in full swing! Do you want to do some selfish sewing after making gifts for the months leading up to the holidays? Yes? Same here. I want to make a few things for me, nobody else. Never feel guilty about sewing for yourself. It's YOUR hobby and YOUR time. ;)

I got to thinking about all the things I planned on making last year that never happened. :/ This year, I want to have a plan of attack! I decided to make a deadline to kick my rear into gear. Joining a sewing challenge or 2, or 3 will help with this. Fingers crossed!

There are tons of great sewing challenges happening every year. You may have heard of some, and some might be completely new to you (me, too). 

Just reading a book and wearing my Zombie babe gathered skirt.

I've linked a few below:

• Sew the Precious- it's a challenge on Instagram hosted by The Sewcialists. You are supposed to make something with that precious fabric you are scared to cut into. Sounds fun, right? Count me in! I signed up, you should too.  :) Be sure to use #sewtheprecious when you post your pic.

• Next up is the Make Nine challenge hosted by Rochelle over at Home Row Fiber. You plan on 9 items to make for the year. This is right up my alley because I know I need to make a new purse. As I'm typing up this post, I'm planning my makes for this year. Again, use the hashtag #makenine2020 on Instagram. 

• Me Made May- I have a post about doing this last year. It's hosted by Zoe at So, Zo..what do you know? You wear something every day that was made by you. I usually wear something I've made every day of the year. So, this wasn't as challenging, although I did learn a few things from it. But, you'll have to wait for that post as we get closer to May. ;) This can be as simple as a pair of earrings you made to a formal dress. 

• There's a #sewover50 challenge on Instagram. Go follow Judith @sewover50 for more info. Sounds fun!

• #dresslikeyourgrandma challenge. I've just recently heard of this and it sounds fabulous! I love vintage style and clothes, so I'll have to check this one out. 

• There's also a #sewyourstash challenge. It's where you only sew things from your fabric stash. You're not allowed to buy new fabric. I have been doing this one, sorta. I have tons of fabric and honestly don't need to buy anymore until I sew through my own stash!

• #memadeeverday is just what it says. You post pics on Instagram of what you made and are wearing every day. It's a take on Me Made May but a yearlong challenge. I like this one because it is easy and doesn't take much thought. 

• #Sewthefrosting is another challenge. You make something that is positively fabulous just for you. It's supposed to be more fun than utilitarian. This is right up my alley!

This cute pin cushion was made for me, by my friend. Photo by Erica Lancaster.

Are you going to partake in any of these challenges? I know there are quite a few that I didn't list. If you know of any, share them in the comments below. I'm doing the make 9 and #sewtheprecious. I think these will be fun and a good challenge for me. 

Happy Sewing!

Annette