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What Are Your New Year's Sewing Resolutions?

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Even though January 1 is just another day, it’s a day that always spurs me to reflect on what has passed and look forward to what will happen. And naturally that looking ahead includes my sewing plans. Here’s what I have on my list:


This is the jacket my mother cut out
in the 1980s and I will finish in 2014.

1)   Finish class #4 of the five required for my patternmaking certificate at Fashion Institute of Technology. The class is held each Thursday, and each class in this certificate has challenged me to move out of my comfort zone. That’s a good thing, so look forward to more patternmaking blogs!

2)   Resurrect a tailored jacket project cut out, but never constructed, by my mother in the ’80s. This should be heartening to any of you who have cut out a pattern and put it on a shelf. Those big shoulder pads have finally made a comeback and I plan to create a full-on tailored jacket, big shoulder pads and all!

3)   Take on English paper-piecing. The Stitch team will be producing two issues of Modern Patchwork this year and to get in the mood, I’ve already started a paper-piecing project. It’s very soothing and very portable!’

4)   Finish a blue boucle pencil skirt that I cut out years ago and never sewed. I too have my share of UFOs (unfinished objects), and this one weighs heavy on my mind. Now that boucle wools are so hot, it’s time to wrap this project up!

For lots of skirts that you can sew, check out the Skirt-A-Day Sewing book by Nicole Smith, in the Sew Daily Shop.

What are your sewing resolutions for the new year? I would love to know!

Happy stitching!

Join the Conversation!

  1. My sewing resolutions are:

    1. To sew only clothing for myself that suit my lifestyle.

    2. I’d like to continue making whole cloth quilts

    3. I want to sew more things for my two grandsons

    If I could stick to this list, my year would be awesome !

  2. My sewing resolutions are:

    1. To sew only clothing for myself that suit my lifestyle.

    2. I’d like to continue making whole cloth quilts

    3. I want to sew more things for my two grandsons

    If I could stick to this list, my year would be awesome !

  3. My sewing resolutions are:

    1. To sew only clothing for myself that suit my lifestyle.

    2. I’d like to continue making whole cloth quilts

    3. I want to sew more things for my two grandsons

    If I could stick to this list, my year would be awesome !

  4. I plan to make Roman shades and balances for our kitchen/great room, light-blocking curtains for our bedroom, and recover a chair in our library ( the matching sofa was recovered a couple of years ago. I also have a pile of mending, something I think must be the bane of every seamstress!

  5. I plan to make Roman shades and balances for our kitchen/great room, light-blocking curtains for our bedroom, and recover a chair in our library ( the matching sofa was recovered a couple of years ago. I also have a pile of mending, something I think must be the bane of every seamstress!

  6. I plan to make Roman shades and balances for our kitchen/great room, light-blocking curtains for our bedroom, and recover a chair in our library ( the matching sofa was recovered a couple of years ago. I also have a pile of mending, something I think must be the bane of every seamstress!

  7. I plan to make Roman shades and balances for our kitchen/great room, light-blocking curtains for our bedroom, and recover a chair in our library ( the matching sofa was recovered a couple of years ago. I also have a pile of mending, something I think must be the bane of every seamstress!

  8. 1. Master fitting myself with a set of slopers.

    2.Take the well fitting slopers and design myself some patterns.

    3. Learn to use the slopers to adjust my purchased patterns.

    4. Make some well fitting jeans.

  9. Sewing resolution: To sew one hour per day if possible. To help me keep track of sewing time, I put a Block-a-Day calendar on my sewing table, near my machine. If I have not been able to sew for a day or two, I will certainly know it by how many days I did NOT flip the calendar! Also, good way to play with scraps and practice rotary cutting and new rulers by using those blocks every day for inspiration. Winter is long where I live in the Finger Lakes Region of NY State, so my refuge and creativity will be motivated by unfinished projects, trying to finish them by sewing for an hour or more each day……whatever I CAN do, I WILL do! 🙂
    Vicky Peltier
    Farmington, New York

  10. Sewing resolution: To sew one hour per day if possible. To help me keep track of sewing time, I put a Block-a-Day calendar on my sewing table, near my machine. If I have not been able to sew for a day or two, I will certainly know it by how many days I did NOT flip the calendar! Also, good way to play with scraps and practice rotary cutting and new rulers by using those blocks every day for inspiration. Winter is long where I live in the Finger Lakes Region of NY State, so my refuge and creativity will be motivated by unfinished projects, trying to finish them by sewing for an hour or more each day……whatever I CAN do, I WILL do! 🙂
    Vicky Peltier
    Farmington, New York

  11. Sewing resolution: To sew one hour per day if possible. To help me keep track of sewing time, I put a Block-a-Day calendar on my sewing table, near my machine. If I have not been able to sew for a day or two, I will certainly know it by how many days I did NOT flip the calendar! Also, good way to play with scraps and practice rotary cutting and new rulers by using those blocks every day for inspiration. Winter is long where I live in the Finger Lakes Region of NY State, so my refuge and creativity will be motivated by unfinished projects, trying to finish them by sewing for an hour or more each day……whatever I CAN do, I WILL do! 🙂
    Vicky Peltier
    Farmington, New York

  12. 1. Take the free sewing lessons that were offered with my new sewing machine to fully understand all the features.
    2. Find and make projects with the bounty of beautiful fabric I bought at an estate sale! What a deal… tons of designer fabric at a incredible price
    3. Make baby blanket for my friends grandson…. a year late
    4. Find time to finish organizing my new sewing room which used to be our guest room! Love it….

  13. My resolutions for this year are:
    1) to finish the skirts I started a couple of years ago
    2) to defeat my fear (and frustration) of loading the stupid bobbin
    3) to use the fabric I’ve got accumulating
    4) to make my daughter a canopy for her bed.

  14. After years of accumulating fabric, ribbons, lace, linings, interfacing etc from estate sales, antique stores and yard sales, plus several years of working in retail sales at a fine fabric store, my resolution is: to use what I have to make pants and tunics for my self and start samples for an art quilt. Since I am now retired and on a smaller income, it is time to start using all these precious and beautiful fabrics, trims etc that I put off for another day. The time is NOW!

  15. I am currently finishing a crib quilt started who knows when. It is a quilt as you go project still lacking two borders and binding. I also plan to finish a sampler quilt started in 1992. Have two blocks still to construct and one that I want to rework. I will quilt it on the machine as I want to actually use it before I die. I am also currently hand quilting on a wholecloth quilt purchased in the 1990’s. Hope to get a long way on that this winter. I plan to finally sew up my Silhouette Pattern yoga pants. It will be great that have a pair that comes to my shoe tops! The ones I wear to exercise class are definitely high water pants.

  16. 1. To learn how to use different types of fabric – to get out of my comfort zone.

    2. Create a few easy patterns for preemies. I sew now for them but the few dress patterns I have that actually fit use a lot of fabric for these little ones. Since I don’t know how to draft patterns this is going to be quite a trip for me.

    3. Clear out the dreaded UFO’s.

  17. These are just some of my 2014-quilting goals. If I get half of this list done I’ll call this a successful year. My sewing list is way too much, it’ll bore you inevitably.
    1. Sparkler quilt- easy quilts spring 2013, pg23-25
    2. Triangle quilt- http://www.pinterest.com/pin/547117054702209556/
    3. Wave Runners- easy quilts Winter 2013, pg 77-81
    4. Basket -use ikea canvas fabric and this pattern- January (applique small motifs to determing the contents of the basket)
    http://www.sew4home.com/projects/storage-solutions/hello-kitty%C2%AE-sewing-basket-pincushion
    5. Finish calalily art quilt= craftsy- January
    6. Canyon art quilt – craftsy
    7. make 4 charity quilt

    But first the UFO’s of 2013. Of-course I have the right to add/change/eliminate anything here.

  18. I’m basically a quilter, but loving sewing too. So this year I want to make some pants. I will be 70 yrs in March and am on oxygen 24/7 and I’m tired of wearing sweat pants and would love some softer knits but with pockets. Since I don’t get out often to shop, this is my best alternative, 2014 is the year to do it.

  19. Hi – Your post is most appropriate. I have begun dressmaking classes because I could not find things I liked or that fitted my 67yr old figure! My problem has now transferred into – which pattern style should I choose!!!!! Any and all help would be most gratefully received. In the meantime, believe me, I have plenty UFOs. Regards for 2014 – LIZ

  20. I too would like to finish my UFO’s. One is at least 20 yrs. old. It has a lot of free motion embroidery on it. May be this is the year to finally get it done. Wish me luck!

  21. My sewing resolutions:
    1. Flat pattern a basic pants pattern
    2. Finish beading a collar my mother started.
    3. Upscale some items in my refurbish bin
    4. figure out which UFOs should be finished and which ones should be made into something else.

  22. My sewing resolutions:
    1. Flat pattern a basic pants pattern
    2. Finish beading a collar my mother started.
    3. Upscale some items in my refurbish bin
    4. figure out which UFOs should be finished and which ones should be made into something else.

  23. My sewing resolutions:
    1. Flat pattern a basic pants pattern
    2. Finish beading a collar my mother started.
    3. Upscale some items in my refurbish bin
    4. figure out which UFOs should be finished and which ones should be made into something else.