Are you setting yourself any sewing goals for 2026? It could be anything from working on building your everyday wardrobe to perfecting the fit on a particular garment. Perhaps you want to learn a certain technique like master zippers or french seams or sew a type of fabric you've been putting off.
For me, I want to dive into jeans sewing this year - try out a couple of different patterns, master the techniques and get a good fit.
Coats, jackets and find the ultimate wide-leg pull-on trouser pattern that isn't TOO wide and doesn't bag round my tummy!! Reach for patterns and fabric that are outside my comfort zone.
I can definitely recommend a wide leg pull on trouser - I often find bagging around my tummy but the Chanterelle pants from Sew Liberated are the perfect fit! They are quite wide but you could definitely reduce that width!
My goal is to actually get back to sewing! Somehow last year I lost my motivation. First up is the Nicks dress which I planned to sew with you all in the fall but I didn't touch it. I'm going to go back and watch your videos and talk with the designers. Thank you for the encouragement!
Ah amazing!! The Nicks dress is such a lovely sew! Have you got the fabric picked out?
I love the Nicks dress, I made 2 In 2024 but I have been back to slimming world and lost a bit of weight so I would love to make another one this year for the summer
I want to try and make items that work together, rather than random garments that don't go with anything else in my wardrobe.
I would also like to try welt pockets and bound buttonholes.
Great goals Diane, it can be so easy to think about the individual garments rather than how everything can work together!
Hello
I've just joined today and one of my sewing goals for 2026 is to find my people. I would love to meet more likeminded crafty people ☺️
You are absolutely in the right place in that case!! Welcome, are you making anything at the moment?
I'm making some fancy pjs for my upcoming 30th birthday and also some cushion covers for the living room. What's your latest make?
Lovely, what pattern are you using for the PJs? I am currently working on a toile for next months Pattern Club but I want to make some basic long sleeve jersey tops - either the Sew Over It Ultimate t-shirt or the Closet Core Donna bodysuit... maybe both!
I'm giving the closet core Carolyn pyjamas another go after a failed attempt last year 🤞
Welcome to the club. I was very sporadic on here last year so my goal is to make it it more TSG sessions. Hope to see you on one of the socials at some point.
My goals around sewing:
1. to actually sew. I wanted to start last year but between not prioritizing it and then injuries I was not as productive in this area of my life. However, I do believe it's helped me to focus for this year.
2. collars. Try it and get comfortable making collars. I really like button up shirts. The first three i plan to try are the Aria and Band Camp by Love Notion and S9707. Oh and Pattern Emporium' Smitten jacket.
3. I also want a good pair of pants to go with button ups. I plan to try Pattern Emporiums Coco Wide Leg and Ann Tilly's Magic Pants.
4. find community. Planning to arrange my schedule so i can join in on some of this group's midweek live sews.
These are fantastic goals! I love a button up shirt - my favourite is the Closet Core Jenna - I wear it so much! I've seen these Magic Pants - you'll have to let us know how they go I'm intruiged!
Can't wait to meet you in the socials soon!
The pattern emporium all in easy fit shirt has the best instructions for sewing up a button up skirt. The collar goes in so beautifully.
I like that pattern but I'm not ready to learn FBA but maybe in future.
My first goal is to get organized and make a list of items to make that are missing in my wardrobe. I want to make more of a mix and match wardrobe like my grandma used to make for me when I was a little girl. I also want to go through my closet and get rid of items that I don't love and make more room for me-made garments. I'll be mixing in some quilt making too. Mostly for gifts. I have a baby shower invitation for early February. Time to get busy. Happy Sewing!
A handmade wardrobe you can actually wear daily is such a great goal!! I need to do a bit of a wardrobe cull myself I think, it's getting a bit full and there's plenty in there I'm not wearing much
My goal is to continue with perfecting the fit of trousers, with the aim of moving on to jeans with all the jeans features. How far I'll get with that in 2026 is anyone's guess, but I'd like to keep working towards it!
I'm also planning on sewing a bit more mindfully, and by that I mean sewing things I actually need, rather than getting distracted by all the pretty things.... I'm sure there will be a bit of a distraction and there will definitely be new fabrics and patterns that will tempt me, but I've made a list of what fabrics I need to make some key basics that my wardrobe is missing and I'm aiming to prioritise those 😃
I'm with you on the jeans journey Vicki - we can keep each other motivated! I have the fabric and the pattern now - going for the Cashmerette Ames jeans.
The basics are great to sew - I need to make some long and short sleeve t-shirts in every solid colour of the rainbow! I have a couple of great wardrobe builder patterns coming up in the Pattern Club in a few months time!
Oh I definitely need some basic t-shirt type tops this year. I will admit I do find them quite boring to sew 😂 and until now I've always been distracted by pretty things, but it's getting to a point where my wardrobe doesn't actually work very well any more!
I'm thinking of trying the Megan Nielsen Dawn jeans. I've made quite a few pairs of Flint trousers, and also made the Opal and they fit me really well straight from the packet, so hoping if I stick with her patterns it might minimise any fitting issues 🤞🏻
Well I thought I replied to this, but it doesn't seem to be here- so apologies if anyone finds a random post from me in another part of the Forum!
I am in the very fortunate position of not 'needing' any clothes at present, though I do want to make a top and trousers before summer. So these are my goals:
Review my stash, and my clothes, especially consider if I can re-make any, using some of my offcuts.
Do something useful with my larger off-cuts. I do a 'sewing bee' with some friends to make lavender bags at the end of summer - we donate to a nursing home and sell for charity (they are very popular). I am wondering about making some bags, scarves etc. to sell for charity, but am wary of spending a lot of time on things that then don't sell. I could consider donating them - whatever I do, I hope to have rather less in a year's time!
One specific project: When Carole Waller held her closing down sale, I bought a length of hand painted silk and intent to make a lovely floaty top.
Hi Annie - for some reason your original post went into spam - you're not going crazy!
I love these ideas - reviewing your wardrobe as well as your fabric stash is a great way to start the year!
Wth my larger off-cuts I turned them all into tote bags as gifts for Christmas - I made 12 lined totes and used up so much fabric as well as random colours on bobbins - I think I emptied 5 bobbin spools!
I don't have specific goals, but I will continue to fill the gaps in my wardrobe. I've made a few pairs of jeans, but want to try a new pattern, so I've got the Ames pattern. I have a good stash of fabric, which I'd like to use up.
Hey Ames buddy!! That's the pattern I'm going to be making, can't wait to see how they all turn out!
At the risk of teaching my grandmother to suck eggs, I as an Ames veteran, suggest making a 'wearable toile' if you don't have the right weight / stretch in cheap fabric. I used a stretch gaberdine, left out all the top-stitching etc. and got a decent pair of trousers - this pattern is now my 'go to' for trousers. I'd also say - don't be afraid to combine the apple / pear options - it works for me!
Loving these tips! Interesting about combining the apple and pear options - did you lay one pattern over the top of the other and blend them or something else?
No, I used the apple front and the pear back (it will make sense when you lay it all out! ) You probably won't need to do that, but it shows how you can change the pattern to make it fit well.
My goal is to sew up my fabric stash - I just love planning new projects and find I move on to something new constantly so it's to have a look at the fabric I bought last year before buying any new fabric for this year!
Perfect, shopping your stash is always a win!! What's first on the list?
First up is a Tilly and the butons Nell blouse in blackwatch tartan!
Im ashamed to say I had my overlocker for 3 years and did nothing with it. I finally did a 1 day course to learn how to use it and not be afraid of it! 😁 In 2026 I want to make more use of it.My other goal is to curb my fear of zips! And make at least one item that needs a zip.
hooray!! Well done on mastering your overlocker, you'll be wondering how you ever lived without it!!
We have a couple of patterns coming up in the next few months in the Pattern Club that inlcude zips - so there will be some tutorials to help if you need them!
Lovely I shall look out for them xx
oh i have a few goals this year
1 - Buy less - i have sooo much fabric (191 pieces according to stashub) which is ridiculous and only just about fits in my storage space. Im not saying an outright ban as i might need specific fabric that i dont have, but i can only buy 1 piece of fabric for every 5 peices that i use/destash - goal is to just reduce the fabric that i have
2 - Sew more - partially in line with above but more focused on stopping procratination. I get an idea and then think oh i can use this fabric, but what if i need that for something else? what if i mess up? what if i spend all this time making it and i lose/gain weight? what if... I nust need to plan something and then actually commit to it and stop being scared or talking myself out of it.
3 - WIP/alterations - I have a number of items (sewing, quilting, crochet and knitting) sat in a pile that either need finishing off (just buttons or hemming!) or altering / refashioning. I ve made a list (there are 18) and would like to get them all done this year. Some will be very quick (i've already done 2 of them) and some will require more work (I have 2 quilts where the top is all done and pieced together - i just need to do the actual quilting part)
These are such great goals!! I love the gentle fabric ban rather than an outright ban, it's like saying I'm never going to eat chocolate again... just makes you want to eat more!!
I totally understand the overwhelm and procrastination here - I think you can reframe your thinking a little perhaps? Whilst you might spend time making something that then didn't turn out the way you wanted - did you learn something from it? Did you enjoy the time you spent creating something? Make those the goals of sewing rather than X number of finished products.
I've been working through my WIP box over the last year - I didn't have quite as many as you but I have managed to half it!
Good luck with your goals, keep us posted on how you're getting on!
Yes, my goals for the coming year are to actually balance my life out a bit more. I had been in a manic phase and now I am in the come down phase where I can't seem to make a decision to save my life, lol. I tend to buy things in my manic phase, so I am trying not to give in to the urge for more patterns and fabric....
so, trying to allow myself to read more, it feels like such an indulgence to just sit and read, I am so used to multi tasking that it sometimes feels like a waste of time which I am sure as a busy mom you can understand.
Enjoy your read, I haven't heard anything but great reviews on that book!
I want more jeans for myself and a coat and more gilets and sweatshirts and to sew up my stash and continue with my spring flowers quilt..... think that's enough for January!!
Haha, yes I think that's plenty to be getting on with for January!! Do you have patterns in mind for all of these?
Some will be tnt patterns (jeans, gilet, sweatshirt) coat is a new pattern - unless I use a tnt again. Once I've adapted a pattern to fit me I use it over and over to get my money's worth!!
I have decided on a few sewing goals for this year:
change my sewing space (I'm moving my sewing machine from one room to another)
get better at cutting out fabric (cleaner cutting)
make more dresses
make a coat (long term project)
Loving these goals Mel! Have you got a coat pattern in mind?
I do! It's a Cashmerette pattern (the name I can't remember). It's going to be a lot of work. So my steps there will involve making more dresses with more 'involved making steps'
I might even try to make a few more blouses and shirts.
And figuring out linings!
Love the idea of bridging the gap between where you are now and the coat by sewing dresses that will teach you the skills you need!
Trousers! I really want to be able to make a nice fitting pair of trousers and jeans. I've had a go at a number of patterns and I just don't seem to be able to get them to fit. And I'm not a wide leg relaxed trouser person, I don't enjoy wearing them.
After yet another failure at a nice trouser pattern I'm feeling a bit deflated in my ability to work it out. Before I completely give up though, I've found a 121 trouser fitting workshop and have scraped enough of a budget together to book it for next month.
So I will learn how to make them. A big goal for me this year.
Oh Adele I'm sorry you're feeling deflated, but amazing that you've taken the steps to push forward with it with the workshop, that's awesome! Would love to hear how it goes!
I have the exact same problems with trousers and have been meaning to work on another pair. So maybe I'll make it a goal this year. I want a straight leg pair but any pattern that falls straight from my hips ends up wide leg.
So I have to actually taper the leg and I haven't gotten that correct.
I tried the Waist down method and messed up. I didn't really think about where to place my waist and that's the first step! I didn't like the finished muslin and put them away.
In 2026 my goal is to practice to improve. My two areas of focus will be once a quarter embroidery addition to a bag make and learning to use and using my brother scan and cut on at least two small wallets/bags.
On the garment making front, I would like to make a "western blouse" with embroidered yokes and sparkley snaps 🤠✨
Ooh I love how you've set your goals! Can't wait to see how it goes
My goal for 2026 is to make some trousers/ jeans with a fly. I also have a wedding in May. I want to make a dress. I have gotten some fabric that is slippery, and will be a challenge.
Oooh slippery fabric definitely throws some news challenges into the mix! I highly recommend the Helen's Closet Falconer pants for learning a fly zip - we have a tutorial on here if you need a little extra help
I actually saw that! And have bought the pattern. I tried some coe trousers, and got the fly done, but messed up the pockets so bad I have placed them aside. It was Thrifted curtain. I was making it out of, so I don't know if I will finish them. I know I can get the falconers done because of your videos.
I'm with you Hayley, id like to try the Maison Fauve Ronsard jeans, they are a wide leg, 5 pocket jeans. They look stunning on the pattern
I missed this thread last month, so I'm a bit late with my 2026 sewing goals!
1. Sew more trousers and improve their fit.
I have plenty of tops and dresses, but not many trousers to put them with! The trousers I've made don't fit how I'd like them to.
All trouser patterns at the moment seem to be high waisted which just don't work for me. I'm tall with a short waist so most high waisted designs sit literally 2-3 inches below my bra band which looks ridiculous and feels uncomfortable. I'm currently on my second version of the sew over it rosemary trousers which I loved constructing but have again ended up far too high on my body.
I've drawn up a trouser block and done some adjustments to the rise and crotch curve using my block as a template, the toile went well so I have high hopes for my next pair!
2. Make new seeing friends. I will be attending my first in person sewing sewcial next weekend which I'm really looking forward to! I want to also join some more online socials on here as i did lots last year and really enjoyed them!
3. Shop my stash and only shop with intention. My small stash is outgrowing my smaller storage space so I need to look to my stash first, sew up some fabrics I've bought in the past with specific ideas that I've not yet got round to (such as 5 meters of French Terry too big to fit in a drawer that will be wide legged joggers and a sweatshirt)
Hey all, my goals for 2026 are to do everything with more intention, as in not multi tasking for everything and focus on what I am actually doing instead of half doing things. As for sewing, I love making dresses, but for the winter what I really need are pants and tops, some comfies and a little less casual. Doing more button plackets and getting a better fit on things now that I have a better idea of what is working for me.
I am trying to spend more time watching my grandkids in their sports, my eldest grandchild is in cheer and ringette.
I am taking a trip to the UK later this year and am hoping to take enough for 5 weeks using carry on only. With that in mind my goal is to create a capsule wardrobe suitable for British weather in August/September. I have lots of prints in my fabric stash but hardly any solids. I guess the first thing I need to do is decide on my base colour. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated as I'm not sure where to begin.
Well, I think that your main consideration, after walking boots / shoes, is a lightweight water proof jacket with a hood, that can be layered. So I would pick that first as options in technical fabric are a bit more limited. My husband always wants me to wear something bright so I can be spotted when I wander off! I'd also say that a lightweight cardigan (less bulky than a jacket) is important in layering, so I'd choose that next, and a pashmina that is useful for so much.
The colours that I think can team with lots of others are bottle green and plum.
Do you have your itinerary mapped out?
Thank you Annie, that is so helpful.
I like your ideas for colours, I was actually thinking of purple or green.
I don't have my itinerary completely mapped out. I am spending 3 days in London when I first arrive, then heading up to Scotland (where I'm originally from). I do have a couple of events that I need to plan for. The first is the theatre in London to see the Mousetrap and the other I hope will be Scottish Frocktails. The tickets for that go on sale this week so I'm hoping I can get two as my cousin who I will be staying with in Glasgow is keen to come with me.
Thanks for your response.
I had never heard of Scottish Frocktails, and when I googled, I found this piece about sewing dresses, so in case you hadn't found it, here it is:
Makes me think that a pashmina ( a proper one you can pass through a wedding ring) would be a must!
Oooh Annie you are in for a treat! There are various frohcktails events that take place all over the UK but there also ones in Australia where Irene is based (I know she's been to a couple) and one in Ireland. I haven't heard of others but I would hazard a guess there might be frocktails in other parts of the world too.
Where are you based Annie?
Well Hayley, I live in Northamptonshire. Our local author Katherine Jakeways has likened it to a Boots Advantage card: useful, flat, and no-one quite knows where it is! Certainly not google who inform me that there are 2 events near me: Plymouth and London!
I should add that we try not to let people know how lovely Northamptonshire is!.
Haha!! What a way to describe a place! Yes, from what I can recall London, Plymouth, Welsh, Scottish frocktails and I think Dublin are the ones available.
Oooh Irene, this is so exciting!!
I think with capsule wardrobes a good place to start is to pick two or three colours that go together for your key pieces and then make basics in more neutral colours that compliment your standout ones. Pinterest is a good place to look for capsule wardrobe ideas and how you can mix and match things!
Thanks Hayley, it is exciting and I can't wait.
I have so many ideas running around in my head I just can't pin any of them down. (pardon the pun)
I'm also looking forward to the clocks changing so that I can get back into the chats. xx
Hi there. My fabric buying had started to get a bit out of control so my main goal is to shop my stash 🤭. I watched a Sistas of Stitchcraft vlog where they talked about a challenge "last sewist standing" I found last year's challenge (and 2 years before) but couldn't find this year's. I decided to give it a go anyway and haven't bought fabric since the end of December 😊
Hi Elaine, I have heard of this challenge, but you're right I'm not sure if it's being "officially" run this year! Sounds great though, if you've already spent money on lots of beautiful fabrics they deserve to be made up!
I saw a. IG story on the SewOver50 account about this a few days ago
Ooh thanks Wendy I'll check it out 😊
Hi there, Last Sewist Standing 2026 has started. It's being hosted by @miss.taeschli at @the.craft.camp on IG 😊
I’m a bit late to the party but my goal this year is to learn to sew with jersey fabrics and to make my own knickers. I’ve already found some ideal fabric to make knickers with.
Such a great goal Sarah!! What else would you love to sew with jersey?
I’d like to make some t shirts and pyjamas .
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