2013 Sewing Resolutions
2013 is a great year to expand your creative horizons and explore new sewing projects and techniques. Here at Sew4Home, we've come up with our own New Year's Resolutions list, and we've been working with our fabulous sponsoring partners to plan a full year of fun. We hope you come back often to see, learn and do; and of course, when you come... bring all your friends! There will be plenty of inspiration to go around.
Lucky 13 Resolution Ideas for 2013
- Maintain. Treat your sewing machine to a cleaning and tune up. Stock up on new sewing machine needles so you can replace your needle when you start a new project or after about eight hours of use. Visit your local dealer and test drive a new machine; you'll be amazed at all the wonderful features available on today's latest models.
- Learn. Try a new technique or improve your existing skills. We just reviewed our Top 12 How-To Tutorials from 2012. Take a look at these, page through our Tips & Resources category, or check out the new Project Index.
- Organize. Tidy up your sewing space, your fabric and trims, or all those buttons and bling. Don't tackle it all at once; pick one thing each month to tame into a more manageable - more useable resource.
- Browse. Before you buy... browse the pages of S4H. Chances are good you can find a way to make what you want. Chances are great the finished product will be better, cheaper and more unique than what you'd find in the stores. Start with the Project Index, or just begin browsing from the home page. (We take no responsibility for using up the next three hours of your day.)
- Go Pro. Pay attention to the little things, like seam finishes, hems, hand stitching, and pressing. You'll never be sorry you took the time to concentrate on these important details.
- Embellish. Add a little hand embroidery to your next project, as we did with our recent Ty Pennington placemats and our Amy Butler pillow. Explore all those decorative stitches hiding on your machine; we used them to great effect on an apron and a patchwork pillow. Or, experiment with a terrific trim.
- Improve. Buy yourself a new sewing tool to make your life easier, like a great pair of scissors
, a jumbo cutting mat
or a set of pretty straight pins
.
- Finish. Have an unfinished project (or two or three)? Finish one. The momentum to carry through to the others.
- Repurpose. Look around for "found fabric." Old clothes, vintage linens, or other gently worn cloth can become something new and vibrant.
- Explore. Try our some of the new substrates: velveteen, linen, rayon, knit, sateen, canvas, corduroy or voile.
- Share. Teach someone to sew.
- Conquer. What's your biggest sewing fear? A zipper, buttonhole, bias binding, pleats, piping? Pick the one technique you've always avoided and work it out. You don't have to make a whole project; just practice the technique on scraps. Before you know it, an old fear will be your new friend.
- Play. It's one of our favorite things to do! Mix and match colors, patterns and textures. Put a new spin on an old favorite. Add pom poms where you'd least expect it. And never take yourself too seriously, because we all own a seam ripper!
What are your sewing resolutions for 2013?
I got my machine tuned up, I am doing sewing and quilting for me this year. I have always wanted to learn art quilting there are so many forms, I stocked up on books ,classes,ect and away I go. Have started a challenge with Michael Miller and making my first art quilt. I am loving it so far. This web site is great I just stumbled upon it and this is also a new resalution to learn u have and to relate it to my quilting club. All of you get out there and sew, forget about mistakes that is where you learn the most. Happy sewing
Mastering my 2 antique machines. one is a tredle and the other is one of the first electric models.
I need to replace my old apron that I made when I first started teaching. It's full length so it really protects against spills. My old one looks dingy, so I'm going to make a new brightly colored one from some vintage fabric I have in my stash. I have fond memories of wearing this while teaching cooking to middle school students when it was "fun."
I'd like to write more patterns I think. Make more quilts instead of bags and stuff too.
My 2013 resolution is to sew, sew, sew. Love it.
no 1 is checked....seriously..i did it yesterday...coz it's giving such luod noises
I like your list. After my head injury I have to relearn the things I used to "know". So polishing up what I know, cleaning the sewing room/library/computer room/camera devolping spot/storage space; and redecorating the house with Sew4Home projects is what I have started and main sewing for this year. Thanks Sew4Home
this year I intend to make something really cool....to keep!!!! Every time something comes up in our family that generates a need for a gift...I make a quilt....it never stops!! I need to do some ME sewing this year, and I plan to start with new Christmas stockings for next year.
My duahgter and I set up the second largest bedroom for my sewing room, since I sew for the public. Now to orgainize everything just the way I want it after having a smaller room already set up. I would rather be sewing but REALLY enjoy organization. We will be added some decor shelves and storage shelves and I am set. Thanks
My resolution is to clean up my sewing room. I plan to share supplies with family who also love to sew,craft,and quilt. I have so much that I can afford to share with them.
Organizing my sewing room is at the top of my list. Part of this includes donating stuff that I am not going to use, and freeing myself of the unfinished projects that I don't want to finish but are weighing me down and making me feel guilty!
My new years resolution is to SEW MORE and WORRY LESS! Keep the tutorials coming, I would never try any of these techniques without the helping hand of pictures and good common sense directions.
I started today by reorganizaing my sewing space. I will work on fabric organization next, followed by trims. I am also planing on teaching my young cousins to sew they are 5 and 6 years old, so this article is a perfect guidline (to do) for me.
Thank you.
Sewing daily is going to be one New Year's Resolution I finally know I can keep.
Thanks for an interesting year of tutorials and informative posts. Your list of sewing resolutions is interesting. Though I do not set resolutions, I do have a goal to learn FMQ. Happy New Year! to sew4home staff and readers too.
Another resolution could be to join a guild and/or take a sewing class. Guilds are great recipients of fabric that you know will never get used, thereby aiding you in decluttering your sewing room and sharpening your focus. HNY S4H!
Love this site! Great instructions! Keep up the great work and inspiration!
I'm adding some of your resolutions to my list. I really want to learn how to put in zippers and make buttonholes. I'll follow your excellent instructions. Thanks for this great idea!
Love this site and all of the inspiration you offer here. It is like having a friend to encourage me along the way. My resolution is to continue to finish things.
My resolution is to simply find a minimum 15 minute block of time to sew every day. If we are traveling, I will take a hand work project.
I like this resolution! It's doable and achievable! My 15 minutes starts January 1st!!
I like this resolution! It's doable and achievable! My 15 minutes starts January 1st!!
This was a super post!! Lots of informative links to follow! Thank you!
I have MANY unfinished projects! It would be great to get them all finished this year!
I want to sew them all! Awesome book and site!
Did I miss something here? What book are you referring to?
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