At the end of the summer there was the usual flurry of posts and ads about what to sew to stay on trend in autumn and winter 2026. We went on a holiday in early September, and I had a couple of long flights where I could just think about what has and hasn’t worked in life and the sewing room, and what I wanted to accomplish in the autumn season. (I’m one of those people who often just sits on a plane with the screen turned off – it’s a great time for a bit of mental processing and dreaming.)
I have always set seasonal sewing goals as if I was buying clothes. Pull together a stack of patterns, buy a bunch of fabric, and then sew sew sew. What might take an afternoon or two in a mall, takes weeks or months in the sewing room. And that means that every single season, I wind up overbuying patterns and fabric. And the enthusiasm I had for something on September 1 is long gone by the time the snow flies.
Instead, I set five meaningful goals. Well, there’s a sixth at the end.Â
Good for the Heart
I’ve been sewing dresses for Project Dress a Girl and will sew two more dresses to be delivered to our local ambassador this fall.
And I will sew some pet beds to be donated to Parachutes for Pets. I’ve been sewing pet beds for years. This is one of my favourite things to make when my brain is a bit frazzled, or I’ve bought too much quilting cotton.
Good for the Environment
(This one is done!) Last week, I participated in Sew Phoenix September, which was a challenge to look back at old projects, pull out something you had made in the past, and remake it (in my case, refashion it) using your improved skills. I took an unworn dress from 2017 and turned it into a top that can be worn with or without a belt. I already love it, and I was left with just a small bit of scrap. Big save as this dress was in the charity shop pile, which often means the landfill.
Good for Type A Me
No matter how I frame things, I am driven to living by a check list, and in sewing that means there are pieces of fabric that scream at me every time I open the sewing closet. Sew Me! SEW ME! One of those pieces will get its wish and be cut up and sewn. Early last year I bought a huge piece (5 metres?) of faux suede with the intention of making a trench coat (yeah, right). I’ve tempered my expectations and instead, it’s going to be a midi-length skirt, and the leftover fabric will go to a sewing friend. I’ve got a design in mind, and will be so happy to get this huge piece of fabric out of the closet!
Good for the Brain
Last year, I bought the Lutterloh System. At that time, I made a quick attempt at the basic shell. Honestly, it’s a completely different way of working with patterns which in itself is daunting. However, it will be really good for my brain to try something new, and work on a unique puzzle. I’ve marked a few patterns that I would like to try, and I will sew one of them this fall.
Good for the Soul
This is an easy one and it is simply something I want to sew. It could be anything from a basic warm top to Christmas pyjamas. No justifications necessary!
And there’s a number 6, “Anything else that looks good”. This goes on the bottom of my shopping lists and seems to work well for sewing lists, too. I’m not limiting myself to these five items. If something else interests me, I can sew it without guilt.
Do you usually create seasonal sewing plans?
