September’s Challenges
- At September 01, 2013
- By Kelly
- In Challenges
- 1
Hooray for September! September is one of my favorite months. The kids go back to school, the weather cools and we head into fall, my favorite season.
September’s Monthly Challenge
Be a Stash Buster!
This photo is from Sue Shimomura.
September brings the fall stash game, so it seemed only appropriate to challenge you to participate this month! The idea of the game is to sew up your stash!
If you haven’t signed up yet, here’s the link! As luck would have it, that’s also the link to the rules. And, you can join the game even if the month has already started. No excuses, so sign up and get sewing! :)
Now, to complete this challenge, you must COMPLETE the stash game. What does that mean? It means you have to sew something. And at the end of the month, you must submit your point total. Easy peasy, right?
September’s Christmas Challenge
(Tree) Skirts
Credit (or blame?) for this month’s challenge goes to SewingMel.
Tree skirts had been on my idea list for the holiday challenges, but I’ve been trying to keep the challenges flexible for those who celebrate winter holidays that don’t include trees. And for those who don’t celebrate holidays, options for simply using a winter theme. But how the heck can I possibly ask you to make a tree skirt? What if you don’t need a tree skirt?
Barb (fw221) made this great tree skirt! Your tree needs that, right? And if you have a fear of circles, a tree skirt doesn’t even need to be round! Check out this one from Lori H. Designs.
If you don’t celebrate Christmas, or you do and you already have a tree skirt, or you don’t have a tree, or one of the bazillion other reasons why a tree skirt would be an utter waste of your time, do not fear! Go ahead and make the skirt without the tree. After all, a round tree skirt is really just a circle skirt, right? Make a holiday or winter themed skirt for you or someone you love! And it doesn’t even have to have trees on it. But it could. Trees are always nice.
Once you’re done creating, don’t forget to share your projects on our Runway!
Happy Sewing!
Kelly
August’s Sewing Challenges
- At August 01, 2013
- By Kelly
- In Challenges
- 2
The calendar says August, it’s been feeling more like late September lately. We’ll see what August brings. Hopefully no snow! :)
August’s Monthly Challenge
Unneccessarily Complicated
Create a highly detailed quilted potholder, jeans with lots of topstitching and extra pockets, a dress with yards of hand stitched ruffles. Carefully match your threads to fabrics, use those size tags and decorative labels. Use the iron. No, really. Put a lot more effort into something than you normally would. (And when you’re done, pat yourself on the back and stand in the glow of your awesomeness!)
And, to balance the unnecessarily complicated with something that is intended to be less complicated:
August’s Christmas Challenge
Potholders
Create some holiday or winter themed potholders. Or just one, if you’d prefer. I really need to complete this challenge because this is what’s currently in my kitchen drawer:
And those are recently laundered, yikes! I’m fairly certain at least a couple are older than my eldest child, who is a high school senior.
If you don’t celebrate Christmas, perhaps you have another holiday where food is eaten and pans are hot? Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or a celebration of the Winter Solstice? Or feel free to create with a more generic winter theme. Unless you are planning to hibernate this winter, it’s a good bet that you’ll be eating at some point!
Once you’re done creating, don’t forget to share your projects on our Runway!
Happy Sewing!
Kelly
June Challenges!
- At June 01, 2013
- By Kelly
- In Challenges
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It’s June!
How are you doing with these monthly challenges?
The Monthly Challenge for June 2013:
June – Make it Sew Organized!
Use your sewing skills to organize your space or yourself! There’s plenty of room for creativity in the interpretation of this one. Perhaps you could use a fabric bowl (check the tute!) to hold the keys in your kitchen? Or the assortment of hair ties in your bathroom? Maybe a place to toss the collection of remotes in the family room?
Or maybe you need a bag to collect all your library books?
Perhaps you need a travel bag (check the tute!) to collect all your cosmetics and toiletries before your next trip or just to contain them in your cupboard?
Maybe you need a needle roll to organize your knitting needles? Or a crayon roll to contain the crayons so you don’t find them melting under (or on!) the car seats this summer?
Maybe your sewing space would be a bit more organized with a new pin cushion made to match your room, or made in a favorite color or print that you’ve been hoarding the last scraps of? Whatever your organizational need is, use your sewing skills to get it done!
And, the June Christmas Challenge!
June’s Christmas Challenge:
Seasonal placemats or napkins ~ Make these as simple or complex as you like. Remember those huge holiday prints you thought were so fun at the fabric store and then realized they didn’t really go with anything? They are great for the kids’ placemats or napkins! Perhaps you want the simple elegance of a solid with a tidy rolled hem? If it works for you, it works! Just have fun creating something you will use next winter!
Happy Sewing!
Kelly
March’s Sewing Challenges
- At March 01, 2013
- By Kelly
- In Challenges
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Helloooo March!
How are you doing with these monthly challenges? This month we’ve got an easy one and more challenging one for you.
The Monthly Challenge for March 2013:
March – Step Outside Your Box!
Do something you’re not comfortable doing. Jeans with the zipper, hand embroider tea towels, mix 5 prints in one dress. If you think you’ve done it all, start a thread and ask for suggestions or crack open one of those books on your shelf. There is always something new to try!
And, the March Christmas Challenge!
March’s Christmas Challenge:
Reusable Gift Bags ~ Make these as simple or complex as you like, what’s important is that they work for you!
Image credit:Elin B
Also, remember to get your stash game points tallied and entered! The stash game ended at midnight your time on February 28th. It’s over, rover!
Happy Sewing!
Kelly
February’s Sewing Challenges
- At February 01, 2013
- By Kelly
- In Challenges
- 0
I can’t believe it’s February already. Of course, it’s freeeeezing here in the Midwest, so hopefully things will go well with the groundhog tomorrow and spring will come early. I’ve never really understood that whole thing – if he sees his shadow, we get more winter, right? But if he sees his shadow, doesn’t that mean the sun is out, so shouldn’t that mean we get spring? Of course, if you were the groundhog and you came up from your cozy hole in the ground to see a whole bunch of people waiting for you, would you stick around? Ack! We’re doomed to winter!!
Did you finish January’s challenges? Yes? Good job! No? Well, it’s a new month, let’s just pick up and carry on. :)
First up, the Monthly Challenge for February 2013:
February – Take time for you!
We’ve made it through the hustle of the holiday season, and the kids are back in school. Sometime before you find yourself knee deep in Valentine’s crafting, (or after you’ve given up on vacuuming up all the glitter!) take the time to make something for yourself. A new top or bag, perhaps? Or a new pair of yoga pants to go with your New Year’s Resolution to get healthier? You deserve it!
Image credit: lululemon athletica
Second, our February Christmas Challenge!
February’s Christmas Challenge:
Make a table runner, wall hanging or doll quilt with a Christmas holiday or winter theme.
It just so happens that you can pop over to the forums today and sign up for the winter doll quilt swap that’s happening this month. Sign up to swap a doll quilt or wall hanging so you’ll be committed to getting it done! (Hurry, today’s the last day to sign up!)
Here’s a lovely table runner made by Lily, whose work is found on Flickr at cascade_lily
Happy Sewing!
Kelly
ps – here’s a link if you can’t make it to Punxsutawney, PA to scare the groundhog in person and want to watch him from the comfort of your home.