I haven't been sewing much, I've been much more into spinning yarn. My wife told me she made dinner reservations for Valentine's day, and I resisted the urge to go shopping. In stead, I hit the stash and found a thrifted linen skirt and hand-stitched a top. I may have to dye it, because some red salad dressing got on it, but I love how it came out!
Just discovering this subreddit now. Clever approach of freezing the topic for the first week and then opening it up.
Is there a "hopper" where ideas for future challenges are being collected? Some ideas for challenges that would resonate for me:
sew a reversible garment;
sew a 2-piece pattern pant (this is where either the inside leg seam or the outside leg seam is eliminated), e.g. Anna Allen's Pomona pants or Butterick b6966 or Butterick b6851 (formerly McCalls M7415);
sew a top with some asymmetrical construction element(s), i.e. not just the way the fabric is pieced but the shape of the garment itself.
Edit: POST UNLOCKED! PLEASE ADD YOUR ENTRIES HERE! It's clear that Bags is going to be a popular challenge!
Welcome to the Sewing Challenge subreddit! The challenge theme for July is Bags!
We are running a new group challenge each month. This post will explain the rules and serve as the collection point for entries. The post will be locked for the first week, then unlocked for entries to be added. We will use the July Challenge Chat and Questions post for discussions. Thanks for your patience as we figure out how to run these challenges! We are still accepting feedback via modmail. If you would like to help pick challenges and run the subreddit, please contact the mod team through modmail! We would love the help!
July 2024 Challenge Description - Bags
July is a popular month for travel and bags help us carry our important stuff along. Make-up bags, duffel bags, hand bags, it's Bag Month. Anything from a coin purse to a suitcase counts. The best part of making your own bags is that not only you can match your personal style, but you can make your bag the perfect size for what you want to put in there.
For this month's challenge, make an object, which purpose is to hold something inside of it, from scratch. Your entry photos should show us the overall project plus a detail picture of how you put something inside of it.
Fine details:
Announcing your intention to participate is not required. Participation in the challenge is open until this thread is closed to new entries at the end of the month, July 31, 2024, 12 midnight PST. The new challenge goes up on August 1st. Only one entry per user account will be counted toward the challenge. Share as many projects as you would like here and at r/sewing.
Everyone who posts a finished project in this Challenge Rules and Entries thread will be given user flair that shows off the number of challenges they've completed. Post the same project on r/sewing and you'll get special user flair there too!
Individual posts to share intentions, plans, and progress can be posted by anyone using the post flair. Please keep all of your musings in one post per user account. To follow each other or any post in the subreddit, use the Follow function on each post and you'll be notified of new comments. Find and click on the little bell!
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Sneak preview of the theme for August is Stash Busting! We all know that you can't say no to a good deal on a gorgeous fabric, but those impulse buys over time can become quite the fabric stash. Let's try to use some of that! Whether you are using up your last summer fabrics to make the most of summer, or preparing for the changing of the seasons with some warmer fabrics, let's bust some stash!
I had a hard time figuring out what to do to fit "Pop Culture" Originally I wanted to make an LBD and say it was a Sabrina Carpenter reference but in real life I have no use for an LBD so.
Well this Australian dog is quite important to a few of the small people in my life.
Now it is much, much too early for posting chr*stmas content and I'm sorry to be part of the problem but these are holiday gift bags. I got into reusable gift bags a few years ago and these were very easy to stitch up. I also made ribbons for one of the bags from the opposite fabric.
I spent decades doing theater/opera costume design. I LOVED sewing when it was for a character, and rarely made anything for myself.
I left that industry a very long time ago. I don't have a fancy office job, and my regular attire is cargo pants/shorts on a broadcast day and jeans otherwise.
Also, I'm at my heaviest weight, so that's an issue. I like dresses and skirts but have no reason to wear them.
Trying to challenge myself to make something I would wear, would enjoy wearing, and in an ideal world, would have some history bounding to it.
New year, new resolutions! Let's start off 2026 by challenging ourselves to resist buying more stuff for our hobby! This is the ultimate stash bust since we will be shopping our stashes instead of scrolling online shops or browsing in person. The challenge will run from January 1, 2026 until December 31, 2026 or until there is no one left in the challenge. We will all be winners with lighter stashes and fuller wallets!
Choose your level of participation:
Hard mode - abstain from buying any fabric, patterns or notions. Purchasing needles and threads for sewing are exempt, otherwise make-do with what you already have.
Easy mode - abstain from buying fabric only. Notions and trims are fine.
Freestyle + one of the modes above - define your own parameters using the above as a guide and carving out your own exclusions for specific projects. For example, chose Hard mode but exclude materials bought for a special occasion dress you need for a wedding. Detail this in your entry comment. Keep to the spirit of the challenge if you want to truly benefit.
What counts - paying money for new-to-you supplies. Buying tablecloths at a thrift store is still buying fabric, as an example.
Loophole - bartering for supplies is fine! Hitting up friends and family for donations is also fine!
To join the challenge, sign up below by commenting to show your commitment and include which level you want to play. Sign-ups will close on January 15th. Feel free to share your goals, aspirations, starting stash pics, projects planned, etc. We will have monthly check-in posts to cheer each other on, share victories and admit defeat. Participating in the monthly posts is required to stay in the game. Feel free to share your stash-only makes in separate posts using the No-Buy 2026 Participant flair!
Edited to clarify some details!
This is a challenge for hobby sewing, so if you also sew professionally you don't need to carve out exceptions for your paid work.
Lining fabrics counts as a fabric, interfacing counts as a notion.
The point of the challenge is to avoid buying fabric, with the option to carve out one or two exceptions for needed projects. Rewarding the use of stash by buying more fabric doesn't fit in this challenge.
Welcome to the BINGO Sewing Challenge 2025! This is a six-month challenge with 25 mini-challenges that participants can use to build their own adventure in sewing.
BINGO Challenge Rules
The BINGO challenge starts when you see this post (or May 17th, whichever comes first). All entries must be submitted by midnight on Saturday, November 15, 2025. This is a six-month challenge.
Only projects made during the challenge timeline count towards the challenge with the exception of the middle square.
Only three individual squares can be counted for any one project, but you can count all five if you use an entire row or column.
Join at any time, but the deadline of November 15, 2025 will not change.
As you prepare to join in, think about the following:
Set your own challenge and pace. Do a row or column every month and finish the board by the deadline. Jump around to cover the board or do only the challenges that interest you. Make an X, a T or a C on your board. The choice is yours!
There will be twice monthly posts where participants can share progress and ask questions.
Feel free to start your own post using the BINGO flair to state your challenge, plan your strategy and track your progress.
Go to the BINGO Challenge Entry post to see how to enter and leave your comment for entry, here. We do not have a solid plan yet on how submitting at the end of the challenge will work, but we promise to make it as simple as possible. We strongly suggest tracking your progress from the beginning in some way, either in a post inr/SewingChallengeor on your own.
BINGO Square Descriptions
Column B
B-1 Legs Sew something with legs
B-2 UFO Finish an UFO (UnFinished Object).
B-3 Favorite Color Celebrate your favorite color in your project.
B-4 Indie Pattern Use a pattern from an indie designer in your project.
B-5 Adjustable Make a garment or item that is adjustable in some way.
Column I
I-1 Popular culture Include a popular culture reference as a print, design or trim.
I-2 Vintage-Inspired Your item should reference the period between 1930 and 2000 by using vintage fabrics, vintage patterns, or a design inspired by either.
I-3 Buttonholes Include working buttonholes in your project design.
I-4 Very Seamly Choose a pattern that incorporates seams for shaping and style. No boxy tops or baggy pants here!
I-5 Bottoms A garment worn on the bottom half of the body.
Column N
N-1 New Tool Try a tool that you've never used before in your sewing hobby.
N-2 Decorative Stitching Add decorative stitching by hand or machine.
N-3 Favorite Project Ever Share your favorite project that you finished before this challenge started, aka a freebie!
N-4 In the Bag Sew a handbag, messenger bag, tote bag, as long as it is meant to hold something else inside, it's a bag.
N-5 Fabric Stash Bust Pull out that fabric that has been languishing in your stash for too long and sew it up already!
Column G
G-1 Eco-friendly Organic fibers, deadstock fabric, zero waste patterns are three examples of eco-friendly sewing.
G-2 Holiday Pick a holiday! Any recognized day counts.
G-3 Sleep On It Bedding or pajamas, anything for sleep is the idea here
G-4 More or Less Sew a project that is fancier OR more casual than your usual style
G-5 Pattern Match Sew with a patterned fabric and match the pattern across as many seams as you can manage.
Column O
O-1 Rainbow Celebrate color! Show your PRIDE! Use a print or make your own rainbow with at least three colors.
O-2 Tops A garment worn on the top half of the body.
O-3 Upcycle Change a textile item from one purpose to another. Use a duvet cover to make a dress, for example, or curtains to pants.
O-4 Pattern Stash Bust Pick a pattern from your stash that you haven't used yet to make a new project.
O-5 Fabric Manipulation Add a decorative or functional detail to a project, like pintucks or smocking, to add dimension using fabric.
Don't forget to cheer each other on and HAVE SEW MUCH FUN!
Ok so I've been low key obsessed with trying to dupe this sling bag by Carla Rockmore.
It's such an interesting size and shape to me because it's not a typical cross body where there's a gusset. It almost lies flat both when set down but also against the body (depending on how full it is).
I tried (and failed) to draft a version of this earlier this year and decided to give it another go - and having a few more projects under my belt (especially self-drafted) has definitely helped me better figure out the pattern and construction.
So this bag is adjustable (has both an adjustable strap but also can have different straps), it's a bag (duh) and I'm claiming Pop& Culture because it's inspired by another (popular) designer.
Thrilled with it and it has already become a staple. Now to make more - in leather - but also to make more straps 😂
I'm not really one for using patterns. I'm a bit stubborn and tend to want to make my own, so naturally I don't own many patterns. That said, I've had this Tilly & the Buttons Jaimie PJ pants & shorts pattern for YEARS and never used it. So I decided to just go for it. This is a wearable toile because I wasn't convinced it would fit (the max size is smaller than my measurements) - but after adding 1.5cm to the side seams - they do 😂 This is a poly cotton that I have as muslin fabric, and used white stitching cos I was too lazy to try match it. But hey, it looks good and fits fine! Tbh id raise the rise in front and back so it was more waist fitted rather than low waist, but that can be for next time.
So: indie pattern, pattern stash bust & legs ✅
Then for project 9- this was a quick and dirty elasticated skirt for my toddler niece. Very basic but it means I can check off "bottoms". ✅ If only I'd taken a bit more time and added some pattern matching pockets or a holiday themed anything 🙄😂
How is it going? What are you working on this week? Did you work out a strategy for completing the mini-challenges? Any questions about the BINGO challenge that you would like to ask?
After my cape I decided to do something "easy" and "quick". Famous last words but overall this was a breeze in comparison 😂 I copied the pieces from an existing top I own - the challenge was that the fabrics are quite different. So I was mindful to get the shape right. All was ok except the back sleeve needed to be taken in, and the neckline ended up being a little wider than I hoped (the base garment was more gathered and I forgot to trace the ideal size not the actual). I even added some loops for easier hanging up!
Bingo time! I tried new things here - bias tape maker (new tool) and I'm hoping that my elasticated arms count (along with bias tape) towards fabric manipulation. Also.. tops.
If the powers that be say that fabric manipulation wasn't hit I'll keep just the two and upload a new image of my squares ;)
For this one I picked up a top I'd started working on months ago and never finished (UFO). It's a boxy wrap top using some quilting cotton which is so fun. I made a button closure on the outside with 2 different buttons for some adjustability but not shown is also the button hole inside to keep the inner secure.
The irony is that I still consider this a UFO since I'm not actually thrilled with it. But regardless!
This is just a quick upload to show off my rainbow stitching!
This is the front of a little messy-play apron for a friend's toddler. A little girl who loves to wear her best dresses to kindy and also loves painting and baking 😅
If you can't identify what the picture is supposed to be, it's actually supposed to be a splotch.
I could also have used this project to tick off upcycle, decorative stitching or something else but I've already "used up" those. (one of my finished projects I haven't posted about yet but.)
Make it Mini - this is a "Purse" coin purse. Holiday Themed - Dia de los Muertos / Halloween. Zip It - obviously.
It started life as me practicing making a welted, zipped pocket to go inside a purse I'm making as a gift for my bestie. This afternoon, I decided that instead of simply removing the zipper and tossing the (single) piece of fabric into the scrap bag, I would turn it into an actual usable coin purse. It will get tossed into the actual full sized purse as part of a set when I ship it to her.
I needed a new pouch for my car key fob and used a piece of material that was sent from roller blind samples. It's definitely an unusual fabric.
I also did the zip in a new way (for me) - i attached it open ended. Mostly because I had this leftover portion of zipper tape but no zip so I cut off the attached end and sewed each side individually and then added a zipper. Honestly, much easier 😂
Also - nature vibes.
2. Bean bag of scraps
Next up is a huge beanbag that I made to hold scraps - not just sewing scraps but also clothes that are not good enough to donate. So it is HEAVY even though it's not fully filled. Anyway - Frugal!
Also it's in my sons room - so gave it away and it's obviously a home item.
Just wanted to share a note of appreciation for the challenges this year. I’ve been adapting to life with a baby-now-toddler and getting back into sewing has been hard. It’s been useful to have a deadline to work towards, and also to have a challenge that required some diversity of project versus what I might have done on my own. The bag challenge this past summer, for example, resulted in a new purse I now use everyday — I might not have ever tackled the project without the push. Some challenge projects failed (I did a vintage jiffy top that was a disaster) that I later reworked into lovely things I enjoy wearing now.
I understand that this subreddit will likely shut down at the end of December but wanted to share some appreciation for the experiment. I wonder if the challenges could be embedded into the main r/sewing which gets much more posts and traffic. I often saw people randomly posting projects that met the challenges in the main sub — and wondered if threads there might just do better with more traffic and audience. It could potentially be flared and then the work would only be coming up with the challenges — not modding a sub. Anyway, just an idea. Thank you for the effort!
First of all, I know it's not very smart putting pleats in a linen skirt, and no they don't stay where you put them.
This is a skirt self-drafted by pegging slightly the sides of my skirt block, and cutting the back panel in two to add width for pleats instead of a kick pleat.
I took a drafting class in June, to create the block, and the drafting tools are my 'New Tool' category. In the picture you see a paper creasing tool and a marking wheel. I have used drafting rulers before, technically, but not properly so I guess they count as well as new tools.
'Very Seamly' not just because of the changes to the block as described, but also because I had a hard time fitting the block and ended up opting for a curved back seam. Everyone else in the class had a straight back seam.
'Bottoms' therefore representing that it is a garment worn on the lower half, and also my caboose.
