
This year I am giving the word goal a rest. Although I have some sewing plans, the word intentions seems to resonate with me in 2025. How about you? Have you thought about some intentions for your sewing projects this year? If you set intentions and life gets in the way, no worries.

If you don’t know how to start, here are some great prompts to help you think productively about your sewing plans:
What items do you need in your wardrobe?
This is often where I start, and my plans certainly include a few fresh pairs of Eureka! Pants to replace the well worn pairs that are only good for cleaning and gardening. But I would like to add some fresh knits to my wardrobe and stitch up the shirt fabric purchased to go with the new purple pants. Maybe you need some clothes to match a new pair of boots that you want to wear more!


Everyone needs a trendy quilted jacket, and if you read last week’s blog, you even know how to make the yards and yards of bias tape recommended for the jackets with collars. Why not give it a try? We are certainly here to help, and our book is full of ideas.

If you don’t feel like you can actually make the things you need, think again and maybe choose to take one of our virtual on-demand classes, sign up for some coaching, or attend our spring or fall retreat to jump start your efforts.
What fabric do you want to sew with?
If you are like the Fit for Art team, there are many lovely fabrics on the shelf that we are anxious to sew with. Pick one and make it your intention to design and sew something with it this year. Perhaps make a plan, create a wearable mock-up with other stash fabric to make sure your ideas will really work, then carve out some time to stitch on your new creation.


Are there projects from 2024 waiting in line?

If your unfinished 2024 makes still interest you, work them into the 2025 plan, but give yourself some new projects as well. I have some decidedly holiday flannel that wants to be a zip-up quilted vest and there never seems to be enough time late in the year. I might just sew it up this month to assure that it will be ready to wear next Christmas.
This twill, perfect for transitional weather and planned for 2024, desperately wants to be a new shirt, so it will definitely stay in this year’s list.
Is there a favorite garment that needs a refresh?
Two years ago we suggested setting a goal of sewing sustainably and this is so smart. If you have the habit of cleaning out your closets or your sewing storage in the new year, try to find something that needs a new look or a different cut and have a hand at a redesign. heck out last spring’s blog about some garments I adjusted for a wedding weekend.
Plan some easy projects and some challenging projects!
Saturday I spent some time catching up with a long time sewing friend Jane. She was working on an easy sweatshirt from one of her tried and true patterns. On her cutting table was a bathrobe cut but yet to be assembled from her Tabula Rasa Jacket Pattern. But she also showed me this amazing project she has designed to add a vintage fur collar and some needle felting to an old sweater. It is going to be so fun, if not for this winter, next winter will do!


Often my sewing list includes some garments for blog posts or even a magazine. Once the family went home and the decorations were down, my schedule demanded I make a sample for the Summer Issue of Threads Magazine. It was a lovely but challenging project, and now I want a quick little project to jump start personal sewing. I will probably sew up a new Tabula Rasa Knit Tee-shirt using the luscious new faded rose knit available in our store for virtual Tabula Rasa Knit Class Starter Kits.

It will look perfect this spring under the Project 3 Quilted Jacket from our book that actually fits me! But I have a couple complicated projects worthy of attention too: a quilted jean jacket and a top made with some vintage finds from Ailene’s Antique Textiles studio in France (as seen in the intro photo).
Add Hand Sewing to your plan.
If you are comforted by hand work and enjoy doing it in the evenings, be sure to plan a project that fills that space as well. For me, a little hand work in the evenings helps me keep my fingers nimble and well calloused. So when I have to run a stitching race to finish a project quickly, my hands will not give out on me. Come to France with us in August if this is an area you would like to jumpstart. You will find our French adventure restful and rewarding.

Keep an eye on social media this week to see some of the fabric groups I have unearthed that will be keeping my sewing machine buzzing in 2025. If you post your own groups, be sure to tag us so we can share them with our community.
Rae & Carrie
What a great idea. Sometimes goals paralyze me. Changing Goals to Intentions takes all the pressure off, and makes whatever I actually accomplish feel like a victory. My intentions right now are 2 pair of Eureka Pants to wear at the Spring Retreat where I Intend to get mockups of Fit For Art Patterns & advice on what to make out of the fabric stash once I get back home.
Linda