Hey there, stitchers! 👋 It’s Beth from Beth Said Sew, and today, I’ve got something fun for you! If you’re like me, sometimes your sewing mojo can hit a bit of a slump, and you find yourself staring at your fabric stash with no idea where to start. But don’t worry! I’ve got a solution—sewing challenges! These are little projects or ideas that push you to try something new, break out of your comfort zone, and most importantly, have fun while you’re at it!
There are three mini-challenges for you to pick from. Just pick one! (But hey, if you want to do all of them, I’m not going to stop you!)
Challenge #1: Make a Quilt in a Weekend! ⏰
Okay, this one’s for my fellow quilt-lovers out there. Have you ever tried making a quilt from start to finish in just one weekend? Trust me, it’s a thrill! Of course, the key is to keep it simple—think baby quilt, lap quilt, or even a wall hanging. Use big blocks or a pre-cut jelly roll to speed up the process. And if you’re feeling extra daring, throw in a new quilting technique you’ve never tried before. (Hey, why not add some applique or free-motion quilting to the mix?)
These jelly rolls are so pretty and you can find them on Missouri Star Quilt Co. or just click here! They are perfect for a weekend project!
Challenge #2: The “Stitch Your Style” Wardrobe Challenge 👗
Who says sewing is just for quilts? This challenge is all about making something you can wear! Take the plunge into garment sewing by stitching up a simple dress, a cozy pair of pajama pants, or even a stylish apron. Bonus points if you add personal touches like embroidery or fabric paint. If you’ve never dabbled in garment sewing, this is the perfect way to dip your toes in and add a one-of-a-kind piece to your wardrobe.
These three patterns, the WearEver Wrap, A Little Somethin’ Jacket, and the Tea Towel Apron, are all so fun and great for beginners! You can find them all on Missouri Star Quilt Co. or just click here!
Challenge #3: The Mystery Fabric Challenge 🎁
This one’s super fun if you’re part of a sewing group or guild! You can even do this with just a few sewing friends! Everyone brings a piece of fabric they don’t mind parting with and tosses it into a basket. Then, each person pulls out a mystery fabric that they have to use in a project. It could be a fabric type or print that you never would have picked for yourself—so the challenge is to find a creative way to use it! The results are always so unique and often hilarious.
These two patterns would be perfect for a group challenge! It’s interesting to see how cool the pattern looks using different colors and fabric! You can find both of these patterns, the Missouri Star Dash and Millie’s Quilt, on Missouri Star Quilt Co. If you want to shop for other patterns, click here!
Bonus: Share Your Work & Inspire Others! 📸
Of course, no sewing challenge is complete without showing off your hard work. Snap some pics of your finished project and share it with us on Nancy’s Notions! Each week we have a featured Sew & Tell and Quilt & Tell on our website. (You can learn all about it here.) You may get picked to be featured! Remember, the more information you share and the more pictures you send, the better your chances! We want to hear all about your project! You never know—your creativity might just inspire someone else to take on their own sewing challenge.
Ready, Set, Sew! 🧵
There you have it, friends! Three sewing challenges designed to break you out of your comfort zone and get you excited about sewing again. These challenges are all about having fun and shaking things up. Plus, they’re a great excuse to finally make a dent in that fabric stash we all love to hoard.
Until next time, happy stitching—and may your bobbin always be full!
Be sure to check out our Nancy’s Notions Homepage, where you can find links to over 60 different categories of sewing and quilting topics! That’s over 400 articles! Click here!
Looking for free patterns or more sewing project ideas? Click here!
