Sewing into 2026: My Goals, Inspirations, and Plans

As we step into 2026, I am reflecting on what has been an incredible year of growth, creativity, and connection. In 2025, I challenged myself to step outside my comfort zone in so many ways — from deepening my Instagram presence to attending inspiring Frocktails events and collaborating with talented sewists across the making community. Every project I made carried a story of learning, joy, and perseverance. Now, I am ready to take on 2026 with even bigger sewing goals.

This post dives deeper into my plans for the year ahead, the inspiration behind them, and why I am so excited to push my creativity further than I ever have before.

Looking Back: 2025 in Review

2025 marked a turning point in my sewing journey. Through Instagram, I connected with hundreds of like-minded sewists, learned from their work, and had the chance to collaborate on exciting challenges. One of the highlights of the year was attending Frocktails events — the Toronto and Atlanta gatherings — sewing meetups where creativity and community came alive in the most extraordinary way.

There is something about being in a room full of people who have all made what they are wearing that is deeply encouraging and slightly electric. You see an extraordinary range of skill levels, aesthetics, and approaches. You see people who have been sewing for forty years standing next to people who finished their first garment three months ago. You get to touch the fabric, ask how someone solved a particular construction challenge, and leave with your creative energy completely refilled.

From everyday wear to glamorous evening gowns, I have grown more confident in my skills and more excited to tackle bigger projects. Each piece I sewed was a reflection of my personality and an opportunity to learn something new. These gatherings inspired me to try new styles, embrace bold patterns, and step out of my usual comfort zone in ways I genuinely did not expect.

Goal 1: Tackling More Advanced Techniques

I want to push myself creatively by learning and mastering more advanced sewing techniques. This is not vague aspiration — I have a specific skills curriculum I am working through, and I am holding myself accountable to it.

Welt Pockets

Welt pockets are the signature of tailored garments. When done right, they are nearly invisible — a clean, professional-looking opening that reveals a functional pocket when opened. I have attempted them twice. Both times the result was close but not quite right. This is the year I make them work, which means I am going to sew at least ten practice welt pockets in muslin before I attempt them on real fabric. Practice beats theory every time.

Couture Hand-Finishing

I have been reading up on couture construction techniques — specifically the hand-finishing work that distinguishes genuinely high-end garments from very good machine-sewn ones. Pad-stitching. Catch-stitching by hand. Hand-sewn hems on bias-cut pieces. These techniques are slower and require more patience, but the results are noticeably different. You can feel it and you can see it, and that matters.

Bound Buttonholes

Machine buttonholes are fine for most garments. Bound buttonholes — fabric-covered openings that look like tiny welt pockets — are a different category entirely. On a coat or a structured jacket, they change the entire character of the finished piece. Time-consuming, technically demanding, completely worth it. On the list for 2026.

Goal 2: Creating Tailored Pieces

In keeping with my desire to grow, I plan to add more tailored garments to my wardrobe. There is something deeply rewarding about creating pieces that fit perfectly and exude timeless elegance.

From structured blazers to sleek coats, tailored garments will be a key focus for 2026. My first major project is a double-breasted coat from Know Me 2103 — perfectly aligned with my tailoring goal. I will share the full process here on the blog and on Instagram as I go through every stage.

I am making it in a charcoal wool-blend melton — a fabric I found in the clearance section at about a third of its original price. The colour is perfect. The weight is exactly right. The fabric alone is making me want to do justice to it with the best construction I can manage.

Goal 3: Mixing Bold Fabrics with Classic Designs

My signature as a sewist has always been taking a striking print and pairing it with a timeless silhouette. This year I am pushing that further than ever — new fabrics, new combinations, bigger ambitions.

One of my favourite things about sewing is discovering fabulous fabrics in the clearance section of fabric stores. I love taking bold prints or unique textures and pairing them with classic designs to create standout modern pieces. This year, I am looking forward to continuing this practice and experimenting even further with my fabric choices — ikat weaves, African wax prints, striking geometric viscose — all waiting for the right silhouette.

Fun Facts About My Sewing Journey

• I am a clearance section queen. I enjoy discovering fabulous fabrics in the clearance section — it is like a treasure hunt for hidden gems.
• Bold meets classic. I love mixing bold fabrics with classic designs to create pieces that are both modern and unique.
• 2026 is about growth. My sewing goal for the year is to push my creativity further by tackling advanced techniques and adding more tailored pieces to my wardrobe.

The Make 5 Challenge 2026

For the second year running, I am participating in the Make 5 Challenge — a commitment to sewing five carefully selected garments across the year, with full documentation of each one. The structure helps. Without it, I tend to sew a lot of things and document very few of them properly.

My 2026 list: the double-breasted coat from Know Me 2103, a structured single-button blazer, a silk Island Muse Midi Dress (in silk charmeuse, which I have been planning since I released the pattern), a wide-leg trouser in ikat fabric, and one wildcard — something I have not decided yet, but that will probably be determined by whatever strikes me in the clearance section somewhere around April.

I have already started working on the coat and I am looking forward to sharing the process and results with you here and on Instagram @simonesews_.

What Are Your Creative Goals for 2026?

Now, I would love to hear from you. What are your creative goals for the year ahead? Whether you are a fellow sewist, a crafter, or someone pursuing a different creative passion, let us inspire each other to dream big and create boldly.

Thank you for being a part of my sewing journey. Here is to more handmade magic in 2026. Subscribe to the newsletter below to get early access to every new pattern, the free Island Muse Fabric Guide, and every new post the moment it is published.