Other makes update: August 2026

I’ve still not found a better name for my non-quilt sewing plans for the year, but I have found time to make some stuff since my last update in May, so I’m ok with that.

So let’s take a look shall we:

1 Pouches

Strangely only one completed this time round, and that one was using the flying geese blocks that were in the bag of pre-cut and pre-sewn items donated to my sewing group.

Out of the same scraps I’ve also made a patchwork drawstring bag, a bread cover and a small fabric storage box which didn’t go quite to plan!

So I’m claiming progress in the bags, experimental sewing and practical household items headings for these too because that’s where they fit don’t they?

2. A ‘take to’ sewing case

Still nothing to see here, I’m afraid.

3. A bag or two, or more

The drawstring bag for my bread might not have necessarily been the bag I had in mind for this section, but it’s a bag and it’s made so it absolutely fits here.

4 Experimental sewing and sewing for fun

There’s been some of this recently too - and it’s those scraps again. As I said above the fabric storage basket ended up smaller than I planned and I had to improvise on the lining, but not everything can go right all of the time can it? And to be honest I’m glad I messed up on something like this rather than anything else I’ve made these past few months.

There’s also been an update to dad’s birthday bunting, with a two to replace last year’s one.

5 Patchwork design boards

I haven’t yet put my learnings from the last update into practice, but they’re still on the list - and I’m sure once I start I’ll be wondering what took me so long.

6 Some practical household items

I think I’ve covered this above, multiple times!

7 Wearables

Well who knew that this would be where the most action would take place, certainly not me when I set my goals for the year. But since I last updated you I’ve finished my Sari dressing gown and started and finished in record time a dress. Who even am I?

Seriously though finishing these two items has given me loads more confidence to carry on sewing garments, which is good news as I’ve plenty of plans some of which I may actually start to put into production.

But in the meantime here’s two photos to end this post of my two wearables, and I’m really proud of both of them (especially as neither have fallen apart!)

I’m hoping that the heatwaves are mostly behind us, though I hear another could be on the horizon for early next month, and with the cooler days I’ll be able to spend more time sewing. I could definitely do with that as always I’ve got more plans than I know how to implement, but I’m sure I’m not alone in that.

Other makes update: May 2026

Earlier in the year I shared my non-quilt sewing plans for the year, and in that post I said I preferred that phrase to other makes, but here I am talking about other makes again - what’s going on? Well, I’ve realised that ‘other makes’ while it isn’t great does mean I can share non-sewing makes too.

So for the time being, and until I can find a phrase I prefer, I’m sticking with other makes for these quarterly updates. They will most likely be predominantly non-quilt sewing items, but there may be crochet makes too (spoiler, there is a crochet make in this update)

So let’s see how I’m doing on the plans I set out

1 Pouches

I’m glad I put this at the top of the list as I’m pretty sure in every update I post I’ll have made a pouch (or two, or more). And I have, they continue to be something easy to make (mostly) and quick to put together (again mostly).

Some may take a while to get finished, especially when there’s some - or in this case - quite a lot of embroidery involved, and my tie up pink and orange pouch is one that fits into that category. It was worth the wait though, and while it hasn’t got much use yet it has been used, and it does do what I want (ie stop my hairbrush attaching itself to my clothes, and look prettier than a plastic bag).

Another one (or two) that have been in the take a while to get finished category is the project bags that I made using mum’s embroidery. I only finished the larger of the two last week, but the other one is technically a 2025 make as I finished that last August. It’s weird though as I had no real reason to put off making the orange one, but when I did I had the perfect variegated thread for it, the same one I used on the pink and orange pouch above, and yet when I first thought of making these that wasn’t even on my horizon. I guess I was meant to wait!

In my recap of last year’s makes I said I’d made some pouches as Christmas presents, well in a rare moment of tidying up in my craft room I found the leftover material, so rather than put it back in my stash I decided to piece it together to make myself a small pouch as I know at some point I’ll find a use for it.

I love how the fabrics go together, and how I’ve a memory of the pouches I’ve gifted.

2 A ‘take to’ sewing case

Nothing to see here, but I’ve chosen my fabric and got the supplies. And typically, I’m planning further additions without even starting the first one yet.

3 A bag or two, or more

I’ve added a couple of bags to my collection, one sewn, one crocheted. I made most of this Flying Geese bag one weekend when I’d planned to be at a patchwork group meeting but for one reason or another I didn’t get there. I’ve used it and it hasn’t fallen apart, which is always a plus. In fact recently it’s been used over and above its original intentions and I’ve used it to carry craft supplies and more, including my packed lunch for a non craft group event. I think I could be making another..

And I’ve repurposed a tote bag making my crochet bag for crochet. The downside is that I need to find myself a new crochet project to take to my crochet group!

4 Experimental and sewing for fun

The miniature makes that I shared in March were both experimental and practical. They started trying out if I could make a smaller pouch, how the bag lining would quilt and using up some square scraps from my block of the month quilt, and using those to become practical items - so these also cover number 6 below.

I’ve also tested out different quilting approaches, but as yet I’ve not put that into another make but I’m sure its time will come.

5 Patchwork design boards

Nothing to see here either, but they’re still on the list. I’ve learnt that cutting the foam board will dull/blunt my rotary cutter, which isn’t great news - but in better news I found my old one, which still has a blade in it (which probably needs changing) so that may be the way to go.

6 Some practical household items

See 4 above.

7 Wearables

I’ve not made the progress I’d like on actually sewing my summer dressing gown, which is a shame as once again it’s that time of year when I really could do with it, maybe the weather will spur me on with that one soon. And always thinking ahead, I think I’ve settled on what I’d make next - another dress, but not the same style as before. I need to gee myself up for both of these though.

But in more positive news, this technically is a wearable as it has been worn so I’m including it here. It’s another rosette, and requested by mum, to wear at my niece’s wedding, and for my mum it was always going to be all the pinks.

So I have made things, but perhaps not as much or in as structured way as I thought - but hey, life and the distractions it brings! There will be more though, of that I’m pretty sure…

A crochet bag for crochet

When I started going to my ‘crochet in the pub’ group I wasn’t sure how it’d go, or if I’d go back and so I wanted to take something relatively easy to do so that I could enjoy the group rather than have my head stuck in a pattern.

And so I chose some granny squares with some wool that I’d bought as part of a kit but which I didn’t really get on with.

I didn’t really have much of an idea what I’d do with them to start with, but as the weeks went by and my granny square numbers increased a plan formed - I’d make them into a bag for crochet projects, as a crocheted bag seemed a preferable option to one of the ubiquitous tote bags I was currently using.

So that’s what I did. I reckoned I’d need eight squares to cover the bag. Recently I reached that marker and joined my squares together, which could only mean one thing.

…It was time to sew in the ends!

Sewing in ends isn’t my favourite crochet task - yes I’m still sewing in ends to a blanket which was my lockdown project - but remarkably I had them sewn in in a few days, so the bag assembly could start.

Laying my assembled blocks alongside the bag I realised I could do with a bit more length so crocheted three stripey rounds at the top. And then turning the tote bag inside out - I’d decided that I might as well enjoy the patterned inside (formerly outside) of the tote - I put them together and using a dark thread attached them along the sides. Now this isn’t my neatest sewing attempt, but that’s ok - it’s functional!

I still wasn’t happy with the top though, that was until I added a row of single crochet to the top in the cream - to me it gives it the perfect finish. I was much more careful sewing the cream edging to the top of the bag, and it worked out really well.

Now I have a crochet bag for crochet! But I do need to find myself a new project to take along this week…