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…

My non-quilt sewing plans for 2026

Last week for the second year in a row I shared my quilt plans for the year, and as having a focussed list worked well for me I’ve decided to take a similar approach for my non-quilt sewing, which isn’t that catchy a phrase is it, but I think it’s better than ‘other makes’ - I guess as I grow into this and settle into what it is, a better name may present itself.

So what’s on my list?

It’s long (no surprise there!) and varied and covers the expected pouches, plus some garments I’ve had on my mental list for a while, some things for around the house and a bag or two. But really, the opportunities are endless, as it seems, is my list…

1 Pouches

You knew these had to be on the list as I’ve not hidden my love for them. I’ve already made many and I will make more, but this year I want to make:

• smaller pouches to hold jewellery, both for storage and when travelling,

• more project bags, I have a lot of projects and ideas for projects which will benefit from being stored together,

• new styles and shapes of pouches and

• generally just more pouches!

2 A ‘take to’ sewing case

One of the things about going to my sewing and patchwork groups is the need to remember to take the right stuff, which sometimes I manage but quite often I don’t. So one of my specific makes for this year will be to make myself a ‘take to’ sewing case to hold the things I need, and for that to either have duplicates of items, or specific spaces for things so it’s easy to work out what I need to grab before I go.

I saw the kind of thing I was after in an email newsletter some time last year. I knew it was a project for me as not only did I print the pattern and buy the supplies I didn’t have (which have been patiently waiting for me to get started), but I also planned how I could customise it to work for me, that’s likely to include at least another pouch, and potentially a thread catcher too.

I have the perfect material, and even better it’s already in my stash - it came from India, and seemed to fall into my basket when I was buying some printing blocks, like these things do!

3 A bag or two, or more

While I’ve plenty of those now seemingly ubiquitous canvas tote bags, sometimes I want something just a bit nicer to carry with me, so tote bags are on my list for this year and no doubt in a variety of sizes.

Alongside the totes I’ve also a few more specific ideas on my mental list, these include:

• storage bags for our garden cushions, though this could be a mammoth task as the number of cushions to store appears to be ever growing (plus I think I may need to make some more cushion covers as well),

• that drawstring bag for my Essex Linen kisses colourwash picnic rug,

• a better sized pie carrier,

• something to store the jelly strainer and associated paraphernalia that’s prettier and more practical than the cardboard box it came in.

4 Experimental and sewing for fun

This comes from an observation from my sewing last year which was very structured and dominated by the ‘stretch’ project and mystery block of the month quilt, and also from a quilt show and stash sale I went to where permission was granted to ‘sew for fun’ and for there to be ‘no set rules.’ I’ve no real idea where this will take me by the year’s end, but initial thoughts include:

• testing new blocks, processes and materials and hopefully making something with whatever I make - actually I’ve already been playing with this, so look out for a post hopefully later this week,

• picking up again my ‘insect and gauze’ embroidery and finishing that - the name will become clear when I share more, I promise!

• a slightly wacky idea for using my ‘leaders and Enders’* - though I’m sure this will be much later in the year, as I need to build up ‘stock’

  
  *these are the pieces of fabric I use to start off sewing when piecing patchwork, which just make sewing more continuous than having to cut the thread each time.

5 Patchwork design boards

These may not involve a whole lot of sewing, but they will help me layout my patchwork blocks so they can be moved more easily. I also think they should be easy to do, so I’m not sure why I haven’t done these yet - apart from the fact that I’ve managed to store what I need for these outside of my craft room, so I think it’s a case of out of sight, out of mind.

6 Some practical household items

I know, but I’m hoping these won’t be as dull as I’ve just made them sound - on this list is recovering a headboard and making a doorstop from sample fabric.

7 Wearables

Now this is a big one, and I’ve squeezed it into a single heading which may come back to bite me when I come around to my regular updates, or maybe it won’t - we’ll see.

It’s also lengthy, and while I did make a dress last year I haven’t made many clothes, as yet. I do however keep buying material for clothes as if I’m an exclusive fashion house, so the sewing needs to start.

On my list to make is:

• more versions of the dress I’ve already made, so far I’ve fabric for two denim dresses and one corduroy one, so that’s likely to keep me busy alone. But on the plus side I’ve already made one, so hopefully that will speed things along once I get started, and I do enjoy wearing the one I’ve made.

• some wide legged culottes - at least one pair, especially now I have an invisible zipper foot after a sourcing saga.

• a summer-weight dressing gown for both me and MOH using saris. I have the saris, and I’ve even cut mine out, I just need to get brave and start sewing.

• I’ve a sundress pattern I want to try, as well as a dress with a frill - plus a more structured linen fitted dress, for when my skills have advanced.

I’ve also got a longer term wish to make myself a quilted jacket, but my list is already long and time is short, so who knows how far I’ll get. I most likely won’t get anywhere near to finishing this list, but then again the accountability a list gives me could be just what I need - along with some sewing bravery - hopefully once I start I’ll build some momentum.

I hope you’ll hang around to see how I get on as I share progress (or lack of) throughout the year.

Other makes of 2025

I quite enjoyed recapping my Quilts of 2025, so I thought I’d do the same with my other (sewing) makes of the year. You’ll not be surprised to learn that there’s a lot of pouches - my love for them continues, and I think there’ll be plenty more this year too.

But I did make more than pouches, there’s even been a dress and a pie-carrier, and plenty of embroidery thrown in. Many of the things I’ve made have had previous lives - as t-shirts, dresses and even covering a headboard. Seriously. There’s been small fabric samples too, and I’ve even used materials cut out from the larger books, and I’ve already found a use for the sample books I picked up at the Harrogate show in November.

I’m hoping that in 2026 I’ll have even more ‘other makes’ but first let’s look back at my 2025 makes.

Here’s what I’ve made in 2025

In January I completed my mandala pouch which continues to be home for my poppers, and all the tools associated with that. I also found time to add some sparkles to my zumba pouch (I’m still missing that class which stopped in the summer - sad face!) and knocked myself up a quick felt pencil case for some of the supplies I needed to take along to a workshop.

In February there were more pouches, obviously and I made an appliquéd velvet pouch and a impromptu saucepan saver as I discovered how to use my new sewing machine. And then making use of a block left over from the Noughts and Crosses quilt, I made myself the ‘all the patterns’ project bag.

Then it seemed I had an ‘other makes’ rest for a few months, as it wasn’t until June that I completed my next make - and that was a big one for me, it was my dress.

Let’s gloss over the fact that I’d bought some material (still not used) to make this dress back in 2023 though! This was the toile, or test run of the pattern, which if it didn’t work then I’d never have to wear, and I wouldn’t have spoiled my lovely bought fabric either. But as it turned out I have worn this dress, quite a lot in fact, and it continues to bring compliments which is also nice.

Even better it still hasn’t fallen apart. But I’ve not yet made it in the original material, nor some of the other material I’ve bought since either. Maybe 2026 is the year…

In July I was making things up again and created a really useful velvet box pouch from various fabric samples I’d collected over the years. This one’s purpose is to keep the foot pedal of my ‘take to’ machine safe during journeys, and to stop it banging against my second new sewing machine of the year.

The end of the month saw me create an incremental update for dad’s birthday bunting - I hadn’t worked out how to attach it to the original banner, but then again I also reckoned that really wasn’t my problem!

In August, inspired by the workshop I attended at the Festival of Quilts I stitched two kantha inspired landscape scenes, including one with a hare for the bedside tables in our spare rooms.

Though clearly by now I was experiencing some pouch withdrawal symptoms - but don’t worry another eight were to be completed by the end of August, and I jest but they were the perfect project to get used to my ‘take to’ sewing machine, and well, pouches are always useful. I don’t know where they go, but the pile soon disappears!

Actually I made another project bag as well in August, but I haven’t shared that one here yet so when I do - I’ve another one on the go as part of the ‘set’ - I’ll add a link in here. (Edit: Oops it’s now May and I’ve only just added the link!)

In September I was clearly busy finishing quilts, so it wasn’t until October that I became obsessed with and made myself a small pie carrier, and while it’s a bit smaller than I’d like it’s still useful. I still need to make myself a slightly larger, less prototype version, so that should be along this year too at some point.

In October I also had a bout of repurposing old clothes into, yes you’ve guessed it, more pouches and project bags - and this is definitely something that will continue this year.

I ended the year with some more Christmassy items - a Scandinavian folded fabric star which tested my ability to follow instructions, and several ‘sheep in Christmas jumper’ Christmas cards, as you do.

And of course, some more pouches - this time as presents, so add three pouches and a further project bag to my year’s ‘other’ makes. Not a bad year at all, and I’m hoping that 2026 is even more prolific - with maybe even a new style of pouch too, who knows?!