Sewing: What are the options?
Date Posted:15 September 2022
So, you’ve picked up a sewing machine for the first time and you’re wondering what you can do with it? If you can dream it, chances are you can do it! Here are a few ideas to get you started. These lists are composed of home decor, car accessories, clothing and fashion, kid projects, and mending clothes you already have.
Whether you’re a beginner or a sewist with experience, there’s something here for everyone.
Mending
Mending is an essential skill to have as a sewist and a great starting point for beginners. You can take old clothes you can't wear or are planning to throw out and give them some new life. Here are some ideas:
Home Decor
Home decor is a great way to add a touch of personalisation to your home. You can do this through pillowcases, throw blankets, coasters, curtains, and so much more. Home decor is great for all levels of sewists. Look here for some inspiration:
Car Accessories
Having a messy car is no fun, so why not sew some car organisers to keep everything in one place? There are also so many other car accessories that you can make, like steering wheel and seat belt covers, tissue holders, and even a first aid kit! Car accessories are great for all levels of sewists. Check them out in this board:
Kids and Baby Clothing
Start out small and improve your sewing skills by making children’s clothes! Your kids will look fabulous in their lovingly made and unique garments. Check out some ideas here:
Pet Projects
If you have pets, making some pet accessories like pet beds, bandanas, chew toys, or cat toys, is a great way to save money on brand new pet accessories and put your own flourishes on them. Check out these ideas for some inspiration:
Fashion and Apparel
Fashion and apparel is no doubt the most popular item to sew and is the main reason for people nowadays wanting to learn to sew. With the extensive range of clothing items you can make, there is always something new to learn and improve. A beginner could start with a circle skirt or a bucket hat, whereas a more advanced sewist (or those looking for a challenge or to improve their skills) could try a trench coat, or even lingerie. Check out our inspo board!
Accessories
You can spice up anything with fancy accessories. These range from hair scrunchies and bows, to bags and wallets. General accessories are normally quite simple to make and are great beginner projects. More advanced sewists (or those looking for a challenge or to improve their skills) could try a bag from vinyl. Have a look at these ideas for some inspo!
Patchwork and Quiling
Patchwork and Quilting is becoming much more popular and is truly an incredible art form. In saying that, quilting can be really easy, super fun, and very rewarding! Quilts make great baby gifts, and you can even make them from repurposed clothes! Beginner sewists can start by using squares and rectangles to piece together a quilt, while more advanced sewists (or those looking for a challenge or to improve their skills) could try triangles, hexagons or circles! Have a look at some of these ideas:
Sewing Patterns
Unless you’re a dressmaker that drafts their own patterns, chances are you’ll need a pattern for whatever you are thinking of making. Do you want to make bags, pillowcases, dresses, pants, hats, or scrunchies? There are patterns out there for practically anything you can think of! Sometimes finding patterns on a budget can be hard, so check out this board for some inspo and resources for free or budget friendly sewing patterns!
Cosplay and Costumes
Cosplay and Costume design is becoming increasingly popular, and making them yourself is truly a rewarding experience. The beautiful thing about cosplay is that it can be totally up to you how you make it! You can make it simply, or challenge yourself and make it extra! Check out this board for some inspo for your next character costume:
Echidna Sewing & Embroidery Projects
Here at Echidna, we've got a wealth of creative projects that you can try. Would you like to make aprons? Scrunchies? Bags? Quilts? We've got them all!
You can also see our projects on pinterest!