Hello sew-friends! My end of 2025 posts are coming out in a “better late than never” style this year. Personally, I don’t think end of year recaps should start until after the year has ended. If we start tallying things at the beginning of December, then December never gets counted and we can’t leave out a whole month!
Looking back on 2025, I feel very good about my personal sewing practice. For Me Made May this year, I pledged to sew for 25 minutes everyday and it was a great way to jump-start my sewing practice. I’m actually still working on big quilt projects that I re-started then. :P Click here for my tips for rebooting your sewing practice.
If I compare my blogging and sewing output to years past, 2025 was slower. But that’s ok. Things ebb and flow in life and it’s not all about the numbers. I did not post very much on social media or YouTube but I did post a lot on my Substack. Read on for the Sew DIY highlights of 2025.
This year, I released one new garment pattern, the Jodi Knit Pants. The size range goes up to a 62”/157.5cm hip measurement and there is a full video sewalong here on the blog. I really love the style of this pattern because it’s super comfortable yet has a more elevated style than a basic pair of joggers. Click here to see the pattern in the shop.
I’ve also been busy sharing drafting tutorials on my Substack—Sewing With Numbers. In the tutorials, I break down the drafting process into mathematical formulas so that you can easily draft a pattern to any size you want. Posts older than 3 months are archived for paid subscribers but if you don’t want to subscribe, you can also purchase a pdf version of the tutorials. Browse above or click here to see the drafting manuals in the shop.
New videos—Miri Tank Sewalong
This year, I also published sewalong videos for my Miri Tank Top pattern. I had wanted to make that pattern into an online course but it’s been a few years since I released it, so I thought I should just share some videos already! This top is a great intro to sewing woven garments as you get to practice a lot of core sewing skills. I also made a new dress version of the Miri with a drawstring waist. You can peruse all the posts below.
finished makes from 2025
This year I posted 5 finished makes here on the blog AND 5 finished makes on my Substack (check those out here). My makes were a good mix of garments, accessories and quilts. My most used make is by far the Bucket Tote. This is a self-drafted project and I’m working on making it into a pattern that I hope to release by March 2026. Second runner up is my Lou Box Top with a turtleneck (this is a free pattern add-on). Browse my 2025 Finished Make blog posts below. (For previous years, click here.)
Tutorials from 2025
In 2025, I shared four sewing tutorials, two pattern add-ons and a free 2026 calendar. Plus two sewalongs! There is a full sewalong for the Jodi Knit Pants and I added videos for all steps of my Miri Tank Top. Browse below, or check out the sewalong pages in the Navigation Bar.
What’s coming in 2026
Before putting this post together, I thought that I hadn’t done much in 2025. But now that I look at everything, I made a lot of stuff! Maybe for 2026, I need to keep a running tally, kind of like I do in Goodreads of the books I read each year. For 2026, I plan to keep making and sharing the stuff that excites me and that is still going to be sewing.
One new thing is that I hope to finally do in 2026 is release my first patchwork quilt pattern. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for decades. I’ve been making traditional patchwork quilts and improv quilts for years and this year I’ve gotten more into designing my own. I already have a design for the first one I want to release!
I also want to host an Intro to Patchwork e-course this summer. The intent is that it will teach the basics of cutting and sewing and show you how to make a variety of blocks that can be made into a small quilt. But, I also want it to have fun summer camp vibes. If that sounds interesting to you, click here to sign up to be notified via email. It’s a lot of work to put together a course so fingers crossed that I can pull it off!
Thank you so much for following along on my sewing journey and for supporting my small business. I’ve been making content and patterns for Sew DIY for 10 years now and my goal is (still) to provide informative and inspirational sewing content that will help make your sewing life easier and more joyful. I hope that you have a happy and healthy new year! Happy sewing!
