New Year Sewing

There have been lots of interesting and inspiring posts around blogland over the past week or so about the New Year - new plans, intentions, resolutions. Usually January hits and it does feel to me like an opportunity for new beginnings, fresh plans and extra motivation. I'm not necessarily someone who makes lots of specific resolutions at this time of year, but I am generally someone who has new intentions or plans, or at least renewed oomph for intentions or plans already in existence! But this year, not so much. I'm not really sure why. Possibly because this year it feels to me, more than ever, that every day is a new beginning and a chance for a fresh start. A new year feels a bit less of a big deal than in the past.

But from a crafting point of view, I did have a huge focus on Christmas making over the past few months, building up to a slightly frenzied crescendo as the big day drew nearer! With all that over, I have felt a need for a bit of taking stock about what kind of things I want to be making now. And although, for me personally, I often find the thing with creativity is that you just have to let it take you where it wants to take you, where you're excited to go at that moment, so it doesn't always work to make lots of plans, there are definitely a few projects and ideas that are buzzing around my head at the moment - that could almost be called plans.

In particular I really want to get a few more Mini Quilts made, and I have some quotes or words I'd like to use as inspiration for them. And I seem to be feeling the urge to do a bit more hand sewing too. I've started sewing some wool pennies on to squares of wool.

The colours are all being chosen to blend with this wool scarf which I'm also planning to use, so often I find a thrifted scarf is a great source of pretty wool.

All the wool is thrifted of course.

I'm really enjoying sitting and sewing at a slower pace than usual with these squares. And I have a feeling I'll be in the mood for more wool pennies after this project is finished.

As well as wool pennies, I'm strangely drawn to the idea of hand sewing some 'yoyos' right now, and possibly using them in a quilt. Not something I've ever done before. And often when I see yoyos, I find them a little old fashioned, so I think it could be a bit of a challenge to avoid that trap. But there are quite a few yoyo projects out there that manage it, like this quilt for instance...

Here on Pinterest

It might not be to your taste, but I don't think you could call it old fashioned? So hopefully I might pull it off too.

I enjoyed the dress and nightie sewing for the girls before Christmas, which was a little unexpected for me, and I think the New Year might see me dabbling a little more with some dress making type sewing, possibly even - drum roll please! - sewing something for me. As in something for me that I would then actually wear! It might happen!

So what about you? What New Year sewing or making are you planning? Have you ever made yoyos and used them? Any advice for me? And when was the last time you made something specifically for yourself?

Sally.