What's Happening In March...

Just a quick heads up on some sewing related happenings in March...

Making Personal Care Bags is the current sew-along to help others, over at Hopeful Threads. Kristy has changed the format this year, with projects running quarterly instead of monthly.

Flip This Pattern with Blank Slate Patterns begins March 5 and runs till March 20. This month, the sisters at Frances Suzanne have chosen the Beachy Boatneck as the pattern to flip.

Julia Bobbin is hosting the Mad Men Dress Challenge. Recreate a Mad Men dress that you love. The dress doesn't have to be an exact copy. It can just be inspired by the style of the 50s, 60s and early 70s.

If you'd like to sew for yourself, Tasia, from Sewaholic, is hosting the Gabriola Skirt Sew-Along, beginning 17th March.

Classic Blocks: Fresh Fabrics begins this month. Each month, Caroline will demonstrate how to piece a classic block. Everyone who sews and enters a block will be eligible to win a 10 fat quarter bundle of fabric. Details on the Sew Can She blog.

The Sew Sexy Sew Along encourages you to sew something that will make you feel sexy and confident... a neckline that is a little more daring, a hem that your mom might object to, a slit, a more fitted silhouette...

Dolly Clacket is getting married in May. Sew a dress that emulates Dolly's style and be in the running for some fabulous prizes. Sew Dolly Clacket is hosted by Ryinestones and Telephones and runs till 23rd April.

Living with Punks is hosting a multi-faceted series focused on sewing for the home. The month long series is all about improving the interior of your home through sewing... plus there's a giveaway.

Fiona and Paula are hosting Ho Ho Ho and On We Sew, a monthly link party to encourage Christmas sewing throughout the year. There will be guest hosts, tutorials and giveaways each month.

The Handmade Christmas Challenge consists of monthly challenges. Projects made in 2014 can be shared at the monthly linky which begins on 15th of each month. Sew Cal Girl has lined up lots of prizes... winners announced December. Thanks, Missy, for telling me about this one.

Little Things to Sew: Cover to Cover is hosted by Lightning McStitch, from Bartacks and Singletracks. Participants are challenged to sew projects from the Oliver + S Little Things to Sew book. The sew-along finishes 31 August, 2014. Thanks Cindy for showing me this one.

Secret Squirrel is the brainchild of Suz, from Sew Pony and An, from StraightGrain. Secret Squirrel began his journey in Australia, in July and is now in Germany at Nah Connection. Where he will travel is unknown. Open to all...maybe he'll stop with you.

Gigi, from Dress A Girl Around the World Australia, is collecting colouring pencils, crayons, note pads and children’s books for the children of the remote Aboriginal community of Borroloola, NT, in support of Indi Kindi. Gigi will be volunteering in the remote community later in the year.

The Hollywood Sewalong... creating outfits that either replicate, or are inspired by, costumes used in the film The Notebook. Watch the film and get sewing with Amy, Charlie, Hannah, Freya and Courtney.

Sophie, from C'est la Vie, is hosting the Cargo Duffle Sewalong, using the pattern of the same name by Anna, from Noodlehead.

---

ONGOING charity projects...

The Fluff Project is all about making stuffed toys for children in foster care. What started as a monthly project, co-ordinated by Kristy, from Hopeful Threads, has now turned into an ongoing drive.

Days for Girls International: Feminine Hygiene Program... Every Girl. Everywhere. Period. Veronica, at SewVery, brought this one to my attention. Such easy projects we can sew to help these girls retain their dignity.

Imagine a world where every little girl owned at least one dress. This is the aim of Dress a Girl Around the World. There are chapters around the world and within many states of the U.S. The Australian, Washington and UK branches are very active, as no doubt are many others. These are just the ones I've had contact with.

... Pam