Monday, 6 April 2015

What's Happening in April...

A quick heads up on some sewing related happenings in April..

Sewing for KIDS...

The next Kids Clothes is April 20 - 26, with the theme Wild Things. Sew clothes for your kids for one hour each day for seven days. Sign ups are open.


Sew the Franklin Dress for this month's Flip this Pattern with the sisters at Frances Suzanne. The sew along will remain open until April 30. Competitor Flips will be showcased the week of April 26, and voting will begin May 1.

Project Run and Play has changed the format this year. At the beginning of each month one past Project Run & Play Contestant will pick one of their free patterns or tutorials. Each monthly winner will be receiving over $100 prize package. April's designer will be announced 6th April. 



REFASHIONING...

From Castaway to Couture is an exciting, national refashioning competition. Castaway to Couture is brought to you by the Australian Sewing Guild Inc. in collaboration with Red Cross Stores. Buy a garment at a Red Cross store and refashion it. Lots of prizes. Competition ends 22nd May.



BAGS...

Make yourself a bag in the Betsy Travel Bag Sew Along. Share your photos on Instagram to be in the running to win a Fat Quarter Bundle. You will need to purchase a pattern.



QUILTING...

Make a table topper for the Spring Petals Quilt Along over at The Crafty Quilter. The link party will open in May and two giveaway winners announced 7th June.

The Farm Girl Vintage Sew Along will be starting on Friday May 1st and ending in October. Every Friday, Bee in My Bonnet will be posting that weeks block along with tips and inspiration. Blocks are from the book Farm Girl Vintage.

The Drunkard's Path Quilt-Along is a monthly goal to sew one block and finish a quilt in time for Christmas 2015.

The Snapshots Quilt Along will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Fat Quarter Shop and Moda Fabrics will match up to $10,000 of donations raised.

The Irish Chain Twist Quilt-A-Long runs till mid April and is hosted by Happy Quilting. There will be lots of size options and easy step-by-step weekly directions. Weekly progress prizes and Grand Prizes at the end.

There are 9 patterns in the Zoo Animals Quiet Play Block of the Month. Each month one free pattern becomes available. The patterns range in skill level, with the easiest first. The 10" blocks are foundation paper pieced.

The In Flight Quilt Along uses paper pieced patterns.There are discounts if you buy the patterns early. There will be monthly link parties and prizes.



CHARITY Drives...

Precious Hearts, an organisation supporting children who undergo heart surgery, is looking for people who can sew balloon covers.

Sign ups for the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge began in March. You have until June 12 to finish and mail your quilts.

Become a member of the NICU Helping Hands ANGEL GOWN® Program - national and international team of volunteer seamstresses.



WOMEN'S CLOTHES...

A Faux Wrap Pencil Skirt and a tied belt are the two projects for the April Sewlebrity Sew Along at Sew Can She. Patterns are from the book, Just For You. Everyone who sews along will get a limited edition Sewlebrity button.

The Felicity Dress Sew Along began in March, but runs till 10th June. You will need to purchase a pattern.

Wardrobe Architect is all about designing a personal wardrobe throughout 2015. Runs till December. January covered finding your core style and exploring shapes. February is cleaning out your closet and taking inventory.

Sew Your Own Wardrobe for a Year - that's the challenge - no ready to wear purchases from January 1st to December 31st 2015.

Sew the Show - Each month Alida Makes will choose a television show. Alida will sew something inspired by the show and will feature some patterns that could be used. Participants sew their own piece. One entry will be chosen at random to win a prize. April's show is Friends.

April's project over at The Monthly Stitch, is Put a Bird on It. Details to be announced.

The Historical Sew Monthly - Every month in 2015 will feature a themed challenge to sew (knit, crochet, tatt,  embroider or otherwise create) an historical garment or accessory that fits the theme.



MONTHLY Challenges...

Celtic Thistle Stitches Fiona is again 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. Add your projects from 18th of each month. I'm determined to join in this year!!! Details yet to be announced for 2015.

New to Me in 2015 is a place to show off anything new you have tackled for the month. Projects don't have to be sewing related. Link ups open on the 25th of each month and stay open till the end of the month.

Smalls: pin cushions, needlebooks, book marks, biscornus, ornaments, etc, can be sewn for the 2015 Smalls SAL. The SAL is open to new participants all year. You can join in whenever you’d like.

The Teacher Librarian2015 Sewing Design / Inspiration Challenge! - each month there will be a topic or challenge to stretch creative ideas and step outside the box. There is no winner, no judgement. Just lots of bragging. Challenges apply to both dressmaking or patchwork/quilting projects.



STASH BUSTING...

Join Project:Leasa for Sew My Stash 2015. There will be challenges throughout the year.

The Stash Busting Sew Along 2015 is hosted by Tumbleweeds in the Wind. There is a different theme each month.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge over at So Scrappy - Each month a new colour will be chosen. You just need to dig out some scraps in that colour and make something -- anything. Each Saturday a Scraphappy link up will be posted so that you can see what everyone else is up to and collect some new scrap busting ideas



UFO Challenges...

AllPeopleQuilt is challenging their readers to finish some UFOs (unfinished projects) with the help of 2015 UFO Challenge. Post photos of your finished projects and progress on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter using the hashtag#APQResolution.

A Lovely Year of Finishes - Each month pick one project, anything you like (it can even be an entirely new project, so long as you can finish it in the current month) and tell yourself, “I Will Finish It.” Prizes drawn randomly each month.

2015 FAL at On the Windy SideOn the Windy Side is hosting the 2015 Finish-Along, where you'll find the motivation to whip those WIPs, polish off those PHDs and wrap up those UFOs. Lots of prizes.



ONGOING Themed Sewing Link Parties...

Add your refashioning projects to the Clothes Upcycling link party at Creating My Way to Success. Projects can be added at any time. The 500+ projects already added will provide you with lots of ideas and inspiration for your refashioning and repurposing.

Threading My Way_Threading Your WayThreading Your Way  - themed ongoing sewing link parties here at Threading My Way. You can add as many projects as you like throughout the year, or just check out the sewing ideas, tutorials, pattern reviews and pictures, made by YOU.



ONGOING charity projects...

Hopeful ThreadsSew to Share - Kristy, from Hopeful Threads, will be focusing on sewing a variety of items to help others, on-going throughout the year.

Fluff Project (large) 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.



I didn't sew any more blocks for my robot quilt last month, so I'll have to double up this month. What are your plans for the month?

... Pam

1 comment:

  1. WOW this is an extensive collection of sewy goodness! I've opened several links in new tabs, and am still going through the list, lol. I missed Celtic Thistle Stitches' New to Me and Ho Ho Ho linky parties this month - I had it in mind that I had until the next day to post, and I didn't make it in time. Oops! I just finished 2 birthday gifts (drawstring backpacks for a g-niece and g-nephew), which completes my April gift sewing, so I'm going to work on a couple of Christmas gifts :D

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