Have you ever felt like your sewing mojo just took an unannounced holiday? One minute you’re happily quilting away, and the next, your sew-jo seems to have vanished—like that one fabric scrap you were sure you had a second ago. Recently, I found myself in that very predicament, wondering if my love for quilting had taken a permanent break. But here’s something I’ve learned along the way: sometimes, all it takes to revive that stitchin’-itch is trying something completely out of the ordinary.
Now, I’ll admit I’m usually a bit hyper-focused on quilting. When I start a project, I’m all in, and I mean all in. Writing a novel? Don’t expect to see me for weeks. Renovating a kitchen? I’ll be practically living at the hardware store, chatting about splash-backs and paint samples as if I’d joined a new club. But the beauty of sewing is that it offers endless avenues for creativity, and sometimes the best way to reignite that spark is to go exploring beyond your usual patchwork blocks.
This time, it was a bit of unexpected inspiration that led me down a different sewing path. A while back, I received some absolutely fabulous fabric from my Destination New Zealand Collection—yes, my very own fabric line! Available on 3amThreads if you’re here in New Zealand (and on Spoonflower if you’re anywhere else), this fabric practically begged me to sew something outside the usual quilting zone.
A New Project, a New Kind of Sewing Adventure
With fabric in hand, I decided to tackle something I’d never sewn before: a hoodie. Enter the Aura Pattern hoodie pattern, available on Etsy—a pattern that’s both easy to follow and stylishly versatile, perfect for a sewist looking to dip their toes into garment-making without feeling overwhelmed. And living in Windy Wellington, what better way to put it to use than a cozy, completely unique hoodie?
The Aura Pattern had everything I needed to make my sewing detour enjoyable and doable, from simple instructions to a relaxed fit that’s forgiving even for us quilting die-hards.
As I started cutting and sewing, it became clear that this was precisely the shake-up I needed. Garment-making is a bit of a departure from my beloved quilting world—it’s less about creating intricate patterns and more about crafting something wearable and personal. Stitch by stitch, I felt my stitchin’-itch reignite, and before I knew it, I was piecing together an entirely new kind of project.
The end result? A hoodie that’s not only soft and cozy but 100% unique—there’s nothing quite like wearing something handmade, especially when it’s a reflection of your own personal style and tastes. And bonus: it’s incredibly satisfying to have added a warm, cozy, totally-me-made piece of clothing to my wardrobe! I love the way the fabric from my Destination New Zealand Collection looks as a garment, and I can’t wait to experiment with more non-quilty sewing projects. Who knows, there might be more handmade wearables in my future!
Finding Your Own Stitchin’-Itch
If you’ve been feeling the sewing blahs, I encourage you to do what I did: shake things up! Trying a new type of project, working with fresh fabrics, or even setting a tiny goal like sewing for 15 minutes can give you just the nudge you need to reignite that creative flame. Sometimes all it takes is a little change of scenery—or in this case, a change of sewing style.
In the meantime, if you’re looking for some cozy sewing inspiration, I highly recommend checking out the Aura Pattern hoodie and, of course, browsing my Destination New Zealand Collection at 3amThreads or Spoonflower. Because whether you’re in the mood to quilt, sew clothes, or just rediscover that stitchin’-itch, there’s always something new and wonderful waiting in the world of sewing.
Happy stitching, and may your next project bring you as much joy as my hoodie did for me!
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