2026 Sewing Challenge Forecast

Finish That WIP

Hosted by @onelisashow

Kick off 2026 by clearing out your sewing room and finally finishing those projects gathering dust in the corner! Whether it’s a half-hemmed dress or a quilt top waiting for its binding, the #FinishThatWip2026 challenge is the perfect motivation to cross the finish line this January.

Make sure to post your completed projects to Instagram on the reveal day – 31st January – and tag @onelisashow to be entered into the prize draw!

Sew Organic

Hosted by @flowingthreads

The #SewOrganic26 challenge is back this February, inviting the sewing community to celebrate the intersection of creativity and sustainability. Whether you prefer the structure of woven fabrics created from organic natural fibres or the comfort of organic knits, this challenge is your opportunity to create garments that are as kind to the planet as they are to your skin.

Your organic makes will help inspire others in the sewing community and help raise awareness of your favourite eco-conscious fabric shops. To participate, share your project on Instagram using #SewOrganic26 and tag challenge host @flowingthreads. There will be loads of prizes up for grabs from amazing small businesses, just for that extra boost of motivation to get sewing!

REFEBULOUS

Hosted by @madebyLIESL

REFEBULOUS is a celebration of resourcefulness, turning the spotlight on reuse, recycling, and refashioning. With roughly 100 billion garments produced globally each year, there is a world of existing fabric – from old clothes to forgotten scraps – waiting to be rescued. By transforming these materials into something fresh and functional, you help reduce waste while creating a sustainable wardrobe you’ll actually wear.

Refashioning is an interesting creative challenge, so we want to see your process! Share your plans, progress and maybe even a finished project or look. Show us your journey, no perfection needed! Follow challenge host Marlies @madebyLIESL for upcycling ideas to help you get inspired.

Sew Much To Give

Hosted by @mountainsewing

Join in the #SewMuchToGive26 challenge to use your sewing skills to bring joy to people in need. Catherine @mountainsewing is encouraging the sewing community to create items to donate to charity during February. If you’re not sure what to make, look up local charities in your area. For example, women’s shelters often need pyjamas and underwear for women and children; senior care homes may accept large adult bibs; and pregnancy care centres often welcome donations of baby clothes and blankets.

If the warm fuzzy feelings weren’t enough to get you motivated, there are lots of prizes up for grabs to anyone that gets involved – winners can think of it as good karma!

Sew Yellow For Endo

Hosted by @sowhatifisew

Stitch for a cause this February with Sew Yellow For Endo, a challenge dedicated to raising awareness and funds for endometriosis. Hosted by @sowhatifisew, this event supports the 1 in 10 women affected by the condition while raising thousands of pounds for Endometriosis UK. To join in, simply sew something using yellow (or partially yellow) fabric from your stash.

Sharing your yellow makes is a powerful way to spark conversation and support vital research. Throughout the month, you’ll have the chance to learn more about the condition and contribute to a meaningful charity. Let’s fill our feeds with yellow and sew for a future where everyone with endometriosis gets the support they need!

Mend March

Hosted by @visiblemend

Conquer your mending pile with the #MendMarch2026 challenge! Hosted by @visiblemend, this event provides daily prompts to help you resurrect your textiles through creative, visible repairs. Each prompt is designed to help you test new techniques, so you’re bound to learn lots throughout the month and work on repairs you’ll be proud to show off.

To join, post your progress on Instagram using #MendMarch2026 along with the daily prompt tag. By tagging @visiblemend and supporting fellow makers, you help champion the beauty of visible mending in our community. Let’s turn those forgotten holes into works of art and keep our favourite clothes in circulation!

Sew April Blouse

Hosted by @cloth_edit

Put your favourite woven fabric to work this April for the @cloth_edit #SewAprilBlouse challenge!

Whether you’re a sewing beginner tackling their first simple blouse, or a seasoned expert challenging themselves with intricate designs, this challenge is open to sewists of all skill levels. You could sew an indie pattern, a vintage find, or try your hand at self-drafting.

Whatever style of blouse is on your to-sew list, joining in gives you the chance to create a versatile wardrobe staple and win fabulous prizes along the way.

Me Made May

Hosted by @sozoblog

There’s no escape from the annual sewing community extravaganza that is Me Made May!

Me Made May is a month-long personal challenge designed to help you celebrate and reflect on your own handmade wardrobe. It isn’t a competition; instead, it’s an opportunity to intentionally wear your self-made garments and experiment with new outfit combinations. The process is so valuable and can improve your relationship with the clothes you sew.

Visionary Zoe @sozoblog, is the founder of Me Made May. She hosts the incredible Check Your Thread podcast, where you can find out ‘What is Me Made May?’ and how to make your pledge. Alternatively, check out Zoe’s blog here for everything you need to know.

The Vintage Fashion Challenge

Hosted by @thevintagefashionchallenge

If you love sewing vintage-inspired pieces, the Vintage Fashion Challenge is the perfect companion to Me-Made-May! Taking place throughout May, this challenge invites you to share your love for retro style through daily outfit prompts hosted by @vintagefashionchallenge. It is a fantastic way to meet a new community of enthusiasts who share your passion for the silhouettes of the past.

If your handmade wardrobe has a vintage flair, simply follow the daily prompts from @vintagefashionchallenge on Instagram to showcase your makes and find fresh inspiration.

Sew Frugal

Hosted by @frugalisama and @theyorkshiresewgirl

Make your sewing budget go further this May with #SewFrugal26! Hosted by @frugalisama and @theyorkshiresewgirl, this challenge is the perfect excuse to finally dive into your digital library of free patterns. The goal is simple: pair a free sewing pattern with a fabric already in your stash to create something new without spending a penny.

Challenge hosts Sam and Ruan have shifted #SewFrugal26 from the usual March slot to May this year, giving you extra time to prepare! Thanks to several iterations of Sew Frugal over the years, you can tap into a wealth of inspiration and free pattern resources on both Instagram and YouTube.

Mark May in your calendar as the time to dust off those free downloads, dive into your fabric stash and join the community in celebrating the art of frugal sewing!

Sew Skin Summer

Hosted by @the_sewing_gardener

Have fun with sun-safe sewing this May! Lucy @the_sewing_gardener is generously hosting #SewSkinSummer26 for the second year running to raise awareness of melanoma and skin cancer – something that she has experienced first hand.

Did you know that 86% of melanoma cases are preventable through better sun safety? Sew Skin Summer encourages you to use your love of sewing to help protect your skin. There are so many options for sun-safe makes to add to your wardrobe: you could craft a wide-brimmed sunhat, a breezy maxi dress, or long-sleeved layers to help you stay safe in the sun.

Share your sun-safe makes on Instagram using #SewSkinSummer26 and tag @the_sewing_gardener to participate in this fab sewing challenge with an important message.

Sew Fruity

Hosted by @blossomsandwich

Fun and simple, all you have to do for #SewFruity26 is sew any item with a fruit theme. Sew Fruity takes place in June, so you’ve got time to keep an eye out for fruity fabrics – or better still, see if you’ve got any in your stash! Fruit prints are perfect, but you can also think outside the box by using fruity colours, shapes or embellishments.

This challenge is run by me (Yvette, co-founder of Stash Hub) over on my personal account @blossomsandwich. So it’s also a good opportunity to have a snoop through my profile and check out my sewing projects!

As usual, I’m planning to include a random prize draw supported by incredible sponsors as an extra motivation boost.

Pride Make Along

Hosted by @annas_gruenerfaden

Celebrate identity and inclusion this June with the #PrideMakeAlong! Hosted by @annas_gruenerfaden, this month-long event is a welcoming space for all crafters to celebrate LGBTQIA+ lives. All crafts are welcome – sew, kit, crochet or create something filled with pride. There are no strict rules; simply create something meaningful, whether you’re stitching with rainbow colours, supporting queer designers, or crafting a custom outfit for a local Pride event.

By sharing your creations on Instagram with #PrideMakeAlong, you help increase visibility and spread love throughout the creative community. It’s a wonderful opportunity to use your craft to share a positive message and connect with a vibrant, supportive network of makers. Let’s make this June a colourful celebration of creativity and pride!

Pattern Hackathon

Hosted by @unsewcial and @patternhackathon

Unlock your inner designer this July with the return of the Pattern Hackathon! Pattern hacking is the creative art of merging different patterns or altering design details to transform a standard style into your dream garment. It’s the perfect way to breathe new life into your existing pattern library and tailor every piece to your unique vision.

Follow challenge host Kris on her personal account @unsewcial for updates and pattern hacking inspiration. This challenge has it’s own Instagram account so that you can tag @patternhackathon as a collaborator in your entries.

Oh Scrap!

Hosted by @cinnamondaisystudio

If your fabric scrap bin is bursting at the seams, the #OhScrap26 challenge is the perfect way to clear the clutter! Returning this August, this joyful challenge invites you to turn your treasured offcuts into a fabulous new garment for yourself, your kids, or even your pets. It’s a fantastic opportunity to experiment with colour and texture without the pressure of cutting into several yards of new fabric.

Prepare for this challenge by collecting fabric scraps and organising them into colours that might work well together. Make a note of garment patterns that could be suitable for colour-blocking or patchwork styles.

Brought to you by pattern designer @cinnamondaisystudio, the Oh Scrap challenge encourages sewing beginners and pros alike to indulge in a bit of create chaos, sew sustainably and make a dent in those scrap piles!

Project Dress A Girl

Hosted by @marisews_inspiredstitches

Use your sewing superpower for good this September with the Project Dress A Girl challenge! Hosted by Mari Sews, this heartwarming initiative invites you to sew simple cotton dresses for girls living in extreme poverty. With over 20,000 dresses donated by the community so far, your contribution helps provide dignity and joy to children around the world. It’s a wonderful way to make use of your cotton remnants while making a tangible difference to little lives.

You can get a head start on your dresses now, ready for the challenge in September. Make sure to stick to the dress requirements set out in Mari’s blog post to ensure dresses are suitable for donation. There are Dress A Girl Around The World ambassadors collecting dresses in countries across the globe – find your nearest ambassador here. Showcase the cute dresses you’ve made on Instagram in September to inspire others to join this incredible initiative.

Spooky September Sewalong

Hosted by @silversstitches and @spunstraw

if Halloween is your holiday highlight of the year, you’re going to love the #SpookySeptemberSewALong brought to us annually by  @silversstitches and @spunstraw. You’re open to make anything with a spooky theme during September, meaning you have total creative freedom to stitch anything from hauntingly beautiful quilts to creepy-cute toys or gothic garments.

There’s a whole cauldron full of inspiration on Instagram thanks to previous years of this challenge, so check out #SpookySeptemberSewALong start planning your project now.

Sew Phoenix September

Hosted by @sew.letssparkle, @thefrenchseams and @sewvertonmakery

Share the story of your previous makes and celebrate your sewing journey with the sewing community with the Sew Phoenix September challenge.

Building on the momentum of an epic debut last September, hosts @sew.letssparkle, @thefrenchseams, and @sewvertonmakery are back to help your creativity take flight once again!

Have you ever looked at a past sewing project and thought, “I could totally nail that now”? #SewPhoenixSeptember26 is your invitation to revisit those early “learning moments”. Take some time to reflect on your past projects to decide which ideas deserve a second chance now that you’ve developed your sewing skills. You could even make time to practice some sewing techniques in preparation for your #SewPhoenixSeptember26 make in September.

Sew Fizz Challenge

Hosted by @surreysews

Social sewing group @surreysews are already busy planning their 2026 event of the year – the delightful SewFizzTeaCated afternoon tea! Even if you can’t make it to the in-person event, you are invited to join the online celebration by sharing your makes on Instagram for the #SewFizzChallenge26.

Simply sew an item inspired by the sophisticated style of afternoon tea and tag @surreysews when you post it to Instagram. There will also be a chance to win some fabulous prizes, so you’ll want to raid your stash for pretty fabrics and elegant pattern options, ready for when this challenge drops.

Worktober

Hosted by @alexandria_arnold

Bring some handmade flair to your professional life with #Worktober! Returning this October, this challenge is a fantastic celebration of “me-mades” in the workplace, hosted by @alexandria_arnold. Whether you’re navigating a busy office, a creative studio, or a specialised work environment, it’s the perfect time to showcase how your sewing skills meet your professional needs. You can interpret the challenge however you like—there’s no pressure to sew something brand new; it’s all about sharing inspiration and seeing how the community styles their handmade wardrobes for the 9-to-5.

Follow @alexandria_arnold for inspiration and tag her to during October to share your own! Worktober is a wonderful way to connect with fellow sewists and find fresh ideas for stylish, functional workwear that feels uniquely you.