With the slow advance of cold weather and anticipating fall/winter holidays ahead sewers may be considering what gifts to sew or new ornaments for the holiday tree. There are easy scrap fabric projects to sew for sure however why not make them memorable with the added aromatic scents of the season?

As a national U.S. holiday, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It is a day to remember that first gathering of English settlers and Native Americans for a harvest feast in 1621. At that time sewing quilts, clothing, spinning and rug making were vital daily endeavors.

Discerning, urbane, refined are words that seem more related to our contemporary understanding of what vintage encompasses rather than labeling an item as old or outdated. Our subjective judgement of what appeals at the moment to our sense of beauty and desire is surely a function of many elements.

When autumn seems chillier than expected, sewing projects made with fleece fabric seems a great compromise to using heaver woolen materials for outdoor wear. Today's fleece fabric can be anti-pill, ultra soft and perfect for a variety of sewing projects.

Back to school/off to college and end of summer are upon us so can thoughts of Halloween costumes/cool days of autumn/Thanksgiving feasts and Christmas decorations be far behind? How quickly time can feel in its passing. How to make time to sew?

Dressing up in costume for Halloween remains an enduring childhood tradition. Something quick and easy to sew or no-sew is often a must for busy households. Costumes for children should be easy to make and comfortable to wear with safety concerns and face mask wearing utmost.

Hemming choices are at once simple to consider - making sure the lower finished edge is even all around or folded neatly and sewn securely, or more complex connected decisions that determine what kind of hem to apply that will complement the garment’s overall aesthetics and eventual wear ability.

For whatever reason that once optimistic sewing project has become well, not so optimistic anymore passing covertly from a Work in Progress (WIP) into an Un-Finished Object (UFO) partially sewn and nearly forgotten. That is until the sewing-organization-bug unveils its existence, once again.

With little time to sew and busy holidays approaching, searching for just the right gift to give to a sewing enthusiast, traveling friend, college student, charitable outreach or work colleague, among others, may be a challenge. Crafting a compact sewing kit may be just the right thoughtful gift.

Whether designing for chic and feminine, artsy, beachy, bohemian, eclectic or simply good vibes, a few fabric remnants and a little sewing time can change a utilitarian dorm room into a student’s relaxing happy place during the upcoming semesters.