We Like Sewing 2026 October

September 1, 2026 By
Photo used by permission from We Like Sewing

“Game On, Quilters: A Thrifty Sweatshirt Refashion Challenge”. That’s what the cover says…and we’re the instigators! Deborah and I challenged each other to a quilted sweatshirt sleeve challenge and extended it to the readers of We Like Sewing. We set the rules, wrote instructions, and provided some tips for success. Join us!

Refashion a sweatshirt and tag your pictures online #QuiltedSweatshirtSleeve. Not sure where to start. Learn how in the We Like Sewing online magazine.

Photo used by permission from We Like Sewing

We Like Sewing 2026 October Issue

This must read and sew issue just hit the web. We Like Sewing 2026 October is a blast to browse. It has fashion, fun and festive patterns in it. I adored the Halloween projects. The butterfly wings for children looks super adorable. There’s also a roundup of 15 weekend projects you can work on this fall including Deborah’s pumpkin plant holder.

Photo used by permission from We Like Sewing

Why and How Do We Upcycle?

The #1 reason we love refashion and upcycling is that old clothes are getting dusted off and worn again. And we love that we can plot and sew and wear our creativity on our sleeves.

  • First and foremost, we shop our own closets.
    Deborah found a sweatshirt she hadn’t worn in years…and decided to quilt the sleeves.
  • Second, we pick through our fabric stashes.
    They aren’t large and our fabrics are very random, but we always turn here to get the project rolling.
  • Third, we go thrifting.
    This is where the real hunt begins. We browse for beautiful fabrics in several departments including: bed linens, curtains, fabric remnants, pillow shams, and even clothing.
    Bed linens are a great place to source solid fabrics.
    The sunflower used on my sweatshirt was a thin polyester valance.
  • Fourth, I rummage through the “free” table at my sewing and quilting guild meetings.
    Most of the fabrics people bring to the free table are small…which is great for small quilted projects like sweatshirt sleeves.

Here are some close up shots of our refashioned sleeves from upcycled fabrics. The printable template for the flower is available in the magazine, too.

Photo used by permission from We Like Sewing
Photo used by permission from We Like Sewing

Ready to sew your own sweatshirt sleeves? Get started with the We Like Sewing 2026 October issue.

Tag your photos online: #QuiltedSweatshirtSleeve

Can’t wait to see your quilted sleeves!

Dana

Filed Under: Appliques, Challenges & Contests, Publications, Quilt, Sewing, Twins Face Off Design Challenge, Yarnitect Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Published in We Like Sewing April 2024

March 28, 2024 By

We have two designs in the April 2024 issue of We Like Sewing. How fun is that?!

We have worked with sister magazines I Like Knitting and I Like Crochet. This is our first time with patterns in We Like Sewing, a monthly digital magazine.

Odds and Ends Organizational Denim Basket

First up is a denim basket Deborah made from old jeans. She created the most adorable flower from denim, too. It’s called the Odds and Ends Organizational Denim Basket. I have one of Deborah’s baskets…and I love it!

This basket pattern measures 10 1/4″ x 6″ x 6 1/2″. It features a denim flower and leather handles.

Photo courtesy of We Like Sewing magazine.

Paisley Upcycled Paperless Towels

The second pattern we have in the April issue is Paisley Upcycled Paperless Towels.

Not only is this a pattern for making reusable towels, it’s an article on how to ditch traditional paper towels in favor of cloth towels. I, Dana, had lots of questions when I decided to make the switch and I’ll answer them all in the article. Questions like:

  • What size should the paperless towel be?
  • What fabric is the most absorbant?
  • What thread should you use?
  • How can you use paperless towels.
  • and more.

This particular paperless towel is 10″ square.

Photo courtesy of We Like Sewing magazine.

Get the patterns in the April 2024 issue of We Like Sewing.

Filed Under: Publications, Sewing Tagged With: , , ,