I always feel the most creative and ambitious at the beginning of the year. In 2025, I got back into sewing and quilting, and I was able to complete several projects, including 5+ tote bags, two quilts (and another quilt face), zip pouches, scrunchie lanyards, and scrunchie keychains. For this upcoming year, I am so excited to start new projects and try my hand at sewing clothing for me and my baby girl!

Since free time looks very different with a newborn, I want to approach this year with a lot more intention. One project a month feels ambitious but realistic, so that’s the goal I’m setting for myself. I’m not putting pressure on hitting all twelve, and honestly, I’d be thrilled to finish even one item of clothing and one quilt by the end of the year. In this post, I’m sharing my 2026 sewing plans of 12 different projects that I want to try making this year!

My 2026 Sewing Plans: Things I Want to Make!

The Lane Pants by Sydney Graham

The Lane Pants by Sydney Graham have been on my sewing wish list for all of 2025, and 2026 feels like the year to finally make them. I love the relaxed, high-waisted silhouette and how versatile the pattern is, especially for everyday wear. My plan is to sew a pair in gingham fabric with a ruffle hem and make a matching version for my daughter. I think this would be a great project to start the year, and it feels very “this season of life” being in postpartum! If I love the fit (which I think I will), I’d love to make more versions later on in different fabrics and styles.

The Ruby Vest by Sydney Graham

The Ruby Vest by Sydney Graham is another pattern that is on my wishlist for 2026 because I think it would be a fun and functional piece to make. I want more layering pieces that feel elevated but still comfortable, especially because I am moving back to the Portland area. I love the boxy, relaxed shape and how it can be styled over tees, dresses, or even matching sets. I haven’t decided if I want to do a neutral fabric or patchwork, but this is another pattern that I want to attempt to make a matching piece for my daughter.

Billie Overalls by TheOrdinaryFolk

In 2025, I set a goal to make one item of clothing, but never quite got around to it. This year, I’m feeling much more motivated. I came across the Billie Overalls by TheOrdinaryFolk while deciding which clothing project to attempt first, and they immediately stood out. These children’s overalls are adorable and would also make such a thoughtful baby shower gift for either a baby girl or boy.

I plan to make a pair for Lainey, and if they turn out well, I’d love to make a few as gifts. Since I’m planning on getting a serger, I’m saving this project for later in the year once I feel ready to tackle it.

Quilted Cloud Bag by KylaSomething

Last year, I made a ton of the Faye Studios Slouchy Tote Bags. They are super cute, fun to make, and are also great gifts! This year, I want to try another tote sewing pattern, and I love the look of the quilted cloud bags. They are a great size for moms and would also make a great gift.

Ric Rac Placemats

I love Ric Rac, and I have been seeing a lot of linens with it all over Pinterest. I would love to make ric rac placemats or a table runner. It seems like an easy project, so I don’t think I would need a formal sewing pattern for it. I think it would be the perfect project for the spring with a colorful or gingham fabric!

Fabric Photo Album or Scrapbook Cover

This year, one of my goals is to keep up with a scrapbook for my daughter’s first year. I am hoping to make this in January (although it is almost over) so that I can get started on it. I have seen lots of tutorials on Instagram for cute fabric photo albums or scrapbook covers. While a lot of them don’t require much sewing (if at all), I might try to add appliqué. Either way, I think it will be a quick and easy project that we will be able to look at for years to come.

Happy Birthday Banner

I’ve been seeing “Happy Birthday” fabric banners all over Pinterest, and I think they would make such a sweet heirloom piece. My goal is to make one before my baby’s first birthday in November so we can pull it out and use it every year. It feels like one of those simple projects that becomes really special over time.

Fabric Fairy Wings, Crown, and Wand

Fabric fairy wings, crowns, and wands are another project I’ve been seeing everywhere on Pinterest, and I can’t stop thinking about them. I love the idea of creating a soft, whimsical dress-up set for my daughter to enjoy once she’s old enough to play pretend. I haven’t sewn anything quite like this before, so the wings will definitely be a challenge, but a fun one. The crown and wand seem fairly straightforward, making this a great project for a season when I want something creative but not overly complicated.

Reusable Fabric Chain Garland

Paper chain garlands were everywhere on Pinterest and Instagram last Christmas. While I love how festive they look, I don’t love how disposable they are. As an alternative, I’ve seen fabric chain garlands secured with button clasps or Velcro, and I love the idea of creating a reusable version that can be pulled out year after year. This feels like the perfect cozy project to work on later in the year during the holiday season.

Sawtooth Star Quilt

I’ve already started working on a Sawtooth Star quilt, which I decided would be my next quilting project after making a few simpler quilts in 2025. My earlier quilts were made with basic blocks and rectangles, so I wanted this one to feel a bit more intricate while still using beginner-friendly techniques. The Sawtooth Star block looks complex, but it’s surprisingly approachable once you break it down.

I’m planning to make a twin or full-size quilt for Lainey to use when she eventually transitions out of her crib (definitely thinking far ahead here). I’m working on this quilt slowly alongside other projects, making a couple of blocks at a time. So far, I’ve completed six blocks, and I have 15 in process that are about to be completed. Since each block is 7.5 x 7.5 inches, I’ll need to make around 100 blocks (possibly more if I decide to size up). This will likely be a long-term project that spans several months unless I decide to focus on it exclusively.

Campfire Glow Quilt by ThenCameJune

I love the Campfire Glow Quilt Pattern and always find myself wanting to make one when I come across it on Pinterest. This quilt combines nine-patch quilt blocks and small sawtooth stars, so I think it would be fairly easy to make. I haven’t really made a quilt “for myself”, so I would want this quilt to be that! I think it would look great in hues of pink, red, and orange.

Irish Chain Quilt

The third style of quilt that I want to make this year is an Irish Chain Quilt. I love that it is a traditional and timeless quilt pattern. I want to make a quilt for my mom to thank her for coming to stay with us and helping us for a few weeks after we had our baby. I think this pattern would either look great as a patchwork with a white background for a scrappy style, or with a white chain and dark contrasting background. I haven’t decided the fabrics yet, but I think this will be my next quilting project after the Sawtooth Star quilt I am working on.

2026 Sewing Plans

My 2026 sewing plans are inspired by projects that I have been seeing on Instagram, Pinterest, or that I want to make for my daughter. I wanted to get into sewing to be able to sew for my family, and I am so excited that this year it is coming full circle! While my list of these 12 projects that I plan to sew is ambitious, especially coming into the year with a newborn, I think it gives me a good idea of what to prioritize when sewing.

If you have any sewing plans or projects for going into 2026, I would love to hear them in the comments below!

As always, you can find me on Instagram @maddie_deer here, or you can follow me on my Facebook page to be alerted of any new posts here. Thanks for reading! 🙂