What's a sewalong? The best thing since sliced bread? 🤔🥰

By Dinkydoo Fabrics

Look at that progress!! ⬆️⬆️⬆️

Sewalongs are kind of like a sewing bee with the assist of modern technology.

A bunch of people want to make the same thing so one person (or more!) breaks down the steps. Often they’re to promote books with lots of different projects, or a clothing pattern with lots of different steps.

Sewalongs started on blogs and Flickr but really took off when makers discovered that Instagram was an awesome place to instantly post pictures of your progress. Hashtags really come in handy here, you can easily find others participating and the hosts can see your progress too. You can even search for the hashtag, and ‘follow’ it so everyone’s makes will pop up in your newsfeed. How great is that?

They’re really fun to participate in because:

1. It keeps you inspired and motivated
2. It keeps you accountable
3. Someone else is doing the work of breaking down the steps for you or assigning the projects
4. There are often cool prizes!

Usually, you will need to purchase the book or pattern in order to participate, unless you have it already. It’s a great way to support designers and your friends, plus you get to ‘meet’ new makers on social media and grow your community!

I love sewalongs because I usually end up with a pile of great new goodies to use or gift. Garment ones work for me because I’m new to making clothes and I appreciate the pictures and bite-sized steps so I don’t get overwhelmed.

Right now on Instagram @iamkateyz and @rstogether are hosting a Sewalong for Krista Hennebury’s book Make It, Take It. She’s @poppyprint on Instagram if you want to check out her awesome work. Remember to follow us on Instagram as well!

If you want to participate in the Make It, Take It sewalong, you can pre-order Krista's book here. We sold out of our first copies quickly, but more are on the way!

There are prizes every week, a mid-way prize, and a grand prize too!

You can check the hashtag #makeittakeitsal2019 and see what’s happening at this very moment. Sew much fun!!