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There seem to be two camps when it comes to setting goals and New Year's resolutions. One group spends tons of time reviewing the past year and mapping out ambitious new goals with spreadsheets and tracking numbers. The other group isn't into goals at all, thinking they only lead to disappointment. But it turns out, there's a third way. Today, we're talking about setting sewing goals for the new year in a way that actually feels good—focusing on how you want to feel rather than arbitrary numbers or checkboxes.
How to Set Sewing Goals That Actually Feel Good
Instead of focusing on numbers or checking boxes, what if we set goals based on how we want to feel? Both about what we're making and the actual process of making it? Here's a simple process for reflecting on what worked last year, identifying how you want to feel about your sewing, and creating just a few meaningful goals that support those feelings rather than adding pressure to your creative life.
1. Do a Quick Review of Last Year's Projects
Before you set any new goals, it really helps to look back and see what patterns emerge from your sewing last year. You don't need to do an elaborate analysis or create a whole spreadsheet. Just think through a few simple questions: Which projects were your favorites? Which were disappointing? Which did you actually wear the most? Which ones are still hanging in your closet with the tags on?
This reflection is so helpful because sometimes what we think we want to sew and what we actually love to wear are two completely different things. For example, you might have made a really cute linen romper that looked adorable on the model, but realized you're just not into loose silhouettes anymore. Meanwhile, that bias-cut floral dress you made from a vintage pattern has been in constant rotation. That tells you something about what you should prioritize this year.
2. Ask Yourself How You Want to Feel About Your Finished Projects
This is where we start getting into the feelings-first approach to goal setting. Instead of saying "I want to make 20 garments this year," try asking "How do I want to feel when I look at the things I've made?" Really put a name to those feelings and get specific.
Do you want to feel proud of what you've made? Like you've accomplished something technically challenging? Do you want to feel a sense of joy when you wear them? That little spark of happiness when you put something on? Or is it comfort you're after? That feeling of ease and confidence in what you're wearing? Maybe it's about feeling creative and unique, like you're expressing something about yourself that you can't find in stores.
There's no wrong answer here. The point is just to name it. This is so much more useful than setting a number goal, because it helps you make better decisions throughout the year. If you know you want to feel comfortable and at ease in what you wear, that's going to influence what patterns you choose and what fabrics you buy.
3. Think About How You Want to Feel While You're Sewing
The previous question is about outcome, but this one is about process. This is really important because if the process doesn't feel good, you're not going to keep doing it, no matter how great the finished garments are.
Do you want to feel calm and peaceful when you sew? Like it's your meditation time? Or is sewing your happy me-time, where you get to blast music and just enjoy yourself? Maybe you like feeling really productive and want to see progress and feel like you're accomplishing something. Or maybe it's more important for you to feel creative and expressive, where you're experimenting and playing.
Some sewists feel best when sewing feels like a creative outlet rather than a checklist—when they're making decisions about color and design, not just following instructions. That's why activities like creating moodboards and playing with fabric swatches can feel so satisfying. Others feel most satisfied when they're working through a challenging technique and building their skills. Neither is better. They're just different feelings that lead to different kinds of goals.
4. Identify What Actions Lead to Those Feelings
Once you've named how you want to feel, the next step is to think about what behaviors and actions seem to create those feelings for you. This is where you get really honest with yourself about what actually works.
For example, if you want to feel calm and peaceful when you sew, maybe you've noticed that happens more when you have a clean, organized space and you're not rushing. Or if you want to feel proud of your finished garments, maybe that happens when you take time to really nail the fit before you cut into your fashion fabric. If creativity is your goal, you might need to build moodboarding and color palette planning into your process.
Think about your own sewing history. What were you doing when sewing felt really good? What was different about those projects or those times? This isn't about shoulds—it's about paying attention to your actual experience.
5. Create 1-3 Simple, Feelings-Based Goals
Now here's where it all comes together. Use your answers to these questions to create just one to three goals for your sewing in 2026. Capping it at three makes it easier to remember throughout the year, and one goal is even better if you can distill it down that far.
These goals should connect directly to how you want to feel and what actions you know lead to those feelings. They don't need to be super specific or measurable. In fact, it's better if they're a little flexible.
For example, instead of "sew 12 dresses," you might say "focus on comfortable, wearable projects that I'll actually reach for." Or instead of "complete one project per month," you might say "protect my sewing time so it feels peaceful instead of rushed."
The beauty of feelings-based goals is that they can adapt as your life changes throughout the year. If something comes up and you can't sew as much as you planned, you don't feel like you've failed. You just adjust and keep focusing on the feeling you're after.
Example Goals for 2026
Here are some example goals to inspire your own:
Sew a travel capsule wardrobe. This goal is meaningful because having handmade pieces for a special trip contributes to lifelong memories. Every time you look back at photos, you'll see yourself in things you made with intention. It also gives you a clear focus and taps into the love of design and planning that makes sewing feel creative and fun.
Replace five ready-to-wear items. This connects to wanting to feel proud and satisfied with your wardrobe. It's about intentionality—instead of just adding more and more to your closet, you're being thoughtful about what you truly need and love. Five feels doable without being overwhelming.
Make a special coat or jacket. Coats and jackets often become some of our most-loved items that we wear for years. Longevity is important, and making things that last and that you reach for year after year creates real value in your wardrobe. Plus, there's something about the challenge of tailoring that feels really accomplishing when you finish.
Notice that none of these goals are about numbers or strict timelines. They're about creating specific things that will help you feel the way you want to feel about your sewing.
Goals Don't Have to Feel Restrictive
The big takeaway is that goals don't have to feel restrictive or set you up for disappointment. When they're connected to how you want to feel rather than arbitrary numbers, they can actually support your creativity instead of constraining it.
This really ties into the idea that sewing is all about decisions. When you're clear on how you want to feel, you make better decisions throughout your entire creative process—from what patterns you choose, to what fabrics you buy, to how you spend your actual sewing time.
Have you set any sewing goals for this year? What feelings are you prioritizing in your creative practice? Share your thoughts in the Seamwork community!
