January has been a month of emotions—grief, reflection, and now, a slow but steady return to creativity. My heart has been heavy watching the devastation unfold in my hometown of Los Angeles, but in the midst of it all, I found comfort in something familiar: fabric, thread, and the steady rhythm of sewing.
Picking up my plaid patchwork skirt project felt like a small but meaningful step forward. The process of cutting, piecing, and stitching has given me something tangible to focus on—something grounding in a time of uncertainty. There’s something deeply therapeutic about working with my hands, letting the hum of the sewing machine quiet the noise of the world for a little while.
This skirt has become more than just a project—it’s a reminder that even in difficult times, we can still create. The mix of plaid and denim, the frayed edges, the contrast stitching—it all reflects where I am right now: piecing things together, finding beauty in imperfection.
Getting Started: The Patchwork Skirt
This week, I officially began working on my plaid patchwork skirt, and let me tell you—it has been the creative reset I needed. I pulled out a mix of plaid prints from my fabric stash, all different weights and textures. I love working with plaids, but combining them into one piece felt like a fun new challenge. My goal? A patchwork-style Rosie skirt, accented with denim to tie it all together.
The Process So Far
I started by laying out my Rosie square-circle skirt pattern and cutting the plaid pieces, carefully balancing the colors and fabric weights so the skirt would drape nicely. Some pieces I was able to tear along the grain, while others required precise cutting to stay aligned.
Once the pieces were ready, I sewed them together in sections—first creating the center front and back, then joining the side seams to form a square shape. And then cutting the circle shape out.
To help blend the different plaids, I decided to use denim strips as trim, fraying the edges to create a soft transition between prints. This is one of my favorite parts of sewing—playing with creative details that make a piece truly unique.
I love how the denim trim softens the contrast between the plaids, bringing everything together into a cohesive design. Maybe that’s a little like life—finding ways to stitch the hard moments together with the good ones.
Bringing It All Together
For the yoke, I debated between a corset-style panel design and a simple denim band. In the end, I went with the cleaner look of a denim yoke, using frayed denim trim to connect it to the skirt. This keeps the focus on the plaid while adding just the right amount of structure.
And of course, I had to have some fun with the decorative stitches on my new Pfaff machine!
Using a slightly lighter navy thread, I added contrast stitching along the seams for an embroidered effect. I love how these little details make a handmade piece feel even more special.
photo of stitching
To finish it off, I lined the yoke with a light tricot fabric for comfort and used my favorite fold-over elastic for the waistband. (Honestly, I should own stock in Dritz—I use this elastic on everything because it’s so comfortable and easy to work with!)
And just like that, my plaid patchwork skirt is ready to wear!
Since it’s still chilly, I’ll be layering it over leggings for now, but I can already picture myself wearing it all spring. I’m even considering adding some stud details at the hem peaks for a little extra flair—what do you think?
Finding Creativity in Small Steps
If you’ve been struggling to create lately, I encourage you to start small. Pull out some fabric scraps, sew a simple shape, or just organize your materials. Sometimes, creativity isn’t about making something perfect—it’s just about showing up and letting the process carry you.
I put together a short video while working on this plaid and denim skirt—check it out! I hope it inspires you to dig into your stash and start something new.
And if you love patchwork, here’s a throwback video I made a few summers ago, using the same process but with black and white prints that had been piling up in my stash.
I’d love to hear what you’re working on! Drop a comment below and share your latest creative project. Let’s keep stitching our way through, together. 💙
So now.. What should I make for my February project? What creative technique to use? I have so many I want to do!
Happy Sewing 😉
Shawnelle
Future Fashion Designers & Camp Sew Social
Links to the Sewing Academy, Fashion Retreats, Store, Blog and social media: https://linktr.ee/FutureFashionDesigners
Fold over elastic and other sewing tools, we use at FFD:
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https://wck.org/donate. World Central Kitchen - feeding firefighters, first responders and anyone who needs a meal.
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