Hello and welcome to week 4 of the The Big November Destashing here, At home with Mrs H. Can you believe how fast this month has gone by?

Sewing table by Shimelle Laine shared with CC. BY 2.0

This month we’ve tried to inspire you to reduce some of your fabric stash, either by sewing from, selling it and giving it away. Here at Sewing Patterns by Mrs H we’re fabric addicts quite fond of beautiful fabric and we think the best way to enjoy fabric is to sew with it, not keep it in a dark corner of your house.

In the first three weeks we organised our fabric, made a plan and worked on finding time to sew. This week we’re going to use our skill for good and make something for someone we care about.

To gir with love by kelly shared with CC. BY-SA 2.0

If you’re used to sewing for others, this might come easy for you, but I know that some of you find it difficult to find enough time to sew your own projects, not to speak about sewing for someone else. Another challenge you might find is that your fabric stash might not have the fabric the person you’re sewing for would like. But that’s the beauty of this challenge: being creative with what you’ve got.

One way to approach this week’s mission is to think of a person you really care about, someone you would like to say thanks to with a beautiful object made by your own two hands. Then try to imagine something they would really like and appreciate and go find the perfect fabric for it. It doesn’t need to be something big. it can be a fabric wallet or a clutch. It’s the gesture and your enjoyment of the process that matter.

Comfort by Dawn Ashely shared with CC BY ND 2.0

Another approach is to pick a piece of fabric randomly and then try to think of someone lose to you who would love it as much as you do.

We’re getting closer to Christmas so you could make this objects (it could be one or ten, you decide) as gifts.

You can also check with your local community to see if there’s any sewing that you could do to help others in need. Sometimes, volunteering your time (and maybe donating a part of your fabric stash) to a local youth or elderly centre for a short sewing class will not only benefit others and manage your fabric stash, but make you experience and learn new things. And make you feel really great.

London Stitch-in by craftivist collective shared with CC BY 2.0

I’m curious to hear from you how your month of destashing has been, what you’ve learnt and what you’ve made!