10 Ways to Sew Hygge
Hygge (pronounced ‘hue-gah’) is a Danish concept that has been very popular this winter with lifestyle brands creating themes around the original Norwegian term for wellbeing. In English it is often referred to as ‘togetherness’ or ‘cosiness’ but it is more than this and a concept of happiness. Although you can practice Hygge throughout the year, it really comes into it’s own during the cold winter months. Hygge is joy in the things we love doing the most, from curling up on the sofa with a cup of tea to a cliff top walk breathing in the fresh sea air or sitting down for dinner with your best friends. It’s about appreciating the little moments we enjoy the most.
Sewing is a hobby that brings many of us happiness, whether it’s the time to be creative or the art form of making something beautiful for your wardrobe. Here we have 10 ways you can bring a little Hygge into your sewing life.
1. Enjoy the process
There often isn’t as much time to sew as we would like but when we can set aside a couple of hours at the weekend, we can often feel rushed to finish a project or achieve as much as we can in the time we have spare. I know I often try and speed through the cutting out stage to get to the actual sewing but maybe appreciating all the steps in the making process from sticking the PDF together to the final press would mean less mistakes and a greater sense of achievement? As they say, measure twice cut once …
2. Hygge with friends
There is nothing better than meeting up with friends to go fabric shopping or to do some sewing. If you don’t have any sewing friends close by keep an eye out on social media for meet ups happening near you in our weekly Sew Reporter and in the sewing social calendar. It’s not just meet ups in person that are fun, you can also take part in online sewing community activities, check out our list of sewing challenges here. We also have a list of charities looking for sewists to come together and help out with projects.
3. Finishing touches
The finishing touches for a garment can often take longer than we think and if you are on a deadline (usually for me I want to wear the outfit than night!) then you might feel rushed to skip steps like hand stitching the cuffs and hem or slip stitching the facing in place. Taking more time for these last steps would make the garment last longer and give a more tailored finished.
4. Add texture
Textures can bring comfort and a feeling of warmth and cosiness so we would definitely recommend adding some textured fabrics to your stash to make garments such as jumpers, cardigans and coats. Here are some pattern suggestions for comfy tops which would look great using textured knit fabrics.
Left to right: Linden sweatshirt by Grainline Studio; Catrin sweater by Schnittchen and Zircon sweater and dress by Paprika patterns.
5. Learn a new technique
There are lots of online classes you can take to learn everything from making a skirt to tailoring, swimwear, lingerie and pattern drafting. Why not check out our Pattern Tutorial blog posts to learn all about using sewing patterns.
6. Keep it simple
Although we can all be tempted by the latest sparkly sewing pattern it’s also good to take time to sew some wardrobe basics and build up a collection of garments we wear on a more regular basis. Simple cami’s or gathered skirts are quicker to sew up and ideal to wear for lots of different occasions. Here are some sewing pattern suggestions to build up your basics.
Left to right: Christine Haynes Anya skirt, Tilly and the Buttons Dominique skirt, Sew Over It Ultimate shift Dress, By Hand London Free Polly top.
7. Practice an old skill
There is no better feeling than mastering a sewing technique but we all need a refresher every once in a while. You can find lots of blog posts online from talented sewing bloggers and designers with top tips for sewing techniques, here are some to get you started!
Nerdy sewing tips for using velvet from By Hand London.
Cutting and sewing slippery fabrics from Tilly and the Buttons
5 ways to hand stitch a hem by Colette.
8. Appreciate your space
Even if your sewing space is just the end of the dining room table, there are still things you can do to keep you sewing space tidy and organised. It also helps to keep your wardrobe up to date so you can sew garments to fill the gaps. We are here to help with lots of FREE downloads to organise your patterns and stash and 5 steps to Spring clean your wardrobe.
9. Feel cosy
Central to the concept of Hygge is to feel warm, comfortable and cosy. What better way to achieve this than sewing with wools and knits. Here are some of our favourite cosy knit and wool patterns.
Left to right: Clare Coat by Closet Case Files, Elskan dress and top by Charlotte Kan, Wanda coat by Wear Lemonade, Turner dress by Cashmerette.
10. Be creative
Being creative is so good for the mind and can really bring a sense of calm and contentment. There are lots of ways to be creative with your sewing from fabric choices to hacking patterns and making them your own. Check out our list of pattern hacks from your favourite independent designers for some inspiration. Colette also have an amazing Wardrobe architect blog feature to help you focus your creative style, well worth checking out.
