It’s that time of year again: the time of year that I studiously avoid my sewing desk like the plaque (xJane discovers “strike through”) plague. Last year I managed to avoid it so (sew?) studiously that my mother’s xmas gift was completed in the car on the way from LA to SEA. That was unfortunate.

I’ve a few ideas for xmas gifts this year, but foremost among them is that I shall wrap each thing in a homemade furoshiki. The fabrics for which are long since purchased, along with the fabric for a few projects I promised to do for my sewing-challenged sister this summer. I’m already behind & I’ve not started!

But! I just ran across the Wardrobe Refashion site, where people who have taken the pledge (I’ll get to that in a mo’) post at least weekly about what they’ve been up to. And since there are only about 30 more sewing days until xmas, I’ve decided that this just might be the poke-in-the-ribs that I need.

The pledge is as follows (ripped directly from the site with no permission whatsoever):

I __________________ pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of “new” manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 / 4 / 6 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoated, recylcled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftyness brings! Signed__________________.

I have asked that I be permitted to take the pledge for 2 (count them: 2) months, to see if I can do it. Now, I’ve prolly not purchased any new clothes in at least 2 months, but the point for me is much more the crafting and sharing of preloved items. I’ve a few items squirreled away for just such an event!

So I hope to be posting there (and may shamelessly link to you, as cross-posting is not really in the spirit (ahem) of this blog). My hope, if they let me in on this, is to only sew something for myself after completing something for someone else. All this plus work & MoF! xJane may be biting more than she can chew, but it won’t be the first time! Jump on over to Refashionista’s site and check it out. If you’re sewing-challenged, see if the Buy Handmade Pledge is up your alley.