Recollections of times past stirred by the scent of pine on a frosty winter walk, the simmering on a kitchen stove of cloves, cranberries and oranges that fill our senses remind us of past holiday moments shared with friends and family. Handmade merry gifts to make also come to mind at these times.

Sewing tips that can save time, cost or reveal some clever tidbit of info are always welcome. It is only those that provide really practical workable results to have expected value for the sewer. Sewing machine thread issues can provide frustrating moments if not for a few simple tips to consider.

Brightly colored seasonal fabrics paired with simple to sew items for the kitchen and dining room bring a festive air to the most functional areas of the home. Décor items can be quickly sewn using fabrics that display the bright colors of the holiday season.

With a playful nod to the recent past, newly made women’s fashion that copy the style of the post-war era are referred to as retro while actual surviving garments are considered vintage. Sewing retro brings a light-hearted wistfulness to capture what past times were like.

Traditional charming hanging advent calendars often have numbered pockets frequently containing small treats to help countdown the days leading up to a special holiday. All are endearing for what they represent - innocent anticipation for a big day.

Patchwork is a practical fabric craft that can be made simply and quickly on any sewing machine. Various size fabric pieces too useful to discard, relegated to the sewer’s scrap basket awaiting new purpose, can be joined together to form an eye-catching design or a riot of mismatched color and fun.

With Halloween just around the corner it seems this rather scary, spooky, whimsical, fun time can’t help but summon the DIY Costume Bug. Short on time? No problem. Consider a no-pattern-needed, simple-to-sew costume out of felt, fleece or tulle for the little ones.

The brilliant colors associated with autumn are a visual feast, the hint of a cool breeze rustling newly fallen leaves across the ground a familiar sound and the urgency of birds, squirrels and other creatures following ancient prodding to prepare for change all combine into a seasonal siren’s song.

As the intense warmth of summer’s heat slowly gives way to the welcome change of autumn breezes, thoughts turn to pumpkin harvests, bountiful market stands of garden produce, fall craft fairs, leaves changing to golds and rust colors and the upcoming mystery and shadows of Halloween festivities.

The end of summer nears as a breath of autumn meanders by whispering to trees it is time to reveal hidden brilliant gold and red hues, for gardens to hurry the last of their bounty and nudging our thoughts to cooler days ahead. Time for flannel and warmer clothing to make an appearance. Time to sew!