A Fresh Start Making Challenge 2026
A Fresh Start Making Challenge is BACK!!! 2026 is the 4th year of this little challenge I created. Just a little something to get the year started with intention and it’s super chill. Join in on the whole month of January, participate here and there, or just check out what everyone else is sharing to get inspired! There are multiple days to respond to each prompt by carousel, reel, or story. Just tag me on IG (@tina.say.makes) or add the hashtag, #AFreshStartMakingChallenge2026, so others can see you! If I get tagged, I can repost!
Doing something a little different in 2026 from previous years. I decided to pick some words for the theme of this year’s A Fresh Start Making Challenge: INTENTIONAL, SUSTAINABLE, INSPIRATIONAL
I chose INTENTIONAL for us to make deliberately and with purpose, for our making to involve making conscious choices that align with our goals, values, and what is most important to us.
I chose SUSTAINABLE for us to make so we can continue to do so for a long time. That involves creating consistent habits, having access to resources, ongoing learning, and embedding it into our routines so making can support our goals while preventing burnout. It can also involve reducing waste, conserving resources, and connecting with nature.
I chose INSPIRATIONAL. This is NOT to be confused with “influential”, which has more of a need for strong power or authority over others thoughts, behaviors, or events, which can have a negative impact on individuals and/or society. I mean INSPIRATIONAL, which is something that compels an individual to take action, often connecting with our feelings or values by setting a positive example to uplift others to do, create or live better lives.
And here are the prompts with a little bit of explanation for each if you need some ideas.
Thursday - Saturday, Day 1 - 3: Cast-On or Carry on
Starting off 2026 with a cast-on OR you can share a WIP you are carrying into the new year.
Sunday - Tuesday, Day 4 - 6: Intro/Making Story
Classic introduction post. Tell us who you are and what your making story is. Are you a single skill crafter? Are you multicultural? We want to hear all about you as a maker and any other random facts about you that you want to share!
Wednesday - Friday, Day 7 - 9: Community
What does community mean to you? Who is your community? Where did you meet your community? Share any or all the people you connect with through community, whether it’s crafting/making related or other activities.
Saturday - Sunday, Day 10 - 11: Color Palette Inspo
This prompt could be sharing your favorite color or it can be about what colors you are feeling inspired by lately. It can be about a color you want to try wearing more of in your wardrobe or incorporate more into your projects. Where does your color inspo come from? Is it found in nature, pop culture, history, etc?
Monday - Wednesday, Day 12 - 14: Style/Silhouette Inspo
Whether it’s trying on every garment in your wardrobe or scrolling through pinterest, what style of clothes are you hoping to make this year? What’s missing? Is there a trend from any decade that you want to bring back? Is there a style icon you want to draw from? Is there a style or silhouette that you want to try out?
Thursday - Friday, Day 15 - 16: Body Measurements
Most of you might already know your body measurements. Here’s a little reminder to check in with our measurements because they might have changed over time, like mine. Here is a list of all the body measurements I think are important for us to have of ourselves or anyone you plan on making for. My background is in fashion design and my current profession is as an apparel designer and developer so I look at measurements often. Also, of course, grading for hand knitting patterns too.
Saturday + Sunday, Day 17 + 18: Tina Tse Knits WIP or FO
My birthday is on 1/18! For fun, share a Tina Tse Knits FO or a Tina Tse Knits WIP you might be working on. If you haven’t made a Tina Tse Knits yet, share one that you really want to make! All my patterns are on tinatseknits.com.
Monday - Wednesday, Day 19 - 21: Using Stash and Scraps
Have a large stash that feels overwhelming and is in need of using? Share with us what you’re planning with them or share a project that will use up your scraps! Let’s encourage each other to use what we have! Living in a world riddled with overconsumption, let’s think intentionally about our purchases by evaluating what’s already around us and support businesses that we value if we need/want something new.
Thursday - Saturday, Day 22 - 24: Mending or Upcycling
Implementing practices of using what you have, repairing what is still usable, making something new from something old. I find when we are less quick to discard something, we move slower, more intentionally, and think more critically. Not just in making. In life and the world we live in too. Whether you’ve tried mending or upcycling, or not, hope this prompt encourages you to give it a try. Reconsider what might seem like trash as an opportunity to give something new life to reduce waste.
Sunday + Monday, Day 25 + 26: Something New
Share with us something new! Whether it’s something new you learned, acquired, or made. Is there a new technique, new craft, new fiber or fabric?
Tuesday + Wednesday, Day 27 + 28: Support Small Businesses
Take a moment to share some of our favorite small businesses so we can support them and get more people to support these wonderful makers. It can be a content creator, digital products, brick and mortar store, your LYS, your favorite designer, anyone who you’ll like to show some love.
Thursday - Saturday, Day 29 - 31: New Year Making Goals
We have got to the end of the making challenge! With all we’ve explored through this challenge, what are your new making goals for 2026? I hope you learned something about yourself or your crafts or even something new through this challenge.
Thanks for joining or following along A Fresh Start Making Challenge 2026! See you next year in 2027!