Christmas is one of my favorite times of year â a season of creativity, generosity, and reflection. This year I wanted to continue to celebrate in a way thatâs meaningful, fun, and deeply connected to what we love most:Â design, sewing, and growing together as makers.

So today, Iâm excited to announce the 15th annual 12 Days of Christmas Celebration, inspired by the 15th anniversary of the Design Academy-12 Principles of Design.
For the next 12 days, weâll be sharing:
âď¸ One Design Academy Principle per day
đĄ A practical Design Tip you can use immediately
đŹ A daily blog comment prompt for you to earn entries in our giveaway
đ A $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card giveaway â announced on January 6th
Each day we'll jump back to this blog post to highlight one of the twelve design principles and invite you to join the conversation by leaving a comment. Every comment is an entry to win the $100 gift card. The more you participate, the more entries you earn!
And thereâs more....
These 12 principles are also the foundation of something very special coming in 2026âŚ

Twelve principles. Twelve months. One unforgettable year of growth.
In 2026, Cinnamon Miles is opening the vault and teaching the Design Academy like never beforeâfifteen years after she first published the landmark series that inspired thousands of sewists worldwide. This is a complete, modernized re-imagining, blending Liberty Janeâs iconic design principles with Sewing With Cinnamonâs techniques, challenges, and creative opportunities.
We're bringing the Design Academy into Sewing With Cinnamon in 2026 using the core principles to guide our 2026 topics and this year, thereâs even more:
Historical fashion deep dives with guest instructor Shari Fuller. Designer spotlight showcases. Sew Powerful Purse crossover projects. And a brand-new challenge every month.
If you loved the original Design Academy, you havenât seen anything yet!
Read all the detail of the 2026 overview HERE. Existing SWC members are already in! If you're not a member yet, we invite you to join us, it all starts on January 6, 2026.
The 12 Days of Christmas is your preview of whatâs coming â and a great way to jump back into thinking like a designer and getting the most out of your Pixie Faire pattern collection.
Letâs celebrate creativity, learning, and sewing together this Christmas season.
Merry Christmas,
Cinnamon & Team Pixie Faire
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đ Winner announced 1/6/26!
Today (12/25) we kick things off with Principle #1: Proportion, and your first entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip - Proportion: Scale is invisible when it's right and noticeable when it's wrong!
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt:
Whatâs your best tip for determining scale in relation to the doll you're sewing for?
Today (12/26) we kick things off with Principle #1: Focal Point, and your second entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip - Focal Point: Choose ONE star of the show. Whether itâs a bold fabric, a special embellishment, a unique neckline, or a pop of contrast â one clear focal point will always outperform several competing ones.
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: Whatâs your favorite way to create a focal point â color, embellishment, trim, or fabric choice?
(Check back each day for the next comment prompt for additional entries!)
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I typically go for color for focal point, and build on that with complementary notions and accessories.
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My favorite way to create a focal point is to use an embellishment such as English smocking near the yoke.
Sometimes the fabric is itself a good focus. You will know. A little hand embroidery is my choice. For Wee Patsy [who is about 4" tall] a real handworked cutwork hem and sleeve edges and neck do not take that long and bring out the flower-like beauty of the doll. For bigger dolls such as Sasha and her kin, for a little cap sleeve blouse in a tiny cotton print , a neckline finished with hand worked loops just like button loops takes very little time and looks nice. It focuses your eyes on Dollyâs face and can be done in any color in embroidery thread. Embroidery thread can also be used to sew on tiny rickrack in a number of decorative ways.. This is also historically correct for early 20th century. Besides, my dolls like it.
Maybe fabric.
I like to find just the right trim/lace. I think it can make all the difference in the look of the outfit.
I use embellishment mostly as my focal point. I often add embroidery, beads or buttons to make a garment really pop.
I use my dolls hands as a guide. I compare the pattern to the size in the fabric with the dolls hand and imagine if in âhuman form/sizeâ would this pattern be a realistic scale. Sometimes I get it wrong, but thatâs ok. Iâm doing it because it brings me joy.
I like to use embellishment as a focal point â buttons, appliques, special trim. I also like pintucks, pleats, and contrasting colors.
The focal point usually evolves for me as Iâm working on a garment. I initially get a visual in my mind of what Iâm going for and it definitely develops as I go along. Sometimes I have removed or added details once garment is ready to try on for final fit.
Fabric choice first, then color. I just want to sew and try patterns. I leave the designing to others. I am not a designer of anything, so I have misgivings about the 2026 program.
Since I primarily make historical fashions, fabric is a must. I prefer finding vintage pieces that are unique.
I think my focal point is usually the fabric. I like to choose just the perfect print to make the outfit special!
Focal point depends on what the fabric is. Sometimes the fabric is the focal point, but if it is quite plain then trim may be the focal point.
Either holding the fabric up to the doll or laying the pattern pieces on the fabric to get an idea if I can manipulate it to work.
I use color as a focal point. It might be an accessory or an embellishment. It could be a contrasting fabric. So much fun!!
Day 1 (probably too late, but Iâll do it anyway)
Whatâs your best tip for determining scale in relation to the doll youâre sewing for?
â For fabric choice, I usually put the fabric next to (or drape around) the doll to see if the print seems too large or a good size.
Most often, my focal point is part of the garment design. Pintucks, pleats, textured stitches if crocheting etc. Buttons and trims help, but they are just helpers in my mind.
Height and width matters when looking at fabric designs. As a eight year old, I had an 18" Miss Revlon doll and a new 11 1/2" Barbie doll. My mother had some leftover fabric that had a floral (cabbage roses) design on it. I thought it would make dandy dresses for my two dolls. My Mom took that as an opportunity to teach me about Scale. The flowers looked fine on the Miss Revlon, but swallowed up Barbie! She did have a Calico withTiny little rosebuds about 1/8" to 1/4"in size that worked fine for Barbie. Now Iâm teaching my Granddaughter about scale. Only instead of Miss Revlon, itâs American Girl and Barbie!
I learned early, when sewing for myself, that ONE focal point looked great, but two or more look âfussy,â at best. The more elaborate the fabric, the simpler the style; The âedgierâ the design, the simpler the fabric, especially when trim is used to accentuate pattern design elements.
Whatâs your favorite way to create a focal point â color, embellishment, trim, or fabric choice?
â It would depend on the project. Sometimes itâs a specific fabric choice, sometimes itâs embellishment. With the stuff I made my nearly 4-year-old niece, it was mostly fabric choice since I didnât use too much embellishment since sheâs still quite young.
I love youing embellishments to create a focal point. Like beads or trim
Those tiny buttons that are in the shape of a butterfly or frog or turtle etc. make great focal points as well.
I love different textures of fabric to start and then use trim for the focal point.
I like to use something with a different colour whether itâs with fabric, buttons, etc
I tend to prefer letting the fabric (or the yarn) do the talking, with simple, clean lines â especially since texture seems proportionally more noticeable on a doll. Iâm obsessed with fabric. If the pattern has a wonderful design detail though, Iâll choose something plain. I also love piping or embroidery that accentuates seam lines. It can really elevate the super-simple. And I enjoy making art buttons and embellishments out of Sculpey when something turns out sort of ordinary. I guess âordinaryâ means I looked at it and couldnât find a focal point! The smaller the doll, the more I feel like details overwhelm them, and the simpler I want the pattern, and the fancier the fabric.
I find it is fun sometimes to pick out a tiny color on a fabric design and bring that color out by adding trim, buttons or etc that is the same color somewhere else on the item I am sewing.
To create a focal point on a plain coloured skirt I like to add a thin ribbon or sewing machine fancy stitch about an inch above the hem on all but the smallest dolls where I add the trim proportionally lower.
I guess it would be an occasional trim or buttons. Sometimes a a contrasting fabric. Iâm not overly big on embellishments though.
My desciption of a focal point echoes Coco Chanelâs famous mantra: Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory! (Thatâs paraphrasingâŚ)
My focal point will depend on the pattern I am working on, certain fabrics look better to me than others or certain colors, most of my buttons and trim accent the fabric I will have chosen and sometimes nothing works together and I have to start all over!
I like to use trim as a focal point â for example, lace around the neck of a dress.
If I really want to catch the eye, itâs a trim that I will use.
I like to use color to bring out something about the outfit that one may overlook otherwise. Like making pockets a different color, or the collar.
I try to scale the print on the fabric to the doll size
I love to start with a fabric and browse for embellishments that please my eye
when designing a new outfit, make a draft of the outfit to see if any proportions are off before you make the actual outfit.
I like to use them all. It depends on the fabric, pattern and what I have in my stash that I can use.
I tend to use contrast as part of my focal point. I try mirroring the contrast I see between hair and skin tone.
I like to create focal points with fabric, color, trims or embellishments depending on the outfit.
I typically find a fabric that appeals to me as with a specific pattern in mind. Then I look for a few ways to embellish the outfit with either lace trims or buttons.
Whatâs your favorite way to create a focal point â color, embellishment, trim, or fabric choice?
My answer is color, then I can add extras based on that.
I love to use my embroidery designs for focal points.
Great ideas. I love the personality I can leave with the sweet outfits I create
I enjoy all the help that your blogs give.
I love adding little design features like special stitches or unique buttons or even handmade flowers.
I love special trims. My latest interest is hand embroidered garment edges.
I like fabric, especially different textures. They lend themselves to building a core wardrobe that offers many pairings options!
Focal point pulls everything together like a magician. My favorite focal point is a unique color that creates interest.
Depends on the size of the doll. For a small doll, less is best. If the fabric is a bit busy perhaps the design of the pattern such as a cross-over bodice, a fancy sleeve or a contrasting solid color for the collar. For a larger doll repeats can be made such as a strip of vertical lace on the bodice with added lace on the hem. When a finish dress needs something, it might be just the simple trick of buttons add to the bodice front.
I like to use the fabric as the focal point, but it depends on the design as many others have said as well. Using a variety of things, such as ribbons, lace, buttons, etc. if you need an additional umph to an outfit is what makes sewing for dolls so fun!
When I make a T-shirt for a doll out of a solid fabric, I often make a little bow out of 1/4" satin ribbon and sew it to the center front just under the neckline. I make the bow out of a contrasting color. For example, if the shirt is pink, I make the bow white.
Thank you for the information.
My favorite way to create a focal point is through the embellishments. A touch of embroidery really brings the outfit to life
I love choosing fabrics that pop. I love contrasting colors and textures for variety. That is usually my focal point.
I like to use fabric and trim as my focal point generally. Often Iâll do some embroidery instead of trim. I mostly do historic fashions, so fabric/trim choice is always important!
I think the extra touches like tiny buttons, lace, and trim are my favorite ways to create or emphasize a focal point. They just elevate a piece so much and make it look finished and professional.
When sewing for dolls, I usually gather my fabric pieces to use in coordinating with the pattern Iâm using. With such variety of options such as trims and buttons, each garment becomes one of a kind. I really enjoy making all types of clothing for my dolls. When I create a custom order, the need to make the customer happy is my main focus.
One of my favorite ways to create a focal point is through a design feature. I love designing and creating a unique twist in the design is so fun.
Wow, this sounds exciting! A more in dept exploration of fashion and design. Iâm especially excited about the historical fashions!. I teach sewing at our local community College and this will help brush up my skills and knowledge to better help my students. Thanks Pixie Faire!
My favorite way to have a focal point is thru fabric choice. Sometimes a solid with a coordinating print will create a great focal point.
I gravitate toward creating a focal point using fun embellishments. Buttons, bows, embroidery, and other trims are so fun to really make a garment âpopâ!
Generally, I like to add an embellishment for the focal point. But a busy print fabric doesnât need much added or the outfit becomes too busy looking. Sometime a contrasting color stitching or solid color button is all that is needed.
I rely on fabric and/or contrast for focal point most of the time.I sew for a charity that specializes in AG 18"dolls and Bitty Babies. About 85%-90% of my contributions are for boy dolls. I have no idea how old the children are who will receive them, nor do I know their developmental age/skills. I do make some âdressâ shirts. I always use hook & loop closures, but do add a few buttons on those. They are sewed on over the hook & loop closure, then I use either glue or fray check on the threads to hopefully keep them from coming off. For girls clothes I do sometimes trim with ribbon or other trims that can be securely sewed to the garment. I treat buttons the same as for boys.
I like to use laces, buttons and Ribbon to accent the fabric choice.
I like to use laces, buttons and Ribbon to accent the fabric choice.
I like using a trim as a focal point, or a contrasting fabric/
I like to spend time at fabric store search for coordinating fabrics that help make a focal point. Lately I have been fascinated by fabric manipulation techniques that can help make a outfit unique and provide a focal point
I like simple design lines and the focal point in my creations is usually trim or embroidery. Sometimes I use fabric that becomes the focal point. It also depends on the age of the child I am donating the doll and wardrobe to.
To create a focal point I like to use fabric that is the same but opposite. Like blue stars on white background, or white stars on a blue background.
For my latest design (https://pin.it/5uSZG5k13), the doll had pink earrings, so I chose pink rick rack and lace binding ruffle to contrast with the blue & white flounce dress. She was fun!
I use all 4 ways based on the fabric I choose and the pattern. I used a cute flowered fabric and where the ruffle was sewn on the sleeve and skirt, I used piping for a focal point. On âfancyâ dresses I use a shiny embellishment around hem and the waistline. Sometimes I use a ribbon at the waist with a pretty shiny button. Sometimes Iâll add a contrasting fabric band at the hem or cuffs. I also like to use lace, ric rac, buttons but lots of times itâs just the fabric that is the focal point.
Ouch, one focal point! Iâm a major embellisher and I add a LOT of different trims, buttons and laces to a single outfit. Thatâs probably why I like sewing doll clothing; I certainly wouldnât add multiple embellishments to clothing for an adult. However, I do color coordinate all the different embellishments with the fabric print, so they look like they all belong together with the colors of the fabric.
I love to add a trim or some other piece ( buttons, beads or an appliquĂŠ, etc) to add a little unique pop of color.
I usually use some type of embellishment as a focal point. However, I also like to use different and unusal fabrics.
Usually itâs the fabric/colour choice, but if Iâm making something special trim would be the focal point.
I tend to lean more to a simple but elegant style. Adding a decorative bling of sparkle or pearls at a focal point compliments the simple, elegant look.
I love to create one of a kind garnishments including embroidery.
Focal point depends on the pattern the fabric colors and era of fashion of the pattern contrast thread or contrast fabric different machine stitching and trim lace it creative processes to achieve the focal so pattern fabric help to choose
I love colors.
I choose color or trim for a focal point.
I tend to gravitate toward unusual fabric
Even small things like bags for dolls need a focal point, like a pretty closure or an interesting fabric.
It depends on the outfit Iâm making. If itâs fancy like a gown but plain color fabric, pin tuck pleats in the bodice give it a nice focal point but they would be lost in a busy patterned fabric. A little sailor suit type outfit looks great with a red bold tie that would not work on a gown. Contrasting color can often be all you need like that bold red with a neutral. I really think the embellishments are driven by fabric and style. I do try to stick with one focal point per garment and keep it at waistline or above to draw the eyes up. Too many embellishments can overwhelm these small items and make them look too busy.
My focal point depends on mood. I will focus on a fabric if I start hunting through them. Sometimes a ribbon or button will catch my eye. I will focus on them to pick a fabric. Iâm a mood crafter lol.
So many lovely ideas. There are so many ways to show off your focal point, I love historical fashions so sometimes the focal point needs to be subtle, depending on who is doing what. Donât Felicityâs dress to detract from the situation.
My favorite way to add a focal point is by highlighting the thing I love most about the fabric Iâm using. If itâs the color, I mirror it in different places. If it is the print, I center my favorite part.
For casual clothing, I use color as the focal point. For dressier creations, I use embellishments.
If the garment is more historical, I go for trim or a contracting color. If it is contemporary, I find
embellishment with buttons or bows easier.
I like to use pleats or pintucks on my doll clothes bodices and then add tiny buttons down the center. It brings the attention to not only to the bodice, but also to the dollâs face.
For an 18-inch doll dress, I like to sew a 1- to 1 1/2-inch strip of flat lace above the waist seam and add an embellishment, such as a silk flower, off center on the front.
I like to use fabric to make a focal point. I really like darker or more solid prints as a frame to make a brighter print stand out in specific spots.
I usually opt for color, my favorite option being jewel tones. If I am using a muted a neutral color then I would choose embellishments, unless the design of the outfit has its own focal point.
Proportion can totally throw off the look as you said. A recent example was a short sleeve on a blouse â it just didnât look right until I made it shorter than the pattern said.
For focus I like to let the fabric speak for itself â whether itâs the fabric color combinations or print.
The simplest, but effective trim, I think, is Rick rack which comes in lots of sizes so you can always find the appropriate size for the doll for whom you are sewing.
I use design lines and selected color that donât overshadow the focal point which is my dolls face. Too many embellishments and distracting prints can create opposing focal points.
Focal point: for me itâs all about the details! The top-stitching, pin-tucks, pleats, ruffles, buttons. Maybe a seam in a place you wouldnât expect for a unique garment shape :)
For proportion, I make sure that the pattern on the fabric coordinates with size of the doll I am sewing for. If itâs too big, you donât even see that and your eye wants to focus on what you donât see. And to the focal point, if the fabric is too busy, your eye doesnât know where to focus. A pop of color will direct your eye to what you want to focus on. It could be lace, or braid or even a contrasting thread color.
This is a skill I want to build. I am often a too much is never enough kind of sewist
My favorite focal point is the embellishment. I usually look at other designs and bounce my ideas off that. Iâm always learning and love to see other peopleâs suggestions.
Phil C
December 26, 2025
Fabric and ruffles