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[Edited 1/6/26] Congratulations to Sharon H. She won the Pixie Faire gift card and has been notified by email!
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 #2: 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?
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Today (12/27) we kick things off with Principle #3: Rhythm & Repetition, and your third entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: âWhat do you enjoy repeating most in your sewing â shapes, colors, stitching, or patterns?â
Today (12/28) we kick things off with Principle #4: Harmony & Unity, and your fourth entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip:Â
Choose one unifying idea and let it guide every decision.
That unifying idea might be:
If every choice supports the same idea, harmony follows naturally.
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: âWhen you start a project, what helps you keep everything feeling cohesive?â (color, mood, fabric types, themes, etc)
Today (12/29) we kick things off with Principle #5: Color, and your fifth entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip:Â
Successful Color Blocking:Â Highlight the pattern design lines with fabric by color blocking! Keep in mind the design principles mentioned earlier - rule of thirds, repetition, and harmony - Let one color dominate about 70%, repeat colors with added elements like buttons and trims, and pick a color palette that pleases the eye!
Bonus BOGO Promotion happening today too! https://www.pixiefaire.com/collections/trend-watch-color-block
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: âWhat color combination do you find yourself reaching for again and againâand why?"
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Today (12/30) we kick things off with Principle #6: Fabric Matters, and your sixth entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip:Â
Fabric Choice: Match the fabric personality to the design's intent. Choosing the right fabric often matters more than choosing the perfect color or embellishment. Maybe it's time to venture out of your comfort zone and try out a new type of fabric?
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: âWhatâs one fabric you love sewing withâand one you tend to avoid?â
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Today (12/31) we kick things off with Principle #7: Fabric Matters, and your seventh entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip:Â
Surprise is what turns a nice design into a memorable one. Itâs the small, unexpected detail that makes someone stop and look twice. Add one unexpected detail that only appears once. It could be: A contrasting lining, A hidden pocket, An unexpected trim or button, A pop of color on the inside rather than the outside. One surprise is charming. Too many dilute the effect.
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: â Whatâs the most fun or surprising detail youâve ever added to a sewing project?â
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Today (1/01) we kick things off with Principle #8: Waistlines, and your eighth entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip:Â
Where the waistline sits can completely change a silhouette. A small shift up or down can make a design feel youthful, classic, elegant, or modern.
The higher (Empire) waistline was prominent in the early 1800s Regency era, the natural waistline popular in the 1930s-1950s, and the lower dropped waistline emerged in the 1920s and reappeared in the 1960s/70s.
Waistlines arenât just structuralâtheyâre visual cues.
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: â Do you tend to prefer high, natural, or dropped waistlines in your designs?â
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Today (1/02) we kick things off with Principle #9: Homage, and your eighth entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip:Â
Homage is about honoring inspiration without copying it. Great designers study what they love, identify why it works, and then reinterpret it in their own voice.
Homage connects design to history, culture, and personal storyâand itâs one of the most meaningful ways to create!
Isolate one defining element of your inspiration and build from there.
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: âIs there a designer, era, or style that inspires your sewing the most?â
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Today (1/03) we kick things off with Principle #10: Minimalism, and your tenth entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip:Â
Minimalism isnât about making designs boringâitâs about making intentional choices.
When fewer elements compete for attention, the most important ones shine.
Minimalist designs often look confident, modern, and timeless.
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: âDo you lean more toward simple designs or detailed onesâand why?â
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Today (1/04) we kick things off with Principle #11: Distressing & Embellishment, and your eleventh entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip:Â
Todayâs design principle is all about adding depth, texture, and personality. Distressing and embellishment bring a design to lifeâbut only when theyâre intentional.
The goal isnât to add more, but to add meaning.
Well-placed texture can elevate even the simplest design.
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: âDo you enjoy embellishing your projects with fabric manipulation or added details like buttons, beads, or trims?â
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Today (1/05) we kick things off with Principle #12: Sewing Technique, and your final entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip:Â
Most projects look âhandmadeâ not because of design choices, but because of rushed finishing. Taking extra time on the last 10% of a project makes the biggest visual difference.
Focus on:
Accurate seam allowances
Pressing after every seam
Clean edges and consistent topstitching
Secure closures and neatly finished hems
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt:
âWhat sewing technique do you most want to improve or master in the coming yearâand why?â
Thank you for being part of this community and for sharing your creativity with me.
Warmly,
Cinnamon
P.S. Donât forget â today is the final day to comment for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card drawing!
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I absolutely love the Regency empire waist. Itâs so feminine, yet practical. I like designs that emphasize the natural waist a lot too.
It really depends what Iâm looking for in a design. I love all 3 waistlines. Empire for a nostalgic look, natural waistline for a 40âs /50âs look and drop waist for a slimming affect. Personally for my figure, I prefer no waistline, a princess line is.my go to.
All waistline are lovely and offer an area for embellishment..Get creative..
I prefer a high waist on dolls. I think that it gives them a more youthful look.
Empire and natural waist are the prettiest IMOâŚand fit the eraâs Iâm most interested in.
I prefer a natural waist unless Iâm trying to achieve a particular look.
I like all 3 waistlines. I usually use what the pattern calls for.
I like the lower waistline, especially with a pleated skirt. I think the look is special.
I really like all the various waistlines so it totally depends on the style/era/mood I want to create. I have plenty of patterns for each type of waistline. It might be a fun exercise to go back tthrough photos of all the items I have made to see if the waistlines are evenly divided or if I tend to sew more with one or another.
I find that both the Empire waistline as well as the dropped waistline tend to streamline the silhouette of the body, drawing away from the natural waistline which some times chops the body in half.
I tend towards natural waistlines.
Hi, I prefer high waist, empire.it takes me back to being a teenager.
I prefer natural waistlines when creating.
Day #8 I like garments with the raised Empire waist or the dropped waistline. Have not sewn any yet. On my list for this year.
I prefer high and dropped waistlines.
If I have the doll in my possession, I will sew a dress with a natural waistline. But if I donât have the doll and Iâm told, âItâs an AG dollâ or âItâs an Our Generation DollââŚthe waistlines can vary a little bit, so I do a higher waist, no waist, or drop waist. Sometimes I do the style with gathers above the chest (like a nightgown often has). If the doll is an unusual one, I am careful to measure the hips. Sometimes they are MUCH wider than the waist,
I like to sew a more childish style dress for my dolls and so I tend to raise the waistline but honestly, I love a dropped waistline.
It depends on whether the project is historical or more modern and what the historical era is. I donât have a preference except the time period.
I prefer a natural waistline for the most part, feminine looking and works well for full skirts. It also is the focal point in many cases.
I love the look of dropped waistlines, like the 1920s and 1904 Central Park dress. IRL, or in my clothing, I like sewing natural waistlines (I have an hourglass figure and need to tailor some of my clothes, so ânaturalâ to me is unique to everybody.) I wish I could pull off late Regency clothes but instead, Iâll try for the Keira Knightly Pride and Prejudice clothing styles of the 1790s. I absolute love the 1798 clothing on the DAR âAn Agreeable Tyrantâ website. End of ramble.
Do you tend to prefer high, natural, or dropped waistlines in your designs?â
I prefer natural for a more feminine look.
I love the Empire high waist. I just love the elegance of the Regency era.
Depends on the doll. For some pear-shaped Barbie dolls, I looked up some fashion suggestions. Then I designed an asymmetrical raised waist panel dress with semi-poofy sleeves. I even permed their hair to help bring the eyes up instead of on their big bottoms (https://pin.it/3ilEuypHW). Now if I could make my own pear figure look so good!
Natural
Slightly raised waistlines make doll costumes look more natural. The proportion ratio for human to doll clothes needs to be flexible.
I prefer high or natural waistline. I almost never use dropped waistlines.
Day 7: I like to repurpose fabrics that hold a special memory.
While I perfect a natural waistline I like several historical eras that require the raised or dropped waistline.
I find that I tend to gravitate to patterns with natural waistlines. I like things that are plain & simple. Iâm not one for a lot of gee gaws. Plain & natural works best for me.
I tend to prefer natural waistlines, but sometimes use the high waistlines depending on the design. I would only use dropped waistline for a historic pattern.
I prefer a natural waistline, but I go with what the period dictates.
Waistline? Depends on era design of dress I have used all three types. My favorite one is dropped waistline = roaring " 20" LOOK
For the most part, I prefer natural waistlines, but it does depend on the era of the outfit. Some are higher and others are dropped.
â Do you tend to prefer high, natural, or dropped waistlines in your designs?â i prefer natural waistline, but I do feel that the occassion dictates the style.
As others have remarked, waistline choice depends on the period portrayed. It also depends on the choice of the chronological age and socio-economic status of the doll one is dressing. For those who would like a more defined waistline for the American girl doll for 1830s-1910s, perhaps one of the designers would create a working corset pattern using boning, grommets, and lacing. Little girls did wear corsets during this period.
An added tip, if youâve wondered how to add an elastic cord to a straw hat, doll and childrenâs hats in the 1900s used âagletsâ, a small metal piece in which narrow elastic cord or 1/8" inch elastic was inserted and the aglet squeezed to hold it, forming a âTâ. One aglet for each end of the cord. The aglet was inserted from the inside of the hat, rested where the brim met the rise and was covered by the decorative ribbon on the hat. Aglets are available on-line. Look them upâŚ
I guess I tend toward a natural waistline, but enjoy variety when I am doing a historical pattern.
For 18 inch dolls I prefer a high or natural waist.
I prefer a natural waistline or drop waist, depending on the outfit. Iâm not too keen on the really high waistlines such as in the regency era.
Bonjour, Jâutilise le plus souvent la taille naturelle.
Do you tend to prefer high, natural, or dropped waistlines in your designs?
To be honest, I donât have any preference. I have made all three types and find Iâm not particular. I just pick a doll dress pattern that appeals to me when I am looking through all my patterns.
Iâve missed a lot of days⌠sometimes I have nothing to say since I donât sew complicated things.
Day 8
â Do you tend to prefer high, natural, or dropped waistlines in your designs?â
I often use whatever the pattern has, but I prefer high or natural waistlines.
I prefer the high waistlines
In my designs I tend to prefer the natural waistlines.
I like all the waistlines depending on the style/era Iâm going forâŚ.when not going for an era look, I usually go for the natural waistline
Natural waistline.
Waistlines on dresses: my favorite is a drop waist dress. This past year with UFDC doing the roaring 20âs I have made a lot of drop waist dresses for several of my dolls. This coming year with it being the anniversary of Jane Austin I will be focusing on empire waist dresses as our doll club is featuring Jane Austin as our end of the year event. I have used several of the Pixie Faire Patterns offered in both styles.
I use and like natural, high and dropped according to the style Iâm making and the fabric choice. Most of the dresses are natural but the âfancyâ dresses tend to be either high or dropped.
Day 8: Waistlines
Since I like to sew historical clothing for my dolls, the waistline depends upon the period of time for the clothing.
Natural waistline preferred. Dropped is ok too
Natural waistline.
I enjoy a natural waistline but have owned and loved a dropped waistline as well.
Iâve used all three and donât really have a preference, but seems like most patterns use the natural waistline.
I tend to use a dropped waistline , with lots of special trims & stitching.
The eras I typically sew for call for a natural waistline, but I have made empire waists as well.
I tend to prefer natural waistlines on designs, but if I see something in a pattern thatâs different than what I normally have and I like how it looks, Iâll buy it. I grew up in the 80s with a lot of the dropped waistlines in fashion and was in high school in the 90s with a lot of the higher waistlines. Basically anything that looks interesting to me intrigues me.
In Jr High/High school I made my own clothes.being slim and not much shape, I preferred empire waists for me. I like to use that now for dolls, as they also donât have much shape đ. Itâs also easier for closures on backs of outfits. Happy New Year to all at Pixie Faire!
It depends on the garment and who it is for.
I usually prefer the natural waistline but I do have a few favorite designs that use the higher waistline.
Well, since it is almost impossible to find maternity clothes patterns, I use the higher waistline for maternity and otherwise just what the pattern calls for.
All three.
A dropped waist is fun and different these days.
I actually like all three. I tend to lean to slightly higher but fun to do all three.
I prefer a natural waistline, though I have sewn dresses with high, natural and dropped waistlines
âDo you tend to prefer high, natural, or dropped waistlines in your designs?â In myself I prefer dropped waistlines but for my dolls, I like the natural waistline because it gives the appearance of an actual âshapeâ (my AG doll is pretty much âshapelessâ on her own).
I almost always choose patterns with a natural waist line.
Back to the 1950s for me! A natural waistline is my preference.
Day 8 Prompt: â Do you tend to prefer high, natural, or dropped waistlines in your designs?â
I find when sewing for dolls I use either a slightly higher waistline or what folks call the ânaturalâ waistline for them. With many of the 18 inch dolls these styles work better as the dolls really donât have much of a waist to begin with. Depending on the garment being made, it is rare that a lower waistline would work too well⌠although many floor length gowns/dresses can look good with a slightly lowered waist.
I like all the choices but like the dropped waistline a little better.
I prefer a natural waistline. Unless Iâm making regency style dresses.
I like all three types of waistline. I like variety. It varies with which doll is getting the outfit.
Because I sew for a variety of dolls that are usually child or baby like, I prefer high waisted doll clothes. They suit the minimum waistline of these dolls better, and also, their youthful appearances.
I donât think I have a preferred waistline. They all look good to me.
Waistlines? All are ok and some look better than others on certain dolls and their look. Just like humans.
I probably prefer high or low waisted designs over natural waist lines for the AG doll. Because she does not have much of a waist to begin with so and the head size etc seems to make high or low more attractive overall.
I tend to use the natural and drop waist in my designs.
While I have sewn all 3 styles over the years, I really like the smooth look of the dropped waistline.
Easyâmost of my sewing is with a natural waist as I find that to be the most versatile for the outfits I make.
I prefer higher waistlines. They seem to fit a variety of doll sizes better.
I just follow the pattern for dill clothes. Personally, I never wear a dress. My tops for skirts or pants usually have no waistline.
I prefer a natural waistline or no waistline. Since nearly all of my creations are donated, I try to make things as simple as possible and as sturdy as possible. For the dolls in my own collection (which Iâm afraid I donât give enough attention to), I still prefer a natural waistline unless I am making some sort of historical or fancy costume for them.
The silhouette I use largely depends on the time period for which I am designing. Having my early design training in the late 1960s and 1970s I tend to do the Empire waistline a great deal. I look back at my portfolio from that period and see the Regency era of the 1800s re-born in design contemporary to the more modern era. Today when designing I use a variety of waistline. for example many of my Bitty Baby designs have that yoke or empire design while items for the Wellies (AG Sisters) and 18 inch tend to have great variety in silhouette.
I do like an Empire waist. Love the clothing from that era.
I prefer the natural waistline but a few times Iâve used the empire waistline, mainly for pj nightgowns.
It depends on the vision in my head, and the look Iâm after. And it totally depends on what decade Iâm looking to evoke.
Iâve really never thought about it since I just go with whatever my pattern shows to doâŚbut with my clothesâŚdoesnât matter as long as itâs a stretchy waistlineâŚhaha
Day 8 â I like all the different waistlines. It depends on the pattern which will be used for each outfit, they turn out great no matter what.
I usually go with the pattern waistline. If I am creating or modifying a pattern for a non-typical doll, (anyone with kids or grandkids has probably run into this.) or one with a feature that is hard for a child to dress the doll I have moved the waist or gone to flowing âno waistâ styles.
Where I like the waistline depends on the look Iâm going for.
I prefer natural waistlines on both doll and people clothes.
I prefer the way a natural waistline looks.
I usually gravitate to the natural or dropped waistlines. As I was a teenager in the late 60âs and 70âs I like the dropped waistlines for myself, too.
I prefer a higher waistline. I think it is easier for the girls to dress their dolls with the empire waistline.
I prefer natural waistlines â seems natural to me!!!
I prefer natural waistlines. As a short-waisted girl, I always hated how dropped waist pants didnât fit me and that bias carries on.
I prefer natural waistlines. That said, I enjoy historical doll clothes, and I am happy to sew whatever type of waistline is needed for the silhouette.
Waistline all depends on the doll Iâm dressing. Baby dolls often get the high but never the low.
I create with all of the waistlines but seem to always come back to the natural waistline.
Though I had sewn dresses with high, natural and dropped waistlines. I still prefer a natural waistline.
I prefer the empire waist, I think it takes me back to when I was a teen.
I use whatever waistline comes with the pattern and whatever decade the dress comes from.
Susan
January 01, 2026
Natural is my first preference, but I love a good high waistline too