Sewing to Chill Out!
Friday August 22, 2008
I tend to over book my time even if my schedule is only in my head.... there's just SO many things I want to get done... and never enough hours in a day. Locking my self in my sewing room is one way I regain control over my hectic schedule. I can get lost for hours once I sit down to play with my embroidery machine. Having started sewing on a sewing machine that didn't even have zig zag capabilities, my mind gets boggled at watching the embroidery happen like magic, but I do tend to be afraid of embroidering finished objects...especially if they aren't mine... ripping out the stitching if something goes wrong is not a good thing.
I was recently asked to embroider aprons for the 4H Dairy Bar... aprons that a group of volunteers put hours into getting sewn in time for the fair... I found a work around which gave them more time to finish the aprons and works around my "rip it out" fear... I'm going to embroider badges that can get sewn to the aprons without the embroidery actually being on the aprons.
I was recently asked to embroider aprons for the 4H Dairy Bar... aprons that a group of volunteers put hours into getting sewn in time for the fair... I found a work around which gave them more time to finish the aprons and works around my "rip it out" fear... I'm going to embroider badges that can get sewn to the aprons without the embroidery actually being on the aprons.
Comments
I like having sewing time right in my weekly schedule. Once I tell myself I have to get at something, then I get down to it and get it done. I hate pinning on and cutting out patterns so I try to do several at a time. That way when I start sewing I have lots to keep me busy.
I often work out my fears by sewing a “test” embroidery pattern first. I use as similar fabric to the “finished” product as possible, and that way, I see what works and how the colors will really look. I also watch the stitch count in case I only want to stitch a part of the design (ie, only a dog’s head from a full-body design). Another way to get around the “ruining a whole project” is to make your embroidery on things like pockets, prior to applying the pockets to the garment or project. Pockets can always be recut from scraps!!
I, too, have a tendency to get lost when sitting in front of my machine, and I usually don’t get hungry there, either!! What a fun way to diet!!
Speaking to Karin’s remark that sewing is a good way of dieting, I thought I was the only one that thought that way! Once I get busy sewing, I don’t even have time to think about food because I get so absorbed.
As far as finding time to sew–which is my passion, I live by the adage, “Eat an elephant bite by bite”. On lunch hour, I cut my material on the conference table at work. This again keeps me from overeating as my focus is the project, rather than “what’s for lunch”. To make any progress on the project, I have to have my sewing machine sitting out and ready for action. One night I might sew up the sleeve and then take the project in and set the sleeve during lunch hour. It may take two weeks of working in time to take a bite out of that elephant, but eventually the project is sewn. If you wait for a block of time and when things are calm in your world, well, you just might not ever start that project. Sewing lightens my spirit, relaxes my mind and alleviates the stress of the day.
I’m just starting learning to sew cos i found my mum’s old machine n i’m fed up of paying for alterations. I’m the sort of person who picks up a hobby n then gets bored n moves on. I’ve tried belly dancing, knitting etc. I’m going back to belly dancing n think may be knitting was a bit too repetitive n tedious for me…
The way you’ve talked about your passion for sewing makes me wish i can learn even quicker but i’m a university student so time is one thing i’m usually short off but i really cant wait!!!
I have been away from sewing for a long time,about 10yrs. I want to get back to it I have a great-granddaughter I would like to sew for and myself as well.I have so much to still learn about sewing but I’m ready! I love fabric and I want everything piece of fabric I see!LOL But I’m going to take time to learn things this time as I go! I can’t wait to get started!