Monday, November 9, 2009
Inspired but no time.
Is it just me or do you notice that your mood is directly related to how creative you've been. I haven't made a wearable garment in about a month (I've only attempted two, 1 is a total wadder and 1 just didn't get finished when I wanted to wear it) and I am feeling more and more frustrated. I realized a long time ago that my sewing style was more that of an "event sewist" in that rather than just sew for sport, I would only pull out my machine to create a new dress or outfit for a special occasion be that Christmas, a wedding, graduation or something more basic like a family bar-b-que. It's been my association with PR and the inspiration provided by the very talented and supportive folks there that have me wanting to sew more/most of my wardrobe but now I'm at a point in my life where I have the least amount of time. This dilemma lends itself to all nighters and stolen moments, both of which for me have been main ingredients in the recipe for disaster. Case in point, after doing an FBA on M5752 and carefully constructing the bodice and waist band, I realized I didn't not fit the waistband and therefore cannot wear the dress, ruining my beautiful fabric. Disaster #1. On this past Saturday/Sunday I stayed up to 3:30 a.m. feverishly cutting and sewing B5100, (my second attempt by the way since the night/morning before at 4:00 a.m. I cut the front in two pieces instead of on the fold.) only to give up and go to bed after attaching the cowl incorrectly. While this is definitely salvageable, I didn't get to wear it the next day at brunch like I wanted to, which qualifies it as Disaster #2. Something has definitely got to give. I can't imagine not being able to create custom fashions for myself but if I don't get any sleep nothing productive is getting done anyway and who knows what the next thing I cut in half might be. Any suggestions?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I try to do 1/2 hour to an hour of sewing each day. One day cutting the pattern, next day cutting the fabric, next day marking and so one. I find that I am more focused being that I am not trying to do everything in one evening. By the time the weekend comes, I basically sew up the garment.
ReplyDeleteI think that we all go through these phases where nothing seems to go quite right. I think Sheila's idea of pacing yourself is a really good one - I'm not great at sewing to deadlines. Sometimes I just like to make something really easy and quick, like a little top, from a pattern I've made before that I know works - it gives me a bit of confidence back!
ReplyDeleteSchdule sewing...you have to schedule it into your life just like you do everything else.
ReplyDeleteWhen my kids were smaller, I arranged my life with my ex-husband's consent so that I got extended hours during the weekends - a few hours on Saturday and a few hours on Sunday. Of course it took me much longer to complete a garment than it does now...and I would have to plan extensively to use the time productively...but I did get sewing done and avoided many of the situations that you've described.
Hope you manage to work this out because I love the yellow tank pictured below!!!
I was wondering the other day when we'd have another post from you!
ReplyDeleteIt *is* so hard to find time to sew. And I don't even have kids. Like the others have suggested, I spend about half an hour each night sewing. But some nights I don't have time, or just don't feel like sewing, so I'll organize my sewing room, or make sure the machine is threaded, etc., so that the next time I sit down to sew I'm all set to go.
Reading my blog, you *know* I've had some failures. And it is SO frustrating. I've had a few moments where I've thought "Ugh, why did I take up sewing??" But then I see a garment in a magazine that I could never afford, but could probably (eventually) sew myself. Or an $80 simple a-line skirt. Or a beautiful piece of fabric that I see a myself sashaying around in as a dress. Thoughts like that motivate me to sew. And seeing other bloggers' beautiful creations (and failures! Because even the advanced sewers still have them).
Could you post this back to me the next time I'm feeling bad about a wadder? ;)
Thanks so much for all of your great suggestions. I spent a half-hour tonight ripping out the cowl on B5100 and will be able to spend about an hour or so tomorrow. I definitely have to be more realistic about what I can do in the time I have so that I don't set myself up for disappointment and then become discouraged.
ReplyDeleteSheila & Carolyn - I definitely think scheduling is a key component of my future success, it just won't happen without it.
Eugenia - I like the idea of going back to a TNT just to get back on track.
Sewn Wardrobe - One of the things I like about being part of such a huge sewing community is that I do get to read about the wadders that the women I so admire sometimes have. Not to bask in others misfortune but it definitely makes me feel like if it can happen to them, I'm not doing too bad.