i didn't really do a 2012 wrap up post, although i enjoyed reading everyone's top 5 lists. i'm going to just move forward. 2013. i'm not big on making new year's resolutions. but i decided it might be a good idea to help me refocus. so i did a little self-reflection. new year. new outlook.
sewing is my hobby, not my job. (although if i could make it my job, that might be a fun change of pace…) anyway. so hobbies are supposed to be fun and not stressful. i read about other bloggers making 1 garment every week and i start to feel the pressure. and then i get overwhelmed by ideas. so we're going back to basics. i like the concept of project monogamy that's floating around. (although i guess i could say that i have one project that i've gotten a divorce from, and another project where we're separated, but we alternate who gets the kids on the weekend…) hehe. so putting those project/relationships aside. i'm starting something new and i'm just going to focus on it until completion. i'm focusing on quality, not quantity. and most importantly, i'm focusing on Enjoyment.
(repeating my new sewing mantra to myself) focus on Enjoyment. focus on Enjoyment. focus on Enjoyment…
much better.
shout out to my four new sunday sewing buddies (oh wait they don't know i blog). i've recently met some in-real-life sewing friends and that ups the enjoyment factor. sewing alone is fun. but sewing with friends…
much better.
so here's what i'm starting on now…
Style 2325, sleeveless dress in the center (yes it's the middle of winter, but the weekend high is in the mid 70s [F], not that this will be done by then). this pattern comes compliments of Nothy in the Patterns and Postcards Swap. (thank you Nothy!!) the fabric was super duper cheap, on sale for about $6 total for 2 yards, so no pressure. easier to focus on enjoyment!
i did throw my name in the hat for Karen's 2013 Sewlutions. i wrote that i wanted to make something fully lined because i haven't done that yet. am i lazy? am i scared? am i just being frugal because lining means buying more fabric? i'm not sure. but probably yes to all of those. so then i was thinking "i have the whole year to worry about getting that done, so i can just do it later…" well, waiting to the last minute makes me stressed. and we're focusing on enjoyment over here at so i sewed this. so why not start now!!
this dress is going to be fully lined! or should i restate: i'm going to attempt to make this dress fully lined! so tonight i'll be headed back to the fabric store to pick out some lining fabric. i'm sure i'll be a tad annoyed if i spend more on the lining than on the main fabric. but i'm expecting that to be the case, so no annoyment, only enjoyment!!
ya know what else helps with the enjoyment factor (esp. during the sometimes tedious process of cutting out a pattern)?
my new favorite pattern weights…
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| yes that would be gummy bears, a glass of wine and pandora radio |
Love the gummi bear weights. Though they would be empty and not be very helpful around me! I agree with sewing for fun. As a beginner it can be hard because (for me at least) things don't always turn out the way you envision. Then you couple it with the amazing people that crank out piece after piece - it puts me under pressure too. I'm going to sew at my pace (like a snail) and enjoy it. Best of luck with the dress!
ReplyDeletethat's true, the bag did start getting a lot lighter! next up there's a toblerone chocolate bar that i got for christmas that looks like it would be a handy pattern weight as well =)
Deleteglad you're also sewing at your own pace and enjoying it!
Thanks for posting a realistic post. I got so overwhelmed with bloggers making an outfit a week or turning out a lined coat when they just started sewing six months earlier that I took a break. A break that involved no blog reading or sewing for a month. I don't know if it's my competitive streak or what, but sewing started becoming more like a race and less like pleasure. Now I sew at my own pace and remind myself that I sew for my own satisfaction. A good, honest post. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteHope you're enjoying your sewing more now! Taking a break can be good. It helps me refocus on what's important to me. It's not a race and it's not a competition - so true! Happy sewing to you!!
DeleteGreat resolution! In the blogging sewing world I think it's so easy to focus on quantity...gotta get photos of things up for the loyal readers! But that's not what it's about. It should be about your happiness.
ReplyDeleteAnd I actually enjoy lining things more than making facings. Looking forward to what you think about this!
Maybe i'll post more in progress photos =) Hopefully the lining turns out well, but i'm sure i'll learn a lot in the process that's for sure. Now as long as this slippery fabric cooperates… =)
DeleteGummi bear weights are cool! I use the metal washers from Home Depot. @0 large ones cost $4. I like the freedom that weights give over pinning every little thing. I love your pattern. I have a few similar ones that I've been looking at doing some time....
ReplyDeleteI looked for washers at Lowes and i couldn't find ones that i thought were big enough/heavy enough. I know i'd want to stack a couple together. I'll look again. I actually really use a couple random things: two heavy candle sticks and a couple paperweights. And then i also pinned everything before cutting. I just didn't include that in the photo =)
DeleteGreat post. And I love your sewing weights - I just might have to get a giant toblerone bar for my own sewing table! That, and a yummy cocktail! I love the reminder to focus on enjoyment. The funny thing for me is that I've learned that I most enjoy myself when there's a bit of andrenalin involved - a competition, a self-inflicted deadline, some new challenge. But I have to balance those zingy projects with more mellow projects (repeat of something I've done before, something fast) or I get burned out, as much as I enjoy the intensity.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing how your focus on enjoyment goes this year! And good for you for starting your Sewlution early. I can see myself making a mad dash to get my jeans finished in time next December . . .
Competition stresses me out and i'd rather not have a sewing deadline because i have soooo many deadlines at work. But everyone's different! Finding a balance that works for you is what's important. Good luck on your jeans!!
DeleteOoo a dress. A lined dress. How cool. I'm doing something like that too but its a bit simpler I think and, as its summer here, maybe I'll get it done before the weather craps out!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyment ahoy.
Can't wait to see how yours turns out! Maybe i can steal some tips from you =)
DeleteI feel like we didn't really get much of a winter at all here. Now they're saying the high this saturday is 80 F (which would be about 26.6 celcius). You're in NZ, correct? We have some friends that just moved there.
Love the weights - just think how well you can hold the pattern pieces down with multiple glasses of wine. Just saying :)
ReplyDeletevery smart lady!!! i was thinking maybe just use the whole bottle, right??
DeleteGreat pattern weights! Normally I pin my patterns, but I have been known to use tealight holders, a metal ruler, a spare pair of scissors, you name it!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the search for lining fabric. Even if it does cost a bit more than the dress fabric, you've still got a bargain I would say. And I'm sure the lining will go well. The pattern is a nice simple style for your first lined project.
I did use some other random objects and then i pinned it down too. this fabric is kind of slippery. one day i'll make some cute ones by sewing little pouches filled with metal washers from the hardware store. oh i could use the leftover robot and alligator fabric i have. that would be fun =)
DeleteThat's a great sewlution! When sewing stops being enjoyable, it's time to go to bed, I say! And I love the weights! lol
ReplyDeletevery true!! i do like sewing in the evening though (i'm not an early bird)
Delete*Great* mantra! One I'm going to have to repeat to myself this year too. I did the garment-a-week thing and it became more about deadlines and posts and then, in the second half of the year, when I was too busy to sew, I was not just upset that my creative outlet was gone, but also felt guilty for not having anything new to share. I'll tell you though, loyal readers are just that and they'll be there whenever you post.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your dress! And enjoy those gummies, err pattern weights ;)
Looking forward to your next post whenever you're inspired to post again. You're on my bolglovin.com blog list =) Sometimes life gets busy and this shouldn't be a chore! It's a hobby (for most of us)!
Deletedefinition of "hobby": an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure
the key word there is "pleasure". and i this "regularly" is subjective ;)
alternate definitions of "hobby": a small horse or pony. also a migratory Old World falcon with long narrow wings, catching dragonflies and birds on the wing
interesting. ya learn something new every day.
Great post! Enjoyment should be the word of 2013!! And clearly I am going to need to stock up on some new pattern weights this weekend. I think an empty bottle would still weigh enough to hold the fabric down, right? ;)
ReplyDeletethanks!! actually i might make a little 2013 "enjoyment" button… hmmm
Deletei've got more pattern weights on standby for the weekend: a case of wine in my laundry room, and several chocolate bars ready to go. =)
Focusing in enjoyment is an excellent resolution! A hobby should reduce your stress, not add to it. I should adopt the one about being less critical of my finished products.
ReplyDeleteExactly! That's one of the reasons i started sewing… as a stress reducer. It shouldn't be a stress maker! I'm too critical of my work and myself, so trying to lighten up is a good step. Hope it works for you too!
DeleteHmmm, those gummy bears wouldn't last long around here! I should get myself some washers - I generally just use tins of food from my pantry.
ReplyDeleteThe gummy bears didn't last long! I usually use random stuff… books, candlesticks, anything moderately heavy within reach. =)
Deletethis is hilarious because i was just cutting fabric and using a bag of gummi's as weights! although the bag's not that heavy because i keep eating them the whole time. my phone is almost always a pattern weight, too.
ReplyDeleteand i know what you mean about the pressure of making tons of garments. i think it's made me a little overwhelmed and i'm thinking of focusing more on enjoyment and quality over quantity. although i don't think i could commit to project monogamy ;) i've got, like, a harem of projects hanging out in my sewing room at any given time!
I've decided that gummies work better than chocolate! I had a large toblerone bar that worked well until i opened it. Then i had chocolatey fingers, which would get on my fabric. Not good. Gummies win, even if the bag did start getting lighter!
DeleteI'm trying to not have a ton of projects going, because i get overwhelmed easily. but i do kind of wish i had a little simple project i could alternate this project with. but for now i'm just trying to break the big project into smaller manageable parts. So far so good. i couldn't manage a harem!!