About taking it slow, sewing by hand and how to avoid left behind projects.
Did I do enough, or could I do more?
I lay on a picknick table, enjoying the little bit of sunshine before the next storm. Looking at the clouds over my head, slowly filling up the whole sky. I am already tired and definitely need a siesta. Taking a break from cycling through the mountains. But my brain doesn’t seem to agree.
Looking around I am figuring out which places would work best to take some self-portraits in the clothes I managed to upcycle the past week.
In my head it all works great, I am setting the timer, trying out different angles and postures. One in front of a wooden wall, maybe I should try some nature background. There is a lovely little lake I could use as my scenery.
Daydreaming I fall asleep.
Because I still fall back into it, the pressure I am putting on myself to do more than I can. More than I should.
A break isn’t just stopping one thing you do to do another one instead. That’s just switching activities. A break is just not having to do anything for a moment.
I had to take a break that day. I had to take it slow.
Isn’t it ironic, that my actual sewing activity was trying to teach me that very same thing?
...the needle can, to avoid missunderstandings.
Since two weeks I got myself to finally get into hand sewing. At first, I was very reluctant, considering how much more time it would take me to complete a project that way.
And more time it takes for sure. I am probably working on this piece for about two or three weeks now.
One stitch at the time and one seam after the other. And while I work along very slowly, I realize a few things.
I have never been less frustrated during a process. Every next step, I know will take its time, so I don’t even try to rush it.
The bottom part of the tow piece was a very bullet proof design. I have done it before, I knew it works, and it did so again.
French seams I used for all the fabric joining parts. It takes longer, because every seam needs to be done twice, but gives the seams a nicer look. And they would hold the stretchy fabric better together.
The top gave me a few difficulties.
I am trying the pieces on after each step, I guess that’s what my increased patience looks like. I am actually taking the time to look for errors and misfittings, without rushing through the process. Nevertheless it doesn't save me from wrong decisions.
The top was fitting perfectly until I decided to cut the “armholes” bigger, and everything looked like garbage.
Any machine-sewing project would have ended up abandoned at that stage!
But I don’t want to throw away all my hours of hand stitching that piece together, so I am looking for a way to fix it. Standing in front of the mirror I turn the top in all possible ways, turn it upside down until I find a way to wear it differently...
...and I keep on stitching all the second and third seams.
The project could be done here, I could wear that two piece already. But one more detail is left to complete. The edges, I don’t want to leave them in their raw cut stage…
…I like that project too much by now to leave out the slightest detail. Never mind how much longer it will take me. And how many more hours I will spend stitching, poking, pulling and cutting on that two piece, until I'll wear it out in the sun.
Did your sewing projects ever give you advice about life?
Thank you all to stop by, have a wonderful week!
All photos and words are my own, taken and written by me.