January has whizzed past in a blur of family time and returning to part-time work. It's been hard to make the time to sew but I've realised that 10 minutes here and there really do add up, and that these creative minutes are important for me. Already this year I've finished up 2 little girls skirts which I had cut out last September/October. I'll do a separate post on them as it's such a great pattern.
Last year I aimed to take part in the Stash Diet, in Me Made May and in the end did neither. This year I'm not going to set myself too many goals but I thought it might help me to have some short term plans. I'll probably just stick a post-it note above my sewing machine with a list of potential, and realistic, sewing goals for the following few months.
My goals for January were a long-sleeved Plantain t-shirt in pink jersey which I've finished and absolutely love! In fact I'm wearing as I type - just need to get some photos now. I've also started sewing a purple jersey skirt which is almost finished. Oh, and the 2 skirts I mentioned above. I'm very happy with that,especially as I've just started back work this month to. For February I'd like to finish the jersey skirt, draft a t-shirt dress pattern using the same jersey skirt pattern (drafted by a friend) coupled with either the Plantain or the Scout tee. I've also got some See Kate Sew raglan tee's to sew for my wee boy and for gifts. And if I have any time left after that I've got a burgundy lace jersey Scout tee all cut out and waiting to be sewn up (it's been ready to sew since last summer!).
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| Plantain in progress, and my first time doing flat insert sleeves |
Does anyone have any tips for sewing in short bursts of time? or sewing with a baby? My sewing machine is right outside Harris's room so I don't tend to sew at night in case I wake him up, which means sewing is restricted to weekends, bringing the machine through to the living room, and the occasional 10 minute sew with Harris playing happily beside me in the hall. I might just need to brave the night-time sewing and see if he gets used to the sound of the sewing machine - I guess it could be like white noise?!
The burgundy lace scout tee sounds like it will be quite pretty! I have no advice for sewing with a baby, but as for sewing with little time I find that sewing when I would be watching something rubbish on TV or wasting time online is quite effective at getting projects finished. Half an hour here or there is all it takes :)
ReplyDeleteHi Zoe! Thanks for stopping by. Yes I'm finding that the little snippets of time I can squeeze in are really adding up & I've been surprised how much I've got done sewing in 10/15min segments.
Deletei find that planning helps. so get a few seams pinned and ready to sew at a time, and then swap to pinning/ pressing/ handsewing/ tracing/ cutting. it is hard but doable! is there no way to have the machine anywhere else? id' get nothing don't if i didn't sew when n was in bed (but i also work full time and she is 6 so out of the napping stage!)
ReplyDeleteI've definitely found cutting out fabric for a few patterns at once helps as then I feel like I'm getting somewhere quite quickly. If my husband is out I can move the sewing machine to the dining table in the living room but that's the only other space. I think I'll just need to start sewing at night & hope he gets used to the noise quickly!
DeleteHe being the baby of course, my husband is already well used to the noise of the sewing machine ha!
DeleteI second finding somewhere else to sew if possible! At that age I used to trace/cut out/press during afternoon naps (or just sit and stare at a blank wall with a cup of tea!) and sew after bedtime. I also had a few hours on a Sunday morning when my husband used to take the child swimming. It is tricky trying to fit everything in though and I have been known to sew with the Child on my knee, something she really enjoys now she is a bit older and can press buttons!
ReplyDeleteI have started doing the odd 10 mins here & there with my son playing in the hall beside me. He's quite interested by the machine jut also quite happy just to play beside me - for a short time! Yes, evening sewing is really the only answer!
DeleteHurrah! You're back!! I sew when the wee one is napping, or in the evening when both boys are in bed. I can't really sew any other time as they want to play with my scissors and eat my pins. Can you move your machine to your dining table in the evening? Having said that, he might be ok. I Hoover when the wee one is sleeping and it never bothers him. Good luck! I'm looking forward to seeing your finished garments!
ReplyDeleteHi Helen! We'll see how night time sewing goes!? Harris seems to like the Boise if I sew during the day but thankfully isn't that interested that he comes too close - though I do obsessively check for pins as I'm sewing & when I'm clearing up now!
DeleteDefinitely get a night time sewing thing going! I wouldn't get anything done if it wasn't for the evenings, but having said that my machine is quite a distance from the kiddos. It gets easier as they get older too it seems, as my toddler is much happier with me sewing round him (when baby is asleep) if he feels he's 'helping'. Doesn't hurt to bribe him with some toy sewing ;-)
ReplyDeleteYes I'm looking forward to starting to get my son into sewing, and crafting in general, as he gets older. Going to try some night-time sewing this week and see how it goes!
DeleteIt can be done! It's too long ago for me to remember any tips for how I did it myself, but you work it out. Where there's a will there's a way :)
ReplyDeletehaha yes, there's definitely a will so I'm sure I'll work out a way!
DeleteHope the night time sewing doesn't wake baby! I think they get used to it. My machine is always out along with pins and scissors. My three don't touch or anything, but when friends come round I see how unusual it is with their children's fascination for the machine and pincushions!
ReplyDeleteThank you Louise! I haven't tried yet as I've been so tired in the evenings recently I've not felt like it. Hopefully next week I'll get back into it. I like to think of my son growing up with the noise of the sewing machine in the background, like I did!
DeleteYour sewing goals sound great, and realistic! If you don't feel you can sew after the baba has gone to bed, could you save up any pattern tracing, cutting out, pressing, pinning or any other prep for the evenings? Then when you do get to actually sit at your sewing machine you'll be all the more productive with that small chunk of time.
ReplyDeleteI agree, 10 or 15 minutes snatched here and there really do add up to a finished project before you know it, plus the burst of creativity is really good for morale I find!
Happy sewing! xxx
Thanks Zoe,
DeleteI do tend to use evenings for tracing & cutting, and currently have a large pile of things cut out whihc I need to get on with sewing. Hopefully I'll get a wee bit of time this weekend, and a new burst of creative energy!