Wednesday 25 February 2015

On feeling overwhelmed

Last night I had a sewing evening planned. P is working away, I had the kids in bed, the dinner dishes cleared and the toys tidied by 7.45. Perfect. But... I couldn't decide what I wanted to sew.

Ever feel overwhelmed with inspiration? That's how I've been feeling. Being off on Mat leave is giving me a lot of time to spend reading blogs, on Instagram and browsing online fabric shops. Which is great. Except my head is full to bursting with ideas. I really want to buy ALL THE FABRIC and MAKE ALL THE PATTERNS!! I've fallen in love with double gauze, Cotton and Steel (both double gauze and the rayon), I want to make Ginger jeans, so I'm browsing denim. I want to make more Lindens and so am browsing sweatshirt fabrics (and struggling there, tbh), looking for inspiration for them. I have purchased the Ultimate Trousers and so need to muslin them and then look for and buy fabric. Add to that, I want to work through my stash, and finish up all promised makes and WIPs, and you can probably see why I just don't know where to start. My goal for 2015 was to clear out my cupboard and see what's what. I have yet to do that.

In the end, I spent the evening, for want of a better word, fannying about. I looked at Liberty fleece online and tried to justify the cost - while taking part in an IG conversation with George, who was enabling as best as she could. I looked in my sewing cupboard and despaired at the mess. I took some fabric out, draped it over me and tried to come up with ideas. I virtually stroked (i.e. gazed longingly), for the millionth time, at this fabric. I chatted briefly on IG with Hazel. I considered starting on some cushions for my mother in law. I pulled out my sewing box. I started writing a list of all the fabric I want to buy. I put my sewing box back again. In the end, I went to bed having achieved nothing and feeling really discontented, and to tell you the truth, a bit stressed. I lay awake in bed and decided that today I would do 2 things: I would do a repair on one of P's shirt and I would make the cushions.

So, today, I did both. The shirt took me about 20 mins. I cut and sewed 2 cushions which took me a little more than an hour. And what a sense of achievement! This evening I cut and sewed 2 more cushions, leaving me little more than scraps. So, 2 projects and one length of fabric out of my cupboard! Done and done.


Co-incidentally, today I stumbled across this blog post about why the blogger took all her daughters' toys away. It has nothing to do with sewing, but it made me think. It is making me question why I think I'll die if I don't buy and make everything on my ever increasing list?

I get pleasure from sewing, but if it's just the process of sewing that's key then surely I can sew anything? I don't need to buy more (expensive) fabric for that. Is it to expand my skills? In some cases, but ditto with not needing to buy more.What then, do I need in terms of filling wardrobe gaps? In fairness I do need jeans, and while I don't need them, one or 2 more sweatshirts wouldn't go amiss. What else? Am I picking potential projects based on what is likely to drive blog hits and IG likes? To impress people, even? Maybe. That public validation is important to me. Why? I don't know. That's probably another conversation for another day, but at least I recognise it's not the best reason to pick my sewing projects, or spend my money.

What next? I don't know. I won't be doing any more sewing this week - Great British Sewing Bee tomorrow night and then Small Boy and I are away at the weekend, so I have some time to think about it.

How do you record your inspiration and how do you manage your wish list? And how do you restrain yourself from buying all the things?
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11 comments

  1. Oh my! I know this feeling well! The only cure is just what you did - just sew something. It's a perfect example of how doing something is so much better than thinking about doing it. I made a dress a few Sundays ago after just going into the sewing room to do a couple of repairs. I got so into it, I didn't want to stop. THAT was not what I thought was going to happen. Sew what makes you happy - if you don't need anything much then it doesn't really matter what you decide to make, does it? :)

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    1. You are right, of course. Good points. I just need to pick something and get stuck in. Thanks!

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  2. I sew what I want to wear. At the moment I am loving vintage patterns for the details. Im trying not to buy fabric and to sew through what I have first. I don't really shop to add to the stash - there's usually a project in mind but I do love a sale bargain which is when I tend to buy more than I can sew up over r the following few weeks. I agree with the ever wise mrs c - sew what makes you happy!

    I have felt a bit uninspired recently and haven't blogged much. I've done lots of repairs, refashioned a jacket for hubby (forgot to take before pics before I dived in with the seam ripper), made a leotard for n (which I won't blog pics of her in) and made a few basics (does anyone really want to see my 5th and 6th renfrew?). But this is real life and basic tees were needed! I'm tackling the ultimate trousers soon too. Want to sew them with me? We can battle fit together!

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    1. I do want to sew through my stash too, but nothing in there is inspiring me. It's also not particularly weather or (current) lifestyle appropriate. Roll on spring!

      And yes! Let's sew the Ultimate Trousers together!! I am terrified of fitting them, so hopefully we can help each other. Great idea.

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  4. Oooh, I know the feeling of wanting to make all the things... I have been trying to work through my stash but the the things I need to make to fill the gaps in my wardrobe don't go with the fabric I have so I have resorted to buying things from other stashes on ebay! I have self imposed rules about fabric buying - only ethical if new or second hand from other stashes on ebay (unless absolutely necessary - Elsa fabric for example...) which helps with the buy all the fabric in the world urges, I do still get them though :)

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  5. I hear you! I don't get out into town much, the drag factor of having three smalls! But when I do I have to stop myself buying all the fabric I find! It is so tempting touching all that fabric thinking I could make this or that. But realistically there is only so much time in the day. Enjoy sewing bee tonight. x

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  6. I know all to well how you feel! Everyone once in a while I have to take a step back from blog reading because my head just might explode!

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  7. Oh, it's so easy to lose a sense of balance in it all, isn't it? I've just taken my machines in for servicing this week and in their absence have realised just how much of my spare time I usually spend sewing - even with my 2015 resolution to take it easier and enjoy the process more. With 3 1/2 more items to go on my summer sewing list I was feeling really antsy at the 'wasted' time and the sense of falling behind...I think it was really helpful to stop and ask the question - like you did! - what's really going to happen if everything on the list doesn't get made. Answer - nothing! (Well, maybe more knitted projects... ;) )
    It's good to take stock. And I like your point about why you/we choose to make what we do. I'll be going through the winter list now and culling! Thanks for a great post.

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  8. I think we've all been here! It's taken me a while to realise that I will always have more ideas than time and resources and that's fine. It takes the pressure off in some ways but not always when choosing what next to sew!

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  9. Hi, I don't know if this is going to helpful now that I've read your post, but I remembered about you lusting over liberty fleece on IG and thought I'd let you know I picked some up, the Manning B Linford, in Mandors Glasgow today for £5 a metre. It's really thick (with virtually no stretch) but it did look like there was heaps left on the roll

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