Finding Time to Sew

I think all creative people have grand plans… plans that are many times set aside to meet our day to day obligations. Sewists fall in love with fabric, and then dream about what it will become. I think many of us (not all) feel like we aren’t aren’t able to sew as much as we want to.

I’ve seen a few posts in sewing Facebook groups from people who are struggling to find time to sew. They are not alone. The advice from some is just to make it a priority, to “make time.” That can be true if you can do something easy, live give up watching a show. Sometimes it’s just not possible. Houses need cleaning, kids have sports, birthday parties, kids get sick, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, work, school etc.

If sewing is important to you.. Somehow you need to be happy with the amount of sewing you get to do. I feel as though I’m getting there… I’m no longer bursting into tears if the baby wakes up 10 minutes after I finally sit down to sew at night. Life happens. I haven’t blogged in three weeks either… it’s a trend. Right now I’m doing the best I can, and for my happiness I need that to be enough.

Here are some of the things that are helping me get things done, and also helping me deal with disappointment.

1. Setting a timer to get things done… I don’t really do this for sewing at the moment, but I do it for tidying and cleaning. I try to do it right after I get the kids down for nap or bedtime. Those are the times I’m super motivated to sew so I move super quick! It’s amazing what can be done in 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Plan during your waiting time. When you’re a passenger in the car, sitting in a waiting room, feeding the baby etc. there is actually a lot of time to do the administrative tasks. I buy fabric, plan projects, buy patterns and blog during my waiting time. You could even send them off to get printed in A0 format and skip the taping step. You can use an app on your phone to take down some notes or makes lists. Use apps that sync with your computer.
3. Take a look at the projects you’ve already made. I feel encouraged when I look at my Matchbox Handmade Instagram feed… for a mom of three who had a baby in August and has a busy toddler, I feel like I’ve done pretty well. We can be pretty hard on ourselves and looking at our past accomplishments is a bit of a boost. If you aren’t on Instagram you can just keep an album on your phone. If you sew for work or gifts, ask the new owner to tag you in photos so you can see your work being enjoyed.
4. Listen to a podcast. This is something you can do on the go, or at work depending on your job or the task you’re doing. Learning from others will spark the creative juices and keep you encouraged. Sewing Out Loud and Maker Style are my favorites.
5. Start tracking your time when you do finally sit down to sew. Understanding how long a project takes from start to finish will help you plan for the future. I had to track my time at my day job and it’s very beneficial to understand how long things take. Sometimes we overestimate how long things take and tracking also helps to keep us focused!
6. If possible create a scenario where you can be free of distractions and get to work quickly. You are far more likely to sew for a short 15-minute block if you have your machine set up in a dedicated spot. It doesn’t need to be a fancy sewing room, just somewhere that you can leave things set up.

If this is something you struggle with as well I hope you find this is helpful… even if it’s just to know you’re not alone. I would also love to hear what works you in the comments… I need all the help I can get.

Happy sewing!