Life is busy and as much as we love sewing, we find it can often end up at the bottom of the 'to do' list.
Emily has been feeling such a pull to start making again without deadlines, but is also about to be deep in the season of a newborn baby. For me, I often feel like there just aren't enough hours in the day!
In Making, Again, we’ve been tracking what we’re actually wearing, cleaning out my me-made closet and seeing what I need to make next, I’m motivated to sew, but now craving a weekend (or a week!) alone to sew…
While I girl can dream, that’s not my reality. So, instead I thought it was about ‘time’ to revisit these tips from the Sewing Mindset Journal to make room in our lives to sew when time is short.
HOW TO FIND TIME TO SEW
Here’s 7 tips we’ve put together to help you make time in your busy schedule for this creative pursuit you love - sewing!
Not necessarily every tip will be applicable for you and your life. We recommend reading through and choosing those that are easy for you to do straight away. Implementing just a couple of things quickly will be more effective than having grand ideas about implementing all of them and not actually following through with any.
Have your space set up and ready to go
We know this one isn’t an option for everyone (if this is you skip to step 2!), but if you can keep your space set up this will encourage you to sew when you don't have a lot of time to spare. Make sure to tidy up at the end of each session so that it's always ready to go! Check out more organising tips here.
Time how long it takes to get your sewing space set up
If you can’t have your sewing space set up at all times, time how long it takes you to set it up. You might realise that it takes a lot less time than you think. Knowing it only takes a couple of minutes, may reduce the barrier / resistance you feel when you’re not sure if you have the time or energy to sew.
If you don’t like how long it takes you to set up, consider things you could do to reduce that time:
Create a sewing ‘go bag’ that includes all the basic sewing tools you need. When you have a spare 15 minutes you just need to whip that out with your sewing machine and get going.
Store your equipment in a way so that all the regularly used items are at the front of the cupboard so you can quickly grab them out and get to work.
Keep your sewing machine plugged into a power point (switched off at the wall, of course!) inside the cupboard it’s stored in so all you need to do is pull it out, take off the cover and turn it on? (You might need an extension cord for this one!)
Have a number of projects on the go at different stages, so if you only have a few minutes you could do the hand-stitching that needs doing, or that final hem, or making a start on cutting out or tracing off a pattern piece.
Try sewing in small pockets of time
Try sewing in 10-15 minute bursts. If you're working from home, this might mean sewing for a few minutes of your lunch break. It could mean sewing for 15 minutes before you leave for work.
You’ll be amazed at how much you can achieve over the course of a week. Not to mention how taking 10-15 minutes for yourself like this can make you feel throughout the day.
Sew instead of scroll
A lot of us are guilty of this one (we know we are!) - saying you don't have time to sew, but spending way too much time looking at other people sewing on Instagram!
Consider taking some social-media-free time and using that time to sew. Or, set a timer for your daily scroll, and when it goes off, get your sewing machine out and sew for the same amount of time.
We think social media scrolling can also be a sign of lost motivation. If that rings a bell for you, this post we wrote about finding your sewing motivation may be helpful.
Use project bags
Project bags keep everything organised so that when you do have time to sew, it's all ready to go! To make a project bag you don't need anything fancy - just something that works for you. It could be a clear bag with a zip, or something that can hang in your wardrobe or store in a drawer.
When preparing your project bag, it's great to have the pattern instructions in there (if you normally print these) and any required notions and thread.
Have supplies ready
It can be a good idea to have a supply of neutral coloured zips and thread on hand for when you need them. You can often use a different length zip than what the pattern calls for - just make sure you will be able to get the garment on and off. You can also shorten zips that are too long.
If you’d like more help to move through sewing funks and reconnect with motivation when you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to begin, check out the Sewing Mindset Journal which is currently 20% off.
We’d love to know how you find time to sew in your busy life? Share your thoughts and tips in the comments.
Happy sewing!
Courtney