I have a special post to share with you. Many of you can relate to this and others, I hope you can learn from my experience and insight.
I've been enjoying Spring for the first time in eons and have been out and about all hours of the day, I've noticed I have been running into folks who want me to sew for them.
I was recently at Hancock's checking out their home dec clearance table when a lady approached me about sewing. It was a casual conversation about sewing, what sewing machine I used and then showing a sewn garment that I happened to be wearing. This really nice lady wanted to know if I sewed for others. Well...no I don't. Why not? Well...I enjoy sewing for myself. Period. Not other explanations. I offered to teach her how to sew. There was no interest. We kindly parted ways.
As most of you know, I'm passionate about my sewing. It's a stress reliever. It's a pleasant and rewarding hobby. I enjoy sewing for myself and for my DH. I also enjoy sewing gifts for others. There's no pressure to sew. I am not a perfectionist, but will practice until I get things right. I guess that's why I'm also a good instructor. I have patience. Breathe in, breathe out. Take a 20 minute break and come back. Eat some chocolate. :)
I believe when you add "outside forces" that interfere, adds stress, or even tries to control what's not necessary...that's when the pleasant hobby takes the form of unpleasant work.
I know my mother has a lot to do with this insight. She used to do alterations for family, friends, and customers. She used to bitch and complain about every single sewing projects/tasks. I remember telling her...you can say "no" and move on. She's one of those types who cannot say "no". Then it eats her up. She also sees the cup half empty.
Well, I'm happy to say...I'm not like my mother in that aspect. I don't put myself in stressful predicaments and when I know a sewing project "reeks of trouble", I steer clear away. I'm not a glutton for punishment. Besides, I enjoy being happy and I don't need anymore white hairs.
I sew for pleasure. I sew with beautiful fabrics. I'm blessed to have wonderful sewing tools and a God-given talent. I don't give myself unnecessary deadlines. Nor do I put pressure for absolute perfection.
Given my own economic situation, will I sew for others in the future? Yes, more than likely. I'm in the midst of "dreaming up" ideas/projects that I think will be FUN. That's the key. Make sewing a fun hobby/business and remain happy.
I have a passion for sewing.
10 comments:
I am with you, I only sew for myself. Once upon a time I did make cute dresses for my girls when they were tiny. Now I only make garments for me, mostly because I feel the time it takes to be making something for someone else is time used I could have been making something for me!
There's a saying: "Follow your bliss". It sounds as though you've found your bliss. I love sewing too, and the secret is that I love my job (I sew for people). What I do is only do formal wear, bride dresses, etc., because people are more likely to pay a fair price for sewing, as opposed to the price people would pay for a sports jacket. It takes longer, but I love this sort of work. I take periodic breaks by making some casual stuff for me, which I love doing too.
Basically, if you love sewing, and you can keep your boundaries (saying no when you want and saying yes when you want) you can sew for people and love it.
Oops sorry about that...I'm not anonymous - just forgot to click all the buttons!!!
I totally agree with you. Picky people,and unrealistic deadlines, can truly suck the fun out of something I enjoy doing with my free time. I'm not advanced enough to draft creations from others imaginations or visions (you should see what people draw)so I will continue to sew for my own family, and as a way to relax.
Hear! Hear!! (or Here! Here!! ;) )
I LOVE surprising people with fun crafts but WILL NOT sew for anyone (except a vest for DH)!!
Sewing is a creative outlet ;)
Soft hug,
Rhonda in Montreal (PR)
It is nice to know that I'm not the only sewist who feels this way. My sewing time is limited, but sewing for myself and making gifts for the people in my life brings me joy. And that is what I need to remind myself to focus on. (And learn to say "no" to alterations that could be done by the dry cleaner.)
I'm a hairdresser and people think we like to do work on the weekends for free. I don't think so. That's how I feel about my sewing. It's my "free time" and no amount of money is worth making a "JOB" out of my free time. I unwind, relax,create,and get motivated for the next week w/my limited sewing/quilting time. I learned "NO" a long time ago. People unfortunately don't want to pay "labor" for sewing, only for the fabric. They think it should be cheaper than retail, when in reality, we're using American fabrics,notions,etc. instead of oversees products that sell at reduced rates/quality. A typical quilt store fabric quilt will now run over $400 w/me making/quilting it. Yet, people are so easy to say, "make me a quilt", I say cough up $500. and it's yours. No takers as yet. I think a "hobby" should stay that way as your time will never be valuable to anyone but you.
hilary
Susan, you are SO right! The only projects I will accept are ones that I can learn from. Like this one guy I know wants me to sew a cover for the sides of his 12-foot deer stand.
It was so insulting to me when the secretary at DD#2's school was inquiring about me making her daughter a dress because she didn't want to spend $80. I felt like saying, "My labor charge is $100." I was able to gracefully maneuver my way out of that one by telling her I'd teach her how to sew the dress but don't have time to make one. She knows I have four kids so that excuse (truthful too) was perfect.
I can appreciate your feelings. I have done some sewing for others in the past and it almost ruined sewing for me. After I completed two very time consuming and yet rewarding project, I decided that sewing was my "me time" and wanted to keep it that way. I also work full time so not as much me time as I would like.
You've struck gold with this one. I think 'sewing' still has that 'housemaking' connotation so people who don't sew believe there really isn't that much to it. I stopped telling people that I was even learning to sew because their first reaction was "good, you can make things for me"... Sometimes I reply with - "Oh, you're into cooking? Good, ycan come over and cook me dinner"... I don't think so...
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