IN THE KNOW
Sometimes it can be hard to carve dedicated sewing time out of a busy schedule. Kate Basti unpicks the easiest ways to fit a little quilting therapy into our everyday routines
Sometimes it can be hard to carve dedicated sewing time out of a busy schedule. Kate Basti unpicks the easiest ways to fit a little quilting therapy into our everyday routines
It’s a bit ironic that I find myself writing on the topic of finding time to sew when I’m currently experiencing, perhaps, the busiest season of my adult life, and, yes, struggling to find time
to sew. In the last 15 months, my little family and I have moved into a new home, my husband and I have launched a small business, I’ve taken up volunteer roles as a Girl Scout leader and a civic association co-president and my daughter has taken up so many extracurricular activities that my real job title should be that of Chauffeur. Gone are the days of being a stay-at-home mom, when I could sew for hours as my little one napped (and, boy, was she a champion napper!).
Sewing has been a kind of therapy for me since I first picked up the hobby several years ago. It allows me to clear my head and focus entirely on the task at hand, putting aside the day-to-day stresses, to-dos and what-ifs. After even a just short stitching session,
I walk away from my sewing studio feeling completely calm, refreshed and rejuvenated.
So what can one do when the chaos of life takes over? When sewing time just doesn’t seem possible? Well, everyone’s situation is different, and while I certainly don’t have all of the answers, what I do have is a few recommendations that may help.
Schedule sewing sessions
No one else is going to make the time for you to sew. You have to take the reins and carve out that creative time, even if just for a few precious minutes each day or week. I find that I feel most creative in the early morning, so I spend anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour each day in my studio after I take my daughter to school and before
I start work on my day job. I realise not everyone has the luxury of working from home, so your creative time may look different. Perhaps it’s a few minutes following your child’s bedtime routine or 20 minutes before starting supper. Try not to focus on the lack of time, but how best you can put it to use.
Plan ahead
I don’t typically walk into my studio and think to myself, “What should I sew today?”. Instead, I plan ahead. Do I have any sewing deadlines that need tending to? How much time to do I have to work with? By making these decisions beforehand, I can devote every minute of my creative time to tackling the chosen project at hand, therefore making every single minute count.
Another way to plan ahead is to cut your project pieces the day before. For example, I often only have enough sewing time to finish
No one else is going to make the time for you to sew. You have to take the reins and carve out that creative time, even for just a few precious minutes
one quilt block each day. To make my sewing time a bit more efficient, I may sneak down to my studio for ten minutes the night before to cut the pieces for the block I have planned the next day. It doesn’t seem like it would make much of a difference, but I can assure you it does. And sometimes, a few minutes of quiet time at the cutting mat is good for the soul after a hectic day.
Let go of guilt
This is a BIG one for me, personally. When my list of to-dos is long, or when the only chance I have to sew is while my daughter is home from school, I struggle with the guilt of feeling that I’m choosing a hobby over more important tasks or time with my child. Over time, I’ve come to realise that a few minutes of self-care goes a long way in helping me be a better parent and a more patient person. So I try to remind myself of this fact when that guilt begins to creep in. The household chores can wait 15 minutes.
Hand stitch
If you haven’t yet delved into the world of English Paper Piecing, now may be the time! It’s portable, it doesn’t require many tools and best of all, it’s relaxing. I can hand stitch while watching a movie with the family. I can take it with me on road trips and I can stitch while I wait for my daughter’s violin lesson to finish. Its ease and versatility is the perfect answer when sewing at a machine just isn’t on the cards.
So if you find yourself struggling to find some creative time, don’t worry. We’ve all been there. Put these simple steps to use and see what happens. You’d be surprised by what just 15 minutes can do for your mind and soul.