26 August 2015

Making the Time to Sew


Do you ever catch yourself saying or thinking, "I don't have time to sew"? Yeah, me too sometimes. Our lives are getting busier and busier, while sewing is a slow activity, requiring patience and a significant chunk of time to dedicate to it. And that slowness is precisely why we should be making time to stop rushing around and get into the meditative flow of creating.

In my latest column for Simply Sewing magazine, I talk about some of my tips for getting sewing done, even when you feel rushed off your feet. It's a topic I've talked about before, in my book and on the blog (such as this post on sewing in short bursts), and one I think is worth revisiting as "not having time" is an excuse that most of us make occasionally.


One of the things I mention in the column is my new morning routine. Inspired by an interview with Hal Elrod on the Smart Passive Income podcast (more fun than it sounds!), I've started being intentional about how I use the first hour my day, before getting sucked into the never-ending vortex of work and emails. I get up at 6.30am, have breakfast, then sit at my sewing table for 15 - 20 minutes or so. I'll admit I don't manage to do the sewing part every day, but I'm trying to make it a habit - and it feels good :)

Even if all I do in that time is set in a couple of sleeves, I feel satisfied at making progress on a project. Moreover, I've got in some enriching creative time - just for me (no I'm not going to say "me time"!) - before the day has properly begun. And just taking that small step gives me the motivation to return to the sewing table as soon as I can. It's addictive!

Do you have an early morning routine involving sewing?



Also - are you coming to the Handmade Fair? I had such a nice time there last year, as did everyone I spoke to who went. We'll be there all weekend on stand E4 in the East Shopping Village. Come along to browse our sewing patterns and chat to us about your projects. You can also enter our prize draw in partnership with Janome to win a DKS100 sewing machine worth £499 - the lovely turquoise ones we use in our studio. And we will love you forever if you wear something you've made with a Tilly and the Buttons pattern!

The Handmade Fair runs from 18th - 20th September 2015 in the gorgeous grounds of Hampton Court Palace. You can get your ticket here, and if you use the code ‘EXM27’ at checkout I believe you get £2 off. The ticket price includes access to a certain number of talks and workshops - check the website for the full deets.

Hope to see you there!