As I have been preparing to promote myself as a motivational speaker and retreat leader around sewing, cooking, and homemaking in general, I started thinking about the life lessons I’ve learned simply through the act of sewing. Today, I want to share some of those with you:
- Mistakes can be (mostly) undone. I’ve made more than a few mistakes in my almost 40 years of sewing. Thankfully, I can reach in my sewing cabinet and pull out the seam ripper. Most of the time, the error can be corrected with no harm done and I can correctly do the task again. In life, mistakes happen but if I acknowledge the error, I can fix it and we all move on successfully.
- Last minute projects rarely get finished with my sanity intact. The magical thinking goes like this: Party on Saturday night? No problem, I can start a new dress on Friday night and finish it in time for the party. Either I choose to hang onto my sanity and let go of the need to finish the project before the big event or I hang onto my irrational thinking that I can finish the project in one day and drive myself and everyone else crazy while I chastise myself for not planning ahead.
- Do it right. Every time I have tried to take shortcuts with my sewing projects, I have been dissatisfied with the results. Sure, doing a task right might feel like it takes longer in the short-run but the long-term benefits make it worthwhile.
- There are a lot of steps between beginner and advanced. Fortunately for me, my grandmother helped me choose my first patterns. She directed me away from the Vogue pattern book and pointed out that I would have to work my way up to the designer patterns. I’m sure I pouted but she was right, of course. Project by project, I developed skills that enabled me to tackle more difficult projects. I now consider myself an advanced-intermediate seamstress who is able to make less tailored coats and suits. As I continue to develop skills, I know that someday I, too, will be an advanced seamstress.
- Buy the best that you can afford. Quality matters. My Bernina sewing machine is 37 years old and still going strong. Before I inherited my Bernina from my grandfather, I bought an inexpensive JC Penney machine and took it to college with me. While it was a servicable machine, it also caused a great deal of frustration because it jammed frequently and the tension would go crazy. By the time I took possession of the Bernina, it was 14 years old and a luxury to use. The same goes for fabric. When I buy cheap fabric versus quality fabric at a value price, I feel like I have to wrestle with the fabric instead of having the joy of manipulating it into something beautiful. I no longer look at the price, I look at the value I will receive and often decide that inexpensive does not equal a good value.
What life lessons have you learned from sewing?
Sewing has taught me the importance of being methodical and precise and given me an appreciation for quality. It has tuned my fine motor dexteriity and my eye-hand coordination. It improves my self-esteem by giving me joy in accomplishment. To me, spending time in creating something worthwhile is time well spent! And all these lessons apply to other areas of life, which is one of the reasons we teach our children to sew — or give them piano lessons, or sign them up for sports. Hopefully we learn life lessons and improve character through these pursuits.
I agree with your sentiment. But I am wondering if the purpose of building character has somehow gotten lost. I’m not trying to sound negative or bitter…I’ve just noticed that a lot of younger people on their blogs are wondering why they were enrolled for these types of activities.
Oh yes — we have totally lost sight of it. We’ve lost sight of character building not only in child rearing but as adults I don’t believe we think of character too much — or of improving character. But I’m thinking along these lines because I’m reading a very old book that relates values to housekeeping. Please forgive me if I’m a century behind.
I am new to sewing and it constantly teaches me humility. I am a fairly well educated person and this new endeavor is a new language as well as skill set. I wish I had had an interest earlier as my Mum and her Mum were both accomplished in this area. I am really enjoying the journey though.
Kathy, could you let me know the title of the very old book you mentioned – sounds very intriguing.
Sure, Aileen. It’s Happy Homes and the Hearts that Make Them by Samuel Smiles, 1889. Samuel Smiles (1812-1904) was a Scottish author and reformer, an advocate of individual self-improvement. The copy I’m reading belonged to my grandmother, but I find that reprints are available through online booksellers. Mr. Smiles places great value on the home and the homemaker.
This site and the podcast are great help if you’re learning to sew. Julie-Ann’s honest approach to her sewing is so refreshing.
Thank you Kathy. I shall look for this book. It sounds fascinating.
And if you do read it, I’d love to know what you think. I believe if you click on my name it will take you to my blog, mwhomestead.blogspot.com. Or, maybe Dr. Julie would put us in touch, if it’s all right with you.
Just a quick note–off to a doctor’s appt. but I wanted to let you know that my own copy of the book arrived yesterday and I plan on facilitating discussions about it on the Modern Retro Woman blog.
I was doing a little jig when it arrived. My husband looked at me as if I had lost my mind (not the first time he’s given me that look, I might add…)
That is so great, Julieann! The concepts have been inspiring to me as I clean my house. I’ll look forward to discussion.
Julie Ann,
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I love your list here. The way you phrased the tips applies to more in life than just sewing
i love your blog! i’m so happy that kit/shirley ann will have such a professional taking care of her wardrobe needs! what a gift for the whole family to have your blog! you will get kit soon…i guess now we’ll be blog friends. i chose littlemarymixup for my blog and later, for my e-bay store! i guess now we’ll be blog connected!