Why indeed?

[lovetriangle]

I was Christmas shopping with my daughter today and we passed a big stack of sewing machines, so she turns to me and says, "Mommy, why don't you sew anymore?"

Why indeed.

It doesn't help that I'm sick as a dog right now, but I've barely sewn a stitch since that suit sucked the life out of me for Costume College. I have stuff I need and want to work on but I just can't make myself sit down and do it. I keep accumulating supplies for the latest projects but the machine stays unplugged. My brain is actually doing all the things it does when I'm working on something, like spinning through construction processes while I'm trying to get to sleep, but then I don't do any of them when I'm awake.

What do you guys do to get you back in the mood?

Comments

[demode.livejournal.com]

I am so with you on the sewing drought! Don't have any answers, tho. For me, it's been that I've been so busy that any down time I have ends up being of the sitting around on my butt variety. I keep thinking I need to get in gear, but finding it hard to do so...

[laurenmonkey.livejournal.com]

I dunno, I tend to go in phases, too. For months I won't want to touch a machine to make something for myself, then all at once inspiration hits and I'm at it again. Usually has to do with watching too many period movies.

[marymont.livejournal.com]

Deadlines. However, that comment from your daughter would have really smacked me into motivation.

Just do it.

[love3angle.livejournal.com]

It was quite a shock because in my head I'm always sewing! LOL!

[sarahbellem.livejournal.com]

Been going through a dry spell myself, but what's helping right now is sewing for someone else. I'm making Trystan's 12th Night gown and it's been good for making me get out of the rut and just sew.

[love3angle.livejournal.com]

Maybe that will do it. I have a client waiting in the wings and I've been mulling his designs in my head. If I have to drag all my stuff out for him I might just do it for me, too.

[sarahbellem.livejournal.com]

It definitely helps to feel both obligated to sew and to have a time frame to get it done in! Keeps the fire lit under ya!

[padawansguide.livejournal.com]

I've been sluggish overall with the costuming this year myself. I think the beading on that Titanic Jump dress sucked the life out of me, so I understand! And your suit was spectacular! :-) I have trouble making myself get going alot of the time lately. Once I start I'm ok, it's just the starting! Yet, the fabric piles up! Hope you get your sewing mojo back and that you'll have time to use it!

[myladyswardrobe.livejournal.com]

I think that when you have spent a long period of time constantly sewing for a deadline that sometimes you NEED a rest period. Also, this time of year is horrendous for colds and flu and that isn't going to help. And then you have Christmas and all that entails. No wonder you end up burned out enough not to sew.

I had a month of sewing for my Dickens Dress and now that I am back home, I have a huge pile of sewing to start for a deadline in April (Costume Con - are you coming?). But, like you, I've been sick as soon as I got home from the US and couldn't bear the thought of even tidying up my sewing room. Hoping that will happen tonight.

Also, when you have a BIG project, its sometimes so daunting that its really difficult to START it! I was thinking about that this morning and telling myself to break it all down into smaller chunks! Pick one of those chunks (of course this does depend where in the larger task it is!) and then focus JUST on that one. Forget all the other tasks.

Lets see if I can do what I say should be done! My task today is to tidy up the Sewing Room! Would be nice to be able to see the floor!!!!

[catherinejs.livejournal.com]

I always stall out after I finish a big project. I just can't dive straight back into another big project. I take a couple weeks off and then ease back in with something small.
Catherine

[vanityfairy.livejournal.com]

I scrap all of my half-finished projects that are meant to be finished up before I start new things. by allowing to sew whatever my heart desires at that particular moment I usually build up a drive to finish the older projects as well. And if not, I'll have more half-finished projects laying around, but at least I'll have made some new stuff and find myself behind the machine again ;)

[sewaddicted.livejournal.com]

I don't usually have this problem for as long as I have this time. Usually a deadline works for me, like summer has turned up and last years clothes are tired or were already discarded at the end of last summer.

But I've had to throw out 2 shirts and even that hasn't inspired me to sew. I've had 2 items cut out for a month or more and still unfinished. Usually once it's cut I'll start sewing.

A good friend has reminded me to cut myself some slack - I've been sick more in the past 15 months than the previous 5 or 6 years. Still the lack of work clothes is becoming pressing ... so I'll have to sew real stuff when Ionly want to sew "play" clothes.

Just realised that I'm not helping you!

[love3angle.livejournal.com]

LOL! Sure you are. It seems liek a lot of my LJFriends are in the same slump and most of us have had large job/home/life transitions within the last year so I'm not surprised.

I feel like I am "getting ready" to get started on something again. Then again, I have felt that way several times and it has passed without any "starting" taking place.

Yes, I think you're right about the slack. Sometimes I'm just not up to producing and I have never really enjoyed the act of sewing so... there it is.