They really do exist, the 7 good sewing fairies. It's just like in a fairy tale. Except that the gifts of the sewing fairies become visible right here and now, in your sewing room. Because it is time to save this wonderful hobby from the Big Sewing Blues and experience new, great sewing adventures! If you follow what the 7 good sewing fairies pass on to you as you start your sewing life, you will make wonderful discoveries, wanna bet?
1. Time
The first sewing fairy says: Time pressure is the enemy of any joy in sewing! What the sewing fairy means by this: Do not put yourself under pressure by setting time limits. Even if the description of a sewing project says: "Working time 1.5 hours," this does not have to apply to you. Everyone works at their own pace. Do you chat with your sweetheart, talk to your mother-in-law on the phone, or drink a cup of coffee on the side? Design your workflow in a way that is good for you. Time pressure does not just mean that your ideas dry up. It also ensures that you start to measure or pin sloppily, or "quickly" sew one more crooked seam. As soon as you notice that you are starting to stress yourself out and watch the clock, you should ask yourself what your hobby means to you: Sewing against the clock will kill your creativity in the long run. And that is the beginning of the end. Remember: Banish clocks from your sewing room and take all the time you need.
2. Serenity
The second sewing fairy says: You sew better when you are relaxed! Learn to forgive yourself for your sewing mistakes. That is not always easy, because it often involves a loss of material, loss of time, or other annoyances. Who hasn't experienced cutting a patterned fabric the wrong way around, so all the flowers were upside down? Honestly: Those are among the sewing mistakes that every beginner makes. And many an advanced sewer, too. Serenity here does not mean indifference. Of course you care! You went out, bought patterns, fabrics*, and accessories*, and you don't want to waste any of them. Absolutely! But: Mistakes happen. Try not to take it too tragically. If you have a messed-up piece, use what you can. Remove the zipper, cut off the buttons, and use the fabrics as test scraps for your overlock and sewing machine. Or start a completely new project with your fabric scraps. Then throw the scraps in the trash, take a deep breath, smile wisely, and carry on. Remember: Allow yourself to make mistakes and learn from them.
3. Creativity
The third sewing fairy says: Dare to try new paths Sewing like everyone else: That can be unspeakably boring in the long run. Your personality is expressed in your sewing projects, the clothes you conjure up, the bags with which you spice up your outfit, and the gifts you sew for others. You are simply not like everyone else. You are you. And you have your own special way of designing things. That should also be expressed in your sewing. Make your sewing projects into something truly individual by coming up with great fabric combinations that match your style or developing decoration ideas that emphasize your personality. And always dare to try something new. This is how you expand your skills step by step. And without any effort at all. Simply because it's fun. Quite incidentally, creativity also saves real money! For example, when you sew zipper scraps as chic loops onto your bags. Or transform T-shirts into shopping nets. Remember: Creative sewing is fun, saves money, and moves you forward!
4. New traditions
The fourth sewing fairy says: Good habits can be learned! Do you have the habit of leaving everything in a mess after sewing? Does pure chaos reign in your space? Realize this: You can start building new habits every day. Cleaning up can be really fun when you listen to your favorite song (that has been my favorite song since my last holiday in the USA ;) and whirl through the sewing room while doing it! Imagine how much energy you can start your next sewing project with if you don't have to clear the cutting table of fabric scraps, pins, and trash first! By making this cleaning a rule, you simultaneously train your creativity and feel more at home in your sewing room. Maybe you'll get a great idea for your fabric scraps? Maybe something magnificent will come to mind for your bias tape scraps? Maybe you'll also feel like rearranging everything just to make your workflow easier? Great! Make cleaning up a new tradition and enjoy it! Remember: Rituals pave the way for creativity.
5. Patience
The fifth sewing fairy says: Patience is the beautiful sister of stubbornness! Impatience has no place in sewing. It ensures that we don't exercise enough care and either have to work with the seam ripper afterward or get annoyed by crooked seams on the finished piece. Be patient enough to sew striped fabrics together correctly or to topstitch bias tape cleanly. Take the time to try out nice combinations, hold fabrics against each other to see how they harmonize, and test even unusual and new things. Patience means: Everything doesn't always have to work on the first try. Patience might also mean: First sew a muslin (toile) of something before cutting into expensive fabric. Sometimes it is much cooler to specifically visit a sewing course on a great topic than just cutting away. And have patience with yourself: As long as you are sewing, you are learning. And with every project, old skills are solidified, and new, exciting skills are added. Remember: Patience is the Zen of sewing joy.
P. S.: Recently discovered in the USA: Long, sturdy pins* with a ribbed grip made of heat-resistant plastic. It doesn't matter if I accidentally iron over them while hemming again... ;) And I find the sky blue so beautiful! :)
6. Accuracy
The sixth sewing fairy says: Accuracy is not everything - but without it, everything is nothing! Accuracy means: Sew as carefully as possible. Cut your fabrics after interfacing them. And use a ruler and rotary cutter to do it. Transfer all markings and notches from the pattern to the cut pieces. Pay attention to symmetry when sewing on decorations and zippers. And it's better to measure one time too many than one time too few. That takes the stress out of having to make corrections while sewing. A finished piece never looks as cool as you want it to when you do that! Remember: Accuracy saves stress & nerves.
7. Humor
The seventh sewing fairy says: It is twice as fun to sew with a smile! Humor is the clown among the good qualities. And at the same time, a quality that can accompany your entire sewing life like a happy humming sound. Humor means being able to laugh at yourself when you've done something incredibly stupid again. Things like sewing pant legs shut, installing zippers wrong, cutting into the fabric when trimming the seam allowance, or ironing fusible interfacing on the wrong side (But hello, says the iron!): All of that is really silly. But it is not a catastrophe. By laughing about it, you take the impact out of your failures. Because failures are only failures if you learn nothing from them. They are gifts wrapped in sandpaper. Accept them with a smile and make the best of them. Remember: The seam sewn with a smile is your friend. ;) Happy simple sewing, yours, Sabine
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