Today’s prompt for #SewPhotoHop is Why I Sew and it’s been something I’ve been reflecting on all weekend. There are so many reasons why people sew – and all of them are different depending on the person. Today’s post is a little different than the normal #MeMadeMonday — I wanted to share 5 reasons why I sew and would love to hear why you sew — either on Instagram today as part of #SewPhotoHop or in the comments below!
It is a creative outlet from my full time job
I work as an accountant at a public accounting firm and spend most of my days in front of the computer. Sewing has provided me with an evening and weekend activity that takes me away from the computer screen and sitting in front of the television. Prior to picking up sewing (and knitting) I would spend many hours after work just sitting on my phone or computer which did not help me unwind from work. Sewing has been a blessing in being a creative outlet from my full time job.
Jessamy, Emily and Me at Stitch Sew Shop
It is am an amazing supportive community
Since starting sewing I’ve met so many wonderful people – both through Instagram and through my local sewing shop, Stitch Sew Shop. To say this is a supportive community is SUCH an understatement – every single person I’ve met has been a cheerleader on my sewing journey. I hope that I can be the same to all of you! We learn from one another and each and everyone of you are such an inspiration.
Size: Me
One of my favorite things about sewing is that you sew “Size: Me” clothing. While patterns do have number sizes I don’t even think about them. I look at my measurements and sew up that size. Before sewing I labeled myself by the size I was at J.Crew. Now, I don’t even think about the size I make. In ready to wear clothes, you hear people say that doesn’t fit me because of X or Y – in sewing, we have all sorts of adjustments that we make to make those clothes fit us, as we are, just perfectly.
I can make whatever clothing item in whatever fabric whenever I want!
I talked about this in my lessons I learned in my first year of sewing and this is my favorite. Sewing allows you to make whatever pattern you want in whatever color you want in whatever size you want whenever you want. No more being beholden to seasonal trends (and how apparently it’s time to stock fall and winter clothes in mid-July) or being beholden to whatever a store has in stock. I’m heading to Hawaii in November and I love that in October I can sew up warm weather patterns where in stores, there will be no warm weather clothes!
It brings me joy
Isn’t that what it’s all about anyways? Sewing makes me happy. Finishing projects makes me happy. Wearing something I made makes me happy.
Why do you sew? What us your favorite aspect of sewing?
For all the reasons you list of course but what I would add is that at 62 (just about to turn 63!) it a good “brain gym”. They say an aging brain, to stay sharp, should work on puzzles…well sewing is one BIG PUZZLE from start to finish! After sewing for about a year I actually noticed the difference. I was feeling more familiar to myself which may sound a little strange but I’d always possessed an exceptionally acute memory and could always multitask with the best of them 🙂 but I noticed in my later 50’s that this acuteness was dulling – I was forgetting things I never would have in the past and I would feel stressed more as I struggled to mult-task as I was able to do before. Although not quite as sharp as I was at 30 I have certainly noticed a significant improvement My memory is sharper and multitasking is not as stressful. Keeping our brains in fully functioning order is as important as our bodies as we age – maybe even more so. You don’t want to lose your brain power! A huge thank you to sewing for that. It’s brought me home to myself once again and I couldn’t be more grateful.