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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
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From: MaryW
Date: 01-15-2007, 11:56 AM (1 of 17)
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How do you make time to sew? What are your tips for making your valuable time count in the sewing room. I will post these and everyone will receive credit for their best ideas. My tip is get firm. Be very specific with everyone that you are sewing and not to be disturbed. Even if it is only 10 minutes. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: lendube
Date: 01-15-2007, 12:16 PM (2 of 17)
For me it's not hard since we're an empty nest and I'm usually only interrupted by animals needing to be let in or out, or fed, or loved.  I do absolutely try my best to always do the "have-to's" before I settle down and sew. I get laundry started, kitchen cleaned up, bathrooms spruced up, etc. That way I don't have those daily chores nagging me in the back of my brain. Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: Kaitlinnegan
Date: 01-15-2007, 12:31 PM (3 of 17)
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I'm lucky enough to have my own sewing room, and I find it helps a lot to have everything within arms reach -- notions, cutting implements, ironing board, etc. Even if you just have a small space for sewing, having a sewing basket to keep all of the essential supplies nearby helps a lot, and taking a minute to set up the area before you start can save some time searching for things later on. I really hate pressing, but I find that when my ironing board is nearby with my iron plugged in and ready to go, it doesn't seem so bad. Now I should really take my own advice. I'm always searching for my scissors or seam ripper in the middle of a project! 
http://www.sew-whats-up.com - the new home for Sew What's New
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User: Kaitlinnegan
Member since: 03-20-2006 Total posts: 222 
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From: paroper
Date: 01-15-2007, 12:58 PM (4 of 17)
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I do best if I am organized before I start. I clean the area of mess (sometimes a challenge) because messes cause accidents and frusteration (at least for me). I also seem to do better if I do everything logically. If I am cutting for several people with several patterns, I number the pattern pieces I will need on a piece of paper along with all alterations that I will be making. I always lay large pieces first and as I go, I make stacks of each individual's pattern pieces and keep them together, checking them off as I go. I do all of my cutting first. I hate to cut and alter so getting that out of the way is a biggie for me. When making garments that are similar for several people, I then assemble each section as I go and put everything back in its stack. I'll interface, sew and serge the facings first because I usually put names or initials in the back of garments made for a group to help me keep them together. When I am through with a project, I then clean the area again so that it isn't so time consuming when I start the next project. I keep a wooden quilt rack in my sewing area. When doing satins and other fabric that I don't like to press (much), I lay the fabric over the quilt rack to keep them straight. I also tell anyone bringing satins and fabric that wrinkle badly to me to ask the store to bolt them. It just keeps down the wrinkles (and pressing) and makes it easier to lay and cut. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 01-15-2007, 01:15 PM (5 of 17)
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With my sewing room and my work space in the same room sometimes my problem is NOT wondering over to the sewing half. When I worked in the office I would do at least a seam a day before I left for work. I'm lucky. My work schedule can be demanding but it is usually pretty flexible. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 01-15-2007, 06:29 PM (6 of 17)
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I try to get all the equipment together before I sit down to sew.. I make sure the iron is plugged in and the mini ironing board is clear and ready to use.. In my younger days I skipped the 'pressing as you go ' a lot.. But , no more.. My garments look very professional now when I finish them, and its because I press as I go now, as I should have done years ago.. I try to do all my prep before I go to the machine.. (cannot sit too long at the time, there) For instance, if I am setting sleeves in, I do that before I go to the machine.. Then when I sit down, I am ready to sew.. Sometimes I do all the prep at night while watching TV, and get a lot of small jobs out of the way, then my actual sewing time seems more productive..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 01-15-2007, 08:13 PM (7 of 17)
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My tip is get firm. Be very specific with everyone that you are sewing and not to be disturbed. Even if it is only 10 minutes. Now there's a difference between you and me, Mary! When I read your question, the first thought I had was, "Make threats." As my little one would say, "You call it what you call it, and I call it what I call it." Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: Bama
Date: 01-15-2007, 08:25 PM (8 of 17)
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Use the crockpot to make dinner!! I had a day off work today for MLK Day so I put dinner in the crockpot so I would have more time to work on my red & white blocks today. |
User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000 Total posts: 2116 
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From: esrun3
Date: 01-15-2007, 11:45 PM (9 of 17)
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Usually I do marathon cutting days, then I have multiple projects to sew and I find it's easier to find time to sew if everything is cut out and ready to go. Most often I come home from work and sew for an hour or so before dinner. I'm finding it difficult to sew on the weekends and of course if the kids need help or whatever it cuts into my sewing time but I find that I put it off if I'm at a point where I have to cut a bunch of stuff out. So....cutting marathons work for me - that way I feel I can sew. Also, like Lennie, I tend to get the "have to's" out of the way first, laundry, housework, etc. Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: PaulineG
Date: 01-16-2007, 12:22 AM (10 of 17)
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I will often "reward" myself with sewing time once I've got the "have tos" out of the way. Sometimes I don't end up with enough time left to do anything much by then but I'm one step closer for the next day.
Pauline
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User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: Magot
Date: 01-16-2007, 12:39 AM (11 of 17)
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I get rid of everybody - I sew when I have a "me-day" or Tony is out for the evening or working in the office for a couple of hours. I need a block of time to sew - if I only have 1/2 hour in front of the tele then I am knitting. If I don't have a block of time by the time I have got everything arranged it is time to pack up again..we are planning to move to a smaller house and we looked at one at the weekend that had NO CUPBOARDS. What is the point in building a nerw house with NO CUPBOARDS! Let alone the smallest bedroom wasn't big enough to put a bed in - where the £^$£^ do I put my sewing machines let alone the computers???
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: Sancin
Date: 01-16-2007, 05:30 AM (12 of 17)
I must admit that those 'must do' things seem to take longer than planned most everyday and many days I don't actually do any sewing. Not that I am particularly thorough or fussy, I just seem to have slowed down so much. I live alone and don't really have to do any of it, but I keep envisioning those old ladies who are found dead amongst stacks of clutter in their house.  I have a separate sewing room that is well equipped and organized. Actually it's my little dog's room! One way I find in organizing projects in my sewing room is by using wicker baskets with handles. I quilt and sew so I have will have a basket with quilt 'works in progress' and have a basket with sewing 'works in progress'. I will not allow myself to have more than 2 projects in each basket. I will move from basket to basket if I use the same thread in each project or if I have pressing to do. The baskets stack well and being open I can clearly see what is in them. Everything for the project goes in the basket along with any notes I have made to myself, or magazine clipping that I may want to refer to. I have room on my sewing table to keep the basket containing what I am working on. And I keep, beside my sewing machine, a small shopping list notepad as I sew. I rarely ever run out of things. If I had to go out to shop for forgotten items I would never get back to that day's sewing. I have a little basket, ~ 6" in diameter and 2" high that I wrapped and glued a fibre filled tube around the edge. I keep my most used and daily implements in the basket - seam rippers, awl, needle threader, current project threads, thread clippers or scissors. I keep this beside the sewing machine or take it to another room to work on the chesterfield. I check the contents of the basket before I start my day and before I move. I really don't have to have this basket as my sewing table has lots of well organized drawers, but just reaching seems more productive and I have done this for many years. It is small enough to hold what I need but not so big that it is in the way. Like Leap Frog Libby, in the evening I will organize things in preparation for next day, clipping seams, basting, marking, etc. I have an elevated TV in my sewing room and keep it tuned to the same channel as in my great room so I don't get distracted by something new as I move from room to room. Not that there is usually anything worth watching. I have about 300 Video tapes taped which I don't even seem to watch. Esrun - I used to do marathon cutting (because I hate it) but have started to limit myself to 2 garments only. I don't know about you, but I seem to have lots of fabric, especially seasonal, cut out and not even started before it is time to start sewing another season. Then I find I have changed shape and size in the interim. I was very surprised not long ago to come across a silk skirt with pins rusted into the fabric, in a box I had misplaced in another room, years ago. I have come to the conclusion I should not cut anything out unless I am positive I will complete it within a month as I would rather give away whole pieces than cut fabric.  BUT I did plan this in the fall then had an accident and I am now pulling things out and wondering if I will get them made this year. Sigh
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 01-16-2007, 07:55 AM (13 of 17)
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If you can believe this -- I only work on one thing at a time. I learned a long time ago that multiple projects just end in multiple unfinished projects (for me). And if I'm only working on one thing I don't worry about picking it up and getting it out. I just clean my machines and organize between projects. And now that I have a door to my sewing room I can even leave fabric on the table laid out to be cut because I can just close the door and keep the cat out. She drives me nuts shedding on clothes that aren't even made yet!! Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: JustSewCrafty
Date: 01-16-2007, 12:49 PM (14 of 17)
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I used to squeeze my sewing time in whenever I could, between this and that, but I never really had enough time to work on what I needed too.... So starting this week, we decided that Tuesdays and Thursdays were good nights for me to sew and and for DH to do his thing. That way, I have 2 full nights a week for sewing and then any other time I squeeze in (like last night when we were watching a movie, I was sewing Yo-Yo's...) is just extra. I think it will work out good for us as we both have hobbys that require attention. May your bobbin always be full-
Stephanie www.chasingthreads.blogspot.com "Sewing is the new black" |
User: JustSewCrafty
Member since: 10-04-2006 Total posts: 168 |
From: Shellymoon
Date: 01-17-2007, 10:21 PM (15 of 17)
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I have designated Sunday afternoon as sewing room time. And, unlike some of the others on here, I do let other things around the house go so that I can sew. That means sometimes dishes don't get done right away or I have to fold a load of laundry on Monday. It's so worth it. It also gives me some sewing time that includes daylight. Older I get, the harder it is to see in the dark--no matter how many lights are on in the sewing room... Shelly Moon
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User: Shellymoon
Member since: 05-27-2001 Total posts: 240 |
From: toadusew
Date: 01-18-2007, 08:26 AM (16 of 17)
I'm not very good at getting the "have to" stuff done, although sometimes I kind of play a game with myself and do the not so fun stuff and then reward myself with sewing time.  I'd rather sew and most of the time, I just go sew, no matter what else needs to be done around the house. My current sewing room is fairly dark so it's hard to see to sew at night, so I do all my sewing during the daylight hours.
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User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005 Total posts: 369 |
From: material_pakrat
Date: 01-18-2007, 10:51 AM (17 of 17)
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I got a bit cheeky about how I managed my time for sewing. When I was working my 8 - 5 job as a mining engineer, everyone helped around the house, and I managed to get some sewing time in. But when I quit that job I was never allowed any time to sew. I was stay at home mum, and on duty 24/7. So I registered as a small business, and put my foot down. It has taken me about a year of explaining to the family that it IS a business to convince them all I need sewing time. The only catch with it is that I have to occasionally take time from personal sewing to make some dolls for ebay, or do some "grrrrrr type" fiddly sewing jobs for the local mine rescue team. But as long as there is money coming in occasionally, I am able to justify my sewing time. The family is also finally realising that:- Sewing Mum = Happier more helpful Mum when they want something 
Cheers, Soph.
I'm happiest when I am sewing! |
User: material_pakrat
Member since: 12-13-2006 Total posts: 220 |
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