Share your Flare: Sewing

This week I decided to explore my creativity through sewing. I have enjoyed needle work since I was at school, but I’ve never been a pro or had a burning passion to do it every day. And so, I have dabbled in it every now and then leaving unfinished projects around my house. But, it’s easy to forget how easy sewing can be…in its basic form all you need is a needle, thread and material. You don’t have to be the next best designer or an artistic genius, just crack on and enjoy it. However, with the craziness of life this small hobby can be pushed aside. So I am very glad I picked up my sewing needle again this week.
After an amazing weekend with one of my closest friends, a long drive and being slightly hung over I was exhausted and didn’t fancy doing much Saturday afternoon… And when we feel a little delicate, where do we find ourselves? In front of the good-old tele. Yet, when we do finally veg out in the evening, most of us look at our phones, tablets and laptops as we watch re-runs, films and the news. So, if our attention is already diverted by Instagram, facebook & online shopping why not re-channel this habit into a creative venture? Sewing fits this perfectly!
Below are a few points I hope will help you get the buzz for a sewing project and at the end I will reveal my work and who I created it for.
Enjoy!
 
1. Keep it Simple
You don’t have to over think it, you can choose how small or big your project can be, it can be done from the sofa and it’s something you can pause if a really good scene in game of thrones pops up. I would say, if you do fancy some sewing I wouldn’t watch anything new that you really want to watch as your attention is honed in on the precision of your needle.
Some people in my life can do amazing needle work; my mum, my nan and friends in New Zealand and the UK. But, I’m not a pro, have never strived to be so and I find it very frustrating when I can’t get that complicated stitch to work in my favour. So if you are like me keep it simple. Simplicity won’t diminish your satisfaction and sense of accomplishment. All I used were three stitches: back, running and straight stitch.

2. Sharing is Caring
Surprisingly even though I know that I find sewing calming and therapeutic, I still don’t make time for it. So my main point this week is actually about creating for others. As the cliché goes, sharing is caring. Creating a gift for someone else, or even fixing someone’s favourite dress can give you the push to sit down and do the work. I guarantee once you start, you’ll be glad you did. There is also a wonderful sense of joy, showing people you love them through a piece of work that you have put your own time towards. And (this can be crucial) if your home is already full, the finished product doesn’t have to clutter up your house!

3. Follow Your Interests
Even though my main point this week is to create for others; as this can help your own creativity, I still think you should focus on a theme you enjoy. For me I love nature. This means I can generally wing a plant design with only a basic plan. For example if I want to sew a leaf, I can picture which direction the veins should go; helping with the stitches I end up using. This will help you get on with it; overthinking projects can be a hindrance and can stop you from doing the very thing you set out to complete.
This doesn’t mean you have to stick to one type of design / theme. I personally wish I could draw, sew and imitate the human form, but anatomy doesn’t interest me. And so any project based around that would be a stressful challenge and it could damage my personal satisfaction of the finished product; as it wouldn’t reflect what I was picturing in my mind.
Some of you may want a hard challenge. If so, go for it! But for me I like to sew for relaxation. So choose something you like as the stitches will flow much easier.

4. Perfection isn’t Necessary
It’s good to aim high, to have challenging goals and to strive to be the best you. But these things don’t mean perfection. Far from it. Your quirks, your failures and your annoying traits are part of you and equally important. In truth ‘perfection’ is a fallacy.
What I think is a perfect painting might be rubbish to you. The colours that give me joy, might give you a headache and my perfect dress may fit you in the wrong places. So with a spin on a known cliché I think, perfection is in the eye of the beholder. If you believe this, can perfection really be reached…? I think not. Particularly as we keep improving in our lives, our goals get bigger and bigger, making our view of perfection always a step away, even if you take a leap forward. Don’t box yourself into this cage that doesn’t really exist. It isn’t necessary or healthy to give yourself impossible standards.
Also don’t judge yourself. Your spice is what makes you, you and is what makes your work unique and interesting. So what if that stitch isn’t the same length or is slightly mis- placed. Feel proud that you created art from a simple reel of thread. Feel proud of being you. Feel proud of your creative spice. The chance of being born is 1 in 400 trillion… This makes us all miracles, so own it! 

Key Points:

• Keep it simple
• Start small if you have lots of unfinished projects (like me)
• Create what you like; it’ll give you a better eye for detail
• Create for family & friends; spread your creative joy
• Remember it doesn’t have to be perfect, the point is to have fun

Thank you for reading, I hope I have inspired you.

If you’re interested see my sewing creation from this week below.
This is for you mum!
(Sorry dad I haven’t mastered a motorbike just yet)