Monday 30 May 2011

A day in Eugenia's sewing space ....

Ok , I’m ready to sew. This top shouldn’t take long to make.

Quick look at the instructions and get the sewing machine threaded. Now where is that thread.....

Right, sewing machine threaded. Oh, I need to re-thread the serger too. I’ll just find that thread ...

That's done. I really am ready to sew now. Oooh, before I start, let's just check the blogosphere, see who's doing what …..

Ok, here we go. First stabilise the shoulder seams. Where did I put that vilene bias tape?

Shoulders stabilised. Maybe I'll just pop downstairs to have a cup of coffee and a couple of chocolate cookies to keep my strength up ….

Now where was I? Right, sew shoulder seams. Now for the neck binding. Oooh didn't I read a very good article about neck bindings in Threads Magazine? I'll just look for that magazine ….

Well that was interesting. But I think I'll just do it like the pattern says. Oh, I'm hungry. Must be lunchtime….

Right, let's have another look at the blogosphere, just to see what's new, and I need to check my e-mails. Oooh, look Gorgeous Fabrics is having a flash sale, just a quick browse …

Mmmm 8 yards of gorgeous fabric is going to be with me very soon. Better get this top done, make room for the new fabric. Right neck binding on. Oh, that's the phone. "Hi Mum. No, of course I can chat”


Where was I? Perhaps a cup of coffee and some more chocolate cookies will help me focus on this. Oh and isn’t there an episode of Murder She Wrote on tv around now?


Attach the sleeves to the body. Excellent. Oooh just remembered I meant to put a load of washing in the machine ....

Oh, there's my Burda magazine. I'll just take a look at that pattern I was thinking of making, maybe I'll have another chocolate cookie while I'm at it …

Right. Let's get serious about this sewing. Sew side seams, try it on, things are going really well. I'll just glance at the blogosphere and, while I’m at it, maybe I’ll have a look at the new Butterick patterns that have just come in ….

Sew hem. Phew, we're done. Wow, time to prepare dinner already? What! That simple t-shirt took me the whole day?

Does this sort of day sound familiar to you? Or are you awesomely organised, super-speedy and perfectly focussed when it comes to sewing? Can you finish a one hour top in 59 minutes flat? I'd love to know ...

61 comments:

  1. Eugenia - Genius! Really very very good post! I have now reorganized my home to set up a small (but hopefully effective) sewing room (so I can keep my machines out! Your scenario is definitely one scenario that has been holding my production levels low.

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  2. Eugenia, please stop spying on me! Hilarious. and my day almost exactly, down to the cookie breaks. The only time I seem to finish anything fast is when there is a deadline looming.
    great post.

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  3. Were you spying at my house yesterday? It sure sounds like it! Very funny post, and so very accurate! In theory, I can sew a top in an hour--but it rarely happens (those blasted chocolate cookies!). ~ Peggy ttp://peggyscloset.blogspot.com/

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  4. Exactly.

    I have to forbid myself to look at the computer if I want to finish something.

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  5. Heap sounds like me sewing on a Saturday too just substitute potato chips and mountain dew. Dontcha wonder how we ever get anything completed!

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  6. LOL add in looking after a 8 month old baby, taking my 4 year old to Pre-school and you have my day ...No wonder I sew at snails pace. I start back at work this week too ...booooo!!

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  7. Lol, just change the cookies for chocolate, and there's walking Daisy to add in and then some browsing on Etsy and Ebay for patterns. Now, must go and finish the second bound button hole facing and then pop the lining into my jacket. Hhhmmmm wonder if I'll finish it today?

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  8. So funny! Isn't that how it is?

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  9. I just had to laugh because that is so me!!! But it's comforting to know that I am not alone and I'm in good company in the sewing sisterhood!!

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  10. For the last six months, my sewing has gone like this:
    Great - that shirt only needs buttons and buttonholes, and it's done!
    Here's my great new sewing room - have to put away the stuff in the drawers so I can see my counter...
    Can't put it away until I move those shelves...
    Can't move those shelves until I move those books...
    I should really get rid of half of those books...
    Maybe I'll sew tomorrow...


    Great post!!

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  11. It's good to know that I'm not alone with a "typical sewing day"! My biggest distration is reading blogs, tea, any sewing book / magazine that catches my eye in the sewing room, more tea or anything readable that comes through the letterbox.

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  12. I got a chuckle out of this post. Usually I'm so organized and focused, but lately my sewing has been exactly as you described. Hmmm...time to get back on track.

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  13. That made me laugh a lot. Love the photo of the woman on the phone. How did she get her waist so TINY!

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  14. No. Can't get one done in 59 minutes. Um, I'm a VERY SLOW sewist because I'm very very precise. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

    P.S. Can we get those delicious looking cookies in the U.S.?

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  15. Normally I am pretty organized when I'm sewing and let nothing distract me...however lately, I just can't get focused for some reason!! I've made and tossed out two tops already because of STUPID mistakes, all because I was distracted!!

    This is really costly for me and I don't like it! I'm with Mushywear...time to get back on track! Great post Eugenia!

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  16. Lol. You are so funny. I like sewing from start to finish uninterrupted, so I really don't get distracted when I set my mind to it. That said, I have been known to stop many projects because I did not plan well in the first place. I've stopped many times because I don't have lining, or the right zip, or sometimes the right thread.

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  17. Oh that's so funny! That's totally me - but with more interrupts from the kids than the chocolate biscuits! I do feel much better reading this, I thought I was the slowest sewist ever (and I probably still am - but at least I'm not the only one!) Cheers! :)

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  18. So funny!! I can totally identify with this - I'm always thinking about other things I want to sew and get distracted by inspiration from other people's fabulous projects! Glad to know I'm not alone!
    Oh and please can you send me some of those delicious looking cookies?

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  19. I think there were peels of giggles from sewists all over the world recognising themselves in your day. I do all these things, and I have school runs and kid supervision thrown into the mix. It's amazing I ever sew anything at all! Good to know I am not the only. Can't wait to see your haul from Gorgeous fabrics.

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  20. You mean that's all the interruptions you had? You're lucky, my lil' one helps double that! LOL! Jokes aside, I know exactly what I mean. I agree with MMO, it's nice to be in good company:)

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  21. Sounds like my sewing time, too.

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  22. I had one of those days yesterday trying to finish a client's report so I can return to the machine. Cookies, coffees, looking at blogger, any little distraction one me over.

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  23. You sure you weren't writing about me? I often look back on a sewing day and wonder where the time went.

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  24. That sounds like so much fun!! I wish! With three kids to chase, I make the absolute most of every sewing moment I can squeeze out of my day. One hour top? - 30 minutes. Has. To. Happen.

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  25. lol... Oh yeah, I can completely relate; however, I would add in a few "dang its" and "shoots" (or the less PG versions of those words) for the mistakes I make throughout the process. :) And don't forget the medical aid breaks when you have to care for an iron burn or pin stab.

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  26. And I was so sure that I was the only one who "multi-tasked" while sewing.

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  27. Wow! I thought I was having a de ja vous moment then. Seriously, that sounds so much like me it isn't funny. I really must get myself more organized. It would be so much more productive. At least you did finish your top.

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  28. And I thought it was just me that did things like that!

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  29. I love love this post! Thanks for giving us a view into your world!

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  30. Eugenia, I love your blog, but this post gave me a chuckle. Oh my, I thought you were describing me in part of your day. There is no way I could finish an hour tee-shirt in 59 minutes... making coffee, oh cold coffee, making new coffee... squirrel!... making more coffee. How do those contestants make whole outfits in a day on those shows like Project Runway? It is just not reality! Thanks for your post, very much enjoyed it.

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  31. Haha!! One of the worst things I've ever done is move my computer into the sewing room. I thought I'd watch videos or listen to books while I sew. No. I sit here and read blogs!

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  32. Ha ha ha ha ha! Murder She Wrote gets me every time!!!

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  33. You too? Thank you for your very funny post.

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  34. LOL!! Guess I'm not the only one with ADD! Though my one hour tops tend to take weeks! Thanks for your kind comment on my blog.

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  35. LOL. Found you through mushywear--so funny! I know what you mean.
    And any top that claims to be "1 hour", yeah, I'll make it into 3--and that's straight sewing time!

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  36. I feel so much better that it's not just me. I love sewing, I really do, but I get so distracted sometimes that the day (sometimes the week) disappears without doing anything. As evidenced by my patchy blog.....

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  37. What a funny post! I only WISH I had your distractions. Mine are usually "He took my toy!" or me saying for the thousandth time "PLEASE be quiet, your sister is sleeping" or "I'm hungry, when is lunch?" and on and on. Rarely I do get a day mostly to myself to sew and yes, I am totally distractable. I don't know how people can sew for hours on end and not take breaks. It's much to tedious for me.

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  38. HAHAHA!!!!! That is so how it is. I have a love hate with the blogoshpere, I feel like it distracts me from sewing, but also motivates me to sew.

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  39. So funny -- and true. Obviously, there are tons of us just like you. We should all get together one day and get absolutely nothing done!

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  40. Ha, that's pretty much me. Sometimes I can focus, but there are always snack and email breaks!

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  41. Wow! You must confess! You've been spying on me! I had a hilarious time with this post and I must confess that my day is a bit more complicated than this, but basically you described the day of all sewers. Great post! Thanks for making me feel good and share regrets.

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  42. Very funny!
    Although from reading some of these comments I wonder if I'm the only one who is the "obsessively sews a project and doesn't notice anything else going on at all" type? Including that dinner needs to be made etc? Actually, especially that dinner needs to be made!
    Thank you for your kind comment on my blog.

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  43. So funny. Thanks for the post. I kept procrastinating on making a top one time. I kept putting it off and putting it off, all the time it was nagging at me to get it made. Did I ever feel silly when I finally sat down to make it, it took less than one hour. I spent more time complaining about it than it took to sew. Hmmmm, maybe I just needed cookies.

    J Lynn

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  44. Ha. Hilarious. This is why it took me 2 hours to finish a bodice muslin today. Ugh.

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  45. Loved the story. Sounds like my story most nights!

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  46. Yup! Sounds familiar. I still love "Murder She Wrote".

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  47. Too funny! I have to admit that when I do have time to sew on the weekends I'm pretty focused and have the opposite problem - I lose track of time until I suddenly realize that I should have cleaned the house, did the laundry, cooked dinner, washed the dishes...well you get the picture.

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