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On this episode of Seamwork Radio, Sarai and Haley tackle a challenge that resonates with sewists everywhere: how to maintain a sewing practice when life gets hectic. With practical strategies for making progress even during busy periods, they share insights on setting up your space for quick sessions and staying motivated when you can only sew in small increments.
The Reality of Fitting Creativity Into a Busy Life
Most sewists have experienced fluctuating periods of creative activity—sometimes enjoying abundant sewing time, and other times barely touching their machines for months. What Sarai has discovered through these ebbs and flows is profound: successful sewing isn't actually about having large blocks of free time—it's about your approach to your creative practice.
When life gets busy, creative activities are often the first things we push aside. We tell ourselves, "I'll sew when things calm down," but as Sarai points out, when does life ever truly calm down? There's always something demanding our attention.
The trap many sewists fall into is waiting for the "perfect time" to sew, which often results in not sewing at all. By postponing creativity until some mythical calm period arrives, we miss out on something that brings joy and helps us process life's challenges.
Sarai admits she used to think she needed at least 3-4 hours to make meaningful progress on a project. Over time, however, she's completely transformed her approach, learning to work with the time she has, not the time she wishes she had.
7 Practical Strategies for Sewing in a Busy Life
1. Break Down Projects into Manageable Steps
One of the biggest barriers to sewing when busy is viewing a project as one massive undertaking. Instead, try breaking it down into a series of small, achievable tasks.
For example, a button-up shirt could be broken down into distinct steps: cutting fabric, sewing the collar, constructing the yoke, attaching sleeves, sewing side seams, adding buttonholes, and so on.
Writing these steps down as a checklist creates a roadmap for your project and provides the satisfaction of checking items off, even if it's just one small step at a time. Think of it like reading a book—you wouldn't expect to read an entire novel in one sitting, but a chapter at a time is perfectly doable.
This approach transforms an overwhelming project into a series of manageable tasks that can fit into even the busiest schedule.
2. Embrace Sewing in Small Chunks
Many sewists believe they need hours of uninterrupted time to make real progress, but Haley challenges this assumption. You can accomplish meaningful work in just 15-20 minutes—perhaps cutting pattern pieces, sewing one seam, or marking buttonholes.
These small chunks of sewing time accumulate over days and weeks, eventually resulting in a finished garment. It's similar to a savings account—small, regular deposits still grow into something substantial over time.
A practical tip is keeping a list by your sewing machine of "quick tasks" you can complete in 20 minutes or less. This allows you to immediately know what to work on when you find a small window of time in your day.
3. Release Yourself from Deadlines
Unless you absolutely need a garment by a specific date, try not to impose strict deadlines on your sewing projects. When sewing feels like another obligation with a ticking clock, it transforms from a relaxing creative outlet into another source of stress.
Giving yourself permission to sew at whatever pace works for your current life circumstances can be liberating. Sarai notes that when she removes that pressure, she actually ends up sewing more because it feels like a treat rather than a task.
It's comparable to the difference between having to exercise versus getting to exercise—one feels like an obligation, while the other feels like a gift to yourself.
4. Include Quick and Satisfying Projects
When time is limited, incorporating some projects that can be completed quickly provides motivation and satisfaction, especially when larger projects are progressing slowly.
Haley recommends simple projects like cloth napkins, zippered pouches, scrunchies, or tote bags. She recently made reusable cotton rounds for removing makeup—a project that took less than an hour but provides daily utility.
Simple knit tops are another option; with a serger, you can create a basic t-shirt in about an hour.
These "quick wins" maintain momentum in your sewing practice and provide the satisfaction of completion that might be delayed with more complex projects.
5. Motivate Yourself with Fabric You Love
When time is limited, ensure you're working with fabrics that genuinely excite you. There's nothing more demotivating than using your precious sewing time on fabric that doesn't inspire enthusiasm.
Sarai finds that when she's truly excited about a fabric, she's much more likely to make time for sewing, even if it's just 15 minutes before bed. It's similar to meal planning with foods you love—you're far more likely to cook at home if the ingredients excite you.
An important reminder: don't save your "special" fabrics for some future time when you might have more time or skill. Use them now as motivation to keep your sewing practice active!
6. Set Up Your Sewing Space for Easy Access
One of the biggest time-wasters in a busy sewist's life is setting up and putting away your sewing space for each session. If possible, create a dedicated space where your machine can remain set up and ready.
Even if it's just a corner of a room or a small folding table, having a space that's ready to go means you can utilize those small pockets of time more efficiently.
If you must put everything away between sessions, try keeping your current project organized in a bin that you can quickly access. Haley uses clear plastic bins to easily see what's inside at a glance.
This approach is similar to mise en place in cooking—having everything prepped and ready means you can jump right in when you have a moment without wasting precious time on setup.
7. Create a Home for In-Progress Work
If you can't leave your sewing out permanently, having a designated spot for in-progress projects becomes crucial. This could be a special basket, a drawer, or even a garment bag hanging in your closet.
The key is having everything for your current project in one place—the cut fabric, thread, pattern pieces, and any necessary notions. Sarai uses a large market basket that she can grab whenever she finds a bit of time to sew.
Think of it as a knitting project bag—something portable that keeps everything contained and organized. This system also helps resist the temptation to start too many projects simultaneously, as you can visually see what's already in progress.
Making Peace with Your Sewing Reality
Perhaps the most important insight from this episode is making peace with your current sewing reality. Rather than lamenting the lack of lengthy sewing retreats or uninterrupted weekends, embrace the sewing practice that fits your life right now.
By breaking down projects, embracing small chunks of time, releasing yourself from self-imposed deadlines, including quick projects, working with inspiring materials, setting up for efficiency, and organizing works-in-progress, you can maintain a fulfilling sewing practice even during the busiest seasons of life.
The key is shifting your mindset from "I don't have enough time to sew" to "How can I make the most of the time I do have?" This perspective transforms sewing from an all-or-nothing activity into a flexible practice that adapts to your life's rhythms.
Remember that even 15 minutes of sewing is better than no sewing at all—and those minutes add up to finished projects that bring satisfaction and joy, regardless of how gradually they come together.
Links Mentioned in This Episode
- Seamwork members get discounts at indie fabric stores
