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In this episode of Seamwork Radio, Sarai and Haley explore how to set sewing goals that genuinely reflect your values and who you are. With the constant influx of new patterns, fabrics, and social media inspiration, it's easy for sewing to become just another form of consumption. This guide offers a thoughtful approach to reconnecting with why you sew and creating projects that truly align with your life.
When Sewing Becomes Another Form of Consumption
Many sewists experience a disconnect between their sewing practice and their values at some point. The signs might be familiar: a stash of beautiful fabrics that never get used, patterns purchased on impulse that don't match your lifestyle, or projects that turn out beautifully but rarely get worn.
Sarai shares her own experience of realizing she had collected fabrics and patterns simply because they were pretty or on sale, without considering how they connected to her life or values. This awareness led her to develop a more intentional approach to choosing sewing projects.
Social media can amplify this disconnect, constantly exposing us to new trends, techniques, and "must-have" patterns that may not actually serve our personal sewing journey. The challenge becomes staying true to your own sewing values while still being part of the community.
A 5-Step Process for Value-Based Sewing Goals
1. Remember Why You Started Sewing
Our initial motivation for learning to sew often holds important clues about what matters most to us in our creative practice. Take some time to reflect on what first drew you to sewing.
For Haley, it was the inability to find clothing that fit her curvy body while still matching her personal style. Other common starting points include:
- Wanting better-fitting clothes
- Expressing creativity
- Making things unavailable in stores
- Following a family tradition
- Learning a practical skill
Reconnecting with this original spark can be energizing and help clarify your current goals.
2. Explore How Your Reasons Have Evolved
Our relationship with sewing naturally changes over time, and recognizing this evolution can help align your current practice with your values.
Sarai shared that while she initially sewed to create unique clothes expressing her personal style, she later discovered the meditative benefits of making things with her hands and disconnecting from screens.
Your reasons for sewing today might include:
- Sustainability and reducing consumption
- The joy of the creative process itself
- Community connections with other sewists
- Building a wardrobe that works for your life
- The satisfaction of mastering difficult techniques
For Haley, sewing has evolved into a way to connect with her creativity and develop her personal creative perspective.
3. Create an Overarching Goal for Your Sewing Practice
Once you understand why you sew, create a mission statement for your sewing practice. This becomes your North Star, guiding decisions and helping you stay focused when temptations arise.
Your mission might be as simple as "I sew to create a sustainable wardrobe that fits my body and makes me feel confident" or "I sew to express my creativity and disconnect from my analytical day job."
Writing this mission statement down and displaying it in your sewing space serves as a visual reminder of your purpose. When considering a new project, you can quickly assess whether it aligns with your overall sewing mission.
4. Develop Criteria for Choosing New Projects
This practical step involves creating specific criteria to evaluate potential projects. Based on your sewing mission, what should a project meet before you commit to it?
Sarai recommends making an actual checklist with questions like:
- Does this fit my actual lifestyle, not just my fantasy lifestyle?
- Will I wear this at least 30 times?
- Do I already have the skills to make this, or am I excited to learn the new skills it requires?
- Does this work with other items in my wardrobe?
- Do I have a specific occasion or need for this item?
Haley shared her "rule of 3 outfits" - ensuring any new garment can be styled at least three different ways with existing items in her wardrobe.
You can decide how many criteria a project needs to meet - perhaps three out of five is sufficient, or maybe you want projects to meet all your criteria. The goal is intentional rather than impulsive decision-making.
5. Identify What's "Not For You" in Your Sewing Practice
Sometimes knowing what you don't want to make is just as important as knowing what you do want to make. This isn't about judging others' sewing choices - it's about being honest about what works for you.
Haley shared items on her current "not for me" list, including jeans, bras, special occasion wear, garments that require a strapless bra, and projects that might need more than one muslin.
Your "not for me" list might include:
- Styles that don't work for your body or lifestyle
- Fabrics requiring special care you're unwilling to provide
- Purely trend-driven projects with no staying power
- Techniques that cause more frustration than joy
This list gives you permission to admire certain projects without feeling obligated to make them yourself, reducing the guilt that can come from social media comparisons.
Reconnecting with Your Sewing Values
Setting meaningful sewing goals isn't about restriction—it's about freedom. When your sewing practice aligns with your values, you're more likely to create garments you'll actually wear and enjoy the process more deeply.
By remembering why you started sewing, recognizing how your motivations have evolved, creating a mission statement, developing project criteria, and identifying what's not for you, you create a framework for intentional making.
The result? Less fabric sitting unused in your stash, fewer "beautiful but unworn" garments in your closet, and a more fulfilling creative practice that truly reflects who you are and the life you want to live.
