Sewer’s Block

Is there such thing as sewer’s block? Like writer’s block except it’s the temporary inability to compose with fabric instead of words.

Lately, I have found myself avoiding my sewing machine. Instead, I have found myself cleaning the house more, or reading more, or cooking more but not sewing. Am I experiencing a creative block? (That sounds better than, “Am I being lazy?” or “What’s my problem?”) If it is an artistic desert I’m in then would exercises designed for authors to use for writer’s block work for sewers to get over sewer’s block? I had to know because any justification I could find for this pause in sewing, I needed.  I Googled “writer’s block” to find some tips.

Apparently there are many reasons for creative blockage for a writer. It shouldn’t be feared, just broken down and dealt with according to Charlie Jane Anders in a post she wrote on io9.com titled 10 Types of Writer’s Block and How to Over Come Them.

Maybe she knows what she’s talking about and maybe the same is true for sewers. Here are Anders 10 types of writer’s block (in bold) and how I translated them to pertain to sewer’s block:

1. You can’t come up with an idea.

Really? This is never my problem. Apparently if it is a problem just get into your fabric stash or box of patterns and rummage through it. You’re bound to remember about a project idea you had or get inspired to start a new one. You could attack that mending pile. Using your sewing muscles will certainly kick start a few project ideas (and if doesn’t, you got some mending done. That’s a win win.)

2. You have a ton of ideas but can’t commit to any of them, and they all peter out.

I agree, as a sewer I do have a ton of ideas but it’s committing to one that’s hard. I have to decide is the idea worth the time to make a pattern and purchase fabric and the time to sew it? If it’s a quick project and I already own the fabric chances are greater that I commit. A smaller commitment is a smaller risk on time and money invested.

It’s good to write or sketch down all our ideas though. What is dumb or over my head/ skills today maybe worth revisiting in a year or more.

3. You have an outline but you can’t get through this one part of it.

For sewing I translate this to mean you have a pattern but you still can’t get through the project. Is it that your pattern is flawed? They didn’t true the pieces or they left out a few steps? Check the paper pieces for fit and get a basic reference book or google it for clearer instructions. If you know someone who sews ask them. Most sewers love to talk about their passion.

4. You’re stuck in the middle and have no idea what happens next.

Kind of like a missing or unclear step in the instructions. Again, google it, look it up in a book, or ask a someone you know who sews. Most sewers love talking about their passion.

5. You have a terrible feeling your story took a wrong turn a hundred pages back, and you only just hit a dead end.

A hundred pages back or a thousand stitches and snipped seam allowances back? As with writing this is the worst. You were pretty confident as your project started but now you realized you cut the pattern pieces out without considering the fabric has a nap to it. This, and other like mishaps, sucks. (More on swearing while you sew in a future post).

See if you can take out a few seams or all the seams and salvage the project. However you may have to admit the project is “brunt toast” and just stop and save what fabric you can for a future project. Chalk this one up to “Lessons Learned”

6. You’re bored with all these characters, they won’t do anything.
You thought this bag or skirt or fill in the blank was going to be so amazing that everyone was going to stop you and compliment you on it. However now, you’re almost done and you’re not so excited about working on it any more. In fact it even bores you. It’s hard to push through but you should. It may not end up being a stellar piece of your wardrobe but it will be useful.  Maybe you could make it a little jazzier with a bound edge seam in a contrasting color or a couple patch pockets or a deconstructed aesthetic to it. You’re the designer you change the pattern. Just maybe stay away from the BeDazzler.

7. You keep imagining all the reasons people are going to say your story sucks, and it paralyzes you.
Those aren’t people you’re imagining it’s just that one pesky inner voice which constantly criticizes and sabotages. It is paralyzing. Guess what? You need to squash that voice and believe you capable of sewing something decent. You got skills, or determination. Sometimes you need both but often times you need just enough of one to get over the low confidence hump. Once over the hump confidence comes back and you are so good to go. Charlie Jane Anders, the writer of the writer’s block article, suggests drowning out that inner critic with Finnish death metal. I say, whatever it takes.

8. You can’t think of the right words for what you’re trying to convey in this one paragraph.
For sewing this is when you can’t find the right buttons, or the coordinating fabric for what you thought was going to be a quick baby quilt. This problem puts a halt to an otherwise good pace on any project.

You can spend days hitting the local shops trying to find what you want. Then you start to spend more time online, eBay, Amazon, etc. etc. to find that notion or belt buckle or right zipper.

As Charlie Jane Anders says “It may seem like a waste of time, it may feel like you’re stuck – but actually, you’re just paying close attention to your writing and to the way you’re depicting the scene.” I say that’s a good thing. However when you can’t seem to find “it” and it’s been a week it might be time to “make do” just pick something and maybe it will work out just fine or it could serve as a place holder until you find the perfect button or fastener or whatever it is that seems to elude you at this time.

9. You had this incredibly cool story in your head, and now you’re turning it into words on a screen and it’s suddenly dumb.
This could be your inner voice but sometimes it’s just crystal clear it isn’t working. It could be that the idea was weak to begin with or it could be you need to use a different technique. Remember, the project may just be “brunt toast” and there’s no law that says you have to finish a project that isn’t working out. Maybe the idea just needs tweaking. There surely is a part of the original idea that is good. Hold on to that idea and develop it more, later. I think that counts as learning from your mistakes.

10. You’re revising your work, and you can’t see your way past all those blocks of text you already wrote.
Well, I do not know how this relates to sewing. Perhaps revising is altering for a better fit. Once I sewed a summer top. It pulled across my upper back. I was so disappointed for a while, a long while. Then I looked in one of my fitting books and researched why it may be pulling there. Apparently all I needed was to let out the side seam a little under the arm. It was sleeveless with a bound edged of the armscye so it wasn’t going to be quick but I was thankful not to have a sleeve to correct.

I wasn’t happy that the garment didn’t turn out perfectly but it probably did, for the pattern. It just didn’t for me. So I pulled up my boots and figured out what I could possibly do to make it better. The process took time and brain power but I fixed it and I learned with that pattern maker that my upper back is broader than their sample model’s.

That’s it. That’s the ten reasons writers freeze and if those reasons parallel a sewer’s inability to sew then I just came up with ten ice blasting tips to try. I should be stoked to go sew right now.

So what’s blocking me? What is it this time?

I have a lot of projects I want to sew. A lot of patterns I want to try and fabric already selected for them. I have gifts to make for birthdays I’ve missed and birthdays soon to come. I have a space and although it needs cleaning it isn’t any messier than the dining room table where I just push books and papers aside to make room for more books and papers. It isn’t lack of time either. I have a little time. Not a huge block but who does?

I have fear. I fear that what I start will not be equal to what I envision as the final outcome. The final garment won’t be flattering, the color will be too much, something will be wrong and I will look foolish. I will attempt to sew a simple blouse with a pattern that a thousand folks, some not as experienced as myself, have already sewn with great results and yet mine will be ill fitting or I will have selected the wrong fabric weight for the blouse. And I should know better they all say. And then to blog about it – a higher level of confessing that it is only me behind the curtain, falling flat on my face. No, thanks, I’d rather to clean the bathrooms.

So for me, every time, it’s just taking that first step. I set the timer and for 15 minutes I force myself to work on the current project. That’s half the battle, getting started. With some projects I need to force myself to take the fourth step, and the seventh step, and so on until it’s done. It doesn’t always turn out. I do fail. I have to remind myself that I have failed a lot and yet I am still here. No one has taken away my sewing machine.  I still stand to fight the good fight with my scissors, and thread and little bit of knowledge and every time I do fight against my fear, I get stronger, and even smarter. Failure of one project has never meant failure of all projects.

Good luck soldiers. I know you can do it!