May you all enjoy the last four weeks of summer and stay safe.
At the beginning of the pandemic, I was fascinated by the sudden interest in sewing masks. My mother had been a Home Ec teacher, skilled at sewing, and I wondered what she would have thought about the resurgence in home sewing. But something stood out to me in the news articles: sewers are now called sewists. Huh?
In the 1980’s and 90’s, I was a busy sewer—making clothing, draperies, crafts. Three years ago, I bought some coloUrful fabric with the idea to make kitty quilts (small pet blankets) to give as gifts. But I didn’t have a sewing machine. Well, I DID but it was in the storage unit in Ottawa. In asking around, I discovered how few people had sewing machines at home anymore unless they were quilters/crafters.
The sewing machine came back to Nova Scotia with me in 2018 when I emptied The Unit and it sat in a storage bin in the farmhouse because, what with my busy retired life, I never got around to that little quilt idea. And that’s where the sewing machine was in March when the lockdown and mask-making started.
This summer I brought the sewing machine to my apartment and I have enthusiastic plans for those quilts as well as masks during the coming winter. It’s been nearly twenty years since I last sewed and I’m hoping the ability comes back easily. I’m on a waitlist to take my old machine in for servicing so, if necessary, I have time to buy a new one. Around here, bicycles, RVs, and sewing machines are pandemic purchases (I’m also trying to find a used bike).
You know how you can keep hearing a recommendation over and over from different sources until you finally decide to investigate? I had that recently with the book The Artist’s Way. I’ve heard about the book since the 1990’s but thought it was for people who make art like paintings and sculpture. But the book—set up as a twelve-week course—is for anyone who wants to be more creative, including those, say, with writer’s block.
Some of the book’s exercises highlight my challenge in remembering to have fun*. Guy le Chat is a little toy cat that I attached to my backpack with a carabiner when I hiked out west. I would take photos of Guy beside alpine lakes and on mountain peaks and upload to social media. Recently, Guy came out of retirement and is joining me for hikes again to remind me to have more fun.
Last week, I got out the coloUred pencils and sketch pad and had a go. I remembered that, for my first blog post here in 2014, I was planning to include a simple sketch. I thought it would be as easy as writing the blog post. I made a sketch, took a photo of it, and even uploaded it to the site. I decided to just stick with words. But if all goes well with the sewing machine, maybe this winter I’ll share a picture of a kitty quilt.
*Since moving in December, I have missed biweekly card nights—these were three hours of laughter with a small group of friends. There were opportunities to join card and game nights here in my new location but that, of course, has all been shut down since March. There’s no card playing in a pandemic.
Related links:
- The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
- the unit (post #103).
- january RX: more fun (post #85).
- India Part 2: white flag by 1PM (post #47).
Dad says
Glad to see Guy la Chat is coming out of retirement. He would find strolls around the dykes and a college town interesting I’m sure, sewing brings back a lot of memories.
back is the new forward says
: – )
Natalie says
I love a good Guy Le Chat siting in person or in pics. You know I feel about “The Artist’s Way”. I also just purchased a sewing machine, and I am counting on you either making a kitty quilt for Kline, showing me how to make one so my sewing machine actually makes it out of the box, or both :). You go girl!
back is the new forward says
Congrats on getting a machine – I’m excited for you! I will be making quilts for the kittehs and helping you too! : – )
Carolyn Ells says
Hi Sheri. Your blog strikes a chord. I’m surprised how few people know how to sew. I am still using the sewing machine my parents gave me in high school. It is very handy (eg to resize tablecloths to fit my narrow table, make new covers for toss pillows, mend things for family and friends, and lately to make masks). I taught a few people to sew who inherited their mother’s sewing machines. Those lessons always include memories of their mothers and statements about how proud or pleased their mothers would be to see they sew.
It is nice to be reminded of The Artist’s Way. I started it one year when I was vacationing alone, and without a car, at the cottage. I recall lots of thoughtful and stimulating exercises to reignite creativity. Hope to see your kitty quilt sometime.
back is the new forward says
Great to hear from you Carolyn. I think many people stopped sewing with the increase in fast-fashion (cheap clothes) – probably starting in the 1990’s. How wonderful you were able to teach friends on their mother’s sewing machines. In my case, I never was a good student for either of my parents (both teachers) so I assume I learned sewing by osmosis : – ) Mom was a patient teacher but I was not a patient student. I do recall her fixing some of my mistakes when I ran out of patience (which was early and often). Another reader of The Artist’s Way, a-ha! My favourite part so far is The Morning Pages.
Claire haas says
Good luck with your quilting plan. If you need any advice you can ask me. I have taken a course (years ago) and have made several quilts.
back is the new forward says
Thanks Claire!