Tartan

Being a Mom is the most important job you will ever have. Enjoy your time with your little one and sew when you can. I keep a mindless sewing projects for times of stress and when my brain is sluggish. It is a massive Spiderweb paper pieced scrap quilt. I have all the papers ready with the beginning triangle stuck to them. I have my scrap pile sitting beside them and I can sit and sew a lot of blocks or just a couple.

cowpie2

I feel your pain. At times I am just green with envy over all the quilts I see people finishing here on the board. I work full time and go to college part time. Had been able to find a few hours here and there, but then my son finished his stint in the Marines and he and my granddaughter (19 months) moved back in with us until he gets set with a job. I had forgotten how much attention a toddler takes. She loves snuggling with her gama so much that I just can't make myself hid away to sew.

But don't worry the toddlers do grow up faster than you think and you'll (and me) have lots of time to quilt before you know it.

misskitty5

One suggestion, don't plan on having a lot of time to sew/quilt when you retire. I had more time when I was working!
Now it is really a problem to get away from some of the domestic chores (which I have found are still there later) and get to the sewing room. Also must take time to go to senior exercise classes 3 times a week and daily living just sometimes gets in the way!

kathdavis

I believe there is a time and place for everything. This is not your time to quilt a lot. Enjoy that baby. You will have time to kick out project after project when that baby doesn't need you as much. Sew when you can, but don't put so much pressure on yourself to get so much done. That beautiful baby will grow up one day and you will have the time to quilt. My babies are now 26 and 21, with fiances, boyfriends, careers, degrees, etc. but they still ask me not to sew some nights so they can have me to themselves making memories.

I made my girls matching outfits when they were little and I would sew after they went to bed or stay up late on weekends. I made quick outfits, but it satisfied my need to create, while I was too busy to do bigger projects.

irishrose

How old is your daughter? When my younger two were 2, they could handle plastic canvas and yarn. I think their first ones had pictures on them for a pattern, then they became creative and did their own designs. It kept them busy for a long time. Put some of the craft things mentioned on a plastic table cloth and put it away except for when you are sewing. Does JoAnn's still have the coated fabric with the road map and the pretty one with the shops? Those are easy to pop in a shoe box and spread out only at sewing time. A multitasking mother can talk and sew at the same time without having her on your lap.

carolynjo

Do plan an alternate activity for the children while you sew. They can do without momma's eyeball to eyeball contact every waking minute and they will demand it IF you let them. They are fortunate that they can be at home, in the same room with you, but they don't need to sit on your lap or stand behind you unless you let them. Some children need to learn to amuse themselves and no, you don't need to feel guilty about that. Their teachers will appreciate their independence when they get to kindergarten and first grade also. Happy quilting!

Dolphyngyrl

She just turned 3 2 weeks ago, and she loves to do the cachine that's her word for sewing machine, she was only 6months in my avatar and time flew by.

irishrose

I'm a worrywort and have trouble with little fingers around the cachine. A plastic needle with a round tip for the plastic canvas would be okay as long as she's with you. My GD made doll clothes out of fleece at that age. They were crudely cut with rounded Fiskars and tied on the 8" baby doll. I had to tie for her, but she thought she was a designer.

aeble

I can totally relate with you! I am establishing a small business, going to school part-time, volunteer with my church, take care of my daughter during the day. I also have to make 95% of the meals we eat from scratch because of my daughters severe allergies (I'm astonished daily by the number of items out there that contain soy and peanuts) and my husband is a terrible cook.

My 21 month old really, really wants to play with my machine. I'm afraid of her hurting herself, so my machine is in a separate room and she isn't allowed near it yet. I keep it always set-up and ready to go other than the dust cover on it. That helps me find some time, because I can sometimes take 15 to 30 minutes while she's napping and I don't have to worry about packing everything up. Another option I've found for the busier times when I need her nap time for other things, is too do some hand sewing or knitting while she watches TV (we let her watch 30 minutes a day). It isn't much, but she's happy snuggling next to me while watching her show and I'm happy sewing or knitting beside her not resenting not getting to do things I enjoy too.

I'm looking forward to when she's old enough to understand how to be safe with a needle and thread and I can show her how to sew.

Treasureit

I remember those days! I did put my sewing on the back burner for many years..I had 4 kids though....but once they are older and can bathe themselves and before they start sports or band or dance & you have to drive them everywhere....you can get some sewing done! Enjoy the moment!