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How long have you gone without any sewing?

How long have you gone without any sewing?

Old 11-06-2011, 08:29 PM
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Default How long have you gone without any sewing?

What is the longest "dry spell" you've had by not sewing at all? I am just getting back into sewing again after an abrupt stop in February (9 months! long enough to have a baby, NOT at my age, tho!) My mother passed away then (she lived with us), and even after I got everything settled, I just didn't have any desire to sew. I just left my projects on the sewing room shelves.

This weekend I went through the shelves, saw all of my partially finished things, and plans for new things, and got everything dusted off and started again. I am now working on a fall wall hanging that I had cut out earlier.

I have never gone so long without sewing before. It makes me wonder if any of you had the quilting blahs before. What did you do to get out of it? Is this "normal" to take such a break?
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Old 11-06-2011, 08:34 PM
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There have been times in my past where long work hours, kids, other high maintenance family members have caused me to go months and months without lifting my presser foot. I am very lucky now to have a DH who sends me to my sewing area if I start to loose track of my hobby/relaxtion time at the machine.
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Old 11-06-2011, 08:38 PM
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sorry for your loss..but so happy that you found your MOJO again and start working on moving forward!
HUGS
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Old 11-06-2011, 08:40 PM
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I'm super lucky to have my DH suggest "do you want to quilt for a while this evening?" when I was bored. He offered to send me to JoAnns for a couple of hours (with money!). But it just wasn't there for me. Even my kitty is happy to "help" again!
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Old 11-06-2011, 08:45 PM
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I have had long bouts such as yours without sewing and the more I thought about how great it would be to sew, I would sometimes become almost too intimidated to start up. Can't believe I said it. I would go to bed thinking the next day, I am going to work on a project but then get more down cuz I didn't do it.

I am back to sewing again after several months of not having my mojo (as jaci put it). If I don't at least fondle lol my fabric daily, I feel at a loss.
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Old 11-06-2011, 08:48 PM
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I have also gone long stretches. I get bogged down by daily living, taking care of kids, working, etc., and would find that by the time the day was over and the kids were in bed, I just didn't have the "mental energy" to sew. I have recently omitted TV from my daily habits and use that time instead to get a little sewing done. I have tried to move away from my thinking that I needed long stretches and could not be productive with only an hour or so to do it. I really want to develop my skill at FMQ and finally decided one hour a day of practice would do me good. I still haven't been doing a full hour a day, but I am sewing a whole lot more and I find that the more I sew, the more invigorated and excited I feel!!
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Old 11-06-2011, 08:51 PM
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Well, I went for 8 yrs. and did not sew a stitch. My DD was killed in an automobile accident in 1997 and I pretty much shut down. She was almost 22, my only child, going to medical school and specializing in pediatric onconology. She would have been a wonderful dr. children absolutely loved her and she loved them. The good Lord must have had a reason for keeping me and taking her, so I started up again and am sewing for the little cancer patients. This board has been a boost, keeps me talking,albeit online, but it helps and I realize how much I enjoy sewing, I used to make all of her clothes. So I decided to try quilting, my DD would have been laughing (and she probably is!) at some of my "projects." I guess it's time to get off the couch and get to work. Thanks for listening.
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Old 11-06-2011, 09:27 PM
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this is such an interesting question...sewing has always been so much to me...entertainment, clothing that fit properly, relaxation, creativity outlet, source of community ties.... and in thinking about it after reading the question, i guess the longest i ever went without sewing was from ages of 1 to 10...which was when i learned to sew (altho, to be fair, i have a set of child-sized tea towels that i embroidered when i was 4...my mother put a needle in my hands as soon as i bothered her, the embroidery ring is about 4 inches across and the thimble barely fits on my little finger)... other than that, babies, full-time work, marriage in the offing, marriage breaking up, teaching friends, learning from friends, you name it, i seem to need to sew to cure or solve or soothe...and i hope my eyesight holds out...my grandmother only quit sewing when she couldn't see to quilt the way she wanted to...so she tied quilts for another decade before she retired entirely....
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Old 11-06-2011, 11:56 PM
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Through the years I have had a lot of spells of not sewing. Sometimes for years. I still added to my stash though. Mostly for the reasons everyone else has had spaces. The last one was for about 2 years and I didn't even look at sewing things or keep up with anything, I didn't think there would be anything new out on the market so I never even looked. Then I started sewing again and reading the mags. and ads, etc and found out how wrong I was. There are so many bright people out there bringing new and interesting things out all the time for us, it is amazing. I don't see a lull in my sewing for years to come now! I am hoping.
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Old 11-07-2011, 04:01 AM
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My life has been like that lately. I have picked up more hours at work and I also have an online biz. Between the 2 and keeping a house by myself. I have just been too tired!! I just bought a used frame and 9" machine that keeps staring at me. I have barely used it in the last month. I feel guilty but again, just exhausted all the time.
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