How do you find the time???
 

....How do you find time to sew? My husband works in the oilfield, we have two kids in school, sports & scouts and I work full time. I find it more and more difficult finding time to sew. I have projects I need to do for Christmas but I'm running out of time!

I understand perfectly! I am a stay at home mom with four kids, my youngest is still at home. While I don't work outside the home finding time to sew is so difficult! There are weeks I manage 15 minutes. I think the big thing is that I know quilting is my stress release, if I don't find time, even ten minutes to take for myself I become very grouchy. So instead of doing dishes for the third time I take ten minutes for me. Not nearly enough time but better than nothing. I also recently have started to 'include' my kids in my time in the sewing room. I set up there keyboard, placed a table for them in there. When I go in they bring coloring books, or play piano. That way I get quilting done, (maybe not by myself), and I don't feel like I am neglecting my kids...

When I worked, I promised myself to sit down for 15 minutes only....which usually let to more sewing and less house work!

I sew while my child's at school. Some housework goes undone for a few days, and we're okay with that ;-)

Hear ya, feel for ya! Don't have the kiddoes to run, but work and am old, just don't have enough time in the day. I do most of mine on Sat. or Sunday after cleaning and meals. Good luck, it always seems Christmas comes at such a fast pace after Holloween, lol

must be something in the air, this was just posted a few hours ago...
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...t-t206031.html

I don't watch television. When my kids were home, I would use the evenings to sit and cross stitch or sew. Now I have all the time I want to sew!

When I was in your position I did not have time to sew. I didn't have time to clean! (We hired a cleaning lady.) There were several years when I felt like I was on a treadmill and couldn't get off - constant running with the kids, work, meals, dishes, errands....................once the baby left for college I returned to my love of sewing and started to quilt. I wanted to quilt since the early 1980's but with two kids it never happened until the house was empty. As others have suggested, just get 15 minutes in a day if you can, I think it will make you happy.

Gosh, I am retired and can't find the motivation although I can make the time. I want to, but then am easily distracted.

I always say that my life is governed by two 4 letter words - time and work. Not enough time and too much work. I feel for you having kids -being the taxi driver etc is a full-time job in itself especially if hubby is away.

Are you able to take some handwork with you while waiting for sport etc to finish?

I don't have kids and I don't care much about house work. Sewing is my therapy and I will always make time.

Having a dedicated sewing space is the best way to maximize sewing time. If you can leave your sewing machine set up somewhere whenever you have a few spare minutes you can just sit down and get something done. If I had to get the machine out and set it up every time I wanted to sew I would never get anything done.

Friends laughed at me when I said I had more time to sew/quilt and do gardening when my children were under the age of 5 than when they started school up to college graduation. I worked full time and all too often put in unpaid overtime - but my daughters were only going to be young once and I didn't want to miss it. So when we did the dance lessons, volleyball and basketball tournaments, etc. I carried hand work with me. Be it crochet or needlepoint or applique, it traveled easily and my home time I would use to the grand finale.

Housework could wait - some how it always does. My gardens turned ugly - but the memories with my daughters more than make up for any time pulling weeds. 35 years later I finally have hired a cleaning lady - she does the heavy work and that takes a lot off my shoulders. I still prefer to be with my daughters than mop a floor. My husband refuses to hire a yard man - so I leave that up to him.

You will find what works for you. Time is no ones friend but I promise the time spent with your family is not wasted.

Like you, I had two boys which I followed to all kinds of activities and I worked full time, spent Saturdays cleaning and cooking for the coming week. I found time to quilt and sew (I made all the boys' shirts and my husband's shirts until they got old enough to want to wear T shirts all the time) by getting up earier than the "men" in the house. I got up early enough to exercise, get myself ready for work, and fixed their lunches, then woke them up. While they got ready for the day I would sew, then drop them off at school and work on my way to work. 15 to 20 minutes every day got a lot done.

Glad I'm not the only one trying to squeeze time in!! :) after thanksgiving company is gone my machine will be set up full time in the guest room. Bet I can get a lot done then! Kids want to sew too, so maybe on weekends we can all sew together while DH is at work! Great way to bond & make memories with kids. Sports are now done so I finally have my weekends back!!!

I grab time whenever I can; sometimes it's late at night, sometimes early in the morning. It's almost never the middle of the day!

I second the idea about having your machine set up in a dedicated sewing space. If you don't have to keep putting all of your bits and pieces away each time (hard to keep all the block parts organized) it saves a ton of time. Other than that, I have found that for me a deadline makes a huge difference - otherwise something else always weasels onto the schedule!

Goodluck!

Alison

I am older, kids grown along time ago. I have three cats, a bird and a dog. I sew in the evenings, a couple hours. On weekends while doing laundry and housework. I make most quilts in two weeks. I am making my 16th quilt for the year.
When the kids were home I stayed home, a clean house was so important, not so much now. I didn't have a lot of time. As time goes by you will have more time to sew.

I'm finding the same thing happening to me Stitchnripper. Now that I have potentially all the time in the world, seems like the less sewing I'm doing. Do you notice that everything you do seems to take twice as long also?

I agree that having a dedicated sewing space makes it easier. Since my eldest son moved out 2 years ago and I now have his room as my sewing space, it is so much easier to go in there and sew for a few minutes. When I was working, I also set aside 1 evening per week as my sewing time. My husband did the supper cleanup and I could do whatever I wanted. Now I am home most days and get to sew every day if I want. Lucky me.

Yes I do! I attribute it to my self diagnosed adult ADD. I can't seem to concentrate on a task - I used to when I had less time. I mean no disrespect to those with "real" ADD. I don't know of another way to describe how it is for me. start something, get distracted by something else, and on and on.

Unfortunately women , in general, always think they have to sacrifice things they love for whatever reasons. When I started quilting I made it a point that it is part of our family life just like a DH fishing, kids sports, MILs bingo, my sewing! If I want to take some time to sew my DH knows he is doing the dishes or a few loads of laundry or grocery shopping. When DH is out bike riding or running I'll cut the grass. Give and take by all who live in the house.
peace

Bingo! This is how I feel. And the truth is actually quite the opposite - the more I allow myself to nurture ME, the more willing and able I am to cheerfully care for my family. Not one member of my family has ever complained because they were fed pizza, or Chinese take-out, or a crock-pot meal. I think it's imperative to MAKE time for yourself.

I like to watch tv (especially football) with my husband. But when he turns on those stupid zombie tv shows he likes, that's my cue to disappear into my sewing room!

What is this word you all keep saying, ?Housework? WHAT IS THAT???? I'm retired, no one at home but me, and I don't do that word...I have a GGD in college and she needs extra $$ so she does it for me! Plus that, my quilting is FAR more important! But...God bless all of you who do it....I simply don't wanna! Don't lose faith...one day you too, will be able to do this! (Note to all: I certainly did my share before I retired....worked 45-60 hour weeks, tended to a husband and three kids at home...and quilted full time as well. Cleaned house when absolutely necessary and couldn't talk anyone else into it...so I understand your problems now! Done that, been there...) :)

When I was working and raising 9 kids, I made sure that I left at least a 30 minute block of time for crafts. This was time I deserved for ME! I went one night a week to a friends house where we met to quilt together. My "girls night out" I worked hard and deserved the ME time. I spent plenty of time doing for others...If you don't do for yourself, you will realize that noone else with do for you either!!

I'm retired so you'd think I'd have lots of time to sew. I don't have much free time; but I sew every free minute I have. Sometimes I sew in 5 or 10 minute segments. It is wonderful when I can sew for hours at a time; but that doesn't happen very often. It is amazing how much I can accomplish by sewing for a few minutes at a time throughout the day.

I completely understand! I set my self up to do project in block steps. So 15 min aside getting ready for work I might piece together a block or cut out for the next etc. this week came home from work exhausted but cut out for pillow cases. In the am threw it in the embroidery machine (quick red work design) and when I came home quick sewed it (the hotdog style of sewing it it's real fast!). And for the weekend I make sure alls cut out for it prior so I can just sew ;)

I like to watch tv (especially football) with my husband. But when he turns on those stupid zombie tv shows he likes, that's my cue to disappear into my sewing room![/QUOTE]

Zombie shows and the incessant "How did they make it?" or "What Will Happen When the World Ends" shows... aaargh!! I can head up to my sewing room, turn on some music and settle in with the machine. I do know women who have retired and spend all day sewing, lucky ducks. One in particular does as much charity sewing as she does sewing for herself - beautiful dresses for girls whose families can't afford them.

I guess I am the odd one out. I get my housework done, any errands that have to be tended to, and when I can say "What can I do now?", I head for the machine! If I don't have anything in the back that I know needs to be done, I am free and clear to do my sewing. Sometimes it is an hour, sometimes it is two hours, sometimes it is 15 minutes. But, my house is taken care of first. Then I put on an audiobook, pour me a glass of the fruit of the vine and settle in for an hour or so of "me" time. It also gives me the impetus to get my act together when I get up, get everything done and then I have more time for "me" time. Not every day, not by a long shot, but I get some time in every day. Have a great day and dust before you sit!!!!!!!! Edie

When I worked I was always tired when I got home, but I always tried to sew a little every time I sat down to watch tv, which was about the only time I got to sit down. I did sign up for classes and that got me out of the house and the time I was in the class was my time. If you work, have children, are a wife, or what ever you DESERVE time for yourself. If you can't afford to take a class, get some of your sewing buddies and form a stitch n bitch club, meet at each others houses one night a week. Believe me you will be a lot better Mom, Wife, etc, if you just take some time for yourself.. Your children and husband need to realize you are more that their humble servant... Just mho

I had five kids, babysat grandkids, worked full time and still found time to sew/quilt. If you are serious about getting it done, you absolutely MUST have a machine that is out and ready to go, no fishing it out of a closet and finding stuff to work with. I did my cutting on the top of a chest type freezer (with a mat on it). Sewed in the dining room, Kept a project out at all times and then I could sew a little while the potatoes boiled, or I waited for the oven to finish a meal. If the phone rang and it was a long conversation, I sewed while I talked. Sewed while I waited for the dryer to get done. Sewed while I waited for the kids to gather up their stuff for school or other activities or get ready for church. Just a few minutes here and there will get your projects done. Now I am retired and I can sew whenever I want. It's heaven!!

I agree as well but also if they are old enough for scout, school and other activities they are ready for responsibility. They can clear and load the dishwasher, take out the trash, make their beds and put away their clothes. That should help clear away anywhere from 30 minutes or more a day. By the time they go away to school they will have to be able to do that and so much more. So do the all of you a favor and start now. There are too many young kids who don't know how to do these little things much less the big things.

Hi There,
Nancy Zieman has a book out titled "15 minutes A Day". Hopefully your library has it. She gives some pretty good advice ther. Rhapsody you can get some workable ideas there.

You have to prioritize. When you're old no one will remember how clean you kept your house, but they will remember the lovely quilts you made.

My dearie, we all have time constraints. I work full time and often my work days extend into the evening. I get home too tired to look at a quilt except to snuggle under it and sleep. I sneak time on the week-end. Saturday afternoon and sometimes into the evening. Sunday afternoons are often productive. Because I am in the education field, I can grab time during the university breaks. I plan all fall for the two days after Thanksgiving for quilting. Then start planning for the 10 days I have around Christmas. I become obsessed, skip meals and house cleaning. I often have even forgotten to feed the cat. She does remind me of her presence by trying to sleep on my quilt while I free motion. A most effective way to get my attention!

Don't be too hard on yourself if you can't quilt for hours every week. This is a time in your life when your family needs you too. They will go up and grow away from your home and you will then have more time for YOU and your passion. Slow and steady is beautiful. Oh, and do a reality check on what your want and desire to do and what time you actually have available. I had to do this when my family was at home. I would plan 15 projects but only really had time for 5 or 6. Be kind to yourself and don't lose the joy of your creations because you must hurry on to the next gift your want to make for someone.

finding the time...
 

This comes from a friend who worked and loved to quilt/sew. She told herself that every eve. after work, the kids in bed, and all, that she would sew/quilt for 30 min. She stuck with that plan and showed some beautiful pieces at guild.
Mariah.

I found a cute poem a few years back:
Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better
To paint a picture or write a letter.

It goes on to mention many other things you could be doing instead of housework. But the last stanza says it all.

Dust if you must, but keep in mind
Old age will come, and it's not kind
Then, when you go, and go you must
You yourself will make more dust.

It didn't have an author's name on it, but I wish it did.

I know what you mean, my children are all married, but they and the grandchildren take up a lot of my time, and my husband is retired and he expects me to put three squares on the table every day and Heaven forbid that he clean up after himself. Not complaining, but I got more done when I worked.

I feel your pain! I also work full time and at my age, I have found I am slower at doing everything. But also noticed, I would probably get more quilting done if I didn't spend so much time on Quilting Board. But you know, I enjoy this too. Don't beat yourself up, but you may do as others have suggested and dedicate 15 minutes a day to your sewing. You deserve that small amount of 'me' time, so if something else has to go undone, that's OK. It will be there tomorrow. And, also as suggested, the kids can each have their chores. It will take some of the burden off you, and will teach them that they are a valuable part of the family.

even in retirement, I find I'm always so busy that I'll finally get around to my quilting studio by late afternoon, early evening most days. Some time in there is way better than none!