Sewing Slowly: What It’s Taught Me

We live in a fast-paced world. So much of our days are spent rushing from one thing to the next, trying to be as productive as we possible can or fulfill our various cravings. We have a need to fill every spare moment with something. Scrolling social media while we wait for our appointment. Watching videos while we do the chores. Listening to a podcast on the drive to work. We seem to have lost the ability to sit in silence with our thoughts or enjoy the process of slowly working on something. We want it done now, so we can enjoy it now. The idea of doing something, like sewing, slowly seems counterproductive.

But what if we’re missing something by racing to the finish line? Are we missing out on creating something even more beautiful if we took the time to do each little step and think through the process before jumping in and doing it? Is faster always worth it?

My Experience

Then

I started sewing after my first two kids were born. I never had the luxury of hours on end to work on a project. At first, I would feel the pressure to use the time I did have to get as much of a project done as possible. To almost rush through it so I could finish and enjoy what I had made. Sewing slowly? No thanks, I don’t have time or patience for that.

My first exposure to the idea of slow sewing came from a YouTube channel I started watching called Rooney Sewing Patterns. Her videos were very relaxing and slow paced. She talks a lot about slowing down and enjoying the creative process, doing a little bit at a time when you can and not rushing through it. I liked the idea of it but I still felt pulled to get my projects done fast so I could wear them.

Then I found Evelyn Wood’s sewing channel. She focuses on sharing her extensive knowledge to help you improve your sewing. One thing I picked up pretty quickly from her is that if you want your garment to feel handmade vs homemade and beautiful both inside and out, you need to put the time in. That means not skipping those little steps that actually can make all the difference. It means doing a toile so you know how your garment is going to turn out and you don’t run into any surprises. It means going the extra mile to add topstitching or edge stitching and using seam finishes like open seams, felled seams, or bound seams. Her channel made me realize that slowing down isn’t just about slower progress. It’s about a better end result.

Now

Since trying to implement slow sewing myself , I’ve discovered that my projects turn out so much better and I enjoy them more when I don’t rush the creation process. When I take the time to iron my fabric before cutting, press after each seam, and do all the little steps that sometimes seem unimportant, I end up with something even more beautiful. I feel a strong sense of pride for what I made. Because I know all the work I put into it to make it as good as I possibly could.

What I’m doing Differently In My Sewing

Lately, I’ve been working on doing better at sewing slowly. Not rushing the process or allowing myself to skip steps because ‘it’s not that important’. I am trying not to let myself get caught up in trying to finish something within a specific timeframe. Instead, I let it take however long it needs to. Whether that’s a few days or even a few weeks.

I’ve even started making toiles before cutting into my good fabric, something I’ve always hated doing. I don’t want to be bothered spending my time on something I might not even wear. I want to get to the fun part of making the real thing. But I’ve also had quite a few projects fail because I didn’t take the time to do a test run and check the style and fit before making it. It’s always so frustrating and discouraging when you spend time on something only to have it completely flop.

So, I stopped skipping the testing phase. Now I have way fewer failed projects because I know ahead of time what needs to be adjusted. I still don’t enjoy making the toiles. But I do it anyways because I know it’s going to be worth it.

MY Encouragement to You

If you tend to struggle with the same thing – the urge to speed up and get it done as quickly as possible – I encourage you to take a step back, slow down, and enjoy the process. Creating is a beautiful thing, and not just because of what comes out of it. It’s working with your hands to take something and turn it into something special. Whether it’s a piece of clothing, a garden, a painting, or a room. The process is a beautiful part of how the final product came to be, and shouldn’t be something we rush through. It’s meant to be enjoyed.

Best of luck on your sewing journey,