How to Crack the Sewing Code
new sneak peak alert and its egg-themed
Below is an excerpt from my new zine called The Sunny Side of Sewing. It is about Inspiration and Motivation and it is egg-themed and so cute and chaotic in the best way. You can get a physical copy here or a digital copy here.
How to Crack the Sewing Code
I believe that to sew is to be inspired. You are creating something from simple building blocks like fabric and thread and giving those blocks life. Once alive, these garments have silhouette and story and substance. They are works of art. They are masterpieces.
But what does it mean to be inspired? How do we access inspiration when we don’t feel like we are within it? Sometimes this quest can feel elusive, even futile. However, I know that even when I am without inspiration I can work to access it again. These are some of the ways I try to become inspired when I am in this situation.
Sometimes inspiration comes, almost instantaneously when we put ourselves in challenging situations. That is why I think it is important to start the journey in the first place. Stepping down into the abyss might be just what you needed to get the spark.
Another way that I access inspiration is by observing the art around me. I love to become inspired by designers and other sewists in the fashion realm. I look at their clothes and the things they make and imagine ways to add my point of view to their garments.
Similarly, talking to these artists is a great way to access inspiration as well. An actual conversation can be a great way to churn up new ideas and bring to light what has been locked away and inaccessible. These conversations work great with people outside of fashion and sewing as well. Sometimes, talking with someone with wildly different techniques and practices will trigger a unique application of the techniques you use in your own practice.
Do you journal? One of the single best ways I like to access inspiration is to examine my own life through writing about my experiences in journal form. I find a lot of comfort in writing about my motivations and hopes and dreams. Even if they might seem mundane. I write to reflect and dig deep. It is then that I am most inspired.
We know that inspiration can come in many forms. Be open to the spark and search for it. You can move through periods of being uninspired by being persistent and patient. I believe in your ability. You should as well.