A couple of days ago I assembled two Ikea bookcases for my new studio. I’m so excited to have a co-working space just around the corner from my new apartment, and I’ve taken a studio in that co-working space.
For the past nine years of living in Madrid, I’ve been working from home, but now that I’m an empty nest-er and living alone I’m so much happier to work in an environment with other entrepreneurs and creative people. I leave the house every day and go to work, just like I did when I had my studio in NYC, but now I can pop home to do a load of laundry or to make lunch or visit the cats whenever I want. (Or, often, to take a short nap with the cats!) My new work colleagues are architects, business people, a jeweler, a ceramicist, other clothing designers, a translator, and even someone who designs water slides. It’s so fun to see what they’re doing and to get to know them. Being in a co-working space means I’m not spending each day alone, but I still have a dedicated space where I can close the door if I need to focus. My studio isn’t visually pretty like the one in NYC, but it’s organized and dedicated to my work, without the distractions of home. And, most important, I can sew in peace, knowing Luna isn’t going to un-thread my serger the minute I turn my back. (Why do cats like to eat thread?)
In any case, I love to assemble Ikea. I think the instructions are incredibly well done–no words, just illustrations to indicate each step. Everything is clear (most of the time) and concise. Some Japanese sewing books follow this model as well, although in my experience not as successfully, since sewing is often a little more nuanced than assembling pre-fabricated Ikea products. But I had to laugh when I saw the first set of illustrations: do not assemble alone, do it with a friend! That doesn’t always apply when it comes to sewing, does it?
This got me thinking: knitting and embroidery can be done either alone or as a social activity, but machine sewing tends to be less social. It CAN be social, of course, but I think most of us tend to sew alone, at home. And that got me wondering, are most sewists a bit introverted? Do we choose sewing because it’s something we can do alone? Does sewing appeal to introverts more than to extroverts? (By the way, if you haven’t read it yet, the book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain is a great tool for understanding introverts and extroverts better. It really helped me to understand myself so much better, and how to take care of myself when I teach weekend workshops as well as how to relate to my introverted and extroverted friends. Highly recommend…)
Crafting retreats have become especially popular lately as we’re looking for experiences, chances to get out of the house (especially after the pandemic), ways to meet other people with similar interests, and maybe a chance to really focus our our interests without distractions and the basic demands of regular life. Do you every sew in social situations? Have you considered a sewing retreat? Or a sewing getaway with friends?
Maybe I need to add one of these illustrations to our sewing patterns: sewing with others brings joy! What do you think? Personally, I think I’m still happiest when I can turn on some music or an audio book and sew alone. But in the vicinity of others.
I prefer sewing alone. I am an extrovert socially, but like to be by myself when sewing, especially when I get frustrated with some step in the process that is not going well. Then, some of my vocalizing is better off not heard by others. I also talk to myself while I’m stitching/serging. I even talk to my machines. I’m sure if anyone saw me while this was happening they would wonder about my sanity.
I’m better off sewing when a very few people are sewing nearby. I like listening to cheerful music, mostly classical and folk music. My studio space also serves as my library, my weaving studio, crafting space, and serves as storage area. Did I mention I practice by telehealth so it’s my office as well.
Now – where are you living in this new place but so close to where your creative co-working space is? That sounds just about perfect! I am hoping to get to a CCRC in the next few years. Then I will have a similar situation!
I have the best of both worlds belonging to the American Sewing Guild. I’m co-leading a garment fitting neighborhood group which is delightful and part of a specialty garment construction group. I’m attending my first sewing retreat next month. It’s in South Lake Tahoe so if I need some alone time I can take a walk.
Hi Liesel:
I really enjoyed this blog post. Considering I am an extrovert, my sewing time is surprisingly solitary. I have tried the sewing retreats and classes but prefer to focus on my sewing alone in my sewing room – it is my time to chill in a busy world, although I do like talking about sewing and sharing tips and tricks I have gathered through my sewing journey.
i feel you, i like the vibrancy,the hustle of people around me but would work on my own.
Like i would like work but also have the option to chat with others.
Thank you for this thoughtful post. I’m an introvert and enjoy sewing alone. I also found Susan Cain’s book helpful. Look forward to seeing what patterns come out of your new environment.
Well, I am not an introvert but I hear you on wanting to focus on sewing when I am making something. Once a year our ASG chapter holds a sewing retreat and I like that it is a good mix of quilters and clothing makers. We do a good bit of socializing and sewing. The sharing of experiences and techniques is awesome. That said, I am very happy to pack it all up and set it back up at home. It rejuvenates me to get back to making after the whirlwind of the holidays. I have two major hobbies in separate parts of the house that just soothes my soul. I need a lot of interaction with people and my hobbies to settle me. Yep, both are very necessary.
Great article, thank you.
I have never sewn with anyone. Sounds so much fun! Or at least to share in person the fun of this hobby. The closest is when my mom visits and we are in the study room where I keep the machine and we chat while I sew. She mostly mends but in her own time; she used to sew when I was little. So she understands me and fabrics and patterns, & we can share in that. We go to Joann’s together sometimes, for notions and patterns…. Sometimes I wish I could bring the machine to the dining/living room and sew while we’re all there watching a show, for company, but of course it is quite noisy, and of course, I don’t do that. My husband’s hobby is to play guitar, so sewing and that don’t go together…. Usually I put the tv on while I sew- have seen tons of Murder She Wrote and Midsommer Murders that way. They’re light enough to follow while I’m sewing and I can always go back and rewatch something I missed, and there are tons of them. Except for my mom, no one I know sews, and she doesn’t really anymore. I do get lots of compliments at work from what I sew (and wear!) from one of my supervisors- she has used sewing language before, but it sounds like she wants to sew, has some knowledge, but doesn’t sew. And since she’s my boss, it’s not like we can get together for that anyways… Someday I’ll find a buddy! In the meantime, it’s comforting to know there are many in the world who sew and who can swoon over fabric and patterns like I do, etc,! 🙂
I actually just got home from sewing all day with my sewing machine, in a room full of other quilters who were working on their mostly machine-sewn projects. I was checking out the local quilt guild in a city I just moved to a few months ago, and this is a thing they do every last Saturday of the month from 9 AM to 3 PM. The quilt guild in my old hometown did the same thing. I think it’s great, especially when you’re slogging your way through something and could use the extra motivational “sewjo” that happens when a bunch of creative people come together. The key with machine-friendly social sewing events is that the event has to be long enough, at least 3-4 hours, in my opinion, to make it worthwhile for participants to go to the trouble of packing up their machine and supplies, traveling to the event location, setting up their workstation and then packing everything up again at the end of the day. And the challenge for organizations trying to put on an event like this is finding a space that you can use for low or no cost, that has enough outlets and electrical power to run not only 20+ sewing machines but also 4-5 irons, and has good lighting, and is convenient to where everyone lives. There was a hand stitching crafts guild in my old hometown that did a weekly “Stitch and Bitch” gathering at a brewery — how fun would THAT be, right? It works for knitters and English paper piecing quilters, but I think the brewery would complain if 20 people showed up with sewing machines and ironing boards!
I belong to a sewing group where we all bring our machines (and sometimes overlockers as well) together and sew side by side once a month. We also have an annual sewing retreat. It’s actually lovely, a really nice way to socialise and share the love of sewing that’s also low pressure. I’ve made lots of new friends through it.
That’s so great! I’m glad you’ve found such a supportive group!