Yesterday we stepped into 2018, and before anything else, we want to wish you from the bottom of our hearts… Happy New Yearrrr!!! Ahead of us are another 365 brand-new days to do whatever we want with them (364, actually, because today is already day 2). And since this is the perfect time to make plans and resolutions, we’ve prepared a sewing manifesto that you can adopt if you’d like, so you can sew more and better this year.
It’s a small wish list: ideas to help us move forward and enjoy what we’re passionate about, which is sewing. We hope you like at least one of them and decide to adopt it for yourself too.
Here we go!
1. Learn New Things
When we stick only with what we already know, we stagnate and deny ourselves the chance to improve. Many of us started out self-taught, searching online for ways to learn and make things we had never made before. And we haven’t abandoned that healthy habit.
This year, we’ll keep learning new things and sharing them through platforms such as Lulu Ferris (where we publish a new tutorial every week) or our YouTube channel.
2. Make Time for Yourself
We repeat this often because it’s so important. The more you feel like you don’t have time, the more urgently you need to find some. For everything to stay in balance and for you to be the best version of yourself, you have to listen to yourself. In 2017, we published a post about this problem: “Do You Need More Time to Do What You Love?”
Maybe now is the time to take another look at it and make time for whatever you want to devote it to.
3. Dare to Experiment
Don’t stay in your comfort zone. Since you’re learning new things (because you’ve followed rule no. 1), put them into practice. Try that tutorial that looks complicated, create your own design, give hand embroidery a try, pick up your knitting or crochet needles again, or take on the serger…
The important thing is to keep moving forward and not let fear or laziness hold you back. If you live in Mataró or the surrounding area, remember that you won’t be alone and that you can join our in-person classes.
4. Have Fun
Never forget to have fun. We’re lucky to have chosen sewing out of pure passion rather than obligation. We can choose to do whatever we feel like doing and have fun, using our imagination. It’s important to remember that and enjoy ourselves while we do it.
If you notice that you’re sewing without enthusiasm, just out of inertia or a sense of obligation to finish a project, don’t. Sew when you want to, when you feel the machine calling you. That way, it will continue to be your refuge.
5. Share
Sewing can be a solitary or shared activity. We love sharing it, but you’ve probably already noticed that. Share what you’ve learned; share the things you’ve made; share the joy of finishing a garment that turned out fabulous; share the pages and people who inspire you.
Make it easier for other people to discover their passion for sewing and feel the way you do when you’re sitting at your machine.
If you liked it, you can start by sharing this sewing manifesto.