I took my sewing machine in for it's yearly service a little over a week ago and picked it up last night. I had a big grin on my face when I saw all the machines on the floor that had come in during the day for servicing. I thought it confirmed to me that sewing was alive and kicking. When I mentioned as much to the repair guy, he said to me "Oh, most of these machines are owned by quilters. Isn't that what you do?" I said no, and that I make clothes. He was actually surprised, thought it was cool and then proceeded to tell me that not too many people did that anymore.
So my question is, do I live under a rock or or are there shades over my eyes?
I have connected with so many people who like to do what I do, but I keep forgetting that in comparison to the big world out there, we are a very small community. It's only through the internet that we have been able to find each other and bridge the gap, making the miles and distance between us seem so small.
I was talking to Sheila last night and we talked a little about this. What we like to do, our hobby is not a normal one, I know we all think differently, but my friends, it is what it is. Nine out of ten times you'll get someone asking you, "where do you find the time", or "Wow, I could never do that". For me, I tend to not sit in front of the television in a vegetative state. Don't get me wrong, I watch what I want to through the internet (Hulu, Netflix, etc..), but I'd rather spend my time creatively.
So my friends, weigh in and tell me about it.
10 comments:
I agree with you. We are a small community, which is why I am soo glad for the internet. I have met so many great and creative people. I cant veg on the couch and watch tv I'd rather be sewing or working on something to sew. The shop where I bought my machine caters to the quilting community as well, but I love my Babylock!!!
Being part of the internet sewing community has made me think that there are a lot of people who sew. But I think you are right, it is a small number compared to the world in which we live. I finally just met one other person who dabbles in clothes making, but otherwise I don't know anyone in my community who sews like I do.
Quilting is huge where I live followed by knitting but I think we do have a fair share of garment sewers. I find them through ASG meetings. There are several groups in the Seattle area but in my immediate area we have one group dedicated only to garment sewing. It's made a huge difference in being able to "see" answers to questions rather than only reading them online.
I don't know many around here that sews clothes, but there are lots of quilters! It is also hard to find fabrics in stores, so most of it I have to buy online- or when I go home. There is a shop close to my mum's that have fabrics for clothes,the stores around here carries only quilting fabrics or fabrics for curtains!
I knit more than I sew these days, and never sit in front of the TV without some knitting!
Like others I don't know that many IRL sewers, but have tons of sewing friends via the world-wide-web, which I am so grateful.
Andrea, this happened to me too and it was an associate of mine who mentioned it to me. Her exact words were..."it's a dying art that no one does anymore"! I couldn't believe my ears! I quickly showed her my blog and Pattern Review.com! You're so correct, our little online sewing community is small in comparison to the big world out there, but I love sewing and I'll be doing it until I die!!!
I agree that since there are sites we can go to and blogs that we can follow from sewists around the world that we tend to think sewists are everywhere when in reality most people purchase their clothing from retail outlets.
If I hadn't met people online I would still be sewing in solitude, we really are a select group.
I totally agree, of my 3 sisters, 2 are accomplished seamstresses but I'm the only one who sews, it makes me very sad that they don't practice their God given talent and I don't know anyone who makes their own clothes, the people that do sew don't sew garments. I didn't sew for several years when work,school, and kids got in the way but I really enjoy sewing and credit the blogging community for inspiring me to get back into it. Can't wait for PatternReview in Chicago this May.
Good post. Yeah, we are definitely not the mainstream. But I am beginning to recognize that people who really pursue any hobby or skill for pleasure or enrichment maybe aren't the mainstream.
No, sewing is not mainstream. I am also a porcelain doll maker, which is very rare. It is hard finding others who do what I do, but I really enjoy my art. I plan to sew clothes for people and for my porcelain dolls for the rest of my life. (Even if people do give me strange looks when they find out what I make. :-) )
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