Becca’s Advice to Get Back Your Sew-Jo

Lost Your Sew-Jo? Let's Get It Back!

Ever find yourself in a position where you just lack any desire or gumption to work on the things that brought you joy? With all the changes in my life recently, I've found myself without the 'want' to sew. In today's blog post, I want to share with you some tips I found that helped me get my sewjo back!

It's Ok to Not Want to Sew!

They say distance can make the heart grow fonder, and I think that applies to quilting as well! Sometimes, we just need to put some space between ourselves and our sewing projects. Give yourself a break from any commitments you've made and take some down time to enjoy some other things. :) Don't beat yourself up - as we've heard The Quilting Marine say, "it's only fabric, and it's only thread"!

Try a New Creative Outlet

Recently, I found myself with *zero* desire to be in my quilting room, and the way I dealt with it? You're going to laugh - but, I played Minecraft. Lots, and lots, and LOTS of Minecraft. If you don't know what Minecraft is, it's a video game you can play (with or without friends) that allows you to "mine" different elements from the world in order to build something else. Perhaps a little similar to the actions we take when quilting: we collect the fabric, tear it up, and build it into something new. (Bet this is the first blog you've come across that's compared Minecraft to Quilting, right?!)

My point is this: my desire to be creative didn't disappear, I just didn't want to work with fabric. Maybe that's the same for you! Explore some other creative mediums. Paint, crochet, knit, embroider, garden, or...play video games! Do something that allows you to still be creative but without putting you in front of a sewing machine.

Browse for Inspiration

Sometimes your creative juices are just clogged, you've hit a 'creative block' - similar to writer's block. You know you want to do something, but you're not really sure where to start...and it can feel a bit overwhelming. In these moments, I love to window shopping for some lovely fabric (did you know Cotton Cuts sells yardage, too?) or even just flipping through pinterest, magazines, or books for a piece that speaks to me. Usually, I come across something that jumps out and makes me excited to dive back in. You never know what it's going to be - but you usually know when your Muse strikes!

Surround Yourself with Creative Friends

There's power in numbers, friends! Sometimes we just want to be with people - see what their working on, and get own own gumption going. Take a class, join a quilting bee, hop on a livestream, or just invite a friend into your space (Zoom/Skype is a great option if you're not physically close)!

If you're looking for some content creators, Cotton Cuts has a lovely group of PMQ Ambassadors that create content on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram!

Tidy Up Your Space

They say the only tidy quilting room is the one that's not used...and boy, I couldn't agree more. I love having my space nice and tidy, but when I'm in the middle of a project (or two, or three, or four...) - my space definitely reflects it. Piles everywhere! And...I don't always take the time to clean up after I'm done sewing.

Sometimes I just want to be in my space - and spending some time tidying my stash, organizing my patterns, and just de-cluttering is sooo powerful. There's something about seeing a clean work surface that's free of clutter and piles that makes me want to just jump right in and get it all dirty again!

Find a Quick Sew

If you're feeling ready to get back in front of the machine, but you're overwhelmed at the thought of a big project, reach for something that you know you can finish quickly. Maybe a kit, or just a small wall hanging. That sense of accomplishment you'll get from starting - and finish - a quilt is sometimes just what the doctor ordered!