I’m sitting here in a hotel room in Pittsburgh watching John Wick 2 (judge someone else). If you’re unfamiliar with these movies, Keanu Reeves is the star and in the first one, we learn that he used to be an assassin. Not just any assassin—the BEST of the best. But he stopped and then started to live a normal life with his wife who dies and gifts him with a dog to help him continue a state of normalcy. He quit killing which was his entire lifestyle. I won’t spoil it for you but it does lead me to the question
…
Do you think you’ll ever stop sewing?
I’ve been sewing and sharing my makes for almost 11 years. I don’t share everything I make and if I’m being honest, having lost more than 10in around my hips, 15in around my waist and new boobs courtesy of my double mastectomy, I’ve really been toying with the idea of buying more of my clothes. Not all of them but more than what I currently do. But then I think about how ready to wear pieces just don’t fit me the same way that my me made pieces do and it stops me every time…
Once a Maker, Not Always A Maker
But I guess the same can be said about assassins, huh?
I’ve seen some amazing sewists completely stop. Like they used to sew for themselves, draft patterns, sew for their kids, all that. And now they don’t. Sewing is yes, very functional for me, but it’s also really a lifestyle. I honestly can’t even fathom what my wardrobe would be if it weren’t made by me. I’ve never felt more at home in my body and the world than when I’m wearing the things that I’ve made.
And I know this isn’t everyone’s truth.
So tell me… are you a committed sewist who is like til death do us part or are you more like, I’m here until I’m not?
Also, I want to invite you all to participate in a sewing challenge I’ve joined! Here are the deets:
This hit home, Aaronica! I don’t think I could ever stop sewing either, it’s just too much a part of who I am at this point 😂
I teach pattern drafting and share my process on my Substack The Sewing Lounge, and your post reminded me why I fell in love with making my own clothes in the first place.
Loved reading this ❤️
I left Instagram and don’t see the same level of sewing content here on substack (let me know if I’m missing any good follows!), so I don’t feel the same level of inspiration that I once had. I’m still sewing, and would like to think that I always will, but a big part of it for me was the community.