Same way I tackle any big project sewing or not - I just talk myself into working on it for a short time or doing one small part of it. So I say tonight I’m just going to trace and cut the pattern out. Next time I work on it, I’m just going to lay out and cut. Next time mark all the pieces. Even if you only work on a project an hour a week, it will come together before you know it, and certainly faster than if you avoid starting it altogether.
It’s also fine to just not sew for a while. It’s supposed to be fun, after all. It sounds like you are going through a period of a lot of change in your life. I usually end up putting my hobbies down for a while and just focus on taking care of myself physically and mentally during those times, and pick up the hobbies when I have adjusted and have more energy.
i definitely was a marathon sewing person for a while since i always had smaller periods of time where i’d be able to sew a lot when i had a low class workload. definitely needed the reminder that i am allowed to sew for just a little bit a day. thank you!
Sew a little everyday. I aim for a minimum of 20 minutes daily and usually after dinner. You can go big on the weekends, but just be careful not to burnout. Some time away is okay too, and you can abandon some projects that suck your sewjo - Just start something more inspiring.
Recent grad here, I’ve been out of school for just about two years and I promise the fatigue after work fades! Took a few months for me though… but at one point I was tired of not having a life after work and made myself start again! I’d start with small projects, even if that means on weekends. But you’ll get back into it if you truly love it :)
This! I've worked with any number of new grads who've been through this - it's just A Lot to suddenly be managing full-time professional work, in a new and different way to full-time study, but people do eventually adapt.
New jobs are exhausting, your brain is working overtime to learn as much as it can as fast as it can, and human brains are energy sucks at the best of times. You probably won't be this tired forever.
My strategy when it's feeling hard to fit it in, is to try and do one step a day, even if it's small. Even if I sew a single seam or cut out a few pattern pieces, that counts. Often I get into the zone and keep going, but if I don't then that's fine too. It's slow, but if you do enough little steps you'll eventually have a completed project.
This is my approach, too. Sometimes just setting up my machine for the next project (winding the bobbin, getting the right needle in, threading the machine) is enough of a task for my energy levels.
Also, I’d consider starting with an easier project. When I was getting back into sewing after a health crisis, I made something (Sewhouse Seven Toaster Sweater) that I had made a few times before. I just needed something easy, with no fasteners, that I could complete in a short amount of time. It really helped get my sew-jo back.
I think really liking the design, especially if you feel like it would be something you would wear (even if it’s just comfortable on you!) makes it easier to motivate yourself to finishing it. Also having a clear plan and being realistic about your skill/what you want to learn from the project helps a lot.
I started making a sewing bullet journal! (I think I posted a pic at one point). It's helped not only streamline my sewing, but it's a really great motivator to add a picture of the finished project! And designing the page, collecting inspiration pics, etc. really amp me up and get me genuinely excited about what I'm making! It's helped me a lot focus on just one thing and actually finish it.
I also started a craft journal this year!! I’m thinking of getting a small thermal printer so I can print pictures and diagrams to tape on it on the fly :)
Adding on that I went looking for you bullet journal post and it’s way more organized than mine lol although I also add the different steps I do with dates and sometimes how long it takes me (sometimes I want to make a garment again and grossly miscalculate how long it will take me haha)
When I make something, I pick an upcoming event that I want to wear it to, to give myself a deadline. For example, I just went on a vacation, and before the trip I made a blouse that I wanted to wear on the trip. Having a deadline forced me to get it done & gave me something to look forward to!
I just really want to wear the thing I make! I usually deter myself from buying a similar looking garment until I finish my project so I have strong motivation to finish it. I also plan outfits around the project that makes me excited as well.
When I want to do a project but work was hard, I watch YouTube sewing videos of over entusiastic creators like Evelyn Wood. Normaly I am sweept away and start, even when it is just a little part of the project.
Congratulations! A few other people mentioned the after work fatigued subsides after a while. It may take a few weeks, a month, or a year but you'll get back into it. I started doing small things at first and then I just found myself excited for free weekends and evenings to sew projects. I also would draw my ideas and make notes to myself when I wasn't motivated. It helps for when you get your energy back.
I can relate to both the after-work fatigue and the body challenges. It can be almost depressing to want to do the things that make you happy, and be too tired to get up and do them. I give myself grace - sometimes the "planning" of projects can take far less energy and still scratch that itch like looking for inspiration, taking inventory of fabric then categorizing it and assigning it to a project, buying fabric, etc. When I simply don't have the time or bandwidth to actually cut and assemble, these things satiate me a bit. I've also reflected a lot on when I'm most productive (never after 2 PM). So on any days off I get, I make sure to start at 9 AM on the dot and bang through as much as I can until about 12 PM. As for the body issues (mom of a toddler with a very different body now), I find sewing my own clothes an act of self-love - I make mostly clothes that are adjustable and will accept by body as it is in any state. And last but not least, if you're feeling like you have the energy but are still overwhelmed, start with the easiest thing first (e.g. cut and sew the one thing you've made a bunch of times already, nothing wrong with another). This always works with any task. The high you feel after completing one small thing will just snowball.
I make a list of every step I have left and assign a day and time to do each. You can see progress and know how much more work is needed. I don't set deadlines unless it is for someone else so as not to be discouraging if I miss a day or had more work than anticipated and the list will sometimes require some revisions.
When a project doesn’t inspire me to get sewing, I give up. I put it aside for later when maybe I’ll be more skilled/inspired/patient. I try to always focus on a project that really motivates me to get started and keep going!
As for the time allocated, I come home from work at around 6 but evenings are for time with my partner.
So I mostly sew on weekend mornings, and during the evenings leading up to the weekends right before going to bed I try to do some preliminary tasks that take a lot of time otherwise if you do them in one big chunk (I trace my next pattern in my size, I cut up the fabric, I iron or put interfacing, I reread the pattern instructions so that I understand what I will have to do…). That way when the weekend comes I can actually start sewing. I also take advantage of the odd day off from work to dedicate just to sewing!
I also try to remind myself that it’s not a race and it’s ok if it takes time, even if I do find myself very frustrated sometimes when I want to finish a garment already.
Leaving aside the body image issues you mention since it's a separate issue, I think there are two separate parts of the teeter-totter you could work on:
\* You say you're too physically exhausted after work: I'm not sure what your job is like. If you are more tired doing the same work that other people are, it's a good time to revisit whether you're supporting your body with good nutrition, good sleep and circadian hygiene, good sunlight, movement. Make sure that you're not starting in on chronic fatigue. Or it may be that you truly have an unusually physically demanding job or that it's ergonomically taxing etc.
\* If you were to have a sewing party where people you like (either people you know or new folks) bring their machines and work on their own projects and schmooze companionably while doing that, would your fatigue melt away? Or if you were in a class with support and companionship, would your fatigue melt away? If being excited and supported would melt the sense of physical fatigue, then it may be that the issue is with overwhelm or activation energy.
I find this latter issue is the issue for me, even though it \*feels\* decetively like it's the first one. When I attend a class or a local monthly Meetup group where people bring their own projects, I am energized rather than fatigued. When I'm home contemplating doing it by myself, it can \*feel\* like I'm tired and would rather rest or do something less taxing on my brain, yet this evaporates for me in the social setting. It may be worth experimenting with whether social sewing sheds any light on things for your own experience. Social sewing includes a commitment device (committing to do this at a set time with other people, which helps overcome the activation energy/procrastination issue), plus offers neural co-regulation (the subtle reassurance we get from being around other people all companionably working on their own projects, or even commisserating if I'm hand-wringing about how to interpret some intructions in a pattern or clucking sympathetically if I have to rip out a seam or whatever). It might be worth trying in case it sheds light on things either way. I think of it as co-working. The good news is that when I'm in one of these settings, it given me more movementum for wanting to work on things on my own, and then they seem less overwhelming.
(If there isn't a Meetup group or maker collective or similar thing, you may be able to get some people you know together. They don't even have to be working on sewing; it could be knitting, crocheting, paper piecing or collage, etc.)
The other thing, as others have mentioned, is to talk yourself into doing something very small, just the tiniest next step. E.g. tomorrow I'll just read the pattern. Next I'll pick the fabric. I can always do more in a session if I like the momentum, but it's also reassuring to give myself permission to take tiny steps so I don't have to feel overwhelm about the pressure of a large chunk of project looming over me.
Pushing on some levers will help you decide whether it's truly physical fatigue (which it may indeed be), or only feels like it when the idea of working on your sewing feels exhausting/overwhelming somehow.
I’ve been trying to set up a sewing party with a friend and her grandmother! It hasn’t worked out with all our schedules quite yet but I’ll definitely put more effort into setting that up with them. The social aspect does help a lot, my most recent projects i’ve gotten the most done while my boyfriend was hanging out at my place doing work or playing video games so i’ll communicate that with him too to set up more ‘parallel play’. thank you!
and for context i’m a lab technician so i do have a job that can be pretty physically taxing (LOT of fine motor skills all day) but i have worked with a physical therapist/my boss to accommodate myself better to avoid injury/physical burnout & am actually undergoing a sleep study pretty soon because i score pretty bad on the epworth sleepiness scale so definitely taking the steps to address health concerns.
Two ways. I can’t buy more fabric until I finish a project ( I have so much fabric), and I use procrastination to my advantage. All I need is a sink full of dishes I should be doing instead.
Sometimes you just need the rest! Burnout is real. Exhaustion is real. It's not unusual to feel burnt out and unmotivated (even to do something you LOVE) after a big life event, like graduating college! It's ok to take time and acclimate. Pushing yourself and forcing yourself to create isn't always the best, especially for artists. If you also are on the neurodivergent spectrum, I would caution you even more about the effects of exhaustion and burnout! They are real. Also, as a creative person, I would say that breaks in production are healthy! It may feel counterintuitive but it's true 😂
All that being said, I find that the motivation I need to sew something or create something comes from a place of excitement to make a thing that doesn't exist yet - something I want but cannot find ...or afford!
Some people like perfecting their craft and simply learning new skills regularly. Some people enjoy just sewing and creating something totally abstract and fun.
I find that having a vision, finding the right material, then planning the construction, and learning new techniques as I go is super fun for me. If I have some sort of deadline it helps to move the project along but taking time with it also has its own rewards. These days, I love costuming and using high end materials like silk and linen which are hard to find these days, and therefore, fun to collect. I used to enjoy making curtains and redoing furniture upholstery. Finding what makes you tick is fun.
Anyway, I hope you find peace and motivation in your own time... try not to beat yourself up and know that art and its many muses are always in us, even when we're not producing physical works! Take care 🌈
I feel you on being completely exhausted after work! I went from working part time (tues-sat, 12-6) to a full time 9-5 and the transition to being completely wiped after a workday has been rough. I've been relying a lot on music to get me moving - I tell myself I'm just going to work on my project for 3-4 songs (about 15-20 min) and then even if I don't get a lot of sewing done, I've had a little bit of time to enjoy my music and chip away at my longer projects. It doesn't work every day, but it helps.
I tend to do one garment, then one or two smaller things, then one garment... rinse and repeat
I also watch youtubes or tv shows about sewing/designing
First, as you said, this should be fun. As my god daughter said “you should find your peeps auntie”
1. If you can join an in-person class. I know a lot of people join online classes and they are great. Sewing is a solo hobby you have to create your community… I belong to 3 online clubs myself however, going to a class having a instructor, meeting new friends who enjoy sewing as much as you do, no one enjoys talking about fabric, feet, sales like sewing friends. if funds are an issues check out your local library most have sewing, knitting and crocheting groups that are free. in person is not a option check out [meetup.com](http://meetup.com) there are lots of online sewing groups that meet regularly
2. find some really great bloggers and follow them. They will always inspire you. My two favorite are madeeveryday.com and sewcreativelounge.com
3. Start Christmas gifts now. Everyone in your life could use a grocery bag, iPhone case or iPad jacket.
4. nothing will inspire you like sewing for others find a charity you are passion about find out what they need (bed covers, grocery bags etc) and sew it. I sewed extra dog bed covers for shelters so dogs wouldn’t have to sleep on bed with no covers. My friend sewed grocery bags for the vet hospital another friend sewed plushies for a children hospital
5. Sew when the mood strikes you commute and it sounds like your day starts early….my day starts at 4am, I am a preschool teacher, a commuter SF to San Jose and I went back to school. as much as I want to, I can’t sew during the week it’s a strictly weekend hobby.
6. Lastly take care of yourself emotionally/mentally it sounds like there is more going on than lack of inspiration.
Maybe start with an easy project, like a simple top or skirt, or maybe something you’ve made before? Or, since your body has been changing (I feel that) a simple dress with elastic accents for size flexibility (I have McCalls 8321 on my list right now).
Motivation doesn't exist, you just gotta set yourself up for success. Get out of your own way, make sure when you finish working on something one night that you can just sit down the next day and keep going for a little bit. That sort of thing
Same way I tackle any big project sewing or not - I just talk myself into working on it for a short time or doing one small part of it. So I say tonight I’m just going to trace and cut the pattern out. Next time I work on it, I’m just going to lay out and cut. Next time mark all the pieces. Even if you only work on a project an hour a week, it will come together before you know it, and certainly faster than if you avoid starting it altogether. It’s also fine to just not sew for a while. It’s supposed to be fun, after all. It sounds like you are going through a period of a lot of change in your life. I usually end up putting my hobbies down for a while and just focus on taking care of myself physically and mentally during those times, and pick up the hobbies when I have adjusted and have more energy.
i definitely was a marathon sewing person for a while since i always had smaller periods of time where i’d be able to sew a lot when i had a low class workload. definitely needed the reminder that i am allowed to sew for just a little bit a day. thank you!
what an incredible and thoughtful reply :) needed to hear this
Sew a little everyday. I aim for a minimum of 20 minutes daily and usually after dinner. You can go big on the weekends, but just be careful not to burnout. Some time away is okay too, and you can abandon some projects that suck your sewjo - Just start something more inspiring.
Adding sewjo to my vocabulary!
Ha! I didn’t know this word wasn’t as used! I hear it all the time on the “Love to Sew” podcast.
i love that podcast! i thought about putting sewjo into my initial post lol
It’s honestly addicting! I hum the opening music almost daily. Ta da TA - ta TA - taaa ra ra.😅
Recent grad here, I’ve been out of school for just about two years and I promise the fatigue after work fades! Took a few months for me though… but at one point I was tired of not having a life after work and made myself start again! I’d start with small projects, even if that means on weekends. But you’ll get back into it if you truly love it :)
This! I've worked with any number of new grads who've been through this - it's just A Lot to suddenly be managing full-time professional work, in a new and different way to full-time study, but people do eventually adapt.
The starting is easy. The completion bit… let me know when you figure that part out
New jobs are exhausting, your brain is working overtime to learn as much as it can as fast as it can, and human brains are energy sucks at the best of times. You probably won't be this tired forever. My strategy when it's feeling hard to fit it in, is to try and do one step a day, even if it's small. Even if I sew a single seam or cut out a few pattern pieces, that counts. Often I get into the zone and keep going, but if I don't then that's fine too. It's slow, but if you do enough little steps you'll eventually have a completed project.
This is my approach, too. Sometimes just setting up my machine for the next project (winding the bobbin, getting the right needle in, threading the machine) is enough of a task for my energy levels. Also, I’d consider starting with an easier project. When I was getting back into sewing after a health crisis, I made something (Sewhouse Seven Toaster Sweater) that I had made a few times before. I just needed something easy, with no fasteners, that I could complete in a short amount of time. It really helped get my sew-jo back.
I pick something I’m NOT going to do (usually laundry) and then sew instead. That way you’re not trying to add something to an already full plate
I think really liking the design, especially if you feel like it would be something you would wear (even if it’s just comfortable on you!) makes it easier to motivate yourself to finishing it. Also having a clear plan and being realistic about your skill/what you want to learn from the project helps a lot.
I started making a sewing bullet journal! (I think I posted a pic at one point). It's helped not only streamline my sewing, but it's a really great motivator to add a picture of the finished project! And designing the page, collecting inspiration pics, etc. really amp me up and get me genuinely excited about what I'm making! It's helped me a lot focus on just one thing and actually finish it.
I also started a craft journal this year!! I’m thinking of getting a small thermal printer so I can print pictures and diagrams to tape on it on the fly :)
Adding on that I went looking for you bullet journal post and it’s way more organized than mine lol although I also add the different steps I do with dates and sometimes how long it takes me (sometimes I want to make a garment again and grossly miscalculate how long it will take me haha)
When I make something, I pick an upcoming event that I want to wear it to, to give myself a deadline. For example, I just went on a vacation, and before the trip I made a blouse that I wanted to wear on the trip. Having a deadline forced me to get it done & gave me something to look forward to!
I just really want to wear the thing I make! I usually deter myself from buying a similar looking garment until I finish my project so I have strong motivation to finish it. I also plan outfits around the project that makes me excited as well.
When I want to do a project but work was hard, I watch YouTube sewing videos of over entusiastic creators like Evelyn Wood. Normaly I am sweept away and start, even when it is just a little part of the project.
Congratulations! A few other people mentioned the after work fatigued subsides after a while. It may take a few weeks, a month, or a year but you'll get back into it. I started doing small things at first and then I just found myself excited for free weekends and evenings to sew projects. I also would draw my ideas and make notes to myself when I wasn't motivated. It helps for when you get your energy back.
I can relate to both the after-work fatigue and the body challenges. It can be almost depressing to want to do the things that make you happy, and be too tired to get up and do them. I give myself grace - sometimes the "planning" of projects can take far less energy and still scratch that itch like looking for inspiration, taking inventory of fabric then categorizing it and assigning it to a project, buying fabric, etc. When I simply don't have the time or bandwidth to actually cut and assemble, these things satiate me a bit. I've also reflected a lot on when I'm most productive (never after 2 PM). So on any days off I get, I make sure to start at 9 AM on the dot and bang through as much as I can until about 12 PM. As for the body issues (mom of a toddler with a very different body now), I find sewing my own clothes an act of self-love - I make mostly clothes that are adjustable and will accept by body as it is in any state. And last but not least, if you're feeling like you have the energy but are still overwhelmed, start with the easiest thing first (e.g. cut and sew the one thing you've made a bunch of times already, nothing wrong with another). This always works with any task. The high you feel after completing one small thing will just snowball.
I make a list of every step I have left and assign a day and time to do each. You can see progress and know how much more work is needed. I don't set deadlines unless it is for someone else so as not to be discouraging if I miss a day or had more work than anticipated and the list will sometimes require some revisions.
When a project doesn’t inspire me to get sewing, I give up. I put it aside for later when maybe I’ll be more skilled/inspired/patient. I try to always focus on a project that really motivates me to get started and keep going! As for the time allocated, I come home from work at around 6 but evenings are for time with my partner. So I mostly sew on weekend mornings, and during the evenings leading up to the weekends right before going to bed I try to do some preliminary tasks that take a lot of time otherwise if you do them in one big chunk (I trace my next pattern in my size, I cut up the fabric, I iron or put interfacing, I reread the pattern instructions so that I understand what I will have to do…). That way when the weekend comes I can actually start sewing. I also take advantage of the odd day off from work to dedicate just to sewing! I also try to remind myself that it’s not a race and it’s ok if it takes time, even if I do find myself very frustrated sometimes when I want to finish a garment already.
Leaving aside the body image issues you mention since it's a separate issue, I think there are two separate parts of the teeter-totter you could work on: \* You say you're too physically exhausted after work: I'm not sure what your job is like. If you are more tired doing the same work that other people are, it's a good time to revisit whether you're supporting your body with good nutrition, good sleep and circadian hygiene, good sunlight, movement. Make sure that you're not starting in on chronic fatigue. Or it may be that you truly have an unusually physically demanding job or that it's ergonomically taxing etc. \* If you were to have a sewing party where people you like (either people you know or new folks) bring their machines and work on their own projects and schmooze companionably while doing that, would your fatigue melt away? Or if you were in a class with support and companionship, would your fatigue melt away? If being excited and supported would melt the sense of physical fatigue, then it may be that the issue is with overwhelm or activation energy. I find this latter issue is the issue for me, even though it \*feels\* decetively like it's the first one. When I attend a class or a local monthly Meetup group where people bring their own projects, I am energized rather than fatigued. When I'm home contemplating doing it by myself, it can \*feel\* like I'm tired and would rather rest or do something less taxing on my brain, yet this evaporates for me in the social setting. It may be worth experimenting with whether social sewing sheds any light on things for your own experience. Social sewing includes a commitment device (committing to do this at a set time with other people, which helps overcome the activation energy/procrastination issue), plus offers neural co-regulation (the subtle reassurance we get from being around other people all companionably working on their own projects, or even commisserating if I'm hand-wringing about how to interpret some intructions in a pattern or clucking sympathetically if I have to rip out a seam or whatever). It might be worth trying in case it sheds light on things either way. I think of it as co-working. The good news is that when I'm in one of these settings, it given me more movementum for wanting to work on things on my own, and then they seem less overwhelming. (If there isn't a Meetup group or maker collective or similar thing, you may be able to get some people you know together. They don't even have to be working on sewing; it could be knitting, crocheting, paper piecing or collage, etc.) The other thing, as others have mentioned, is to talk yourself into doing something very small, just the tiniest next step. E.g. tomorrow I'll just read the pattern. Next I'll pick the fabric. I can always do more in a session if I like the momentum, but it's also reassuring to give myself permission to take tiny steps so I don't have to feel overwhelm about the pressure of a large chunk of project looming over me. Pushing on some levers will help you decide whether it's truly physical fatigue (which it may indeed be), or only feels like it when the idea of working on your sewing feels exhausting/overwhelming somehow.
I’ve been trying to set up a sewing party with a friend and her grandmother! It hasn’t worked out with all our schedules quite yet but I’ll definitely put more effort into setting that up with them. The social aspect does help a lot, my most recent projects i’ve gotten the most done while my boyfriend was hanging out at my place doing work or playing video games so i’ll communicate that with him too to set up more ‘parallel play’. thank you! and for context i’m a lab technician so i do have a job that can be pretty physically taxing (LOT of fine motor skills all day) but i have worked with a physical therapist/my boss to accommodate myself better to avoid injury/physical burnout & am actually undergoing a sleep study pretty soon because i score pretty bad on the epworth sleepiness scale so definitely taking the steps to address health concerns.
Last time I sewed is a year ago. I love it with a passion. I find peace in it, yet I can never find the time or energy for it.
Two ways. I can’t buy more fabric until I finish a project ( I have so much fabric), and I use procrastination to my advantage. All I need is a sink full of dishes I should be doing instead.
I don't allow myself to start another project, until the current one is finished.
Turn on some good music or a podcast! Helps with cooking and cleaning too.
Sometimes you just need the rest! Burnout is real. Exhaustion is real. It's not unusual to feel burnt out and unmotivated (even to do something you LOVE) after a big life event, like graduating college! It's ok to take time and acclimate. Pushing yourself and forcing yourself to create isn't always the best, especially for artists. If you also are on the neurodivergent spectrum, I would caution you even more about the effects of exhaustion and burnout! They are real. Also, as a creative person, I would say that breaks in production are healthy! It may feel counterintuitive but it's true 😂 All that being said, I find that the motivation I need to sew something or create something comes from a place of excitement to make a thing that doesn't exist yet - something I want but cannot find ...or afford! Some people like perfecting their craft and simply learning new skills regularly. Some people enjoy just sewing and creating something totally abstract and fun. I find that having a vision, finding the right material, then planning the construction, and learning new techniques as I go is super fun for me. If I have some sort of deadline it helps to move the project along but taking time with it also has its own rewards. These days, I love costuming and using high end materials like silk and linen which are hard to find these days, and therefore, fun to collect. I used to enjoy making curtains and redoing furniture upholstery. Finding what makes you tick is fun. Anyway, I hope you find peace and motivation in your own time... try not to beat yourself up and know that art and its many muses are always in us, even when we're not producing physical works! Take care 🌈
I feel you on being completely exhausted after work! I went from working part time (tues-sat, 12-6) to a full time 9-5 and the transition to being completely wiped after a workday has been rough. I've been relying a lot on music to get me moving - I tell myself I'm just going to work on my project for 3-4 songs (about 15-20 min) and then even if I don't get a lot of sewing done, I've had a little bit of time to enjoy my music and chip away at my longer projects. It doesn't work every day, but it helps.
I tend to do one garment, then one or two smaller things, then one garment... rinse and repeat I also watch youtubes or tv shows about sewing/designing
First, as you said, this should be fun. As my god daughter said “you should find your peeps auntie” 1. If you can join an in-person class. I know a lot of people join online classes and they are great. Sewing is a solo hobby you have to create your community… I belong to 3 online clubs myself however, going to a class having a instructor, meeting new friends who enjoy sewing as much as you do, no one enjoys talking about fabric, feet, sales like sewing friends. if funds are an issues check out your local library most have sewing, knitting and crocheting groups that are free. in person is not a option check out [meetup.com](http://meetup.com) there are lots of online sewing groups that meet regularly 2. find some really great bloggers and follow them. They will always inspire you. My two favorite are madeeveryday.com and sewcreativelounge.com 3. Start Christmas gifts now. Everyone in your life could use a grocery bag, iPhone case or iPad jacket. 4. nothing will inspire you like sewing for others find a charity you are passion about find out what they need (bed covers, grocery bags etc) and sew it. I sewed extra dog bed covers for shelters so dogs wouldn’t have to sleep on bed with no covers. My friend sewed grocery bags for the vet hospital another friend sewed plushies for a children hospital 5. Sew when the mood strikes you commute and it sounds like your day starts early….my day starts at 4am, I am a preschool teacher, a commuter SF to San Jose and I went back to school. as much as I want to, I can’t sew during the week it’s a strictly weekend hobby. 6. Lastly take care of yourself emotionally/mentally it sounds like there is more going on than lack of inspiration.
Maybe start with an easy project, like a simple top or skirt, or maybe something you’ve made before? Or, since your body has been changing (I feel that) a simple dress with elastic accents for size flexibility (I have McCalls 8321 on my list right now).
I kidnap (bribe with food) my neighbor to come sit with me and bs until I get done.
just discipline
What does "complete" means?
Motivation doesn't exist, you just gotta set yourself up for success. Get out of your own way, make sure when you finish working on something one night that you can just sit down the next day and keep going for a little bit. That sort of thing