Have you ever noticed how challenging even the simplest sewing projects or most routine steps suddenly become when our emotions come into play? Seems when our mood is light and upbeat, our fabric flows thru our machine with more ease, our stitchwork is more on point, even little nuances like ripping out a seam or altering a mistake just seem par the course. But when our mood is heavy and our ‘sewjo’ is off, all hell breaks loose. It’s almost as if our sadness, anger, stress or residue from the day, is emitted off of us and then reflected back to us the same. As a result, what normally takes five minutes to repair, can take fifteen or even fifty. That dress fabric that you sewed together the wrong way, is now being fixed for the umpteenth time, and it’s almost as if a naughty little elf came and swiped the piece of Baroque trim from the table you placed it on less than two minutes ago. Yeah, the same trim that you scoured the local craft marketplace all day for to complete your sitting room valance. In the midst of all the madness, now it appears your mind is playing tricks on you!
If you can relate to these seemingly connected experiences, it becomes hard to deny that when our ‘sewjo’ is off, it seems to have somewhat of a ’cause and effect’ affect with not only how we move through our process of creating, but through life in general. In a nut shell, when we are relaxed, happy and our ‘sewjo’ is flowing, obstacles are often met with more patience and focus, allowing us to move thru them with a little more ease. But when we are emotionally upset or stressed, these very same obstacles are often met with the kind of resistance and frustration that can lead to disaster.
We shared our ’cause-and-effect-law-of-attraction-theory’ with our fabulous Facebook Fans to see if our words carried any weight in water when they approach their own sewing projects while at the same time feeling stress and/or emotional strain. Our feedback is listed below….along with an added tip or two.
” This is so true! Also don’t sew if you are not feeling well, it shows in your work.” -MaryJo Kumasaka
” Not to mention the quality of the seams, and the likelihood of injury on the needle!” -Sandy Currin
“Yes my mood does effect my outcome. Working with leather, you don’t get a second chance.” -Heidi Kapp
” If you are in a bad mood, you are likely to make mistakes and God forbid if you have to use the seam ripper….more may get ripped than what was intended!” -Dana Hukins Rodrigue
” When I’m in a bad mood, my creative juices just don’t flow.” -Helene Mackey Lincoln
” That is an understatement! This has happened to me because I wanted to finish a project to start another. I made the pants too short and was unable to lengthen. Ended up with capri’s and never wore.” -Karen Hamilton
“ Also refrain from sewing if you are tired. Nothing will work right!” -Sandy Dillon
“ I agree that if you find your Sewjo off when you’re sewing you need to put it down and go on to another activity, but sometimes the joy of accomplishment and the tactility of the fabric readjusts you and a day of sewing becomes a better remedy.” -Christine Patterson
” I swear my machine knows when I am in a bad mood, or not feeling like it cause it jams, breaks needles, bobbin keeps unthreading, etc. If my Sewjo is off, I have to stop!” -K Messer Pohl
When your ‘sewjo’ is low, check out some of our fabrics below to get you back in the mood!
