Do you ever feel like you can’t sew a dress without going crazy?

The house is a wreck, the sewing room is unorganized and it feels like your mind needs a makeover. But it’s time to get some sewing done!

So then the question is, how to get the sewing done in all this?

How to clean the house, organize the sewing room and organize the mind?

Listen, it’s simpler than you think! There are ways to cut down on the “crazy” and actually get something done!

And to start with…

Don’t bite off more than you can chew

• keep your expectations low
• keep to simple housekeeping
• choose simple designs

Keep your expectations low

Keeping low expectations for yourself will keep you from going crazy from the very start. Keep your “To do” list very short.

It’s ok to get just a few things done in one day. The person that cares the most about how much you got done in a day, is yourself.

Yes, it makes a person feel so good to get all kinds of things accomplished in a day. But that doesn’t make us better people.

It doesn’t make you worth any more than if you only got one thing done all day. So don’t expect so much of yourself and give yourself lots of room to take your time.

Simple housekeeping

What does simple housekeeping mean?

It means just doing enough.

Yes, having a perfectly clean house feels blissful. And getting it clean before sitting down to sew is an awesome way to start.

But is it realistic? Sadly it’s not. So clean it enough. Enough is enough. Enough is relaxing. Truly.

Cleaning enough means tidying up just for 10 minutes. It means doing the dishes and wiping the kitchen counters. It means just making sure the sink and toilet are clean.

And it means taking the time to message a friend once those tasks are done.

Choose simple designs

Choosing a simple pattern design for your dress is also part of not biting off more than you can chew.

Choose a design that will sew together quickly, a design that you are familiar with and that you don’t need to keep looking at the instructions for.

A simple pattern design isn’t as exciting as one that is unique or something your dreamed up and can’t wait to try.

It’s fun to have a closet of dresses that are all different from each other. And it’s fun to wear dress designs that get compliments because they are unique and beautiful.

But what would you rather choose, unique dresses and “crazy” or simple dresses and a relaxed mind?

Stay focused

• time yourself
• stick with it until timer rings
• check messages only after timer rings

Time yourself

Staying focused can be really hard when there is laundry to do, meals to make and a family to care for.

So here is a little solution to try so that you can stay focused and complete that one thing on your list.

Set a timer for a short amount of time. The amount that you know you can give to sewing a few seams. Maybe set the timer for 15 minutes. Or even 10. Or 20.

And this leads to then next thing.

Stick with it until the timer rings

Keep sewing, or pinning or cutting out until the timer rings. Yes, the baby might need attention, or the toddler might need help in the bathroom. That’s ok.

But for this space of time, no laundry, no cleaning or puttering around. And no distracting yourself. Hey, it’s easy to distract yourself when things aren’t going as planned or you feel stuck in a certain area. Just keep going. It’s only 15 minutes.

And only check messages after the timer rings

I know, that message might be a best friend you haven’t heard from in awhile. But it can wait just a few minutes. The timer will ring very shortly.

This is one of the distractions that can hinder progress the fastest. And then we wonder where the time went!

Setting the timer to work on your sewing, sticking with it until the timer rings and only looking at messages once the time is up will give you the tools to stay focused and actually make good progress.

You can do this!

Give room for mistakes

• you are not the only one that makes mistakes
• sing while you rip
• give yourself a pat on the back

There is something comforting about hearing of other people’s mistakes. It’s just reassuring to know that we are not the only ones to make choices that end in minor or major disasters.

Especially when it comes to sewing our own dresses and having to “wear” our mistakes. 😳

Remind yourself when you make a mistake that making mistakes is the only way to get better at it. Even if you are not striving to become a professional, you are closer to it every time you make a mistake.

Sing while you rip

Can you sing when you’re mad? Or upset or frustrated? Me either. 😂

But hey, I think we could try it next time that seam is being ripped for the fourth time. It will set the mood right for those around us and help to calm the chaos that is building.

A pat on the back

Talking kindly to yourself after making mistakes and ripping seams is necessary to keeping out the “crazy”.

Again, everyone makes mistakes.

When you realize you need to rip again or cut out a new piece because you ruined one, talk nice to yourself.

No bad names. No negative adjectives about the kind of work you did. Not even muttering under your breath so no one can hear you.

Just tell yourself that it’s ok. Even if you ruined the whole dress and need to buy more fabric, it’s ok. Every dressmaker has to do that from time to time.

So pat yourself on the back and remember you are still worth the same as if the dress had turned out perfectly.

In conclusion

Going crazy isn’t worth it for a dress. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Keep things simple in housekeeping, in dress designs and in your expectations.

Stay focused by setting a timer and working on your sewing until it rings. Even leaving unread messages until the timer rings.

Give yourself room for mistakes and remember you are not the only one that makes them. Talk nicely to yourself like you do to your best friend and give yourself a pat on the back even when things are not going the way you would like.

You can do this!

What is the one thing that drives you crazy when you know you need to get some sewing done?

Let me know in the comments below! It may be the one thing that will encourage someone else to try again. 😊