Girl's Hat and Balance/Mädchenhut und Balance

(Hat/Hut Burda 4-2009-142)

Hello again! It's been a while, due to life and other hobbies (do you have those, too?) interfering.

Looking at other bloggers' output (how could I not?) I've been wondering whether I need to step up my sewing, and where to find the time.

When I began sewing more regularly in late 2007, my daughter was less than two years old and I was home most of the days, and all evenings, too. As mentioned before, I took up sewing as a kind of occupational therapy; my baby was sick a lot, and I spent many days alternating between doctor's offices and tending to her at home. I needed something pretty, colorful and productive to feel better, and I'm happy to say sewing worked a charm for this!

Nowadays, DD is thankfully much better and the children don't depend on my presence as much. In the last year, I've added ballet and other time-consuming engagements to my schedule. We're out and about much more, home much less. My life feels more balanced now than when I was home all the time, but it doesn't enhance my sewing productivity!

Then again, what am I sewing for? I wear something made by me at least half the time, and I still wear 90 % of what I've sewn in the last years. My closet doesn't have a great turnover, never had, so I don't need new clothes all the time. The kids are happy with their closet mix of RTW/secondhand/made-by-mom stuff.

While I don't have many long stretches of time to sew any more, I usually have a project going that keeps my crafty and creative self happy, just like I always have a book open... a date with a friend on the horizon... a work project nagging to get done... something cooking on the stove.

There is balance in what I do.

I've also been contemplating the worth of blogging. I don't have a "big" blog (many posts, many followers). One reason is that blogging is not my focus in life. Also, I work in a profession that is quite diametrically opposed to crafting, and I'd prefer not to get the two mixed up.

Not having a big blog, I've been wondering how much my little contribution is worth. A mass of sewing blogs have sprung up since I've started mine, providing more than enough information and inspiration. Should I continue?

Why am I blogging?

I started when Lindsay T asked her readers to do so (always one to listen to a Great Person's Words, I am!). Those were the days when I read maybe ten blogs or so. I thought it only fair to share my projects if I wanted to be entertained by others' creations. Also, I hadn't been commenting before that, thinking it a bit creepy to comment without "showing my colors" and allowing others to comment as well. Since then I feel I have become a part of the worldwide sewing community which is lovely! I'd be sad to lose that if I were to quit blogging. (Oh, and I appreciate all comments! Comment away, even if you don't have a blog!)

I also enjoy looking back at what I made, re-reading your comments, and I only wish there'd been blogs when I made my first pair of flowered pants (1990!) or my first stretch dress (ca. 1991) since those garments are long gone. I think even if it weren't public, it's worth keeping a log of any work that one is serious about.

Another point that isn't obsolete even when sewing less. The log/blog will just have fewer posts.

The verdict? I will keep sewing. I will keep blogging.

Thank you for reading my ramblings, dear sewing friends! What do you think? How do you deal when you have less time and energy for sewing? How much of a priority is it for you? And how many sewing blogs do you read in a day? Chime in, I'd love to hear your opinion!

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Wie Ihr vielleicht bemerkt habt, nähe und blogge ich nicht mehr so viel. Wenn ich Eure wunderbaren Blogs lese und sehe, was Ihr geschafft habt, werde ich leicht unzufrieden und habe deshalb ein paar Grundsatzüberlegungen angestellt.

Bin ich im Reinen mit meiner Zeit-/Kraftaufteilung und damit, dass ich weniger nähe? Ab Ende 2007 hatte ich ein paar produktive Jahre, was damit zusammenhängt, dass ich damals das Nähen ganz bewusst als Ausgleich gewählt hatte. Unsere Tochter, damals knapp 2, war ständig krank und ich saß entweder beim Kinderarzt oder mit ihr zu Hause. Ich war ziemlich deprimiert und schaffte mir mit dem Nähen, insbesondere von Kinderkleidung, einen fröhlichen, bunten, vor allem aber produktiven Ausgleich. Gott sei Dank geht es ihr heute besser, und ich habe im letzten Jahr sowohl für mich einige neue Aktivitäten begonnen als auch mit den Kindern mehr unternehmen können.

Für meinen Kleiderschrank muss ich nicht mehr Sachen nähen. Fast alles was ich genäht habe befindet sich in ständiger Rotation, ich bin sowieso nicht der Typ, der ständigen Wechsel im Kleiderschrank hat, und mir passen auch Sachen von der Stange. Die Kinder sind auch zufrieden mit ihrem Mix aus neu gekauft/aus zweiter Hand/von Mama genäht.

Mehrere Stunden am Stück nähen kommt kaum noch vor, aber ich habe nach wie vor immer ein Nähprojekt am Start, genauso wie ich zum Ballett gehe... die Arbeit ruft... ich jeden Abend eine Stunde lesen muss... leckeres Essen gekocht werden will.

So gesehen ist alles in Balance.

Nächste Frage: braucht die Welt oder brauche ich noch diesen Blog? Es gibt inzwischen so viele tolle Nähblogs, inspirierend und informativ.

Ich habe damals das Bloggen angefangen, weil eine tolle Amerikanerin, deren Blog ich immer las, dazu aufrief. Erst danach traute ich mich auch zu kommentieren, da ich immer das Gefühl hatte, wer sich äußert sollte sich auch zu erkennen geben und seinerseits Kommentare entgegennehmen. Dieser Austausch ist mir ganz wertvoll, und ich freue mich besonders, jetzt auch ein bisschen Teil der deutschen Nähblogger-Community geworden zu sein, nachdem ich das Pferd so von hinten aufgezäumt hatte! Das ist ein Argument für's Weiterbloggen.

Ich schätze auch den Rückblick auf meine Arbeiten und die Organisation - ordentliche Besprechung mit Bildern und Schnittmusternummer - die sonst im Hobbybereich nicht meine Stärke ist. Der Logbuch-Aspekt sozusagen. Ach, wenn ich doch schon meine Blümchenhose (frühe Neunziger! todschick!) oder mein erstes Stretchkleid (ebenso! ganz was Neues!) gebloggt hätte...

Liebe Leserinnen und Mitnäherinnen, ich werde Euch wohl erhalten bleiben. Aber sagt mal ehrlich, wie ist das bei Euch? Macht Ihr Euch auch manchmal solche Gedanken? Wie geht Ihr damit um, wenn Ihr nicht so viel nähen könnt? Welche Priorität hat Nähen für Euch? Und wie viele Nähblogs kann ein Mensch an einem Tag lesen?

Boy's Cap and Girl's Tote/Jungenmütze und Mädchentasche

After making the pajamas, I dutifully consigned my old ones to the rag bag. Enter DS, crying, "But Mom! They're so soft! These are your best pajamas!!" Enter, then, my first refashion project (radical refashion, I might add). Pajama pants to boy's cap lining (not shown) and appliqué. What riddles me most: I used scraps of navy fabric to make the outer cap, but I can't remember having sewn anything in a navy blue smooth cotton. Hmmmm.

I used the pattern Ottobre 3/2010/39, "Cap Coconut", before here.

Nachdem ich meinen neuen Schlafanzug fertig hatte, wollte ich den alten unauffällig in die Altkleidersammlung schmuggeln. Söhnchen kriegte die Krise. "Der ist so schön! Und so weich! Das ist dein schönster Schlafanzug, den kannst du nicht wegtun!!" Okay, aber zerschneiden kann ich schon. Zur Applikation und Futter (nicht abgebildet) dieser Mütze. Die habe ich übrigens schon mal genäht (auch als Recycling-Projekt), hier. Das Schnittmuster ist Ottobre 3/2010/39, "Coconut".

While DS is at choir practice, DD and I have a girl's library date. Here's the tote bag to go with it:

Während unser Großer neuerdings beim Chor ist, gehe ich mit der Kleinen in die Bücherei. Da musste natürlich eine Mädchenbüchertasche her. Dringend.

Happy sewing!

Scrap Busting and Swimsuit Sewing

I made DD another sun hat from the same pattern I've used before. Didn't retrace, although her head has grown; I just cut the pieces a bit bigger and it's fine.

If you're looking for a pattern I really recommend this one (BWOF 4/2009/142). It can be worn brim up or brim down, and when it's down provides good shade for the eyes, which can get important when children are too little to wear (or keep on) sunglasses. Besides, it's cute! And, as the title says, perfect for using up scraps.

This girls' top wasn't made from leftover scraps, but all the same used so little fabric that there's a couple of tops left in those fabrics for me. I didn't use a pattern, just cut around an existing top. DD started giving me that "Where's the pink and violet, and where's my glitter??" look, so I hastened to add a yoyo. Now I want the same top for myself. Too bad I'm not four anymore.

(Seeing this I realize I also made DS a sleeveless tee but forgot to take a picture. Oh well. Not half as cute. Poor, poor boys.)

Speaking of age, I must be this town's oldest H & M shopper (other than in the kiddie department), but I'm always very lucky (although I'm not buying a lot these days) and their stuff fits me. The same used to be true for their swimsuits. Well, not anymore. All of a sudden I loathe all their designs and colors. What ...? The same thing happened a couple of years ago with popular music radio stations. A sign that middle age is encroaching, I guess. What's a sewer to do?

Right, spend several hours of beautiful summer weather that will never return, staring at the screen researching swimsuit patterns and supplies. I ordered from no less than three sources and spent 50 € which doesn't sound so bad unless you consider that I got two suits for 10 € each at H&M last year. This had better become the suit of suits, so to speak. (FYI, I'm making the more covered view A. Yes, DH would also be very happy with the others. I'm saying I'll make those for DD in a couple of years!)

Let's hope I didn't jinx the project by making a public announcement beforehand... But I'd love to hear your input and tips if you've sewn a swimsuit before. Other than that, please wish me luck!

Me-Made-May and Cap "Coconut" Ottobre 3/2010/39

MMM Days 20-25:

The first four days. I realize I'm missing day here, but I wore my lounging pants and didn't feel like taking a picture (lazy day).

Me-Made: Tangerine top, gray skirt, red and white dress.

Today and yesterday (my picture software didn't want to change the pictures).

Me-Made: Today's outfit is all me-made, a first this May! (Top and skirt.) The skirt is my official pentecost fair skirt; I finished it just before going to the fair last year, and wore it again this year.

What I gained from MMM these days: Stamina?! Halfway through I didn't think I'd make it through May. Now reaching for me-made has almost become second nature!

The cap:

I made the cap as a last-minute birthday present for a two year old boy. (Actually, I made the cap because we had a lot of social activities going on last week, and I really needed a creative time-out. Shhh. Don't tell!)

It went together fast and easy, and looks really cute on. DD said, "Oh, it's a riding cap!", and it does have that shape. For materials, I recycled DS's pants that were cut off his leg after he'd broken it. Brand-new jeans (RTW, grandma bought them), what a shame! Now they found a good home.

I lined the hat with the quilting fabric you see on the car appliqué. The other appliquè was what happened after a mistake, umm, design challenge.

Summer has arrived here, which has been nice but not so good for sewing. I know. I shouldn't complain.

That's it! Happy sewing!