Free to good home: perfection August 28, 2007
Posted by spacemom in : Ghost in the (sewing)Machine , trackbackI prepared the fabric for the CW (chilly Willy) pajamas. I measured the fabric and realized that I had to create my own layout of the patterns. (For those who don’t sew, every pattern comes with a layout of how to place the peices on the right sized peice of fabric to cut items out efficently.) I was cutting the front of the top out when I realized I had made a mistake. I quickly adjusted and made up for it with no damage or extra fabric used.
However, I discovered that I am nervous about this whole project. While laying out and cutting out the fabric, I thought long and hard about this.
I am afraid of screwing this up.
I am afraid these won’t fit the person intended.
I am afraid the larger Chilly Willys will land on her nipples and just look silly
I am afriad that this just won’t work out right.
I really need to ditch the perfection. I am a person who wants things perfect. Correction, I need what I do to be perfect.
And when it doesn’t come out that way, I feel like I failed.
If anyone wants to take my perfection, please, take it. Because I need to learn to let it go. Just let it go…..
Comments»
Hey, it’s just pajamas right?
Yeah, sewing and patterns make me nervous. I always worry that I’m not getting the pattern on just right, and that when I pin it it’s going to be crooked or not quite as long as it’s supposed to be, etc. Is the pattern flat enough? Should I iron it first? The more I make, the more I am learning how forgiving patterns can be. And so, the need for it all to be perfect is less and less. However, on my current sewing project (see blog) I am altering the pattern a bit and I am a basket case every time I get ready to cut!
Oh, I get this. I stress and stress sometimes and just have to walk away from a project I am about to toss into the garbage. Then I look at it a day later and see it with calmer less judgemental eyes. It is often just fine. If it starts to get TOO much…put it aside for a few hours and then come back. I swear it works.
Oh, and the whole perfetly way to lay out before cutting…that part totally stresses me out and I often cheat and do it my own way.
Good luck on those jammies.
I’m a perfectionist, too, and sometimes it just paralyzes me. I like Perrin’s approach–walk away, do something else, come back later, see if you’ve got a different POV on it or feel more relaxed.
Perfection, thy name is “mom”. Accompanying this trait, is guilt (in case you fail in your first ambition, in case you forget to think about something and plan ahead, in case you are completely on the wrong track, in case your efforts are nonetheless in vain, etc). Then is it any wonder that amongst all this, we forget our selves, our health, our peace-of-mind, our satisfaction. Gal, you gotta let up on yourself. Whatever beliefs you hold, the “Creator” has put down his Bacardi drink, and lobbed a brick at you to get you to pay attention to yourself! (How else do you think you got mono?) If you are not careful, “He” will send a car to mow you down!
I know you’ve heard it before, but the airplane rule really does apply. Put on your own oxygen mask first, before your kids, husband, lady down the aisle, or man who cannot put his own correctly and needs your help. YOU first!! You need to breathe. Whatever that means to you at this time. Perfection comes later. You first!
BTW, I’m great at giving such wise advice, but regularly have to lecture myself about the same thing, and have found I don’t listen or follow instructions very well!