10 Tips To Beat Procrastination When Sewing & Refashioning
This episode reveals how procrastination when sewing looks like when refashioning old clothing into new.
Procrastination is quite common for sewers. Today at The Art Of Refashioning, however, we talk about the specifics, the situations when upcycling and fear to cut a completely good item of clothing. Despite it is unworn as is.
When you love sewing and care about the planet, refashioning should be on your list if you want to make a difference.
But then, once onto it, you get worried about ruining a completely good item of clothing...
In today’s episode check if you stuck in a situation of procrastination when sewing and refashioning:
This episode helps to identify the negative feelings and the different situations related to procrastination when sewing and especially refashioning.
In particular you’ll discover:
Listen to episode #5:
How To Overcome Procrastination When Sewing And Refashioning
Or listen at the podcast page HERE.
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Some highlights inside this episode:
3:30 – What exactly happens? Why we suddenly start feeling anxious over cutting an item of clothing.
5:10 – What is blocking us to create? The fear of “ruining it”. Why we procrastinate when we simply need to cut up clothing?
Situations Of Procrastination When Sewing And Refashioning And Tips On What Could Be Done:
10:00 – What is procrastination and how looks when upcycling unwanted clothing. My experience when I had to push myself and procrastination wasn’t an option. Below is my sewing space at this time.
My sewing space where I made my collection
16:00 – How the lack of confidence influences your decisions, actions and thus, creative experimentation or lack of getting into it. Examples that you’ve shared.
17:40 – The two sides of confidence and how they affect us what we see, hear and experience. What to do to manage those and overcome procrastination when sewing and refashioning.
18:20 - Tip #1: Refocus on actionable things. You could change any action but you can’t change your personality or traits. How to use that and start making refashioning projects with confidence over time.
22:00 – Is the lack of confidence of wearing your own work something you experienced?
26:25 – Tip #2 when you lack confidence wearing your work: Ask and listen what others have to say about your work. How to use that to change your perception towards your work.
29:40 – More about the fear of ruining it, which is another reason to feel procrastination when sewing and upcycling clothing.
32:45 – Tip #3: Every unsuccessful project will teach you something, therefore instead of being anxious over a project use it. Otherwise, it is most probably going to be wasted, just sitting in the cupboard or downgraded if donated. Remember for the item the chance to get purchased back is only 20%.
34:05 – What to do when you stuck on what to make out of unwanted clothing. More about ideas and techniques though it’s coming in the next episodes, so make sure to subscribe here.
35:40 – Procrastinating over not having the ability to visualise your ideas. Why what they teach in fashion schools might not work for you. Tip #4: To visualise ideas, drape on the dressmaking stand. Then, take photos and finally make the design decision.
Check the example of three different design variations below. Here is the link to the article and video showing the finished project. It came out completely different at the end ;)
1. Design option #1
2. Design option #2
3. Design option #3
42:25 – How feeling you’re not creative open doors to procrastination, when sewing and refashioning. Tip #5: You are creative, but you need to build up your creativity.
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More Tips On How To Overcome Procrastination When Sewing And Upcycling:
46:00 – Tip #6: Make it for a dead line. One of the most powerful motivation to overcome any procrastination is having a real dead line. We go over some examples related to refashioning.
47:30 – Tip #7: Make it for someone else. Use the magic of being responsible when it is for someone else, as opposed to making for yourself, and do it for someone you love.
48:25 – Tip #8: Improve a skill you need to polish or you think you’re lacking. Making small steps and including to learning something new with every project is good strategy to build up skills over time. Some examples related to refashioning.
49:30 – Tip #9: Grab your best idea at that specific point in time and make it. Surprisingly, there is more when going through the whole process.
50:00 – Tip #10: Accept that it is normal not to be in love with every upcycling project you do. Because the real gain could be something else, some examples in the episode here.
51:48 – Wrapping up the episode with what’s important and deserves attention.
52:35 – Did you like this episode? Don’t forget there are two sides in our refashioning talk ;) Keep the word spreading by rating and reviewing the show.
Rate, Review & Subscribe On Apple Podcasts:
If you love the episodes, please consider writing a review and rating the show. This will help me to continue spreading the word on the ins and outs of refashioning. The ultimate goal: the more sewists on board, the more valuable textiles saved from landfill!
Go to the show page here and click “Listen on Apple Podcasts”. In iTunes then select the “Ratings and Reviews” tab and click 5 stars to rate and select “Write a Review”. Make sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!
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Other podcast episodes mentioned in this episode:
Links mentioned in this episode:
Projects mentioned in this episode:
”Upside-Down” Upcycled Collection
Man’s tweed jacket into sleeveless woman’s, from the “Upside-Down” collection
Your Host
As a fashion graduate and sewing professional with several years bridal and alteration experience, Mariana Kirova is passionate about quality one-off upcycles.
She loves sharing her findings, observations and upcycling ideas with like-minded aspiring creatives, refashionistas and makers.
It's time not only to start recycling those castoffs and add unique clothing pieces to your wardrobe. To enjoy it, it's time to immerse into the making process. Once you feel the deep satisfaction of creating with your own hands, you'll never look back to buying from the rack!
At the end, the more sewists start upcycling clothing already in circulation - the less valuable textiles will end up in landfill, right?
