...it's a very good place to start.
My name is Liz and I am the crafter behind Sew That Liz. I love to create items that are both useful and aesthetically pleasing. From puff paint t-shirts in the 90s to making my own jewelry to wear to work, I have always loved crafting!
Like many others, sewing did not become part of my daily life until 2020 arrived with a lack of available PPE. I had been gifted a Singer Simple sewing machine that was just waiting for the time to learn how to use it. With lockdown and YouTube videos, I felt pretty sure I could sew a straight line. Out came the sewing machine and off I went making piles and piles of masks. If you sew, you know that acquiring fabric and using it are two entirely separate hobbies. My acquisition far outstripped my usage, so when the need for masks lifted, I found myself with a ton of fabric. I had no clue what to do with it all, but my local quilt store started a sew-along for beginner quilters and I signed right up! Those first few blocks were so addicting that I ended up consuming YouTube tutorials at an alarming rate and made so many mini quilts that I became known as "that Liz... the one who quilts so fast!" 😊
After months of sewing, I was hooked! I upgraded my simple sewing machine with a sturdier one and ended up with so many quilts, bags, and household decor that my friends and family convinced me to sign up for a Holiday Gift bazaar at that same LQS! I'll never forget the first bag of mine that a fellow quilter took home with her. I kept sewing throughout 2021 and seeing her still carrying that first purse into the 2nd Holiday bazaar made my day. 😊
Unfortunately, the pressure to keep up got to me. I'm not a very good self-promoter and struggle to consistently share my makes. I just love the crafting and the kudos, like many other neurodivergent crafters. After sewing an average of 6-8 hours per day nearly every day for 3 years, I found myself completely burned out and physically sick every time I sat behind my sewing machine. I ended up taking a 3 to 4-month break mid-2023. 😩
I had to learn to give myself grace and accept that I can't do all-the-things. It's super easy to purchase fabrics that inspire you, but it's a lot of effort to whip them into something you can use! I can't participate in all the sew-alongs that interest me. I can't make all the patterns as quickly as I want to. I can't do all the pattern tests or strike promotions. And you know what? THAT'S OKAY! It's okay to rest. It's okay to take a break from your hobby and come back to it later. It's okay to enjoy your hobby and NOT make it a jobby even if you're encouraged to sell your makes by your tribe. 😔
Of course, I've had 6 years of therapy helping me along this path of acceptance. Heh. My therapist encouraged me to start a blog to document my journey and maybe help others in similar states, so here we go. The start of a new year and I'm going to start a blog that may become a vlog, because it's way easier to talk than type. We'll see what the future brings, eh? 😸
~ Liz
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