Listen to the episode
Falling Out of Love with Sewing – The Asian Sewist Collective Podcast
Links Mentioned
Patterns & Designers mentioned:
Panini Pleated Top by SewLike
Atlas Top by Stitch Witch
ZW Pants by Birgitta Helmersson
Valerie Rashguard by Jalie
The Artist’s Box Top by Artist Made Patterns
Sewing Friends Mentioned:
@marikoabecreative
@terrancewilliams_
@handmademillenial
@bypaary
Transcript
Ada
Welcome to the Asian Sewist Collective Podcast. The Asian Sewist Collective is a group of Asian people from around the world brought together by our shared appreciation for fiber and textile arts and our desire to see more Asian representation in the sewing community.
Nicole
In this podcast we explore the intersection of identities and our shared sewing practice as we create a space for Asian Sewists and our allies.
Ada
I’m your co-host, Ada Chen, and I’m recording from Denver, Colorado. Denver is the traditional territory of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho peoples. I’m a Taiwanese American marketer, turned entrepreneur, and these days you’ll find me running my natural skincare brand, Erleia. That’s E-R-L-E-I-A. Find us on social media at Erleia Skin. Most importantly for this podcast you can find my sewing at i.hope.sew on Instagram.
Nicole
And I’m your co-host, Nicole. I’m recording outside of Chicago, Illinois, the original homelands of the Council of the Three Fires, the Ojibwe, the Potawatomi, and the Odawa people. I’m a Philippine American lawyer who loves to sew and you can find me on Instagram at Nicoleangelinesews.
Ada
Welcome back listeners. I know it’s been a little bit of a while. We did a live a few months ago where we left you hanging.
Nicole was going to come visit me and we were going to have a great sewing, I don’t want to say retreat, but like sewing hole up in my sewing room in the basement session.
Nicole
Mm-hmm.
Ada
And then life happened.
Nicole
Yeah.
Ada
So that kind of will hint at why we’ve been away for a bit and what happened, but the theme of today’s episode that we’re back on your feeds with is falling out of love with sewing and maybe falling back in love with sewing, you know, kind of relevant with Valentine’s Day coming up. But Nicole, would you like to give the listeners some context into what’s been going on in our lives?
Nicole
Yeah, so a lot of you follow me on Instagram, and I think I’ve been very publicly grieving a few different things. But when we last spoke on the live, I had quit my job, my husband had gotten laid off, and my grandma was sick. And then by the time I went to go see Ada, my grandma had passed away. And I was so grateful for Ada for, you know, still, you know, welcoming me, like offering me option to come and see you. And, you know, I was like, yes, i I do want to come see you and it’ll be a nice separation because she was ill before and you know I got to spend time with my grandma which I which I’m really grateful for but 24 hours after I landed in Denver my dog who you have heard about Zizou was having seizures at home and I hightailed it back to Chicago where he passed the next day so all of any plans that I had just kind of went out the window with you know and and into the bucket of grief and worry and and all that so you know thank you everyone for allowing me to mourn so publicly and for giving us the space to live our lives and do what we need to do you know we do. We’re human beings and lots of stuff happens, but it’s always really great to get back on the mic. Ada and I checked in with each other before and it’s always so good to see you. and But we’re happy that we can come back today to chat with you a little bit about falling out of love with sewing, which is something I’m not fully falling out, but ah ah it’s it’s taken a back burner and I thought, hey, let’s just talk about it.
Ada
I think it’s also kind of, it ties into where we are, like, stage-wise as sewists, right? We’ve obviously come a long way since we started doing the podcast in terms of skill level and the projects that we choose to do or choose not to do or choose to stop and live in our WIP pile, right? And I know for me, like I had kind of, I will admit fallen a little bit out of love with sewing until the last year or so when I picked up teaching at a friend’s workshop and you know, we’re we’re not teaching anything super far out there beyond my skill level we are definitely getting folks into sewing and kind of walking welcoming them to the craft and the hobby and you know sometimes saying welcome if you don’t like it here that is fine make a different craft craft um but it’s definitely very much like having to teach the skill has kind of like made me put my brain like on a different path of thinking about my own sewing I think and like what brings me joy and like what am I actually sewing for?
Ada
You know, obviously like I think some folks who follow me on Instagram probably saw that I did sew for my vacation in December. I am classic panic sew. I didn’t do as egregious as I have in the past, but we did make a matching top and bottom set and some other things to get us through. a And I definitely like had a lot of fun sewing those and knew what I wanted to make and knew what I wanted to add to my wardrobe. But I think having that teacher cap on, definitely made me a little bit more introspective about like what am I making personally at home and like what am I working on. like getting the perspective of like a fresh new beginner all the time definitely made me like think about it a little bit more and bring me it brought me back to sewing Did it make me sew more. Maybe not because I think a lot of my time was spent on building lesson plans and building out like curriculum and prepping materials and all that kind of stuff. But Yeah, I don’t know. Nicole, you said that the last thing that you sewed for yourself was the panini top from when you were visiting.
Nicole
Yeah. So I took a look at, I just took a quick look at the Instagram live that we did. And I think that was before my grandma had passed. And so we were talking about lots of different options and other, but I ended up going out and buying black for the funeral because it was something that I wanted to work on.
Ada
Yeah.
Nicole
And I made the short sleeve version. It was, radically set weirdly satisfying, but also kind of intimidating. Like look at all the pleats once you mark them. It’s like, oh, these pieces are huge. But it turned out really well. I haven’t relished in the make because the first time and the last time I’ve worn it so far has been at the funeral, all but I just I have so much fabric and I was so excited to use a lot of yardage because the pleats required a lot of it, I ended up going out and buying like just a some black Kona cotton and using some moon phase buttons which were hidden which oh I don’t know if I hid the placket but the design is a hidden placket but you know it wasn’t one of those things where I was like yes I made this thank you very much you know like I was just like I didn’t you know I didn’t end up going to my grandmother’s visitation because I was not in a place where I wanted to see other people like to compound the grief you know of losing Zizou
Ada
Fair.
Nicole
And my aunt, who was the primary caretaker for her mom, my grandma, was a really understanding. I was like, I’m really sorry. I don’t think I can be there. And she’s like, don’t even worry about it. I wore it to the funeral, but my sister, She was telling everyone that I made it. Isn’t that shirt great? She made it. like she know she’s I know that she she’s genuinely proud of me, and she said so but she said so several times when it comes to sewing. But know she was trying to show people, like you know still showcase my skill you know bring compliments, make me feel a little bit better. And it was really nice. But that was the last thing I sewed for myself. I did sew 40 fragrance sachets for the instructors at my pole studio.
Ada
Wow.
Nicole
There aren’t 40 instructors, pole instructors, but there’s different apparatuses and the people teach different things, and then there’s staff. And so what I wanted was something just like easy. And it was squares filled with rice and lavender and lavender oil. And so it smelled all very smell. It smelled very heavenly in my in my house when I was making it. But I you know wanted to to to just do something that was squares. and But that’s the last thing that I made. I made the panini shirt and those squares. and you know, falling out of love with sewing, like, I still love it. I still appreciate it. But given the events that have happened in the last few months, you know, gosh, there’s events leading up to my leaving, leaving my job. And then there was just like, October, and November, December, all hit, you know, I realized that I just don’t have the intrinsic motivation that is necessary for sewing.
Ada
And that’s okay.
Nicole
Right. Yeah, and that’s fine. I agree. I think it’s okay. I think i one thing is I’ve learned to be more gentle with myself. Sewing does require you to come up with an idea. and And even if you’re using a pattern, you have to know what you want to make. You have to pick the fabric. You’ve got to measure yourself. And there is a lot of, in my head, just about things in general. The question ah ah for what the question of why am I doing what I am doing? like what does what It’s not about the value that I bring to other people’s lives, it’s more like what am I choosing to do and what do I have energy for now and what do I want to let go of or pursue? And I just didn’t have the energy. mom also had surgery so then there was the additional responsibility to be like two weeks after that and then helping with care and then also helping with childcare for my sister who was housing my mom. so It’s just a lot, and I didn’t have the ability to sort of carve out the time, the energy, and the brain power it takes to sew. And so my space has just been dormant, which, you know, is fine. But you sew, okay, so going back to you, you sew, and you just made me laugh, the panic sew.
Ada
Mariko admitted to it recently too. Mariko is also panic sewing something, or was.
Nicole
it’s That’s that motivation, right? It’s like, oh, I got something to to make things for. I gotta do it. And I am i am but motivated both intrinsically and extrinsically normally, right?
Ada
Yeah.
Nicole
But with the deadline or panic sewing, it’s like, okay, this just has to be done, and I’m being pushed to do it, and I don’t have anything like that. so So just backing up, what did you make for your vacation?
Ada
I made an adjusted atlas top by Stitch Witch Patterns and zero-waste pants from the Birgitta Helmersson zero-waste sewing book in the same Batik fabric that my friend Lauren purchased for me as a gift and it’s black and white so it kind of like matched everything and I sewed those pieces because I knew I needed long pants in hot weather to be able to visit. We went to Southeast Asia so we were visiting a lot of temples and like similar to some certain places in Europe like you do need to cover your shoulders and you do need to cover your knees and ankles so I was like I need pants and the only pants I’ve sewn recently are like more heavyweight linens and corduroy or like just just not suitable for what we were going for in terms of climate or aesthetics so that’s kind of where that idea was born from. I also did cut out a box top, an artist box top of the same fabric that was like, I got out of three yards, like two tops and pants, which is pretty good for me.
Nicole
Wow.
Ada
And yeah, like minimal offcuts too. Like I was very choosy about how I laid out the pattern pieces, but the box top did not end up coming together because I think the last night before our flight, I was like, it is midnight. I have made a full top and bottom. And I had also finished a Jaile Valerie top rash guard in this cool floral UPF 50 rated swim fabric that I’d gotten from Blackbird Fabrics like a while ago. And I knew when I bought that fabric, this was what I was going to be making. I just never had that like occasion that I knew I was going to need a rash guard for until this trip. So I was like, Oh, okay, we’re going to get that rash guard done. And then I was like, okay, I got the rash guard. I got this top and bottom set. I also sewed a kind of like a knot top, twist top, like tube top. That one did not go so hot. That I think I just wrong fabric choice, like not enough negative ease and stretch.
Nicole
You need a tube top to go well.
Ada
It, yeah, it did kept falling off. So that one, not so much. But everything else, like, went pretty well. I wore a lot of me-mades that are part of my regular rotation. Like, I wore a lot of Weyland tanks that I’ve made before from ah LB Textiles. Those were in a lot of my pictures. I wore the zero-waste linen shorts that I made in the summer. And this time, before leaving, I did actually, like, add the belt loop and the belt in the pockets instead of my panics-o before the US opened to just get the pants done or the shorts done. So I did feel like I had me made wardrobe for most of the trip which was nice. That was kind of the motivating factor and what was funny was I think I came back and Terrence Williams is so funny. Posted recently. Some are like something about along the lines of like some of y’all need to stop panic sewing. Like it shows, right? Because the finishes are not there. Which is literally the linen shorts, right?
Nicole
Yeah.
Ada
Like I sewed the linen shorts to wear them one time and then I didn’t get around to finishing the linen shorts until I needed to wear them another time. There, for me, I was like, oh yeah, that is actually a good point.I don’t need to have something forcing my hand to get all the finishes I want. Like if I want to make some, if the next projects that I make or the future projects that I make, I should want to make them and wear them enough that I am, looking forward to those parts of the process, right? So like that’s kind of how I’m approaching it this year. I will say I also did finish the Panini top that we started together but as you know it cut into my armpit a bit so there are adjustments that need to be made on that. I haven’t finished them and then I’ve just been doing a lot of mending and like alterations on stuff that I have, right? Like I’ve blown through like three three pairs of Elizabeth Suzanne Clyde pants that I made in linen.
Nicole
More crotch blowing.
Ada
Crotch blowing, so much crotch blowing. And it’s like one of them I did actually mend with a patch and then it blew again. And so some of them might just be relegated to the linen scrap pile soon. But there are other things like jeans that were too long, dresses that were fell on the wrong places that I’ve been like just figuring out to kind of put it in there to put my skill to use because otherwise those garments really aren’t getting worn in my closet. And the thing that I am currently working on, which we started talking about before we were recording, is a off-white cream boucle between jacket. And I don’t think I told you what inspired this jacket, did I?
Nicole
No, you didn’t. And it’s so, so nice. It looks so nice.
Ada
I did buy, I think I bought about like five yards of this boucle when I first started sewing and I’ve just been sitting on it since. But for a good reason, dear listeners, sometimes you sit on that fabric and you wait until the perfect moment. My sister went to Korea over like the holiday break and she happened to stumble into a store with all of the different clothing options for dogs.
Nicole
Oh.
Ada
We’re talking Canada Pooch, Paw-tagonia like, like all of the things. So she, fittingly for Colorado, bought him a Patagonia.
Ada
We will see it in a few days or weeks. And she also bought him a tweed faux Chanel suit in an off white cream color kind of tweed boucle.
Nicole
Oh, yes!
Ada
and I actually have a vintage pair of off-white cream boucle like flare pants from Chanel that I like magically thrifted in New York one year and they are actually very comfortable they’re very impractical but they’re very comfortable and so like that kind of inspired the boucle fabric purchase and I was like one day I’ll make a jacket or I’ll make a full outfit listeners I was not inspired to make the jacket until my dog had a matching outfit for it. I will fully admit that. I chose not to, I do have some of the Claire Shafer Vogue patterns that give you that kind of like classic tweed suit look. I opted not to do that because as I was trying to figure out what I was doing with this fabric, I was browsing Reddit and there are some like fashion related subreddits that I follow and Taylor Swift went to a Kansas City Chiefs game
Nicole
Hmm.
Ada
in a very nice tweed, kind of bomber jacket style jacket.
Nicole
Interesting.
Ada
And she had a hoodie or a onesie, maybe, romper with a hoodie under it and like look made it look real casual. It was literally the look from Chanel Cruise 24, 25. People spotted the look and like posted it. It was the look from the runway at a football game.
Nicole
Hmm. At a football game.
Ada
And I was like, you know what? We’re not going for the full look, but I do like how they used tweed and like, in that jacket in that shape because it’s a little more modern and a little more wearable for me as like a I don’t need to just match my dog I can wear this to work I can wear this like out as a jacket and so I was like I want to make something like that and so I drafted my own pattern which also I think has been part of the inspiration I’ve been doing a lot more tracing and self-drafting and I traced a quarter zip that’s oversized that i have that i really like adjusted it made and adjusted the sleeves honestly to be like very billowy and need gathering and cut the paper pieces out of brown paper bags from the grocery store right
Nicole
Mm hmm. Sounds like a good use of brown brown paper bags to me.
Ada
and I had cut the lining to me this poly satin that I had in my sash and then I adjusted the outer because I tried it on and I needed I think a bit more ease around the middle to get the like sort of look that I was going for so then I had to cut the lining again obviously but the lining I didn’t have enough of that fabric so I dug in my like what I call the fancy fabric stash which is like where are all the soaks from the tweeds and the like ah ah you netting, laces, all that kind of stuff lives. so It’s like one corner of my stash. It’s not your everyday fabrics. And I found this beautiful two meter piece of Liberty Silk that I bought in London on a trip like two years ago. and it was It’s very floral and it’s very patterned and I looked at it and I was like, for me personally, I think it would be different for you Nicole.
Nicole
Maybe.
Ada
For me personally, this is not an outside fabric shirt, like, or outside shirt fabric. Like this is not something I will be wearing all the time. But as a lining fabric, it’s soft, it’s luxe, it’s got a pop of color and fun to it on an otherwise like solid colored cream jacket.
Nicole
Mm hmm.
Ada
I was like, why not? So I cut my, I recut my lining. I just finished attaching the lining to the body shell piece. And now we’re gonna work on the facings hem, collar, and cuffs.
Nicole
I love that. That is so cool. And the Liberty lining with the, the Lux feel like, well, the cream boucle with the matching pants and then the matching dog. ah it all sounds so wonderfully just indulgent and. I love that.
Ada
It’s so much easier when someone just gives you the curve. But I did learn some stuff. It was fun. I think like giving myself that challenge definitely made me want to get back into it and like finish this project. But I think I’m also at the point where with my sewing, like I don’t need to make more tank tops. I don’t need to make more t-shirts. I have plenty of those. I’ve made plenty of those.
Ada
When I need more, I can definitely make more and I probably will make more but now I’m at a point with my sewing where it’s like I’ve fallen out of love of replacing the things that I didn’t necessarily wear and my wardrobe will work for me and now I’m kind of in the mindset of like I only want to make things that I know I will definitely get wear out of and definitely like suit the style aesthetic that I’ve found, right?
Nicole
Mhm.
Ada
like there’s certain patterns that I bought at a certain point in sort was sewing like earlier on where it was like oh I got caught up in the hype or I saw a lot of people either like make it in different ways so I thought maybe I should do that and now I’m starting to learn like mmm that wasn’t exactly my style and that’s not something I’m gonna get wear out of so like what is my style and like what am I gonna get wear of like yeah
Nicole
Yeah.
Ada
that’s that’s kind of like what I’m approaching it with, which like, I don’t know how much wear I’m gonna get out of this boucle jacket.
Nicole
I wear my boucle jacket a fair amount. It’s not super warm, so it’s like an early spring jacket.
Ada
Yeah. Well, okay, I contemplated putting in a lining in between the liner and the jacket of like some sort of like insulated layer.
Nicole
Mmhmm
Ada
And then I was like, oh, but like, It is an off-white cream, so technically it could wear it in the summer.
Nicole
true
Ada
So would that make it too hot? And I was like, you know what, I’m just gonna stick with like layering as my strategy.
Nicole
Yeah.
Ada
We’re just gonna finish, finish on the boucle and then like thoroughly lint roll everything.
Nicole
Oh gosh, is it one of those fabrics? I had to do this with actually now that you’re reminding me when I did the, I’d like a wool poly boucle blend, the pink one. If you look on my feed, it’s a, it’s a pink coat.I do remember like just like hacking, like, well, when I started to cut and I was like, I think I need to wear a mask, um, in my house so that it’s not all over the place.
Ada
Yeah.
Nicole
But is it one of those like shedders?
Ada
Yeah, she’s a shedder. She is definitely a shedder. She shed all over my car when I was doing the hand fishing while we were driving this morning. I made the mistake of wearing black leggings while cutting some pieces.
Nicole
Oh no.
Ada
Don’t do that. Learn from my mistakes. Don’t do that. Or thoroughly lint roll yourself before you leave the house like that. But no, I’ve definitely been enjoying this project and like kind of savoring it a bit more and taking my time. It’s also just been fun to like apply the construction techniques that you already know. And like it’s one thing to follow a pattern and say like this one comes after this one comes after that one like we know.
But it’s another thing, I think, to take that knowledge and say, like, okay, I have these pieces of a puzzle, like, how do I put them together in a way that makes sense? And, like, kind of what I tell my students is there’s always gonna be more than one way to do something, and there could be more than one right answer. So however you figure out how to do it that works for you, like, that is the correct way to do it.
Nicole
Mm hmm.
Ada
Unless sometimes, like, there are literal correct ways to do things, like, top stitching, for example. There’s like, there’s not very many options there.
Nicole
Yeah, or backstitching. Yeah, you got to do that.
Ada
Back stitching, oh. Yeah, if you ever try to explain back stitching to a beginner, it’s an interesting conversation.
Ada
Sometimes we have to explain that the presser foot also needs to go down.
Nicole
Oh, my gosh.
Ada
But no, it’s fun. I do genuinely enjoy teaching. If anyone that has been to my classes is listening, hello. I do enjoy teaching. There’s actually been more demand I will say than we can fill right now.
Nicole
Hmm.
Ada
So we’re bringing on another sewing teacher, not garment focused, which is nice because then we can kind of like tradesies on things and like focus on our respective areas and what we enjoy and what we are good at.
Ada
and yeah I think because the local options have dwindled here in Denver and folks are not necessarily willing to drive like 45 minutes to an hour out of their way to go somewhere and which is where like a lot of the other like beginner classes are happening we’re kind of by attrition like one of the only not not the only but like one of the limited options I think in town so it’s been interesting to kind of ride that wave and welcome people into sewing and explain that making your clothes is more expensive than buying them the store.
Nicole
Yeah, you think you’re gonna save money by making your own clothes? You’re wrong.
Ada
Oh yeah we could do a whole episode about like what people come to Intro to Sewing thinking that they’re gonna do and thinking that they’re gonna like be able to do for cheap and what they leave knowing.
Nicole
Yeah, we can call it, so you wanna sew.
Ada
yeah
Nicole
Probably not for our main audience who already sew but maybe something that they can send to family members or friends who are interested. It sounds like self-drafting has been a good way for you to sort of revive your enthusiasm for sewing something for yourself. that that’s really cool and not something I’m going to be doing.
yeah
Ada
I will say also the other thing I’ve been doing is a lot of tracing, like my partner bust the butt seam of some of his favorite linen dress pants.
Nicole
Okay.
Ada
And when I say bust, I mean, I don’t know if he was doing a squat or like what was happening here, but full on, like gone. And it’s not even close to the seam. Like it’s not really repairable. But like looking at them, I was like, I think the crotch curve just needs to be scooped out of it. Like had you not just busted these pants wide open. So I spent one entire drive to the mountains, like unpicking those pants because they actually are ready to wear pants probably from like a J Crew or Banana Republic type store from probably like 10 years ago.
Nicole
Hmm.
Ada
And I was deconstructing it, kind of like looking at the construction like, oh, like you did nicer than just a surge here. And like you hit that. But I was deconstructing it to make pattern for use
Nicole
That’s cool.
Ada
So that I could scoop the crotch curve because like, I don’t know what he’s doing in linen pants or what I’m doing in linen pants because I have the same problem. but just like squatting too low or bending over, I don’t know.
Nicole
Yeah. yeah and So like you know challenging yourself in a different way and think is so is is definitely a good piece of advice for other folks.
Ada
Yeah.
Nicole
So something to try. I know for me, part of so but you know intrinsic motivation is not there currently, but I also am in a point in my life where I’m not working.
Nicole
And so my closet feels too much. It feels too full.
Ada
Mm.
Nicole
And even when I do start working again, I’m actively looking for a remote or a remote hybrid position. And I just don’t need all these clothes, but I also am not great about letting things go. It’s ah it’s more of a process for me than than other people. I think some people are like, nope, done, done, and done. And I’m like, nah, it’s just harder for me. And I can’t contemplate the idea of making anything for myself right now to put in my closet. Like part of it is again, I don’t know exactly what I’m going to be doing in three months and what I will be needing and whatnot, you know, and then then there’s the logistical, the container of my closet is no longer really containing anything well.
Nicole
And so I just can’t bring myself to even fantasize about making something and I don’t need anything.
Ada
You did bring up quilting as an option before.
Nicole
I did. Yeah, so that’s something that I started thinking about. you know I’d mentioned that I sewed up lavender sachets for the studio and it was squares. And it doesn’t seem like it wasn’t a heavy lift, it was squares. So I started, you know, thinking apart from I do need to rehab my sewing space and my home office still. We’ll get there. But I was considering quilting or learn ah making a quilt as a way to continue to appreciate the physical skill of sewing, the act of sitting at a machine, the the feel of of just moving your hands through something and and marrying it with an easy ass quilt. It’s not an ass quilt. It’s just easy something easy, right? I was like, what if I just make a quilt with squares?
Ada
Yeah.
Nicole
That’s it. Nothing out there. But because I am who I am, I was like, you know, puff quilts are squares. They’re made from squares. I’m contemplating it. What’s your reaction to that?
Ada
I love the look of puff quilts. i have decided that it is not in my future personally to make. I i like love a good puff quilt.
Ada
like I will appreciate it. For me, quilting, i I can do it. Do I enjoy doing it? Not the most. like There are plenty of folks out there, and I know listeners, you might be part of that group that like like quilting more than doing other types of sewing.
Nicole
Hmm.
Ada
For me, I understand it. I definitely appreciate it. and puff quilt though I don’t think I would appreciate it enough to warrant and justify me doing it. I think if you want to attempt one, it looks like it could be a lot of fun.
Nicole
It’s just squares, right?
Ada
It’s just squares.
Nicole
I, maybe not a puff quilt but something that will get me into that. So I’ve seen some really cute ones. I know that Ella from Handmade Millennial made one a while back, which was really cute.
Nicole
And so you what I’m trying, again, in the spirit of being gentle with myself and being understanding with myself, what I envisioned doing is cutting squares. And let’s just start there.
Ada
here for it honestly having taught beginners you would be surprised how difficult it is to cut in a straight line yeah i’m not even saying sewing in a straight line because sometimes like we practice in straight lines but sometimes they’re like this was not a straight line and i’m like yeah that’s a creative interpretation of a straight line for sure you tried you definitely tried the second pass will be better next pass will be better but
Nicole
Yeah.
Ada
Yeah, no, I like squares.
Nicole
Yeah.
Ada
I think the other thing that we talked about potentially like helping with motivation is pattern testing, right? like Have you seen a lot of pattern tests recently? I’ve been out of the loop.
Nicole
Yeah, so the truth is I have not even been on sewing Instagram. Today was the first day I checked sewing Instagram in a week and I had a bunch of messages, so I’m sorry if I wasn’t did not respond. So I like pattern testing, setting aside the acknowledgement that it is free labor and the compensation that is often provided usually in the form of a free pattern or two is not commensurate with the labor, it just isn’t. you know there’s that’s a whole conversation, but also what I am saying about pattern testing being a way to fall back in love with sewing is being held accountable to someone else for something. know that that motivates me. i I have done a lot of pattern testing, not i again, I haven’t sewn anything. in 2025, but I don’t post anymore about pattern testing. But it’s always nice to be a part of it because I can use my fabric, I have a goal, and then I know that I’m helping you know another designer put something out. And for me, it’s been really gratifying, but it also leads me to making things that I might not necessarily end up using myself. And it’s helpful in the practice this and because it’s usually toile stuff, like it’s a toile that I will, okay, i’ I’m going to do the good fabric next. I really enjoyed this pattern. I really enjoyed the process.
Nicole
But that’s that intrinsic motivation part after the obligation is over. So if you’re in a funk and you feel like you want to do something that that like there’s a level of accountability, and the accountability with pattern testing is not serious. I mean, it’s serious, you know, like we do want to honor the commitments that we make to each other, but designers are so understanding of like, real life. And they do know, like, I haven’t encountered anyone that doesn’t understand that like, what they’re asking of people is a lot compared to what they’re able to offer. So everyone’s really understanding, but it’s just like having that like Accountability buddy. Accountabilla- buddy. Is that…
Ada
yeah Accountabilla-buddy yeah.
Nicole
Okay. and Was that you? I think you taught me that term. I was like, I don’t know what.
Ada
Yes.
Nicole
Accountabilla- buddy. It’s kind of like that, but you’re also helping you know independent designer. So for me, one thing is I won’t test for someone that will require promotional photos. Which is nobody recently, they all get it, you know, they all get it.
Ada
yeah
Nicole
And a lot of designers will offer, like an affiliate discount code on launch. If you do provide marketing photos, um, that you get something, if someone buys from your link or uses your code for the launch discount, which I think is really nice, but it helps remove the that extra level of pressure of getting great shots, you know, and then making it putting it on your Instagram.
Ada
Yeah.
Nicole
And I just take the act of doing a good job with the pattern test by like really reading the instructions, really providing feedback, and providing good fit photos in a video, even if what’s going on with my face or my hair. there’s no makeup You know what I mean? like like As long as it’s good lighting and they can see the you know what it is, then then that’s usually enough. That is, I mean, everything’s laid out at the beginning, of course, but I have found that it’s a way for me to get motivated again. But since I haven’t been on Instagram, I don’t know what’s out there. I know that there is one happening right now that might be that is might be more appropriate for our Southern Hemisphere folks.
Nicole
So Gowry from bypaary B-Y-P-A-A-R-Y, you have heard from her on our podcast. She is an independent pattern and designer and she has some shorts. The test might be over. I know she’s doing a fit test. But, oh, two days ago as of today, which will probably be past the time this is published, but the Gayu shorts, G-A-Y-U, are open for testing. But if you’re feeling like you’re in a funk, take a look at some like who who needs help. will say just make sure that the terms of testing are what you want, the timeline. you know It works for you. If it’s a one-week turnaround and you can’t do that, then it’s OK.
Ada
Haha.
Nicole
Or if it’s something you’re not going to wear. like I love Gowry but it’s winter in Chicago.
Ada
Yeah
Nicole
And so I will leave the shorts testing to folks who are in the southern hemisphere or who are wherever they are in the world. that could hopefully use it sooner than I can. So that’s one way for sure. And so to recap what I’m hoping to do to kind of get out of my funk.
Nicole
And you know, falling out of love with sewing is not, it’s misleading because I’m not out of love with sewing necessarily.
Ada
yeah
Nicole
It’s just something I have to reignite a passion for to really get me going. So I am thinking about quilting. I have a couple of quilt kits that I bought like way back in the day from Wyldwood Creative. And they’re full kits. They’re patterned plus fabric. And I know I packed them away into a kit box. but So there’s a puff quilt, but then there’s there’s the one that I bought. I was like, this is really cool. It’s a circular quilt.
Ada
oh just really challenge yourself
Nicole
So I’m like, I think curves are going to be harder. Uh, maybe it’ll just, I don’t know if you’ve, you do. I mean, it’s probably not healthy, but and sometimes I’m like, nope, I just need to power through it. I just need to power through it. Just do it. Just like, you know, grit your teeth and and get it done. I don’t know if that’s what I need right now, or if I need just a square quilt, not a puff quilt, just squares or a jelly roll quilt. Have you done a jelly roll quilt?
Ada
Yeah, I have not done a jelly roll quilt because we’ve established that like quilting can do, not my favorite. I appreciate them for sure because I think they turn out really nicely and it takes a little bit of that like cognitive load out of the equation because you’ve committed to this jelly roll.
Nicole
Mm hmm.
Ada
But I think whatever you pick or you end up doing to kind of motivate yourself to sew makes sense like it’s the right one for you listeners if you’re feeling a bit stuck in a rut lost your sojo hopefully this is helpful in terms of what can inspire you to get back into sewing or sew something else I think oftentimes as garment sewists the two of us tend to limit ourselves to garments and like what we’re going to wear, what someone else is going to wear. But like you mentioned the lavender sachets, that’s an accessory. Also quilts are, you know, home goods at some point. If you do a quilt quilt, you could also take the quilting piece and turn it into a garment or turn it into something else. Like there’s plenty of other things to sew, even if it’s just like alterations and hemming that might reignite that spark for you and you know it doesn’t have to be tomorrow, it doesn’t have to be like even this year if we’re being honest. I think it’s more about like figuring out what does sewing mean to us, where are we in our journey with this craft right and hobby and what are we doing to serve ourselves when we’re doing it.
Nicole
I appreciate what you’ve said about not doesn’t have to be tomorrow, you know, just cause you’re not sewing and maybe you need a change or something different. It doesn’t mean that it’s over and it will always be there for you as it has been for us this whole time. And it’s okay to take a break if you need to figure out what it takes to fall back in love again.
Ada
I love that, especially after the 50 bajillion days of January this year.
Nicole
2025…
Ada
2025 really came for us. hey She said, it’s a new year, I am here to come for all of you. But yeah, I do think like sewing is one of those things that I personally practice as part of my self-care practice, right? And so it should be bringing me joy, it should be allowing me to de-stress, unwind, meditate a little bit. So it doesn’t have to necessarily mean that like you have to be pumping out clothes or quilts or accessories all the time or even like a curtain, right? It’s about what does it actually mean to you and how does this act of crafting serve you in addition to like the finished thing that you are going to make obviously factoring in other things like materials and sustainability and like whatever else you value in your practice of sewing. But yeah, I think you know, take your time, be gentle with yourself. Sewing I will always be here, hopefully. We won’t automate all of that away, I think it would be very difficult. And listeners, if you’re stuck in a rut, I hope this was helpful.
We will be back with a few more episodes in your feeds in the next a few months. We’re probably going to be sticking to something similar to what we did in 2024, which is about once a month you’ll hear from us on your feeds. If you’re not already subscribed, subscribe in your favorite podcast player and follow us on Instagram because I guarantee you’ll probably be seeing more on Instagram than you will be on your feeds. Just nature of the social media content. wheel We are kind of always on there, even if we’re not posting. So if you have any suggestions for topics this year or ideas on guests, thoughts you want to share, voicemails, DMs, all of that kind of stuff, you know where to reach us at Asian Sewist Collective on Instagram or asiansewistcollective at gmail dot.com.
Nicole
Thanks for listening.
Ada
Thank you so much for joining us for this episode of the Asian Sewist Collective podcast If you like our show, please consider supporting us on coffee by becoming a one-time or monthly supporter or by buying our sewing labels. Your financial support helps us with our overhead expenses. The link to our coffee page is KO-FI .com Asian Sewist Collective and you can find the link in our show notes on our website and on our Instagram account. Check us out on Instagram at Asian Sewist Collective. That’s one word Asian Sewist Collective. You can also help us out by spreading the word and telling your friends We would also appreciate it if you could rate review and subscribe to this podcast on Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast
Nicole
All of the links and resources mentioned in today’s episode will be in the show notes on our website That’s Asian Sewist Collective.com and we’d love to hear from you Email us with your questions comments or even voice messages if you want to be featured on future episodes at Asian Sewist Collective@ gmail.com. Thank you so much to the other members of our collective who made this episode a reality. This is the Asian Sewist Collective podcast and we’ll see you next time.