Over on Instagram we’ve been reflecting on our creativity in 2024. (Check out our posts here - Emily, Leanne and Xanthe.)

One common theme we’ve noticed is a sense of disappointment with what we achieved (or more to the point, didn’t achieve) in our personal creative journeys.

We all lead full and very busy lives. And while it’s easy to say that we just need to ‘adjust’ our priorities to make room for our creative pursuits, the truth is that it’s often easier said than done. There’s bills to pay, kids to feed, washing to do… You know what we’re talking about, right!?

So we thought it would be helpful at the start of the year to share some tips for making room in our lives to sew when time is short.

HOW TO MAKE TIME TO SEW WHEN TIME IS LIMITED

Here’s 7 tips we’ve put together to help you make time in your busy schedule for this creative pursuit you love - sewing!

Not necessarily every tip will be applicable for you and your life. We recommend reading through and choosing those that are easy for you to do straight away. Implementing just a couple of things quickly will be more effective than having grand ideas about implementing all of them and not actually following through with any.

Have your space set up and ready to go

We know this one isn’t an option for everyone (if this is you skip to step 2!), but if you can keep your space set up this will encourage you to sew when you don't have a lot of time to spare. Make sure to tidy up at the end of each session so that it's always ready to go!

Time how long it takes to get your sewing space set up

If you can’t have your sewing space set up at all times, time how long it takes you to set it up. You might realise that it takes a lot less time than you think. Knowing it only takes a couple of minutes, may reduce the barrier / resistance you feel when you’re not sure if you have the time or energy to sew.

If you don’t like how long it takes you to set up, consider things you could do to reduce that time. For example, can you:

Create a sewing ‘go bag’ that includes all the basic sewing tools you need? Then when you have a spare 15 minutes you just need to whip that out with your sewing machine and get going.
Store your equipment in a way so that all the regularly used items are at the front of the cupboard so you can quickly grab them out and get to work.
Keep your sewing machine plugged into a power point (switched off at the wall, of course!) inside the cupboard it’s stored in so all you need to do is pull it out, take off the cover and turn it on? (You might need an extension cord for this one!)
Have a number of projects on the go at different stages, so if you only have a few minutes you could do the hand-stitching that needs doing, or that final hem, or making a start on cutting out or tracing off a pattern piece.

Try sewing in small pockets of time

Try sewing in 10-15 minute bursts. If you're working from home, this might mean sewing for a few minutes of your lunch break. It could mean sewing for 15 minutes before you leave for work.

You’ll be amazed at how much you can achieve over the course of a week. Not to mention how taking 10-15 minutes for yourself like this can make you feel throughout the day.

Sew instead of scroll

A lot of us are guilty of this one (we know we are!) - saying you don't have time to sew, but spending way too much time looking at other people sewing on Instagram!

Consider taking some social-media-free time and using that time to sew. Or, set a timer for your daily scroll, and when it goes off, get your sewing machine out and sew for the same amount of time.

We think social media scrolling can also be a sign of lost motivation. If that rings a bell for you, this post we wrote about finding your sewing motivation may be helpful.

Use project bags

Project bags keep everything organised so that when you do have time to sew, it's all ready to go! To make a project bag you don't need anything fancy - just something that works for you. It could be a clear bag with a zip, or something that can hang in your wardrobe or store in a drawer. Sew your own with our Organise your space project bag, originally shared in Issue 17 of Curated by ITF.

When preparing your project bag, it's great to have the pattern instructions in there (if you normally print these) and any required notions and thread.

Have supplies ready

It can be a good idea to have a supply of neutral coloured zips and thread on hand for when you need them. You can often use a different length zip than what the pattern calls for - just make sure you will be able to get the garment on and off. You can also shorten zips that are too long.

Finally, consider what it is specifically that’s preventing you from diving into this creative pursuit you love.

If it’s a skill that you feel you’re missing or you’re stuck at a particular point in a project, you can always drop us a line!

A couple of times a month we answer sewing questions from our followers in our Q&A posts. You can check out all the questions we’ve answered so far here. And if you can’t find an answer to your question, leave it with us here and we’ll see what we can do!

We’d love to know how you find time to sew in your busy life? Share your thoughts and tips in the comments.

Happy sewing!

Emily

In preparation for this month’s Curated by ITF project, the Sewing Mindset Journal, I was reflecting on my creativity in 2024. As I thought about it, my initial response was to cringe and question what I had even sewn this past year. My head began to take me down a track of self-judging and disappointment because my creative output felt a long way off where I’d like it to be. As the owner of a creative business it can be easy to set unrealistically high expectations for myself, especially if I start to compare myself to other creatives.

Thankfully, I was able to quickly stop myself from heading down this track too far. And I realised that, in fact, 2024 was a pretty productive year! Especially considering I have a busy 2 year old in tow, I had to navigate an unexpected studio move and am now only working part-time.

Now, as I look back over the projects we have released to our Curated community since January last year, all I feel is pride. Somehow, a condensed working schedule and being able to find my creative flow quickly has allowed me to hone in on what my work is truly about - interesting, thoughtful and wearable patterns for modern makers.

What is creative flow?

The Cambridge dictionary defines flow as a pleasant state in which someone is giving their attention completely to what they are doing, not thinking about anything else, and doing it skilfully and easily.

What does creative flow mean?

To me, creative flow is that feeling of inertia when everything just comes easily and naturally. It’s when I forget to look at the time or check my phone and just fall into the process of making.

It’s when I don’t think too much about the finished product, but instead focus on the step that is right in front of me and trust that my hands will know what to do.

It’s when I remember why I have been sewing and creating since I was a child and why sewing and patternmaking became my career. It’s when I feel like I could never have done anything else.

How finding your flow can improve your productivity

If, like me, you have looked back at your creativity levels in 2024 and felt a little flat, it may be helpful to spend some time considering what you can do to help you enter a state of creative flow.

However, while finding your creative flow can be really helpful for increasing creative productivity, I don’t think that should be the focus. Instead, I think the benefits will be found in focusing on how you feel as a result of finding that flow - the emotional well-being that it creates within you. And if you happen to be more productive as a result, then that’s just an added bonus!

Tips for getting into a creative flow from some In the Folds team members

Emily

1. Making without a deadline. The stress of a deadline can either make or break your flow. I’ve learned that when I have time to just create something without a deadline breathing down my neck, I have more chances of getting into the sweet flow state.

2. Having an organised space. Just being able to move between processes easily without thinking

increases the chances that I’ll sink into that feeling - not having to think about where my tools are or

worrying about tripping over a pile of stuff or an extension cord!

3. Listening to an engaging podcast often gets me into a state of flow. Enough of my brainspace gets used by paying attention to what I’m listening to, so I can just let my hands do what they naturally want to do. If I'm trying something tricky or for the first time, a music playlist without lyrics (like Deep Focus) works better.

Xanthe

As a working mum of four, getting into a state of creative flow is most definitely linked to balance.

I find that if my priorities are out of balance, it can be very hard to enter a state of flow. If I’m trying to

be creative, but I know I really should be doing something else, then it’s almost impossible to find flow because of the guilt I feel about not doing ‘that other thing’. Interestingly, I probably don’t enjoy the creative time as much either! Some things that help:

Setting time aside that’s specifically set aside for creativity
As someone who really struggles with a blank canvas, having some kind of constraint can also be helpful for finding creative flow.
I love a hard deadline. It gets my creative juices flowing because I simply have no choice!

Alys

Bouncing an idea around, finding inspiration and playing with new possibilities gets me super excited about how to put it into action. This excitement and energy kick-starts my flow state, wanting to make that idea a reality!

Now, over to you…

What does the creative flow mean to you?
What helps you get into a state of flow?
How can you intentionally create more of these moments?

We’d love you to share your thoughts in the comments on this post!

And if they’re making you think more about your sewing process and you’d like to dive a little deeper, here’s a page from our Sewing Mindset Journal for you to download. The Journal is a great resource to help you prep for the year ahead. It’s designed to support your sewing journey and help you develop a positive and productive mindset towards your creative practice through various exercises, prompts, and reflections that encourage you to explore your motivations, set goals, and overcome challenges.

FIND YOUR CREATIVE FLOW WITH THIS FREE DOWNLOAD