Back in November I wrote about ways you can support you favorite local quilt shop. Of course I mentioned shopping there but I also included a nice list of things you can do that make a difference that don’t cost a dime. How to be a BFF to your LQS is totally worth your read but today I would like to talk about fostering a culture that respects and uplifts its makers. About creating as a worthy pursuit that is a culturally valid use of our time, our attention and our monies and how we reignite that passion and practise at its most basic level.
While I personally swim in a pod that is culturally rich with creators I know that this does not reflect the world as a whole. There is not a time when I mention what I do for a living when making contact with the outside world that people don’t question if sewing is still a valid and worthy pursuit. “People still do that?” or my personal favorite “my grandmother used to sew, she is dead now”
Dead grandmother’s aside sewing is still a worthy and amazing endeavor that we need to be teaching to not only the upcoming generation but to those friends who missed the empowerment of knowing that you CAN create what you see. You can do anything from quilting and sewing with leather like the amazing Cathy Wiggins to clothing like Trudy at HotPatterns to quilting like Jamie Wallen. Not to mention reenactment sewing, Cosplay sewing and much more! Like really, there is something for EVERYONE in the world of sewing.
Sewing is not just one thing, and by letting whole generations of people off the hook from learning it at least as a basic life skill we are doing them a major disservice and this responsibility rests firmly on our shoulders.
The average american is watching 5 hours of tv a day – 5 HOURS. That is an amazing amount of time that could be converted from passive entertainment into creative potential. Facebook gets more eye-time than even that… these are the things that make so many people say that they “don’t have time to learn to sew” or that when they retire they plan on sewing.
It is not all doom and gloom I am glad to report. Cosplay sewing it growing every day and for these people I am sad to see the closing of places like Hancock Fabric’s across the country since if you need faux fur, metallic slinky or other amazing fabrics to make a costume they were one of just a very small handful of national retail shops where you could find such things and now they are to be no more. (Honestly their quilting cotton was subpar and sucks, but they rock the snake print vinyl!) Hancocks is one of the bigger victims of the lack of sewing knowledge in our day when we also see local quilt shops struggling to stay open and many falling under as well.
So how can you help?
- Share your craft! Show off what you make and set up a time for friends to come to your place and learn to sew. Set up a hand sewing circle for lunch time at your work. Make up little kits from your extras that people can take home.
- Don’t be the sewing police. Everyone was a beginner at one point and perfection is NOT the goal right out of the gate. Be you not the ass-wipe who kills someone else’s sewing mojo.
- Be Sew-helpful – Let children sew. Let them fart around on your sewing machine just learning what it can do. Give them a BASIC lesson and then let me loose. Provide them with fabric and thread and good scissors of their very own. Be their cheerleader not their critic no matter how much you have to bite your tongue to do it.
- Be sew-generous – If you are in the position donate an unused sewing machine to someone who wants to learn. There are more than enough extra sewing machines languishing in closets that no one who wants to learn to sew should be without a machine.
- Be sew-social and invite anyone who is interested to be part of the fun. Don’t exclude people with testicles! Men make amazing sewing artisans when given the chance. Open the door wide for them so that any stigma involved can be shed on the way through.
- Be sew-open– Not everyone who sews (or wants to sew) is going to look like you. As a quick check list – they might be younger or way older. They might have multiple facial piercings or hair that is 6 different colors. They might dress in clothes you don’t understand or listen to music that confuses you. Hell they might be your doctor, your lawyer or the guy who picks up your trash… remember everyone sews… or can sew with a little help
So tell me, how are you helping to spread the good news of sewing?
