I've been down in the dumps my friends. I was banking on sharing the above as my finished object this week, but my sewing machine had other ideas on Sunday. Consequently, I have no finished object and my machine's packed up and awaiting repair. Of course the whole incident sparked a completely illogical, end-of-the-world kind of reaction from me...please tell me I'm not the only one to overreact over something like this!?! I suspect though, that my overreaction was very much a product of the looming deadlines I'm working to...which is a little stressful to say the least. And the fact that I was told the problem is probably down to user error...without knowing what I've done wrong, how do I avoid doing it again?
In the end I had to give myself a very hard, mental slap and acknowledge that this is very much a First World Problem. I have absolutely nothing to complain about! So what if I'm sewing-machineless for a week or so? If that's my biggest worry right now, I'm a lucky son of a gun! The kind folk at Bamber Sewing Machines have even arranged for the machine's collection, repair and return.
So, feeling chirpier, I've made a list of all the things I can be working on to keep myself busy in the meantime. And it turns out there are plenty!
- I'm pretty happy with my Sew for Victory dress muslin, so I can get on with cutting out my fashion fabric.
- I can get on with drafting a dress for my last drafting class - I want to give it a 60s flavour so I can kill two birds with one stone and enter it as my make for Mad Men Dress Challenge 2.
- I've assembled my Archer pattern so I can cut out a muslin.
- I'm giving patchwork a go for a couple of selfless projects, so I have LOADS I can cut out for that.
- I can cut out my second version of my 30th Birthday dress, the fabric's a lot of fun.
- I can get excited about and start planning for an exciting challenge I've been invited to take part on - more on that later this week.
So actually, I'll be lucky to get through a third of all that before my machine's returned to me!
How do you fare in the face of minor 'adversity'? Are you calm and collected or illogical like me? Got any good tips for de-stressing and cheering yourself up?
Oh yeah, I've totally cried when my machine breaks. It's sad but true! :P Sounds like you have lots of great projects lined up - Hope the week goes quickly! :)
ReplyDeleteIf I get angry I mess up more, so I just step out and a solution will come to me. My latest project suffered an accident on the overlocker. I acknowledged ans left .. Few night later I thought how I was going to fix it. Helps not be focusing on the issue... You been very busy...
ReplyDeleteI don't know what I'd do if I had no sewing machine for a week. That's why I have a backup machine. Okay, 7 back up machines :)Looks like a purty project!
ReplyDeleteI typically get mad and complain until my dear hubby tells me to get over it and shop :)
ReplyDeleteThen I take myself to the fabric store, fondle the merchandise, and buy some in anticipation of my machine coming back to me!
When i took my overlocker in to be repaired, he broke a part in it which needs to be reordered and will take 6 weeks to come in... I cried
ReplyDeleteNot a sewing machine problem, but because I constantly design everything myself, I get mad and throw a project across the room at least twice a year or so. And this is from someone who graduated from fashion design school!
ReplyDeleteThis one is because I had to switch the location of the zipper (and I hate sewing zippers) and the garment has a full lining which is sometimes annoying to do since you have to be careful which seams you sew up first. Gah! It's not hard at all, but I get mad when I have to do things twice.
It's totally fine to get mad/cry/walk away from your projects. Sometimes it's just not the time to finish them. :)
No no, you are not the only one. Don't feel bad! I was in a funk for a week after my Clovers didn't work out. And then my serger broke down on me right at the end of making my bridesmaid dresses and I just about lost it! You're right though, now you'll have lots of time to cutting and drafting done so it's not so bad :) Good luck, sounds like you've got some great stuff lined up!
ReplyDeleteThat's the attitude! Good for you!
ReplyDeleteI completely get this. It happened to me not long ago but I had to plump for a new machine. I kept busy by getting ready for my next project. Good luck with your projects - they sound great.
ReplyDeleteSo far I've been lucky enough that my sewing machine hasn't broken down on me. I don't know what I would do, probably get irritated by how much money it will cost to fix it....
ReplyDeleteHope you machine comes back to you as good as new!
I'd be devestated if my either of my machines suddenly needed a repair! I left my regular sewing machine for service at the dealer last summer, carfully planned so it would be there while I was out of town. (And I still had the overlock.) But that was just a routine service to keep it going strong, any sudden problems... that would be worse.
ReplyDeleteHope you'll get it back soon, and it does sound like you have plenty of stuff to keep yourself busy with in the meantime =)
I was devastated when my old machine broke down. Even more so when the repair shop dismissed it as a 'cheap plastic machine that wasn't worth repairing'. Didn't they know this machine is a big part of my life?!!! I replaced it almost immediately but it took a long time to fully get over it.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain Marie! Chin up, I am sure the good folks at Bamber will sort it out and you'll be up and sewing again in no time.
I understand. Even if it's a small stress, when it's piled atop a bunch of other small (and large) stresses, it can break you. I've cried over many minor annoyances when they have come while I am already strung out with anxiety or worry. Hang in there! Take deep breaths. And a long bath with a glass of wine...then get back to sewing ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm totally illogical as well. My sewing machine is acting up? End. Of. The. World.
ReplyDeleteI'm normally quite a nervous person, so when I have this kind of problem I completely overreact. I've cried my eyes out when my serger wouldn't work and when I took it to the shop, it was repaired in an hour...
ReplyDeleteI should probably try to be calmer and breath deeply before exploding. Your reaction was very productive, good girl!
Erm, yeah I'd probably lose it if my machine went for a burton mid project too! Nicely turned around though hun. You're quite right. It looks like there's shed loads you can be getting on with in the meantime.
ReplyDelete(BTW,You have loads of time. No-ones gonna keel over if you miss a deadline or two ;)
Px
Oh man, what a bummer! If I was in the middle of a project and had to have it finished by a certain date then I would be pretty upset. If I didn't have deadlines I would be bummed, but would do what you did and make a list of other things to focus on. At least when you get the machine back you will have plenty to work on, right?
ReplyDeleteOh, gosh, I totally freak out in the face of minor setbacks. I always have looming deadlines with sewing and feel like I'm hopelessly behind schedule whenever I can't use the machine, so I can totally relate! But it sounds like you have other fun things to work on in the interim. Wishing you a healthy machine ASAP!
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain! This happened to me a few weeks ago but luckily it was a quick fix and I got it back soon. Sorry you're stressing, but you have a great attitude about it and that's half the battle. When you can't change your situation, change your attitude. All will be well :)
ReplyDeleteI fully admit I've had some melt downs although none for a couple years now. My cure you ask? When I went back to school a couple years ago and I watched other girls in my classes have unreal meltdowns I thought "holy crap do I look like that?!" and I was cured....
ReplyDeleteYes I still get frustrated and mad but it's fleeting thank goodness. I just walk away and come back another day.
I should definitely get on with my Mad Men Dress Challenge 2 dress as well! I liked your birthday dress so I'm sure your next version will be just as lovely.
I was bawling when I thought I broke my first sewing machine. That's what got me in to vintage sewing machines. Now I have plenty of back ups in case the worst happens =)
ReplyDeleteYou are so not the only one. And I don't think the reaction is illogical either. My machine blew a fuse the other day when I turned it on (cheap bulbs, won't make that mistake again). I was devastated, I even posted on Facebook asking if anyone had a machine I could borrow to finish my project, and seriously considered driving into town and getting a new machine on my credit card. Luckily my husband came home, diagnosed the problem and fixed it. Despite this I am going to my mum's this weekend to get hers that she never uses to keep here as a back up. So I totally understand.
ReplyDeleteFeeling your pain... my machine is in a queue at the repair shop too. Wishing them both a speedy repair and recovery!
ReplyDeleteI totally feel your pain - and doesn't it seem like the biggest sewing machine disasters always happen when you are in the middle of a dealine?! Ugh! This is actually why I have multiple sewing machines - a person always needs a back-up (although I actually have 3 back-ups soooo I might need to work on that haha). However, I don't have a serger back-up - and my serger was giving me hell the other day, while I was trying to finish the edges so I could prewash my new stuff. LAME. I got it to work, but I'm not looking forward to the inevitable 10 day waiting period while I get it a much-needed service. woof.
ReplyDeleteOn the flip side - sewing is a very solitary hobby, so at least no one can see us when we melt down :)
Oh man, I've totally been there... Having a sewing machine break down really sucks, I completely know what it's like. I now have 2 machines, just in case, and am on the lookout for a second serger at a reasonable price... just in case! :) Here's hoping for a speedy recovery!
ReplyDelete