Sewing without limits

Sewing is a way to express yourself

I sew whatever comes to mind and whatever my hands find – What about you?

Based on my previous two blog posts, you might have already gathered that my approach to sewing is perhaps a little unconventional, even though I consider myself a traditional sewer. By ‘traditional,’ I’m referring to the underlying reasons, values, and needs behind what I do. For me, however, the act of sewing itself is a way to express myself and be creative. Sewing is like an art—there are no boundaries or one ‘right’ way to do things.

Pictures: Designing my own sewing pattern is like dancing or enjoying a good cup of coffee—you get so immersed that time and place fade away.

Climbing to the tree backwards? ABSOLUTELY!

In my life, I’ve followed a sewing pattern to the T only once. Otherwise, I’ve figured things out as I go, without any formal training. And you know what? I love it! There’s a Finnish saying, ‘perä edellä puuhun,’ which is difficult to translate directly (‘climbing to the tree backwards’) but can be compared to the idea that you shouldn’t rush and should proceed thoughtfully. This also encompasses the idea of preparing carefully before starting a project and having all your tools close at hand. But I like to challenge this idea because, as a mental health professional, I think that this kind of mindset can actually become a barrier to starting something, such as a sewing hobby. I dreamed of sewing, but I got stuck on the idea that I needed to master the basics before I could begin. I thought I needed to have both a sewing machine and a serger, know how to read instructions, and understand terminology. For me, this made it too overwhelming due to my demanding mindset. I was certain I would fail before I even started sewing. That’s why I deliberately decided to ‘climb the tree backwards’—to do it first and then think about how I did it. 

Another Finnish saying is ‘oppia kantapään kautta,’ which could be translated as ‘learning the hard way.’ But isn’t this highly relative and subjective? When it comes to sewing, I found that this second approach worked better for me, and I didn’t find it harder—in fact, quite the opposite. Gentle goals encourage and motivate you to jump in, and even if things don’t work out perfectly right away, you can still be proud of what you’ve made. That, in itself, carries great significance and value—it’s something you created with your own hands!

Pictures: More Frill Pls Dress.

I just want to create…

As I mentioned in my previous post about my studies and the Blooming Happiness Dress I designed, I wanted to continue the sewing journey. I designed four more pieces: More Frill Pls Dress, Wonderland Dress, Woodstock Shirt, and VaVaVoom Pants. All these designs were created using the skills and knowledge I gained through self-teaching and one school course. In other words, I knew only a little, but because I simply wanted to create, I ended up making a few designs that I think are really amazing. Writing detailed sewing instructions is challenging to me and my brains, but luckily, there’s always help available from others. That’s why I’m pleased to say that I plan to publish sewing instructions for a few of these designs when the time is right. I don’t want to rush these things; often, life has a way of getting things done when the moment is appropriate. These instructions will be very beginner-friendly and easy to follow, and through them, I encourage you to try and practice. It doesn’t matter if your seams aren’t perfectly aligned or if there are wrinkles at the neckline—the most important thing is the joy you get from making.

I also highly recommend checking out the free sewing patterns available on Bernina’s website. Every month, they publish free patterns from old magazines, which are downloadable for that month. There are also many amazing pattern designers worldwide, so don’t hesitate to dive into their instructions.

But even so, you don’t need to buy patterns to start sewing—you can make your own. Back in the day, I often traced patterns from old clothes and came up with my own seam solutions. I always finished the edges with a zigzag stitch because I didn’t have a serger at the time. Then, I just sewed. Many times, the seams didn’t turn out right, but I’d rip them apart with a seam ripper. I ripped out so many seams that, instead of hating it, I came to accept it as part of the process of sewing. It doesn’t matter if you need to undo your work and start again—your skills will grow in the process! That isn’t failing; it’s learning.

I’d love to hear what you sew and what thoughts you have! Is it easier for you to sew with ready-made patterns, or are you a free spirit like me and sew based on what feels right? Leave a comment below! It’d be nice also to continue the conversation on my Instagram (@kudelmiani), so if you have any thoughts, I’m here! 

Picture: Crafting is mostly about creating together! You and I—let’s support each other and let the joy of sewing guide us to places we never even dreamed of!

This is my third and final post in a series of three blogs. I welcome any feedback or thoughts you may have. Thank you for taking the time to read my blogs. I hope they’ve brought you joy and inspiration to start and continue sewing.

With love,
Suvi  
@kudelmiani