"Older machines love having a thorough cleaning and getting all greased up on the insides every now and then."

Me too!

mmmm, sewing. i've not pulled out my machine in far too long.

Great idea!
I wished I could sew...When I took Home Ec in high school, the only part of sewing that I was any good at was ripping out the stitches that I had just sewn crookedly.:(
I do love cross stitching though...it is definitely relaxing.
And scrapbooking....Even though I am five years behind with my scrapbooking, I still love it.
Can't wait to see what you and your sewing machine create.

Here's to happy sewing!
Amy:)

I find that when I'm up in my craft room sewing (and all the related activities that go with) I don't even notice when I get "the nibblies." I can go for hours without food, and sometimes I even forget about coffee.
As a SAHM who is always near the kitchen and food items, being followed by a two year old who proclaims "JoMama: Hot Cocoa! Graham Crackers!" repeatedly at the top of his little lungs, any time I feel the slightest tummy twinge I find something to quell "the nibblies."
Getting involved in sewing is one of the biggest investments I can make in my mental health as well as my ever-expanding waistline.
PS--I just picked up a book at Barnes and Noble with a giftcard that you might be interested in called Sew What Skirts! by Francesca Denhartog & Carole Ann Camp. It shows how to make skirts that fit your own personal measurements without having to purchase a store-bought sewing pattern. Since you're in the no-buying mode, perhaps you can get ahold of one via the library.

JoMama-- loved your comment -- you also might want to check out Burdastyle.com! They have free patterns online :)

what happened to knitting? I think that is the most meditative, relaxing piece of Nirvana yet.

I've been working on meditation just lately (which kind of sounds like an oxymoron - working on meditating? but anyway) and I find it easier to repeat something to myself than just focus on breathing. I've been saying on the exhale "breathe out pain and anger" and on the inhale "breathe in peace." I know what you mean about having the yappy head. I went to a talk by a zen teacher who was telling us that if we are "in the moment" the chatter will go away. I wondered what would be going on in my head if it's not there?

My "turn the brain off" to the stuff of life is "playing" with photos in Photoshop. Even though I'm a computer programmer and work from a home office...just changing to that "hobby" thing that I love - it is like a mini-vacation.

Ooo, I have an old Singer like that too! But mine was owned by my great-aunt who was a seamstress so it's in a fancy cabinet with a matching cabinet on wheels for fabric and notions. AND, she has the buttonhole attachment thing that has it's own burgundy box. I haven't opened the cabinet since Christmas when I lined and put a zipper in the tote bag I knitted for my mom.

My mom has a Singer that's older than mine. Hers only does straight stitch and it weighs a ton because it's all metal. The sewing machine guy wants to buy it every time she has it in for a tuneup. He says they just don't make them that sturdy anymore.

Hmm, apparently today, my chihuahua is in control of my keyboard!

My fiance and I are moving into a new house in a week and a half. I will now have a bunch of windows without window treatments. In an effort to save money, I am thinking about sewing my own. I have an old sewing machine in my closet that is in desparate need of a tune-up. I am going to drop it off at the local sewing machine/vacuum shop for some work as well. Here's my question - why are the sewing machine places combined with vacuum repair shops? Do they have similar inner workings so that the technician is able to work on either of them? Things that make you (or at least me) go "hmmmm".

Okay,as one addict enticing another to try her drug of choice...Make a quilt! Start small and simple(a lap quilt with a no brainer pattern) and you will be hooked for life. And cats love quilts.

Oh, I'm sorry! I commented the other day that you had to try socks - but it's only because I've just started it and think it's so fun. I didn't mean to put additional pressure in your life!

I find cross-stitching very zen. Pulling the thread through the cloth, making those little x's over and over... you can kind of feel your brain slowing down. Though, my ex father in-law says it's a very OCD activity.

I wish I knew how to sew better than I do. Nearly every woman in my family sews well... except me, my abilities are only basic.
I will need to improve that though since a number of my friends are expecting little ones over the course of the next few months and I've got a few ideas for baby gifts floating in my noggin.

Oh - and I can't meditate wirth a cr*p either.

I have two--no wait three (some people collect figurines, I collect sewing machines)--Singers from the '40s. One came with a buttonhole device that looks like a big Swingline stapler and is the coolest toy EVER. I do test buttonholes just to watch it work!

Hey Laurie. If you are looking for something to sew check out the neat bag Meggiecat featured on her blog. It's a great tutorial. "One of my favorite craft bloggers, Diane Gilleland aka Sister Diane of CraftyPod, has contributed a tutorial for this tote to the fabulous CraftStylish blog. Diane's projects are always well written with step by step photo illustrations. She's also the author of DIY Alert, her blog about all the crafters and crafty stuff happening in Portland. You will wish to live here in Oregon!"

I can't meditate either! I tend to get sleepy and it turns into a nap. I tried tai chi and couldn't handle it being so sloooooow so my brain worked overtime to make up for it and it was not relaxing.

I'm sorry folks give you a hard time about your knitting. I like to say I have Craft ADD and need to switch up my knitting with other crafts too...sewing, needle felting, shrinky dinks :) And my knitting friends love the non-knitting things I make. I'd love to see your scarves or a painting or whatever you want to share. Whatever works for you is all that matters.

Sounds like a plan! I knit, but enjoy sewing because of the quick satisfaction. I made bags very much like the envirosacs--great project on craftster.org. I don't find it meditative like knitting though. I guess that's my active meditation.

About only knitting accessories - who cares? I remembered this post when I read your comment

http://www.grumperina.com/knitblog/archives/2007/08/a_complete_knit.htm

I have supplies for the sweater on the cover Interweave spring edition - have I done anything besides knit the gauge swatch? No - a sweater project is not public transit friendly and unless you are a very speedier knitter ala the Yarn Harlot, offers slow gratification. My first lace scarf project offers tremendous gratification - a new skill, easy to see progress and it fits in my work tote bag.

The purl bee has lots of fun sewing and knitting projects. Once I get my junk room cleaned out I hope to set my sewing machine up.

I had some comments here earlier that I deleted because some folks might be offended at the poor way I phrased it ... what I intended to say was that yes, I knit, and yes, I like knitting. It's great. However, I don't write about knitting much anymore because it feels stressful sometimes when people make comments implying I am not knitting the right things or knitting enough or writing about knitting enough for their satisfaction.

I'm sure there is a better, more evolved way to take these sorts of comments but I'm a dork and I often don't handle them very well! And it makes me never want to talk about knitting again, because apparently I am five years old.

In conclusion:
I like knitting. Enjoying sewing doesn't mean I don't also enjoy knitting, too.

Oh, the wonderful sound of a sewing machine at work! Laurie, one question: do you take your pins out as you sew, or do you risk danger like me and sew over your pins? :) I know I send a shiver down my mom's spine, wherever she is at that moment, whenever I sew over the pins. Hee.

I've had a huge boost to my creative side lately due to crafster.org. SO many things to get your imagination going! SO many things to make! And I love the monthly challenges.

My next projects are: kitchen curtains for a friend, some dancing dresses/skirts for me, few tote bags to use up some fabric samples, and then a purse for a friend.

You don't have to apologize for your cross-craftiness passions, ever. Most of us are not craft-monogamous. Talk about knitting or not, I will still read and enjoy you every day!

Sewing is right up there in zen-ness with knitting and other quiet, repetitive motion activities. It's like you body can go on autopilot and still navigate what you're doing, but your mind relaxes, gets lost and drifts to wherever - isn't that the essence of meditation anyway? No navels needed - they just collect sewing machine lint, anyway.

Glad you're pampering your vintage sewing machine. Mine is an early '50s Singer Featherweight (my grandmother's), highly collectible, with all the attachments and the collapsible wooden sewing table, in excellent condition. Only sews forward & backward, with a bulky buttonhole attachment that uses little sawtoothed templates in different sizes, and a zig-zag attachment, but I wouldn't trade it or sell it for my life. It's outlived two other newer Singers. They sure used to know how to make 'em. Although..what I wouldn't give to own a top-of-the-line Bernina Artista computerized sewing/embroidery machine...sigh...costs almost as much as a tank of gas. Even so, it could only suppliment the Featherweight. Enjoy your sewing, and show us your finished accomplishments!

i'm so happy you also sew. i love the suggestions for sites from your readers and will check them out.

i got my mother's old singer, probably from the same decade as yours. it runs like a dream.

Yeah, I suffer from a complete inability to shut up my brain, too. The active meditation saved me , and for me it was playing solitaire, not on the computer but actually putting the cards down, that clued me in.

I also watch baseball. And cats? Best.Thing.Ever.

How I wish wish wish that sewing was like that for me. I'm permanently broke, and I like to have pretty things, so I have to make them for myself. But machines and I have a very hostile relationship. I've had temper tantrums to beat the band when I've been sewing. I love the end product a whole lot more than the process. Knitting is my zen time. So is hand embroidery. No machines to get in my way :) I'm glad you have something that puts you in that meditative state, everyone should find that peace. I look forward to your fabulous creations!

I have had mine out for a bit but the "office" is, eh, not as decluttered as it neeeds to be. how do you shut up the inner Chihuahua? I have like, a whole herd of them. and they have been saying some pretty ugly things this past week...

Janice - Featherweights Rock! I also have my grandma's machine with the buttonholer.

Laurie - your description of things that keep you focused reminds me of a great book -- Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. I can't sit still and ponder my bellybutton either, but I CAN be mesmerized by things like painting, crafting, cleaning, etc. that take your brain to another level. Yay you! Here's to not beating yourself over the head.

Sewing for me created stress, all that finality, once you cut a piece of fabric that's it! Knitting is my meditation, the knowledge I can get it wrong and it doesn't matter helps, along with being able to gaze in to the distance and let my hands work away.

I'm kind of wondering.... what do you feed that chihuahua?!?!?!

Totally love to sew. Very meditative. I can be pinning and sewing for hours. And then, suddenly, I start goofing up my sewing and I realize it's time to move on to something else. I think it's like the therapist saying, "That's all we have time for today." But I walk away feeling great - and bonus - have created something.

My two favorite relaxing crafts are quilting & knitting, and for the first 10 years I made all my quilts by hand; I hand-pieced the blocks & applique & then I hand-quilted even bed-size quilts. It was a labor of love, very relaxing & I am a purist, so resisted machine quilting, but then realized that some of the piecing could be done on my machine more efficiently. Also good for altering clothes & making curtains and such. I have my grandmother's sturdy old Singer from the 1950s, and when I use it I commune with her, so it's all good. I know some people think they must have those fancy machines that do everything, but forward and backward is enough for me! Just read your comment about people implying you don't write enough about knitting, or knit the right things--are there rules to having a blog?! What if we all liked, or knit, the same things? How dull our world would be! Playing with yarn or fabric is one of my particular delights, and sometimes I accomplish nothing, but I enjoyed it immensely--that's all that matters. I'm sure the commenters only meant to encourage you to try different things--crafters in general can be quite enthusiastic & want to spread the joy. For the record, you could write about anything & it would be a delight to read--you've brightened many a day for a lot of us, and I thank you!

Dude - totally mortified that in joking about sock knitting I might have upset you! Mucho Apologies. I love your blog - I discovered it right after I learned to knit, and it was great reading about all the adventures of someone who was at the same "knitting stage" as me.

Regarding sewing - I really want to be able to do it, but I just can't. I cannot cut the fabric square, so I keep trimming pieces off until I get a hanky. Then I can't iron it square, sew it square....Being a perfectionist is really getting in the way. My mom just got a serger, and I have now half convinced myself that a serger will be the key to Total Sewing Greatness. Sewing and cutting all in one fantastic step! Fortunately, I have sworn off big new purchases...

I never wanted to sew clothes, but I would really like to be able to make tablecloths and curtains and duvet covers. I love all things home-makey.

Anyway, please continue telling of your knitting, sewing, gardening etc. adventures and misadventures. I don't think anyone will be surprised that you have interests in more than one thing that is crafty (speaking as someone who has a basement full of various craft supplies and unfinished projects - I have been cross-stitching something for my mom for 6 years).

OMG. You so hit the nail on the head with your description yet again! I have a yappy chihuahua brain too (some days it's a whole brood of 'em)! And like you, straight meditation doesn't work for me. I need a guided meditation or some activity to distract the chihuahua.

Like Jeannie, I'm a counted cross stitch person. I find it very meditative, and the repetition is calming for me. But then I also know I have OCD issues...it's why I'm a librarian who organizes stuff for a living (i.e. a cataloger). :)

As for my sewing machine and I, well suffice to say we're at war. It won the last battle a little over two years ago and I haven't touched it since. Grrr. Stupid machine (yeah yeah...no stupid machines, only stupid humans, I know I know).

I sew quite a bit, but I used to get in a hurry and mess up my meditation time. When I knit, I have no expectations about when the project will be completed so I don't stress myself out. So now I try to sew without overwhelming myself with production quotas and it's definitely more fun.

I love the whole process of sewing, the pins, patterns, fabric, thread, filling bobbins, etc...

I have an old Singer, too. Momma gave it to me for a wedding present, and when the X left, he took what his folks gave us (a mixer, I think) and I held on to that Singer for dear life! It's not a 'wedding present' anymore. It's a legacy from my mom, whose gone now.

I have pictures of my young family years ago where everyone in the shots were wearing the clothes I made them, including hub. My kids look back on that fondly, now. I made life-sized dolls & clothes & stuff for them. You're right about the Zen with that. BUT!!!

The formaldehyde in the fabric stores is treacherous, now though. I can't spend more than 10 minutes & I gotta bail.

I read camelama's comment and thought maybe the meditative difference between sewing and knitting is sewing has built in white noise...

I'm not craft monogamous either, but I find sewing with a machine doesn't induce the "active meditation" effect (love that phrase! so apt!) whereas cross stitch, hand piecing patchwork and knitting do.

My machine is a Singer from the early 1920s or before. It belonged to my great grandmother and has been passed down the maternal line. My grandfather put a motor on it in the 1960s and it's the machine my mother used to make her wedding dress, and a lot of my clothes when I was a child. It's so simple that it does only straight stitch, and that only forwards :o)

oh, and i thought i was the only one to give evil emails the finger.

Ok - the greatest thing I learned from a Masters in Special Education is: The DaVinci Method. Not Theory, Method. Only wait, it wasn't actually FROM the Masters program ... I think it was my Chihuahua telling me to read it. Anyway ... DaVinci Method is all about the Chihuahua in your head if you ever want a good read about how normal it is to have that going on! (And how to cope with those "enlightened" people who lack the yap.

I started sewing again a few months ago. What a delight! But I forgot what a pain in the tush it is to do all of that pinning and cutting and getting ready ... couldn't someone invent "ready to sew" patterns so we could just sit at the machine all day, watching the fabric go through?

That's all I want ...

I have a yappy dog for a brain too. It can be draining! I even took a class in college that involved meditating...good thing successful meditation wasn't necessary for a good grade in the class. My best forms of active meditation are cooking and baking, and walking the dog. Fortunately, I do both every day, just as part of my routine, so it's a way to keep me sane!!

My favorite "active meditation" is my spinning wheel. I have a lot of hamsters running on very squeaky wheels in my head. The act of spinning calms them down and greases their wheels.
I inharited a sewing maching from my uncle who was a fabulous taylor. He made alot of his own clothes. I don't sew well but am enjoying the process.
BTW I think you are FABULOUS!!! I love the quote from Drew. I'd put it on the wall here at work my co-workers would get the wrong idea.

I just finished reading the Eckhart Tolle book, A New Earth, that Oprah did a series on. He totally advocates active meditation (but he doesn't call it that). Basically any activity that commands 100% focus (such as those you list in your post) qualify.

I have an old Brother sewing machine from the 1970's. It's very sturdy and friendly, and although I don't really sew much (usually just mending and such), it's comforting to have around, like an old friend.

AND - - it's the only thing from Mr. X that I felt like keeping . . . well, other than my son, that is! :-)

Take pictures of your projects and share them, Laurie - - looking forward to seeing them!

OMG, what a cool post!!!

Now Laurie, tell me if I need to be committed!

I had a dream about you last night. We had run into each other at Target only to find out that we had matching 1990 suburbans(only with different back-end doors). You were buying a ton of fruity soaps and other beauty items for a give-away and then we went back to your house so you could show me your gianormous pumpkins, only they turned into carrots. Anyway, you gave me a little foot brush and some foot creme and told me to brush it on and wipe it off with a tissue(not to rinse it). My feet were so refreshed. Then I went to a school, where a bear walked down the hall with me to a classroom. There were a bunch of teachers sitting around and they all had little baggies you had handed out with the foot brush/creme and other goodies in them.

Is that crazy or what?

Now, about this sewing thing. I thought I was reading the WRONG BLOG because I've never seen you mention sewing before(or I've missed it somewhere). Sheesh. Sewing on a machine is too frustrating for me to consider it meditation. I'm the one flipping off the gnarled up thread and threatening to toss the whole thing out the window. If I were better at it I'd have lots more quilts than I do.

Can't wait to see what you come up with!!

Oh! I think you ARE Fab-oo-Lus!! (But not in the gay way) Thanks for the good advice and the laughs. I do the "active meditation" in my sewing room, too. pattern cutting, sorting scraps, whatever..., it's good for my soul.

I got out my sewing machine in March after not sewing for a long time. I couldn't stand to think about sewing something complicated so I knocked out some aprons with some of the scraps I've had for, uh, decades. I also want to make some grocery bags (after reading about them on your blog). I found I really enjoyed sewing again (I've been machine knitting for nine years and so quit sewing clothes). Sewing small projects are great to get your feet wet.

Nothing wrong with loving more than one craft/art! I knit and I make jewelry. I haven't sewn in awhile (OK, years!) but I'm going to get my old Singer out and give it a whirl again. If it will straight stitch and zigzag, that's all I really need.

Feel free to ignore the buttheads and bring back the knitting content. You make me feel ok about my preference to knit accessories. By the way, what ever happened to the sock yarn?

So... are you saying you're, uh, fabulous?

As yet another craft-polyamorous person, I have to say that I find most people are cross-crafters. Knitting is my main thing, but I like pretty much anything that involves making something out of something else.

I let my daughter have my early-80s Kenmore on long-term loan, so as to pass along the cross-crafting heritage, but I get to go over and use it whenever I want. The fact that she has room to set up a sewing table and I do not had nothing to do with it.

Oh, one note--don't do sitting meditation if you don't like it. *But* I think a lot of people think they fail at it because they can't clear their minds. The point of meditation is to *learn how* to clear your mind. No one can do it at first. Or for the first 15 years or so. I've been doing sitting meditation for at least 13 years and I still can only still my mind for a few minutes at a time--and I am very proud of the fact that I can do it at all!

I have a pack of those yapping Chihuahuas too. :-( Sadly, the only craft that can occasionally quiet the pack is spinning, but even that can't be counted on to work.

Sewing makes me swear, even though I love my old treadle machines. I collect old sewing machines, particularly the non-motorized ones (absolutely LOVE my handcrank!); I'm just not any good at sewing. Knitting goes sooo slow for me I never finish anything unless it's a dishcloth.

Have you read Carla's blog lately? http://purlyvictorious.blogspot.com/
She's been sewing alot! She's also been collecting vintage sewing machines and has learned how to fix them herself!!!!

I never thought of my brain as a yappy little dog, but that is a nearly perfect description! I was never able to meditate because of it, and I have trouble sleeping sometimes because it won't stop yapping. I like the idea of active meditation. As in "Stop bothering me while I knit, I'm meditating". Somehow I doubt it will fly with my kids!

@ Heidi, the first poster:

LOL!! Me THREE!! HEE!!

While you're tuning up the sewing machine, check it out. Some of the Singer sewing machines have GEARS instead of a belt.

If yours is one with gears, you can expand your sewing adventures to include leather and other hard-to-sew stuff.

The only thing that you have to be careful about is to make sure you have the right kind (read strong enough) needle in the machine.

I had an old Singer with gears, and a newer one, also with gears, and they can plow through anything.

I too have an old singer with straight and zig zag stitch being the only 2 options, it was my mothers and is 39 years old, it could do with a service as well to be honest!

I meditate over my doily work, and vodka.
.

I like to sew too! My husband and kids got me a Husqvarna sewing machine for Christmas a couple of years ago, and I really love it! Quilts ARE addictive, and cats DO love them! I had great fun sewing pillowcases for Christmas this past year. Super easy, and fun to make. I used up a bunch of novelty fabric that I had laying around, and everyone loved them!

I dream of my Home Ec classes. The smell of melting butter (my home was poor and we didn't have butter) and the smell of the ink on new fabric. It just takes me back. Oh, and the smell of ironing is so peaceful - I do love to iron as it is instant smooth gratification. Back in my home ec classes there was much ado about perfect darts, they made a nice shape for A-line shifts (dating myself here). Sewing is also fabulous because I can make a big thing quickly. Think I may just have to pull my machine out...

Oh, and I loved the inner-chihuahua. I have one that makes me nutz. And yes, creating things helps it just calm down, be in the moment. Maybe that is what it needs, like my dog needs a walk, the inner-chihuahua needs to create. Don't know, but thank you for the clarity.

Active meditaton. Huh. Thanks. I didn't realize it had a name. Not only can I NOT do meditation of the quiet kind but can you imagine doing Tai Chi? I see someone doing that in a park & I know I would just fall over laughing. I like to sew too but I find my best hours for that kind of concentration are early to mid-morning when my employer expects me at work. Rude.

Please don't let comments keep you from knitting content. After all, remember, YOU are the inventor of the fab yoo less Slouchy Beret, which has become one of my personal faves! it would be a shame if you let others 'talk you out of' things like that. That is one of the cutest, fastest, coolest patterns ever! I was so proud of mine, I sent you a picture, remember? And, I am going to make more, because they look so great on the kids and they love them!

I just had the most stressful afternoon. First, the computer was acting weird. Then, I had to go to the dentist (just a teeth cleaning) and then I came home to the computer which is still acting weird, and it wants me to insert a disk that I was never given when I bought the computer.

Then I went to Telephone Hell, trying to contact the computer maker, and the place I bought it to see if they could help. Either they dont answer their phones, or they do, and then immediately hang the phone up. Or, I get the place they've been outsourced to, and I cant understand their accents. (not their fault) so no help from there because of the language barrier.

So, reading about sewing here today just put the sewing bug back into me. I have 100 yards of fabric that want me to make something out of them.

I cant really follow sewing patterns very well, but I have a great machine (a Husqvarna Viking) and I really just love sitting and sewing straight lines down the fabric. Sometimes, I'll get really daring and use a decorative stitch.

My poor machine is in the closet of my dad's office, so I'll have to go get it, dust it off and see if it wants to play with me and the box of 100yds of fabric tonight.

I really like sewing, and love my machine. I also love to enable people in things like sewing and crocheting and knitting. A relative of mine had his sewing machine destroyed earlier this year. So, I went out and bought him a new (better) machine.

I havent been able to concentrate on any knitting or crocheting lately. Maybe I need to do some sewing, even if it's just making a simple pillowcase.

I love knitting, but I love quilting, too. Once I became at peace with the fact that I will never be able to sew like my mom (perfect seams, can make ANYTHING), I found I really enjoy making WAQs, that is Wild Ass Quilts. I don't follow patterns - too constrictive - I just pick out fabrics I love, cut them up and sew them together. The brighter/louder the fabric the better. And really, there is no need to do pieces all the same size and shape. I just make it up as I go along, sometimes using decorative machine stitches, sometimes embroidering a favorite quote, whatever! Very liberating. And no, my quilts will never win a blue ribbon at some show, but they are full of fun and love, and will keep their recipients wrapped in a hug from me.

Sew something that makes you happy, Laurie.

Yay for you! I love to sew/quilt and am learning to knit and crochet.

I am a process sewer - I don't rush at it. I am happy to dawdle over the fussy bits or do handwork for a better result (ie. baste a princess seam, rather than wrestle with pins). If I have to pick out a mistake, I don't fuss -just try not to repeat the error. It's nice to have something truly unique or really hilarious.

Happy Sewing!

Nadine on Vancouver Island

I think we share a brain.

Unfortunately, thanks to 2 small boys even noisier than the yapping of my brain and with a catlike love of objects they shouldn't really be touching, the only airing my machine has had in the past few years is to alter a waterproof mattress cover for one of their beds. That made me want to go for a drive so I COULD swear at a few drivers for stress and boredom relief.

I love sewing, mostly quilts! I like knitting, and embroidery, and playing on my computer - but I LOVE sewing. :)

My husband has tried - keeps trying - meditation to calm what he calls his "monkey brain" which is suspect is a close cousin to a chihuahua brain. I need to enlighten him on active meditation.

You could be a social guerilla bagger! Go to morsbags.com, they have an easy-to-follow pdf of instructions to make inexpensive yet strong bags to hand out to people that are shopping so they won't use plastic ones!! Such a great idea... even for people who can barely sew a straight line (that's me btw).

I just got it so I haven't made any yet, but totally plan to.

Have fun with your machine! :)

Dang, I wish we lived in the same city. I really want to improve my sewing skillz (I can do squares for a quilt and pillows) and I need to finish painting my garage.

Hmmm, basically, I finding things for you to do. That may not be cool.

I wonder how much I could get away with in the name of your relaxation?

At least there is a term for it-I thought it was just OCD or ADD or something that was keeping me from being able to get zen-like. I get so frustrated with myself for not being able to shut off the "to-do" list or sit still without jumping up to put away a dish or... I haven't sewn in awhile-last thing was making a quilt for my second son before he was born(and he is now 8). I love it that you are taking out the machine!! Please provide updates! I used to make my skirts and sundresses in high school and also love to sew. The things that really work(for me)-mindless knitting(the garter stitch has its purposes), riding my horse(which is truly the best) and knitting. Good luck!

Check out Patternreview.com. It has reviews on any pattern you could ever hope to sew. Maybe it'll save you some stress during your active meditation!

I want to make a doll...like the old cut out type. I just want to use up some patterned fabric, draw a doll shape on two pieces of coordinating fabric, and then cut them both out, sew them together into the doll and then stuff the heck out of it.

Not even sure I want to put a face on the doll...

But, I need fabric advice...Which would look better, solid fabric on one side and a patterned fabric on the other, or two patterned fabrics on both sides??

I'm going to go see if I have a big enough piece of cardboard for the doll "pattern". I've got a rotary cutter...and I AM afraid to use it! (dont think I have any band-aids)

Erin, I hope you send me a picture of your creation when you're done! sounds awesome and fun :)

Also I am so happy and surprised to find so many sewing fans here!!!!

I am among the ranks of "craft ADD"! Thanks to a long line of crafty women, I sew, knit, crochet, embroider, cross stitch, paint, like to refurbish furniture, all sorts of stuff! I have tubs and tubs of fabric and yarn, enough to last a lifetime!! My mission is to start one tub at a time and make something. If I get my butt in gear, I could have fabulous gifts for all come Christmas! I, too, need to take my sewing machine in for a general cleaning, etc. That'll be first on my "to do" list once vacation is over with.
Good luck with your sewing project! Keep up the great postings. I love reading your blog.
Lani from north Texas

I agree with you 100%! Active meditation! And, I am glad to see here in internet land that sewing, crafting, knitting is not a dying art! I have been feeling the need to get more folks interested in sewing. There seems to be a perceived idea floating around out there that sewing is a dying art. I refuse to believe it. (Although it is not helping matters much that Walmart is closing out their fabric departments. I feel sad for the small towns who relied on them for their fabric stash.) *Can I comment on Walmart here? Please edit if necessary.* I love your blog! You make me laugh, especially when I have had a terrible, no good day at work! Thank you!

I'm a Quilter-who-knits. Not a Knitter, but a Quilter-who-knits. Sewing is what I can do and then suddenly realize I forgot to eat lunch ... and dinner. Nothing else does that for me.

It's so fun to read about so many other folks who love sewing!

Once at the bus stop when my boys were little -- say, 15 years ago -- a neighbor sighed and said "Well, I guess I'm going to have to get out the old sewing machine to make some Halloween costumes."

There was a moment of silence and then my boys yelped "You mean some people put them AWAY!?!??!"

David, the older one, would sometimes have trouble falling asleep, and would ask me to sew, because the sound of the machine was just what he needed to feel calm enough to sleep (I think he has a chihuahua/monkey brain, too). He says the machine was the background noise of his childhood!

Laurie,
I have also recently re-discovered sewing! I've been sticking two basic patterns, so now after three weeks I have half a dozen cloth bags to take to the grocery store! Plus, they also double as cute purses, and I've already been asked to make some for the lady relatives! So much sewing fun!

An inner chihuahua!! I love it!! I finally have a name for my brain!! I used to be able to meditate pre-children. But, since then, my brain has gone through changes and your description of an inner chihuahua fits it perfectly. I love sewing also--I've been a quilter for years, but have slacked off as I have taken up knitting. Lately, I've been feeling the urge to fondle fabric...and get that zen feeling of being completely engrossed in a project that sewing provides me. But, first...I have to clean up my sewing room which has turned into a dumping ground for stuff.
I can hardly wait to see what projects you come up with!

Writing can be your meditative practice--if its good enough for Natalie Goldberg, its good enough for me. She rocks.

I always threaten the children that I'm going to make them do the veryverydifficult OUTSIDE meditation, where you sit or lie down (whatever) outside, right there IN NATURE, and you do the "just sit" thing, with the trick being that if a bug lands on your or something, you can only observe the feeling of the bug on you, you can't shoosh it away.

I did this ONE TIME. Changed my life, for sure, just to know that I actually could do it for 30 minutes. You can also do super-fun stuff like, when the phone rings, just "observe" the phone ringing and don't answer it, etc....

You might think that I have done a lot of this...

...uh....yeah...

Just like you!

What a great title for a self-help book; - "Muzzling Your Inner Chihuahua" !

Anyway, Laurie, I noticed that everything you do to calm your mind is creative, or productive in some other way, except the beach walks - even then, you usually collect shells. I think this is great - wish *I* could zone out doing housework! I think sitting meditation is just too passive for you - you need to be creating or tending to something to be satisfied. I just don't GET people who don't want to make things - I love making stuff!

I've barely sewn in years, and was disturbed to find even my basic skills - straight, even seams, etc - have deteriorated. But I still have my mom's old '50's Pfaff. What a great old machine; I'll bet it could sew thru cast iron, if I had the right needle.

My "new" machine - the used Elna I bought myself in 1971 - went for $2.50 at an auction - coulda done better selling it for scrap :-< .

So that leaves my 1st brand-new machine ever - a Necchi that I bought myself a couple of years ago at one of those in-store promotion events. It does all kinds of stuff, but I've hardly used it. My dining room table is so full of junk there's no room. But I'll get to it. Post a pic of something you made and inspire us!

You forgot knitting - shame on you!

um, I should have said, "craftster.org" in my post.

:)

I think maybe we're secretly related. Or maybe the chihuahuas in our heads are. LOL Also, I love your list from yesterday; many of those things make me happy too.

Laurie, I do have one that I attempted last summer that I wasnt too thrilled with, but it does sort of look like a doll. I think it was my choice of fabrics that made me not like it once it was finished. Plus, it was smaller than I wanted.

I'm having a bad vision day today (stupid multiple sclerosis) so I probably should not be playing with the rotary cutter or the sewing machine. I want to keep all my fingers. I might play around with drawing the doll shape on cardboard. That's always fun.

I'll have to post my one true attempt at making a quilt one of these days. About 7 or 8 years ago, I was collecting patriotic fabric. I cut out 6 inch squares (think they were 6in) and sewed them all together, and put a background of blue fabric with white stars in them on the back of the quilt. Never did actually quilt the squares down, so I guess it's not really a quilt, but an unquilted wall hanging, which isnt really hanging on anything right now.

Usually what I make with my sewing machine are "pillow quilts". You take two 1yd pieces of coordinating fabric and a 1yd piece of 100% cotton batting. (I use Warm & Natural batting)

You put the two pieces of fabric facing each other, with the batting on one side of those pieces. Sew all the way around the pieces, but you leave maybe, half or a little less than half open so that you can pull the right side out. Then you fold that part into the inside, and do a straight stitch to close that opening up.

Then, you've got yourself an instant baby blankie...or dog/cat blankie. If you use 100% cotton batting like the Warm & Natural batting, you really dont have to quilt it. The batting will stay in one piece.

My cousin's loved their blankies that I made for their kids. It's fun, and usually only took me about an hour and a half to make one. Including all the pinning of the fabric together.

Walmart and Hobby Lobby, and I think, Joann's Crafts sell the batting. I think Walmart only sells it in the 45 inch wide...but I'm pretty sure that Joann's and Hobby Lobby sell it in the 90 inch wide AND in the 45in wide. (the 90in is for the serious quilters)

I love the Warm & Natural batting. Worked in a WalMart for about 8 or 9 months, cutting fabric, and a bunch of the quilters just loved that stuff. It's really a nice warm batting.

Very very very easy to work with too! I was recommending it to beginners all the time.

Sewing was my first craft, which my Mom taught me as a small child. I loved sewing so much that when I was away from home for the first time and didn't have access to a machine, I went to Woolworth's and got a big packet of needles (still have it, too) and sewed myself a top completely by hand. I was pretty awed by it, but one of the other ladies in the barracks said she made a wedding dress by hand for lack of a machine. Shatteredy sheltered middle-class upbringing.

Anyway, I kept at it and used a machine at the rec center and then eventually I bought my Pfaff at the PX in Germany (31 years ago) and I still have it and use it. I have made everything with it you can possibly imagine--it has brought me endless enjoyment.

Best of luck with your sewing adventures, Laurie.

Knitting is the only form of active meditation I can do.

Wish I knew how to sew!!! At this very moment I'm waiting for the fabric glue to dry on the curtains I am "making" . . . . . For months, I was unable to find already made ones that would work. Had plenty of time to order some perfect material and have someone make them - but didn't. Couldn't talk myself into spending the money. So now visitors are coming Friday and I'm gluing up the hems on curtains. Hope it works! The visitors wouldn't mind the sheets on the bedroom window, but I'm a big girl and getting some curtains up shouldn't be such a big deal!? Best of luck with the active meditation - I enjoy walking meditation, but haven't heard of active meditation. Know I'm a practitioner though!

Laurie, I am so happy to see you are one of 'us' whose brains work 24/7 although our bodies only function about 12/12. Sad for you though! I have the hardest time going to sleep at night because the chihuahua in my head just will NOT stop! And herein lies the root of my absolute love of good wine! Who needs Tylenol PM when you have a nice bottle of Reisling?!

I am excitedly awaiting the next installment of the Katie and Armando story, but no pressure! I could write my own horrid yet terrific love story, but haven't yet found the time. I loved the first two 'chapters' though of Katie and Armando. I found myself completely caught up in them and very sad when I got to the end of the posts. LOVE your blog. It's one of the 3 or 4 sites I absolutely HAVE GOT to visit every single day!

Wow...that's one big piece of spam! Baaaaad spam! bad!

Thanks for helping me see the positive. I was having a bit of a negative rush in the sewing dept and your post really turned that around.
I have a bit of a head-chatter issue myself and I forget that the crafting really helps to silence the inner chorus.
Sometimes it is the journey and not the destination. Especially when the journey is a quiet one!

I also have a 1970's sewing machine that does feature a buttonholer. However I don't use it as I also have my Mother and my Aunts featherweight singers that came with a button hole attachment. This thing is fabulous, try and find yourself one (I know someone that found it and numerous other old singer attachments at valu village) It operates on cams that are a specific size and can be regular or keyhole buttonhole and makes exactly the same buttonhole every time. To find more cams talk to sewing machine repair guys, mine poured a bag out onto the counter and I just picked out what I was missing. I have 2 and they are not going anywhere (it pays to have a back-up)

I have never been able to sit and meditate either, I gave up several years ago and just decided that my moments of calm that come when I'm washing dishes or taking a shower or walking somewhere are perfectly fine. Yoga is the closest I come to true meditation though, I'm so focused on holding the poses that my head chatter just stops, the rest of the time it runs, when I'm relaxing I try to just let the thoughts flow, but when I do yoga there are no thoughts, just yoga.

Hey, Laurie, something just occurred to me: Not all of your yappy chihuahuas are in your head -- Apparently some of them are readers, who feel the need to yap at you about the way you write your blog!

Attention yappie readers (and you know who you are): TRY MEDITATION ... which of necessity requires that you try SILENCE.

There. That oughta work.

PLEASE don't stop doing all the stuff that makes you YOU and makes us love you jsut the way you are - I love the fact that you cuss in traffic and secretly flip off their computer - stay true to yourself always

I can honestly say that yours is the only blog I've read that didn't change at all after you got a book deal - every other blog I've read where the author brought out a book became, in some way, self-aware afterwards - sometimes in a very subtle way in that the writing feels self-conscious or in a very blatant way in that the author starts to use the blog as a self-promotion tool just to sell stuff - you still write about the same stuff, in the same way, that you always have and its very refreshing - I am proud of you for your integrity and confidence - keep it up lady - we love you jsut the way you are!

Oh wow! I'm so glad that finally my brain has a name...yapping chihuahua..and what I do to deal with it has a name..active meditation. I got involved in tai chi and love it, but the warmups are killers..breath in, breathe out..meditate. Meditate? "What's for supper? Should I try knitting lace? Do I need to stop at the store on the way home? I need to pee!" It just doesn't work for me. When I was able, if I had to really think about something, I'd mow the lawn. The noise of the mower would occupy the chihuahuas enough that I could think through something. Now there must be some noise that I don't care about in the background and I do awesome meditation while cleaning the bathroom *G*. This post was serendiptious. I have an unexpected day off and the Featherweight is coming out to sew a summer house dress. I have a new maching..not top of the line but much more advanced than "Ethel". But I have to read the book and learn what things do and the chihuahuas want to do something else. The Featherweight will be just fine!

Oh yeah and the sewing thing - I have sewn since I was a small child - I make clothes and all sorts of stuff - I still regret my Mum getting rid of my old machine from the 60s and replacing it with a modern one - the old ones are the best - I've now got two modern ones and have just bought a vintage black metal singer in a wooden case made in 1920 - it only does straight stitch and is operated by hand but I love it so much - I keep going into my sewing room and hugging it!

I would also recommend cross-stitch - check out the charts at http://www.mirabilia.com - they are beautiful and not as hard as they look - the pulling of thread through fabric by hand is definitely a good meditative activity

I've never heard that term "active meditation" before but I really like. Now I understand that peaceful feeling I have after several hours of knitting, crocheting, sewing or writing. I know that feeling of peace and now I have a term for it.

Thanks!

I have an old sewing machine I should dig out too... Thanks for that!

Oh, and I just finished your book- PHENOM!

I need to learn to sew. When I try to operate a sewing machine I press the treadle with my foot and it hums loudly but nothing else happens, and so I press one micron more and the machine goes eleventy billion mph and creates this huge mess of fabric and thread that can only be dealt with by the Shears of Doom.

I am told I just need practice.

In the meantime, however, I have knitting, and spinning. Preferably while listening to music.

Love that Spam Laurie - Do those people actually make money with all the crap they throw at us? Anyways... since you have the sewing bug www.craftster.org has a fabulous tutorial on making your own grocery bags (which I know you love) and a few hundred thousand more great ideas. Time to start your Christmas list and do active meditation at the same time! I am not affiliated with the site - I just love it

Try the website rickrackruby.com - Ruby has some great, simple but hip sewing ideas.

Awwww. I feel relaxed just reading about your sewing zen. I have an old singer. And by old I mean wooden case, black metal, gold lettering, and a knee pedal. It only sews a straight seam but it is a treasure to me. Something I like to sew when I just need the satisfaction of completing a project is a pillowcase. It's fairly simple and involves measuring instead of pattern pieces. I like it and it's nice to have a little bedding variety w/out buying a new set of sheets.

Lucia, when the machine hums and the needle doesn't move, try turning the wheel slowly with your hand. You just need to overcome the initial inertia without gunning the motor. Your machine might need adjusting or oiling, but lots of machines do this - no biggie.

I sewed my own wedding dress 21 years ago. Of course, on the morning of the wedding, I had to send my groom to JoAnn's for Stitch Witchery to finish it. That was a huge omen about life with me right there! To his everlasting credit, he showed up and married me anyway. We're still together - bless his big fuzzy self!

Laurie - I love MY old Singer which is almost exactly like the old Singer on which my mom taught nine daughters to sew! I have found an old buttonholer like she had, to go with my Singer (almost same year as mom's) and just the sound of it brings back such great memories. The buttonholer I have is not the antique looking ones but instead is classy black plastic with the wonderful white knob on top that you turn and turn after you place the B/H template in the bottom of the contraption. The sound of that going chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit-chit to get to the correct spot to begin the button holer -- well it just takes me back. Then when it makes the buttonhole itself - it scoots the fabric back and forth and that movement and sound is also heaven. I love watching it. It is addictive. Maybe that is the hypnotic meditation helper you need.
It takes me back to doing all the last minute 4-H sewing just before the County Fair in western Kansas, or back to school dresses being sewn at the end of summer. We had to take turns with just the one machine, and if the 4-H sewing was left till too late - boy were there territorial issues!! The sisters that had been out driving the tractors during the day got first dibs when they finally found the time.
I've found a set of attachments that do all sorts of things, most of which I don't know yet, and there are lots of the buttonholers on e-bay, and manuals to tell how to use those. (Some of the manuals can be downloaded and printed out for free.) I love those old things.
My sewing machine repairman (other machine is a Bernina Embroidery Artista 180 -- a HUGE splurge I saved for up for years to buy - used!) tells me there aren't many of those old black cast iron machines left. The dealers were instructed to sledge hammer them useless when the customer traded in for a new model, probably because they will last forever and ever. Long Live Singer!!!
Thanks for the blast from the past.
Ellen up a ways has the same idea - I found my buttonholer at a garage sale, and the attachments were given to me by someone who didn't know what they were!!! This might be a gift request for your family - since you aren't doing the buy buy buy thing. (I'm trying, also - because of your inspiration!) Sorry for such a long post - this obviously touched a nerve! Thanks for such an Awesome blog.

Hi there - I've been following your blog for a month or so and I've really enjoyed reading about your SoCal experiences (I live here too) and your outlook in general.

Anyways, just wanted to say I just got a sewing machine for my b-day and I feel the same way - I always get lost in the sewing projects, but with knitting I usually need something else going on to focus!

I also need active meditation. Hand knitting doesn't seem to do it for me but let me get out my 30 yr old Kenmore sewing machine or my LK 150 knitting machine and all the chatter goes away. If you go look at Oprah's soul series- the one with JB Taylor, she says she never needs to meditate- she just chooses what to think about. This made me feel so vindicated after many, many years of not being able to sit and meditate. Sewing, machine knitting, looking at my garden, making my cat purr---the reasons I survive.

I'm with ya--only for me, most of those activities I need a specific end measurement--like with gardening that a project is complete. The lawn is mowed, that area is landscaped, etc.

Hiking is the one thing I can do without thinking about mileage or time or completion. It's complete when you're exhausted.

Tuscon Patty -- I learned to sew for 4-H fairs, too!!! Crazy I tell you what.