My Evolution as a Sewist

They say you’ll never forget the way someone made you feel.  I think the same can be said for experiences; be it the rush you feel after going for a run, the peace you feel while admiring a beautiful sunset, or the feeling of triumph when the points in your quilt match perfectly.

Of course, unlike the sunset, the triumphant feelings that come from sewing may not occur right away,  that feeling is earned one stitch at a time.

Photo Caption:  (Actual childhood journal entry, don’t judge that sloppy kid handwriting)

Everyone’s sewing journey is unique, with different starts, stops and curves along the path.  For me, it’s hard to even decide when my sewing journey actually began….  Was it October 22, 1996, the day I went fabric shopping for my first quilt?  Did the fabric speak to me that day, whispering ‘I will be very important to you someday’?  Maybe it started when I received my first Bernina sewing machine as a graduation gift, or was it when I used that machine to make baby quilts when my children were born?   Those events certainly count as very important steps leading me in the right direction, but if I had to put a timestamp on when my sewing journey truly began, I would choose 2010.

Photo Caption:  (Park Days with all the kids were the best!)

In 2010, I left the corporate world to become a stay-at-home mom and neighborhood babysitter.  My days were filled with sippy cups, finger paints, Legos and sandy floors; and they were some of the happiest days of my life, but I was personally unfulfilled.  It was the same routine day after day; cooking, cleaning and playing with the kids… I needed more.  I needed something that was just for me.  I craved peace and quiet and needed the feeling of accomplishment that I left behind in the corporate world.

Photo Caption:  (Late night sewing with my first Bernina)

Feeling the urge to do something that was just for me and just for fun, I dusted off my neglected Bernina and started to sew again.  I can’t even tell you what I made first but when I would pull out my sewing machine and set it up at my kitchen table next to my little box of sewing supplies, it felt so right.  I would sew at night, after the extra kids went home and my own kids were tucked into bed,  well past a responsible adult’s bedtime.  In those quiet, dark hours I may have lost some much-needed sleep, but I also fell in love.  I found so much joy and happiness in those hours of sewing; with every item I created it was like a light was lit in me that wanted to shine brighter and I could not get enough!

Photo Caption:  (In my Sewing Studio - Photo Credit:  Renee Bath Photography)

Over the last 15 years, what started out as a self-indulgent, late-night hobby has turned into a full-time passion!  I graduated from sewing at my kitchen table to having a sewing studio in our home, a space that inspires me the second I walk through the door.  My sewing studio is bursting with color, there are shelves filled with fabric in all colors of the rainbow and fat quarters and pre-cuts displayed with creative abandon.  Throughout the room there are small curated displays of sewing antiques as well as collections of antique notions.  If you look closely, you will realize much of the furniture was purpose built for organization and efficiency!  Anywhere you look in my studio, I feel it’s easy to tell that I Love to Sew.

Photo Caption:  (Handmade Capes, decorated by each child)

While my space has grown and changed a lot over the years, it’s undeniable that I have too!  My sewing journey has seen multiple phases and levels of commitment, but there has actually been three distinct periods.   The “What Do I Want To Do Period” began in during those first late nights of sewing, I just wanted to make something, anything at all!   I tried my hand at Home Décor, made some soft toys for the kids,  made a bunch of aprons, and even made some pretty interesting Halloween Costumes. It was certainly a little of this and a little of that over the first year and then I discovered bag making.

Photo Caption:  (Purses and Wallets that I designed)

The Bag Making Period ended up being pretty fantastic!  Not only did I Love making bags, but it is what really got my little handmade business going.  In the 9 or so years that bags were my obsession, I had a lot of fun and I learned a lot!!  I was designing my own bags and wallets and had a pretty steady stream of clients who were just as passionate about my creations as I was!  I completed more custom orders than I can remember and made hundreds of bags and wallets for my Etsy shop.  As my experience grew and my client base expanded, I became more familiar with different fabric brands, designers and sewing opportunities that existed in the sewing industry.  It was only by chance that I saw Henry Glass Fabrics advertising the opportunity to apply to be one of their Brand Ambassadors on Instagram.  I distinctly remember thinking ‘I haven’t made a quilt in a while, I should apply and maybe this will give me a reason to practice making quilts – you know, as a hobby!’   So began my Quilt Making Period.   Don’t get me wrong, I still Love to make bags and wallets and sometimes I miss making them as often as I used to…. but there is just something extra special about making a quilt.

Photo Caption:   (The Eccentric Garden Quilt, designed by me)

What is it about quilt making that is so captivating that it nearly pulled me away from bag making entirely?  Is it the fabric with all the rich colors, textures and beautiful artwork?  (Yes, fabric is art!!) Is it the endless opportunity to create my own art simply by chopping up fabric and putting it back together? Is it the chance to create something that will be beautiful and useful for years to come rather than for single season?   Or is it the thrill of the challenge?  I believe it is some combination of each of these things but the thrill of the challenge was the first hook!

Photo Caption:   (Sawtooth Star Blocks, designed by me, to showcase fabrics)

As a Brand Ambassador, the excitement of each fabric shipment headed my way, combined with the knowledge that I have been tasked with creating something beautiful that will showcase a new fabric line is thrilling and motivating!  I have always loved opening the box of fabric and looking through the neatly folded yardage.  Taking in the colors and the unique designs, delighting in the often whimsical details in the selvages…. and letting my mind consider every possibility!  I soak up all the fabric details, then I walk away and think about how to best showcase it,  always letting the fabric guide me.   It is always a delight when I find the perfect pattern for a fabric new line, especially when it also fulfils my personal goal to do or try something new with each quilt!  I have challenged myself from the very beginning to get outside my comfort zone, to try new pattern styles, to learn new techniques or when possible, to design my own patterns!  This commitment to continue learning and growing has really pushed me to be diverse with my creations, to help me understand what I love and what really just isn’t for me… but it has also led me to something I didn’t realize would be so exciting… something that may possibly be taking my Quilt Making Period to the next level, or could this be the beginning of  a Fourth Sewing Period – a Quilt Pattern Design Period!

No matter where my sewing journey takes me from here,  it has transformed me from someone needing sanctuary and personal fulfilment into a woman with an undeniable creative passion, and it feels amazing!!!

To follow along with my journey as an SIY Expert, a Jaftex Brand Ambassador, a pattern designer and as an ever-evolving sewist, follow me on Instagram!  @StitchedByStarlight

Have a Beautiful Day!  ☀️🌈💕

❤️Amy