What time do you sew best?
Lately I've noticed that I sew better later at night and into the middle of the night. Probably because there are fewer or no distractions at all then. There's nothing new coming up in my email box...no new blog posts from my fellow bloggers...and even nothing new on television to distract. My phone doesn't ring. I don't get text messages from my kids and even Instagram doesn't update as much as it does during the day.
I find that when I have fewer technology interruptions, I sew more...better...faster. So how about you? What time of the day do you sew best? When are your interruptions least? In the morning? When your kids are at school? In the evenings? When? I'd like to know...and this is the Question of the Day...so talk back to me, okay?
...as always more later!
Definitely in the evening for me - I work in the daytimes, and although I do get to do some sewing on a weekend day, I feel guilty about sewing when there is other stuff I should be doing (housework, seeing people, gardening, grocery shopping). In other words, I enjoy sewing and it seems like a self-indulgent thing because it benefits me rather than the whole household. But, that's ok - I still do it. Like you, if I can get over the early evening flop down hump, once I'm on a roll I just want to keep going and going into the night (I usually make myself stop in time for some sleep though!)
ReplyDeleteAfter supper until I can't keep my eyes open. Sometimes that's not so smart and leads to boo-boos, but it is, as you said, the most focused, least interrupted time of the day.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am usually sorry when the alarm goes off the next morning!
I agree - I am a late night sewer too! Mostly because that is when I am done with other things, and also because I find I am more productive when it is dark and cool out. Don't know why, but I am super productive early and late in the day, and very non-productive in the middle of it.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely I'm a night-time seamstress. Partly because my circadian rhythm seems to be permanently set to "night-owl" and partly because the kids don't interrupt if they are in bed. With a 3-year-old who just got out of diapers, if he says "I need to go" the sewing gets dropped and he gets to go.
ReplyDeleteI try to sew in the daytimes; although I am a night owl - do most my research work at that time. Also, I have a light problem in my house and I need that wonderful natural light that flow in during the day . . .
ReplyDeleteI like to work in the mornings, but with my work schedule that means I only have whatever time is available on the weekends. If I am good about it, I will set up simple tasks, or devote an entire evening to sewing, but I am usually too tired at night to be creative. I am very jealous and amazed by your productivity!
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I love to pull all nighters!! I have my music to keep me company! No interruptions, dinner, questions, phone etc. Just me and my machines! Tried sewing in the daytime when hubby's at work and kid at school but then dishes, laundry, dinner and Wal-mart haunts and calls my name.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely a morning sewist. After dinner I can manage an hour max. I get very tired and make terrible mistakes. Fortunately I have a flexible job so it's possible to do. But given a choice between sewing at 6am and 10pm, 6am would win every time.
ReplyDeleteI'm so a morning person. Working 15 minutes from home helps me get more done in the morning. And I've usually slept on the problem and in the morning I get an 'aha' moment and can keep going.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely a night owl. I sew better at night because I "get in the zone" but also don't have interruptions once the little one is in bed. I only stop at 9.30/10pm because I don't want the sewing machine noise to disturb the neighbours! When I lived in an apartment and the sewing machine was on the other side of the apartment from my neighbours I would keep working much later! I also get the best ideas at night. I often keep a notepad by the bed because I will suddenly get an idea for a garment or inspiration on how to fix a problem when I'm trying to sleep!
ReplyDeleteOn the weekends I love sewing in the day. After breakfast it's usually a slow start as I ease myself into it, but once I get going I find it hard to stop. When it's time for a break I make a pot of tea and ponder what I've achieved so far. From time to time I will sit down after dinner to work on something, but mostly my week nights are my planning or cutting out times.
ReplyDeleteI'm a morning sewer. That means weekends only for me.
ReplyDeleteOccasionally I've got over the got-home-from-work slump and started sewing again 8 pm, and then I find it hard to stop at a reasonable time for sleeping...
It would be so good to be able to get by on less sleep and have more time for fun stuff like sewing!
-Sewingelle
My favorite time to sew is very late at night and into the wee hours of the morning. My reasons are exactly the same as yours! I guess great sewing minds think alike.
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I sew in the morning, on the weekends. If I try to sew after work, I'm too tired, my brain isn't still working well, and I make too many mistakes. I try to dedicate one weekend day for chores, and leave one for sewing.
ReplyDeleteI sew at any time that I need a break from whatever else I'm doing. Theory being, that little bits done here and there are still progress. Really productive sewing, though, usually happens in the evenings. Feels better when a bigger chunk of the project gets completed in one sitting.
ReplyDeleteWeekends for me, it's my only free time and I love pouring a cup of coffee and sitting down at sewing table with tv shows I've missed that week playing on my ipad.
ReplyDeleteMornings are my best time to sew. I will sew from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm sometimes not even stopping to eat. I guess I developed this habit when my husband kept asking "Honey when are you coming to bed?!?"
ReplyDeletei sew best when ruggy's on the phone! isn't that weird? i wish i could sew at night, but we both hate un-natural light, and without the lights on full blast i'm liable to stitch over a digit.
ReplyDeleteI'm at the other end of the spectrum. I sew best early in the morning. Sometimes I'll get up at 5 am on weekend days to sew! I am worthless after 8 pm in the sewing room. LOL
ReplyDeleteMust be the lowering winter that has everyone talking about prime sewing time. Karen @Didyoumakethat?posed the same question a few hours ago. I'll do it anytime after I actually wake up, not after I am awake :).
ReplyDeleteNighttime is the right time. Although I so sew on Saturday mornings -- mostly because our "date night" is lunch at Biscuitville, followed by a tour of Habitat for Humanity Restore and all the Goodwill locations we can stand, all afternoon. We are so easily entertained, lol. Dear Husband is brilliant at spotting sewing tools and notions on the shelves, but I've had to cut him off from buying any more used sewing machines.
ReplyDeleteMornings - I get up early and the rest don't. Especially good on weekends - I can get 3 hours in before anyone else is up.
ReplyDeleteif i have the luxury its the morning.. i love the light and its nice and quiet
ReplyDeleteI like to sew late at night, VERY late, if I don't have anywhere to go the next day. In fact, this is the time I prefer to do most things. The kids are asleep, the house is quiet and there are no interruptions.
ReplyDeleteOoh, good question! I'm actually not sure when I'm most productive (I'm very easily distracted, so it usually takes me forever to get things done) between day and night, but I definitely get the most done on Saturday nights when hubs plays hockey. I work a ton during the week, so I feel guilty really getting absorbed in sewing when he's home, so I get the majority of my work done when he's not home.
ReplyDeleteThanks to you, I've had a few sewcations, which I had never even thought about before. My husband takes my three girls (4, 3, and 22 months) to visit my mom and I get 36-48 hours to myself to sew. During this time, I always do the best in the morning through about lunch time. When I'm not on a sewcation, I do my best at night for the same reasons that you listed earlier - fewer distractions.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely in the morning camp. I'm pretty useless after the sun sets. Or after dinner (at 6) whichever comes first.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was much younger, I used to love sewing at night. Sewing was pretty much the only thing that could keep my eyes open past 11 pm.
ReplyDeleteNow I seem to prefer sewing when my kids are home. If I'm sewing, I can talk to them, get updates on their lives, listen to them practice their instruments, help with homework, etc, without getting too involved or critical of them.
Sooo not a night person! I make tons of mistakes and I've noticed distinct differences in my eyesight (tired eyes don't see well - esp black thread on black fabric). But night is the only free time I have, so I try to squeeze it in then.
ReplyDeleteI sew more at night time than I do during the day. I gues for me t more of when I'm ready to sew.
ReplyDeleteI am an anytime sewer. I find I sew best in bright light, and I am now going to have a sewing room with two big windows, so bright light won't be a problem. I do however sew at night but it's mostly when I start a project on Sat. morning and sew right on through to Sunday early am.
ReplyDeleteMy kids have all recently left the nest. My husband has his own workshop in the garage. After supper, we separate to our interests for a bit. Getting together to watch the news together before bed.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I am an early riser. Sometimes, waking up with an 'idea' in my head. Go down to my work area with an early morning coffee to get something accomplished before I have to head to work.
On both counts, I feel truly blessed.
Honestly, at this point, I spend a lot more time adjusting patterns than I actually do sewing!
I like sewing in the morning, but with a 9-5 job all I can do is spare some time before leaving for work- which is something I really enjoy because it gives me the feeling that I start the day with doing something for me. Of course it's a hard decision: sewing or jogging? No way I can squeeze both in the early morning. Then it late in the evening, after dinner but not until very late- I make mistakes and my brain is not functioning. Some weekends I can set aside almost one whole day for sewing, but as somebody mentioned above I don't feel good choosing sewing over things that I can share with others, like spending time with family and friends- I guess we are all trying to balance all aspects of our life that can make us happy- and we only have 24 hours!
ReplyDeleteI'm a crack at dawn kinda girl. I do my best sewing from 4am to 8am. Probably for all the same reasons. It's so peaceful and quiet in the morning. Now if I could get my kitten to stop stealing the elastic and trying to catch the scissors when I'm cutting out morning sewing would be perfect.
ReplyDeleteRaising grandkids and working full time. My mind is best early in the morning too tired in evenings. Weekend days are great; I can take my coffee to the sewing table and have 2-3 hours before everyone gets going.
ReplyDeleteI love sewing at night, sewing into the early hours of the morning. All nighters are the best, I have the most concentration when its night time. I prefer doing housework at night too. Not sure why :D
ReplyDeleteI like my early Saturday sewing, if I can get passed the dachshunds before they wake up, I can get in some good time made!
ReplyDeleteGenerally about mid-morning to early afternoon. I'm a morning person so I want a bit of physical activity before I sit down at my machine - and anything I do after I am good and tired? Forget it. The only thing I sew when sleepy is handstitching.
ReplyDeleteAnytime will do, but the night time is the right time for me.
ReplyDeleteI sew the best when the rest of my family are watching TV. That way they are all happy and quiet and I can go about my business:)
ReplyDeleteFor me its whenever I can get the time. Right now my favorite time is mid day when the kids are in school and my two youngest ones are taking their nap, but if I can get in there in any other time I will. At one time night time was my best time but for some reason now after 9pm I'm just too pooped. But I would loved to get back into night time sewing because then I would a lot more uninterrupted time to sew.
ReplyDeleteLate morning and afternoon is best for me. I tend to lack patience in the evening and after 9pm is when 90% of my sewing disasters have occurred. So, unless it's a task that has been planned out/laid out or hand stitching that I can do on the couch, it's needles down by about 8pm.
ReplyDeleteI'm in awe of anyone who can focus enough after dinner to sew. You lucky people, there are a lot of hours there to get sewing done.
ReplyDeleteThere's a reason I use the name "Bedtime Creations" for my sewing projects for other people. My husband came up with the moniker.
ReplyDeleteI'm a late night sewer as well. I'll come home from work, eat, play with dog and do other things. Then finally head to the sewing room about 10. The house is quiet and I can sew in peace. Of course there have been times when I've put my head down on the table and fallen asleep. After about three times of nodding off, then I know it's time to go to bed. LOL
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