Sewing My Way Outta This!
I'm worried about our world and here are my sewing and knitting plans for the year.
Y’all. There is so much going on. I don’t even know what there is to say. I am sending so much love to my LA folks. I am still crying for those in Gaza, who deserve so much better than the difficulties and horrors they have been subjected to. It can feel hopeless and so beyond overwhelming to keep up and contribute. I am worried about this country and its new leadership. Words fail to do justice but I know there is continuous power in staying vigilant, minimizing distractions, and being conscious of things I participate in.
Here are some links I have come across for California. Mutual Aid resources throughout California. GoFundMe link supporting Altadena families, Anti-Recidivism Coalition supporting incarcerated fire crews. These are ones I have come across, for Palestinian relief, such as the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, and World Central Kitchen. If there are any other organizations you know of or links please feel free to comment on them below. There is so much going on in the world but I believe there is a lot of power in starting small and doing what you can do.
I revisited my goals to help soothe some of the chaos in the world. It helped me feel somewhat in control, although we know only time will tell. What’s that saying, you tell Mother Nature your plans and she laughs. There’s a part of me that hopes we will laugh together. So this week enjoy something a little different, sewing and trusting the process.
This year, I am making it a priority to sew more. Although I have only dabbled in it so far, I already love it. To make it happen, I am making a list of sewing projects that I want to do to hold myself accountable, and now you all can too.
For some background. My sewing history if you will. My friend, Nat formally showed me how to sew a few years ago now. At one point doing my jewelry business, in 2022 I dreamed of expanding into making bags. It is something I reminisce on, potentially being able to resume it. Knowing how to sew made this potential dream a reality. I imagined so many different color combinations, finishes, and fabrics. That bag was truly the first thing that I had dreamed about in a long time.
Before that, I remember using a sewing machine once or twice but never finished a full project. Growing up, my sister was interested in sewing and fashion. She took a few classes, even sewing a bookbag, and proudly bringing it home to show us all. At one point, she wanted to go to fashion school. That is when I remember thinking “Oh sewing might be something”. She was my first influence. <3
When I was learning with Nat, simultaneously I was working, slowly applying to grad school so my time was limited. Our first project was a fanny pack, which I didn’t finish —it felt so hard to do. But fast forward to now, I feel so ready. BRING ON THE FANNY PACK.
Now in my MFA program, I wanted to do something a little more hands-on. I’ve been typing and writing so much, that I needed a change. The first thing that came to mind was sewing. I realized I was craving the tactile experience of working with my hands, feeling fabrics and textures, and just playing. Back when I was learning I felt so much pressure—mostly self-inflicted—to be good and get it right the first time. But now? I’m over that.
Incorporating sewing into my thesis project has made it a part of my routine. The first sewing project that I completed solo (with lots of help from Nat and my other friend Siyu, love y'all down!) was the TYTKA Studio: Bucket tote with handles. It was challenging but oh-so fun!
This was a pretty straightforward pattern. The instructions were clear, and there was a video to accompany it, which was very helpful. If you’re a new sewer, I highly recommend patterns with accompanying videos. I like this pattern so much that it’s going to be the first one I tackle this year. I’m planning to finally use the cow fabric Nat got me a while ago, and I’m thinking of doing the lining in cobalt blue or a nice deep red. I plan to sew this bag in different fabrics, continue building my confidence, and make some cute things! Plus, I think my friends and family can always use a bag!
For my makes, I’m thinking about future gifts, things I want to wear, and being very intentional. I want to have fun, play with funky color combinations, and just be at ease. Let’s get into it!
Sewing Projects: Mostly free ones!
Neighborhood Day Tote shoutout to my boo Nat and her pattern company <3
The Hobo Bag FREE
You might be thinking, why just bags? Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve looked at a lot of clothing patterns, and for now, I’m happy with how my closet looks. I imagine that when I feel like making something else, the inspiration will come to me, but for now, I don’t need it. With these bags, I’ve seen so many cute fabric combinations, and that’s what keeps me continuously excited to sew. It’s called trusting the process!
Knitting Projects: I am also interested in learning how to knit!
I recently discovered Hanaan Bonet’s YouTube channel and absolutely love her style and color combinations. It was so inspiring and encouraging to hear her talk through her projects. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to be her. She’s so talented. Knitting seems like one of those crafts where, if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish amazing things—here’s hoping that’s true for me. I’m not typically a small-scarf wearer, but I think the right colors and textures might just change my mind. If not, I’m hoping someone I know and love will appreciate it as a gift! If you have any favorite sewers or knitters, please send them my way. Also to my friends that knit, I’m gonna be bothering you, sorry in advance. :)
Sewing, in so many ways, puts me at ease. It’s something I’ve grown to love and understand on a deeper level. I enjoy listening to a show or podcast while working, letting my hands guide me, and learning to let go a little. Something I struggle with. I can already tell this year I’ll need that—to take care of myself and remind myself to pace things. I also love gift-giving, so the idea of making gifts to share feels so meaningful. This year, I received some homemade gifts, and they reminded me that gifts like these are often what truly matters—making and sharing from the heart. <3 Thank you to all my lovely friends and family who gifted me something homemade, I’ll never get over it.
I’m also considering deleting TikTok, so I’ll need something to fill my time. More on that another time!
That’s it for now, sending you lots of love,
XOXO Ya Little Mama