Are We All Just Sewing to Avoid Our Problems?
Procrastinating life admin by making another linen dress? Couldn’t be me. (It absolutely is.)
Ah, the soothing hum of the sewing machine, the rhythmic sound of thread being pulled through fabric, the calming cut of shears gliding through cotton. For many of us, sewing isn’t just a hobby—it’s therapy. But let’s be real here: are we really stitching away at our latest linen dress because we’re excited to wear it, or are we just procrastinating from dealing with life’s more, shall we say, unpleasant tasks?
Let’s face it: most of us have a running list of things we should be doing. Email inboxes that need clearing, the pile of laundry that’s now practically a living, breathing entity, or that phone call to the dentist that we've been meaning to make for six months (read 6 years). But then—bam—we spot a beautiful piece of fabric, and suddenly, poof—all responsibilities vanish. It's as though we’re possessed by a fabric-fueled frenzy, sewing our way through yet another procrastination pit.
Stage One: The "I'm Just Relaxing" Denial
It starts innocently enough. A simple idea crosses your mind: “I need a new dress for summer” or you see a garment on a friend, stranger, on social media and think, “I could make that”. But before you know it, POOF—you’re knee-deep in a new project, surrounded by pins, patterns, and fabric swatches, and haven’t peed in hours.. A healthy, creative outlet, right? Sure. You’re just relaxing with some self-care. Who doesn’t need a relaxing project to unwind, right?
But when you look up from your sewing machine, the entire day has gone by, and, whoops, you’ve completely neglected that mountain of laundry and physical self-care (because “I’ll just do <insert sewing task here> before I eat/ go to the loo/ shower etc.,).. But hey, at least you’ve got a fresh dress for the weekend. And that's sort of a win, right?
Stage Two: The “I’m Making Progress” Rationalisation
Ah, but then you rationalise it. You’re not just avoiding responsibilities; no, no. You’re making progress—just on a different front. That epic sewing project you’ve been working on is bound to change your life. It’s therapy, really. That beautiful pattern will boost your confidence, your self-worth, and your wardrobe.
Ahem… and it’s totally not an elaborate way to avoid having to actually call the plumber about that leaky tap. No one needs a leaky tap when they’ve got the perfect French seams to deal with.
You’ve convinced yourself that a linen dress is the perfect distraction from life’s complexities, and suddenly, you’re sewing your way into another week of unchecked to-do lists (I’ve had a rolling to-do list since 2018 on my notes app that has many incomplete items from 2018 still on it…). But look at those seams—so perfect. You’re practically a life coach at this point. And yes, I will be wearing my new dress as I avoid the 3 calls I need to make.
Stage Three: The “This Is Definitely Therapy” Phase
At this point, there’s no denying it anymore. You’re using sewing as an escape. After all, who wouldn’t want to spend hours cutting, pinning, and stitching, when it’s a much more palatable alternative to, say, filing taxes or confronting your terrifyingly messy inbox? It’s the “self-care” phase. The "I’m just doing something good for myself" mantra that drowns out the sound of your phone pinging with reminders of things you should be doing.
Sure, your partner is starting to wonder why you seem to spend more time with your sewing machine than with them, but hey, they’ll understand when they see you in your gorgeous new wardrobe, right? The more dresses, the less adulting.
Stage Four: The "It’s All About the Process, Not the End Result" Justification
By now, you’re not even pretending anymore. You’ve abandoned any plans of finishing projects on time (or, let’s be honest, at all). It’s about the process, not the product. In fact, you start to feel a deep, philosophical connection to your fabric. A linen dress is just like life. It’s full of loose threads and unfinished hems—yet, somehow, it’s still beautiful. Or maybe you just like playing with fabric and getting a break from reality for a few hours. Whatever works.
You tell yourself you’ll get around to all the other stuff eventually. But first, another round of sewing. You simply can’t start dealing with that life admin until you've made a matching bag or scarf to your new garment, obviously. And sure, the looming to-do list is growing, but that linen dress you’re crafting will be the talk of your next Zoom meeting. Priorities, people.
Stage Five: The “Who Needs Therapy When You Have a Good Project?” Acceptance
Eventually, you come to terms with it. Sewing, after all, is the therapy you never knew you needed. The late-night sewing sessions have replaced the therapist’s couch. The sound of the sewing machine is your form of meditation, and your finished projects—whether they fit perfectly or not—are your emotional support garments.
Let’s be real: while sewing may not technically be a solution to life’s many complexities, it’s much more satisfying than filling out forms or calling the bank about that mistake they made with your account. And let’s face it: if it means avoiding a few awkward conversations with family or getting through the week without confronting that overdue bill, then all the better.
Final Thoughts
So, tell me—what are you sewing to avoid?
I’m not here to judge (okay, maybe a little), but we all know we’ve used sewing to dodge a few life admin tasks. Have you ever found yourself stitching away as a form of procrastination? Tried to make yourself a new holiday wardrobe the day before you leave instead of packing your existing one? Sewn yourself a Christmas dress when you should be Christmas shopping for your family? What are the things you’d rather avoid while you finish up that next perfect project?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below. I can’t promise we’ll find the answers to your real problems, but I can guarantee a good chat about how long it really takes to finish a bias-bound neckline. Let’s sew away our worries, together.