Thursday, June 16, 2011

Ruffles and responsibility.


Recently I completed my first knitted garment for a swap.

Kelly made my daughter a gorgeous elf coat as a swap for an Oriental Lily tunic for her daughter.

AMJ 2011

In my life BC (before children), I was a perfectionist and a worrier.
(Yes, you can read that as me saying that I was anal)

Little Boozle 2011

I have learnt to let a lot of things go since becoming a mum.

Nothing like the pain of childbirth and its after effects,
permanent banana and milk vomit stains on seemingly every item of clothing in the house
and a chronic lack of personal time and sleep to put most things into perspective.
Little Boozle 2011

I still am fussy with regard to some things.
One is my sewing standards
and, as I get better, my knitting.

I have many years of sewing experience
and happily sew for myself, my family and close friends.
But those gifted seams are damn well straight
and those ruffles headed off to a new home are very, very even.

Little Boozle 2011

Yet while I might happily sign up for swaps
and every other day think about selling,
I then stress no end about producing something decent.
Well, perfect.

I have certainly lurked in the darker corners of market stalls
to check out the standard of products made
and I am honestly surprised as to what some people will put up for sale.

But perhaps we crafty people are our own worse critics.

A dear friend whose daughters are always gifted clothing that I have custom made
openly admits that she has no crafty bones in her body
and that she would have no idea about the quality of the fabric used
or the standard of my sewing.

I always joke a little that I decided not to do medicine at university
because I couldn't handle the responsibility of people's lives.

(Heck knows that the pressure of being responsible for people's dear pets' lives
was more than enough for me)
Given that I can lie awake at night worrying
that maybe there was a teensy pucker in a flared skirt destined as a present,
it was probably a wise decision.

4 comments:

posie blogs Jennie McClelland said...

Oh yes, i love it when people check seams & stitching, i feel like saying "yes, i know quality". I do wonder how perfectionists cope with motherhood, my idea of perfection is happiness (but i didn't have vomiters, i know that is a luxury now). The knitting is looking aces, i'm about to re-learn in the school holidays, i can not wait!! As for the not-wanting-a-job-with-responsibility (besides motherhood) i totally hear you, 'tis why i have zero plans to ever return to the work force, as a pharmacologist, OMG, no thanks, it's been over a decade at home now & i can't remember anything. I think 4 high schoolers will keep me busy enough to never have to return!! Love Posie

Kelly Casanova said...

Definitely our own worst critics (unless you include husbands who don't quite get the craft thing!)
love your tunic, really do.

Zoobeedoobee said...

The tunic I perfect probably why i don't knit. I say the same about my sewing But then I get old lady's telling me it's lovely and telling me their sewing stories. Then i feel better. lol Zoe loves the tunic Tas its perfect!

Sally said...

Yes - the standards we set ourselves can sometime being our greatest barriers. I too am learning to let go of my perfectionism - motherhood as been a step learning curve in having no control. A good one. In regards to my craft - I earnest try to embrace the wonk!!!