Here in Chicago we are officially into the warmer weather and outdoor activities are in full swing. As you move from spring to summer, you probably don’t want anything to do with the indoors, unless you’re looking for some cool air conditioning & a break from the heat right? So how do you keep up with your sewing projects then?This is a question that comes up a lot for me and many of my readers here so I thought I would share a few tips on how you can enjoy the weather and stay ahead of your projects at the same time.
We love our sewing / quilting in the cooler weather when there isn’t much to do outside (unless you’re one of those people who like winter sports). But with gardening, outdoor carnivals music fests, along with all those great craft & art shows to see who wants to be indoors! Not too mention the backyard cook-outs, picnics, bike rides and if you have a pool you only get a few months to use it, so quilting is the last thing on your minds. Or at least it is for me.
Keeping up with projects isn’t hard if you do a little planning and schedule it into your day. Here are a few tips on how you can do this without much effort.
- Schedule a sewing day. – Check the local weather forecast for the week, and sew on the days when it is going to rain, or is just too hot to be out doors.
- Sew daily by picking a set time a day. Give yourself an hour each day to work on a project. If your household are late sleepers and you’re up early instead of cleaning the house do some sewing.
- Sewing at the end of your day can be done as well while everyone else is watching t.v. go down to the sewing room and unwind with a project or two.
- If you like to do hand work, keep your bags packed and ready to go with you! Zip-lock bags with pre-cut fabric ready assemble doesn’t take up much room in your purse, and you can put needles and thread into a small recycled prescription bottle or metal pill box. This is one of the best ideas I think, as you can be sewing/quilting while you watch the kids sports games, or while you’re at the dentist / doctor appointments. You can even work on projects while you sit out in your yard just enjoying the beautiful weather.
- Make yourself a small tote bag with a few pockets to carry with you for larger projects like hand quilting a larger quilt if you like. If the bag is packed with all your supplies a head of time and near the door or your purse it will be ready to go with you when you leave.
- If your lucky enough to have someone else driving you to your outdoor festivals, and craft shows you can be quilting in the car while they do the driving.
- Traveling on vacation? No problem, as you pack your bags for the trip make sure you pack a quilting bag too! You can sew on the plane, in the cab or as you unwind in the hotel.
You can have the best of both worlds with a little planning, whether you like hand work, or prefer to use your machines. Get out and enjoy the weather and all the outdoor activities, but don’t let those quilting projects lay unattended till fall. You will be much happier if you make time for them all year long. Besides it has been proven that quilting is relaxing and can lower your blood pressure, so stay healthy and keep quilting!
Have any other suggestions on how you stay ahead of your quilting projects when there is so much more to do outside? Please share your tips by leaving us a comment.
