Friday 3 July 2009

I don't know what IT's called ....

but I know I definitely have IT!

IT starts at the op shop or garage sale. I see some fabric - vintage, pretty, curtain, remnant, kitchen or bedlinen). I get it off the shelf, I look at it, I feel it and, more often than not, I smell it too! I begin to imagine what I will do with it. And, at that moment in time, I do truly believe that I WILL do something with it. It usually comes with a pretty low price tag and I walk out very happy with my latest fabric purchase.

The fabric then gets washed, dried, ironed and into my sewing room (sometimes that can happen the same day whilst at others it takes much longer!).

And this is when IT happens. I didn't own the fabric until that day; it didn't cost me much; for goodness sake someone else has thrown it out so it's not really that precious. But it becomes precious to me, very precious. In fact so precious that quite often I don't want to cut into it!

What happens if I cut into it and my idea/pattern doesn't work? What if I make something with the fabric and then realise that it would have been much better for another project? What if, what if, what if?

I'm drowning in fabric (well that's a bit of poetic licence) and yet can't cut into it.

Does anyone know what this is called? And, more importantly, does anyone know how to solve IT?!!!!!

8 comments:

speckled egg said...

Hhmmm... Not an issue I suffer from myself (my house is full of unsucessful projects) but how about if you looked at it like this- it could be even more precious if you make something out of it that brings joy to you or someone else?
Loving your blog by the way!

Gina said...

I think I'm all out of new definitions :-)! But I know that feeling too. I think 'perfectionism' might have something to do with it.
Perhaps we should band together and declare August (or some upcoming month/period of time) a destashing month... no more 'new' material! Use up what you have first. This ban could motivate a bit of lateral thinking about what to use things for...
Hmm, another thought is to find a project that's small enough in its own right, and make lots (say ten) of the same thing in different fabrics. Perhaps totes or pot-holders or whatever. For a stash of gifts, or a swap. Just to churn through a bit. I'd like to try this.

Anonymous said...

I definitely have IT too. If I cut into that fabric and stuff up (and I will) then that's it, there's no more like THAT fabric left. Hence the large tub of uncut fabric which I may as well just call my retirement fund.

Little Miss Flossy said...

Oh I'm just the same. My pile of vintage sheets is getting higher and higher and I can't bear to cut into any of them. Likewise the old embroideries I think I'll use to make skirt pockets or bag panels... never happens. I'd like to know how to cure IT myself!

gardenmama said...

hehe I tend to do the same : )
sewing a patchwork quilt has been a good 'remedy' for me!

Heart Felt said...

I don't think I have IT, I usually can't wait to get into it.....not that this will help, but "just do it!"

Julie said...

Hmmm not sure what it's called, but yep I definitely have it to...X

Amy Seven-Stitches said...

oh I think I might have IT too. I'm not sure I want to be cured though. IT's too much fun.