Saturday, May 15, 2010

TV- vs- SEWING

I have established a TV Ban.........in the sewing room that is! I've been teetering with this idea for a while but it's about time I do it.


Yesterday was the last straw! I was sewing my Cynthia Rowley dress (almost done by the way) but I wasted so much time doing that and trying to watch a movie. Then I got turned around on a step (a simple one) and got sooooo frustrated and just stopped for the night. I mean I wasted a good bit of time on something so simple. I know if I had just limited my distraction I would've finished my dress last night and saved myself the added frustration.

As with anything in life, sometimes you have to sacrifice a little for the sake of the greater good. And in my case that would be faster sewn garments (wink)!

With this said I take the following pledge:

 In an effort to maximize my sewing productivity,
I, Victoria, pledge not to watch TV while
actively sewing on a project.
Instead, I will listen to classical music or audio books
and reserve my TV use for helpful sewing DVD's
or to watch when I'm doing menial sewing tasks, such as hand sewing.

Whew, I feel so much better! Nothing like a good purge! I'm curious, what things have you had to give up (or rules you've had to implement) to increase your sewing productivity?

22 comments:

  1. You do so solemnly swear to adhere to all the tenets, promises and intent of the aforementioned pledge, so help you Sandra Bernina?

    Hee, hee. Go for it girl!

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  2. Congratulations Victoria for taking charge over the 'thief'! LOL I always say it steals so much time from me, and I try to always be doing something else but it still takes time to watch whatever has gotten my attention. I don't have one in the sewing room, but I do watch lots of cooking and PBS shows while hand sewing. I notice I go really slow because I'm feeling leasurely.

    Can't wait to see your finished project!

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  3. Ha Ha Ha! That was a good pledge. I do feel that too sometimes when I sew I get distracted when my husband is watching a movie and the volume is loud. Hoping to see your dress soon! :)

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  4. NO TV in my sewing room, but I do give up a lot of sleep to sew! My machines share the room with the computer though, and I definitely "waste" time I could be sewing that way.

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  5. I have a television in my craft room but rarely turn it on to watch. I have to have it though for my sewing DVD's. Unfortunately I do have to DVD;s that literally put me to sleep so I watch those in bed in hopes of getting to sleep faster and it works!

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  6. The only thing I've given up is having a picked up dining room all the time - can't do that and sew productively. I "waste" a lot of time reading blogs, but I'm also inspired to sew by reading blogs - so it's a tie I think! I couldn't watch TV and sew. I love to listen to talk radio while sewing, though.

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  7. See, I'm just the opposite. I canNOT sew without my tv on! I turn on my favorite shows. Love to watch fashion-y type inspiring shows while I'm in there.

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  8. I've had to avoid watching TV at the same time, too, or else I make really silly mistakes - like putting snaps in the wrong spot(!). I can trace patterns (not very efficiently) or unpick seams while the TV's on.

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  9. I can't watch TV when I'm sewing either - I make too many dumb mistakes even when it isn't on!!!

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  10. I don't have a TV in the entire basement, so that's not too much of an issue for me. I had to vow to keep my sewing room quasi-organized at all times, though. There's nothing more annoying than trying to hunt down your seam ripper that is buried under piles of random crap that is strewn everywhere....

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  11. I'm having this problem today. Lucas's shorts are going together quickly and I know I'd be done if I didn't stop to watch the scary movie on Lifetime - I just can't look away - what will that kid with the knife do next?! I love Dei's pledge - so help me Sandra Betzina - LOL!

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  12. Like Erica, I feel I have to have something on to watch or listen to. I don't have a TV in my sewing room ( not anymore), but I have my computer in the room. I use it to watch a movie or catch some TV on-line. However, it is a noticeable distraction. I spend too much wasted time in front of this animal. Confession-I'm struggling trying to not use it. I commend you on your pledge!

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  13. I am with you on this one. I had to give up watching tv while sewing also. Spent a lot of time watching and not enough time sewing and even ruined some good fabrics.

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  14. Thankfully the TV is not in my sewing room, but perhaps if it was I would get more sewing done. I really need to stay away from the TV and the computer, to accomplish more sewing.

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  15. I've often thought I might like to put a TV in my sewing room, but like you, I think it would be too distracting. I do however, save most of my hand work to do in the evenings while watching the big box. So, no Tv in the sewing room, just the radio.

    Candicelouise

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  16. I use the tv as a clock, especially when I am sewing late at night. However, it is in the living room while I sew in the dining room. I will go sit down in front of the tv to do handwork and sometimes forget to stitch!

    I love your resolution. :)

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  17. Good for you, Victoria! I'm thinking that I need to watch less television even when I'm NOT sewing! I've gotten to used to the noise of it, and sometimes it's good not to hear all that "stuff."

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  18. It is sooo funny me seeing this post today. I spent nearly 2.5 hours (precious sewing time) trying to get some kind of reception on my TV in the basement. The verizon guy hasnt come yet so no reception on the tv. I finally just watched a movie on the dvd player while sewing. I am thinking about trying books on tape. I listen to them in the car while in traffic so this probably would work well. I like to catch up on my DVR recordings while sewing.

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  19. I hear ya! No TV for me either, only music. Usually, I pull out a few CD's and then get to sewing!

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  20. I had to switch bedrooms. About two years ago I convince my better half to switch the large bedroom and make that the sewing room and use the smaller one as our bedroom. At the time I would come home and head for large bedroom which had a tv and look at it or read most of the evening. I was not going into the smaller room which was the sewing room much; I was not getting any sewing done. Once we switched rooms, the problem was solve. I was still going into the larger room, looking at tv, but now I get more sewing done.

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  21. Haha! Good for you, I have the TV on in the living room (where I cut out and pin) and then go sew on the commercials. I also iron while watching TV.. which has led to some near-disasters as well! Music is a much better way to go :)

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  22. I've done the same thing while watching TV! I messed up some very simple steps and it's very frustrating to rip seams because you weren't paying attention. I've decided to only "listen" to documentaries or debates instead of watching movies that require my attention. But if you can turn off the tv altogether, it's the best!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and for following me on my 10,000 Hour Sewing Challenge:)

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