Confessions of BS

Confessions of a Buddhist Sewista

Sewing is embracing imperfection. You need courage to start to materialize your perfect plans. Your mind has beautiful images and visions about the end product, but the material has a mind of its own.

I often have to deal with this phantom when I sew. To start cutting into perfect fabric… To do a manoeuvre that can go wrong, or to ‘just’ pierce buttonholes in an almost finished vest. Somehow, that critical devil jumps on my shoulder immediately after.

This is what distinguishes craftsmanship from theory. Using your hands is a reality. Theory and management are wonderful words and schedules. Handcrafts are for real.

Charlotte has been a great help from the start of our collaboration. Jumping around while anticipating the joy of a kangaroo suit or a Winx outfit. She didn’t care about all the details that seemed of unmountable importance to me. Later, when she was a student, she would start looking at her phone and say: “Mom, I have to be downtown in 30 minutes, just finish it! Perfect fit is so overrated.”

Plans easily grow very big in our minds; this is intimidating at times. Therefore, I love the gentle art of upcycling; it prevents me from taking things too seriously. Luckily, my mother was very forgiving of failed projects. She also gave me cheap fabric from the market and taught me to work with leftover materials.

Unfortunately, perfection is also the reason that many people never start sewing. Where to start when it is already a perfect project in your head? You can only fail.

This is why I am looking forward to giving workshops. I want to create bite-sized chunks of sewing achievements with you.

Sewing is embracing imperfection (all crafts are), and the rewards are tangible.

What keeps you from starting a project?