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Why I sew and why you should too

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  1. Katie Pink

    Well said! I hope you continue sewing and blogging for years to come :)<br /><br />Robutton.blogspot.com

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Thanks! Of course I will! I love it too much to quit 🙂

    2. Tabitha Keener

      I agree! I&#39;m a few months new to all sewing but some of the mistakes I made in the beginning are beautiful loved quilts now. My mother has one and she says she likes its personality and won&#39;t let me make her a better one. I don&#39;t think anyone likes their mistakes, but they help us learn and grow, so I look back at everything I&#39;ve done and I&#39;ve loved the ride. Humans are

  2. Teri Olson

    I don&#39;t understand why anyone thinks the sewing community can be ruined by imperfect projects. The point of sewing is to love what you do and to create beautiful things … things that are beautiful to you, not to someone else&#39;s arbitrary version of beautiful.

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I totally agree! Sewing is an art you should love what you do and be proud of any level.

  3. Rebecca McAfee

    I am very new to the sewing/blogging world and I have yet to be cut down(as far as I know). What you wrote her is beautiful! I have been very fortunate to have befriended quite a few women that have been uber supportive. :-). You are one of the very first people I started following because I could see how much you loved the craft!! You are great at what you do. Keep it up.

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I hope you never are cut down! There should be no reason for it. I am so glad you have found a supportive group, there are a LOT of super supportive woman out there and I hope that only continues, there is just no need for cutting anyone down ever. (also welcome to the community!)

  4. vintagebuttons

    Sewing IS magic! I love this post, thank you for speaking out. We all need to strive to be a little more encouraging and a little less judgmental. In sewing and in all things.

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I couldn&#39;t agree more! Being more supportive and less judgmental all around is better for humanity. The world is full of enough mean spirited people there is no need to encourage it or add to it. Also I love the magic.

  5. vintagebuttons

    Sewing IS magic! I love this post, thank you for speaking out. We all need to strive to be a little more encouraging and a little less judgmental. In sewing and in all things.

  6. Suzanne Winter

    I love you so so so much! I couldn&#39;t believe the other blog – mean spirits and jealousy can only lead to injury and destruction. I have followed your blog for about 2 years now because I love reading what you have to say, I love learning and growing along side other women, and I love sewing imperfectly in an imperfect world. I have come a long way in the last two years and I can say the

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Oh thanks! I love you too! And your mad skills! I love that we can grow together and encourage each other, and that even when things are imperfect they can be awesome 🙂

  7. The Beetle Mummy

    Wow! What is wrong with people? I love your blog and adore your patterns, they are one of the few online patterns I buy! My nieces love their clothes made from your patterns and I have been inspire to &quot;hack&quot; them to make them my own (because the imperfection of others has given me confidence to be imperfect but to try anyway)! The beauty of seeing non-professional sewers posting their

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      So so happy to hear you were inspired to hack the patterns! I LOVE watching creativity unfold and sewing outside of the box is the best way to create!

  8. Gail Reyne

    Thank you for speaking up, I&#39;ve sewn wedding gowns and 20 years ago I made the evening gown for the runner up to Miss Teen USA. Yet I used your pattern to make my granddaughter a hat. Perfection is in the eyes of the holder. I would say to this rude person are you running around without clothes on. Everyone is at a different level. I tell other sewers I hate to quilt because I can&#39;t sew a

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      So amazing I would LOVE to see those dresses! I love your point of view on this, everyone has different skills and are at different levels of those skills but we can all rejoice together for the love of the art.

  9. Kristy

    I hope you can hear my applause right now! 🙂 The way someone looks at, speaks of or treats you is so much more about who THEY are. So grateful for all you pour into our sewing community, keep it up! I too am very cheerfully, hopelessly flawed.

  10. Janome Gnome

    Oh, give them a one-way ticket to the planet where the perfect people live. I know where I&#39;m happier. The company&#39;s good over here. x

  11. Judy Hale

    Perfect response 🙂

  12. stacey

    I CAN NOT believe this! you are amazing and you inspired me to start sewing again! I hope this other blog hasn&#39;t hurt your feelings. you have an awesome blog and a big cartel shop that sells tons of patterns! maybe this other person is just jealous of your success? thank you for getting me sewing again and helping me to try so many new techniques!!

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Thankfully my feelings are in tact 🙂 It takes a lot more than pointing out my flaws to hurt my feelings especially when I know the flaws are there. I am more upset by what impact negativity like this has on the sewing community.

  13. Heidi L

    I couldn&#39;t agree more. Sewing is about creating while doing something you love. Anyone who tries should be encouraged. I learn a lot if not most regarding sewing from the internet.

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I agree! Any amount of trying and success or failure should be encouraged, people will improve faster if they are encouraged rather than cut down.

  14. Renee // nearest the pin

    Great response Shauna – I don&#39;t think perfection is the goal, well not for me. If it was, I would have given up long ago. Fortunately the majority of the sewing blogging community is supportive and encouraging. Let&#39;s forget her and move right along x

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I certainly hope perfection is not the goal, I am not perfect at anything except maybe being imperfect but that&#39;s easy. It is so great that the sewing community is supportive and encouraging and I hope it always is!

  15. Michelle

    Well said. I think I know of the post that you&#39;re writing about, and it was very petty and mean-spirited. (I think this word gets thrown around too much, but I can&#39;t help but wonder if the writer was a bit jealous of your successful blog and patterns.) I&#39;ve been sewing for a while but only started blogging recently, and I have to say that I&#39;ve been a bit hesitant to post tutorials

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Don&#39;t be hesitant! I think everyone has something to share and the sewing community is better for it. It&#39;s hard when some rude people try to cut others down thinking they are helping or somehow making the world a better place but there really is just no room for that. Thankfully it can be overpowered by the support and praise of others. (and you are right jealousy is usually a big part of

  16. Jessica Kok

    The surest sign of insecurity is pointing out flaws in others. Communities are ruined by petty people, not by an imperfect hem.

  17. Kristie

    I can&#39;t believe anyone would say such rude things. But then again there are people like that out there. <br />I love what you do. You inspire me to work harder, find a way and get a project done. Thank you for posting this. I love what you said, how you said it. And forget that mean person, you are amazing.

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      It is astounding sometimes the things people feel safe to say behind a computer screen, but more importantly it&#39;s amazing how kind and encouraging people you have never met can be from behind a computer screen. I would rather flood the world with cyber kindness.

  18. Lisa in Port Hope

    I guess this person must get a lot of gift cards, since it sounds she would find something to criticize in any thoughtful purchased or made gift.

  19. Chasingmermaids

    Exactly. Well said.. so true… we are here to do what we love.

  20. dee ball

    Sewing is a bit like gardening.<br />You design it, you build it, then love it.<br />You find what works and what doesn&#39;t. <br />You become proud of the creation that you in all your knowledge is the perfect thing.<br />Once the blooms are seen and admired, you pass it along.<br />Soon the neighbours admire and ask if you would share.<br />And so you do.<br />There&#39;s may not be perfect

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Beautiful! I also happen to be a horrible gardener, so there would be many flaws there as well 🙂 Sharing is caring, and I think the world is better for it whether you are sharing perfection or a skill in progress.

  21. dee ball

    Sewing is a bit like gardening.<br />You design it, you build it, then love it.<br />You find what works and what doesn&#39;t. <br />You become proud of the creation that you in all your knowledge is the perfect thing.<br />Once the blooms are seen and admired, you pass it along.<br />Soon the neighbours admire and ask if you would share.<br />And so you do.<br />There&#39;s may not be perfect

  22. girlguydogcat

    Well said. I don&#39;t know the blog you are referring to but it sounds like a Bitter Betty I wouldn&#39;twant to have on my blog roll anyway! IWhat an awful way to go through life thinking perfection is the only option regardless of skill. I started sewing 2 1/2 years ago but still consider myself a beginner. I have loved the sewing blogs I&#39;ve come across and fortunately haven&#39;t run

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I purposely didn&#39;t link to the blog, some people thrive on the drama they can stir up with a negative post and I would rather not add to or encourage that kind of behavior but rather encourage others to share and feel safe to create freely. I am happy that you proudly wear your creations and I hope you always do! That&#39;s the best part of creating!

  23. BJM

    I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts. Done is better than perfect. Showing imperfect projects give hope to others who are just starting out.

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Imperfections are my life, and while I don&#39;t think we should rip ourselves down even by harping on our own flaws I don&#39;t think you should feel like you can&#39;t share something that has flaws.

  24. Kelly

    Well said. I think your projects &amp; patterns are well done. I own several of your patterns. If perfection is being rude &amp; bringing others down to elevate yourself, may I never sew a perfect garment!

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Thanks! I honestly don&#39;t think that anyone ever sews a &quot;perfect&quot; garment.

  25. Emily

    Keep up the good work and attitude. Hugs!

  26. Jenni Jex

    Well, I just want you to know that you have succeeded in your goal of inspiring people to sew. Your patterns were the first I tried, and it gave me the courage I needed to stay sewing clothing.I can&#39;t imagine my life without it now. I like that you aren&#39;t perfect. It helps me not to be anxious when I try new/hard things. Thank you from the bottom heart for all you have taught me over the

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      And you make lovely things! I am happy to know that others were encouraged to try, it&#39;s so great to be a part of a positive community!

  27. Jennifer

    I love you &amp; I love this post!!! So well said!

  28. Laura

    Well said, Shauna, well said. I&#39;ve been sewing on and off for thirty years and I&#39;m sure there are things I could improve on, but I sew because I love to create. Thank you for the inspiration you have given me!

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Loving to create is all you should need! Sewing is a beautiful work of art!

  29. Christina Settle

    In the last two and a half years I have gone from not knowing how to thread a bobbin to making a swimsuit for my daughter this week. It&#39;s not perfect, and I see so many flaws when I look at it….she thinks it is the best thing since sliced bread. <br /><br />99% of what I have learned has been from this and other blogs. The other one percent was a video on youtube on how to thread my

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      You made a swim suit!! You should be beyond proud! I love when the things you make work into important memories. I still remember each dress my mom made me and where I wore it.

  30. Kathy

    Spoken like a true seamtress. Thank you for this article.

  31. Cathy

    All we can do is our personal best and we all get better in time, and with practice. It has been my privilege to help kids learn to sew and it warms my heart to see their enthusiasm and to watch them grow in their skills.

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I love that you are teaching children to sew and fostering their enthusiasm!

  32. Andrea from The Train To Crazy

    I loved every word of this! Thank you for being brave enough to remind us it&#39;s OK to sew at any level! Even beginners. And it&#39;s ok to share and wear our garments even if we&#39;re just learning! Everyone should be proud of what they made, no matter their skill level!

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Totally! Everyone should own their creations and wear them proudly because they MADE something from fabric, it&#39;s amazing!

  33. sewshesaid

    Everyone must start somewhere. After 50 yes of sewing not all of my seams are perfect. Who really cares. I sew because it makes me happy. I also teach that perfectionism is not a required skill. Keep up your great work.

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      My grandma (who was a perfectionist) taught me the same thing, she taught me to LOVE the craft and that improvement comes in time.

  34. Renee

    Ummm what? Whatever that blog/person said is bull. Without people like you blogging, there would be so many out there still intimated to even try to sew. I thank you and everyone out there for every tutorial that had held my hand and make me feel like sewing clothing was attainable. I also love the sewing community – so gracious with encouraging words.

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I agree! I picked sewing up again because I was inspired by bloggers and I love that I could also inspire someone to do the same. I hope it always continues, everyone has something great to share.

  35. Heather Roach

    I&#39;m so tired of women tearing each other apart. I&#39;ve found the online sewing community to be so welcoming and supportive that it saddens me to see a post like that critical one. Think you for your lovely tactful response. Thank you for the inspiration.

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Yes! There is no room for such nastiness in this community.

  36. Debbie Iles

    Oh my goodness, you speak from my heart. Keep what doing what you are doing and thanks for such a beautifully worded response. I love the support and community of the sewing bloggers I&#39;ve encountered, and thankfully haven&#39;t come across any negativity to date.

  37. Jessica at Me Sew Crazy

    I love you Shauna, and applaud you for your gracious response. I first stumbled across your blog thanks to project run and play, and thought you were a rock star back then. And you still are to me. I am just lucky to call you friend now. I think there is beauty to be had on all levels of sewing, from perfectionist to the fast and furious. We all have our own way, and even the most skilled

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Thanks Jess! I love you too and I am honored to be your friend! You are a rockstar and have equally inspired me over the years.

  38. Holy Craft

    Good for you! I don&#39;t know why someone would put down your amazing work. Time after time I come back to your blog because it&#39;s real. It&#39;s not all smoke and mirrors and it&#39;s something I can do. Something I can create. You inspire me and many others. So keep on sewing and loving it! You are doing a good thing.

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I don&#39;t know why someone would put down anyones work, but it is what it is, the best we can do is strive to be positive and squash any negativity.

  39. Evie kuczmanska

    I really love your blog ! keep it up !!<br />some time ago I read on ( Deby&#39;s – so sew easy) <br />blog that biggest compliment is when you have first hater…<br />hehehe so true! <br />think this way….you are really good if you have one !! <br />she wrote about you ! uuuuuu hot staff!!<br /><br />and this &#39;lady&#39; ….she is just sad..I am very sorry for her…:)<br />best wishes !!

  40. Rita Marsh

    Your quote: &quot;I don&#39;t think the sewing community is dying due to mediocre sewing being shared or accepted, I think the sewing community is dying because people are afraid of not being perfect and being mocked and made fun of if they try and fail.&quot; That is spot on! The expectation of perfection is often what keeps us from trying. My dad used to tell me &quot;If you can&#39;t do it

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Yes! You have to try even if you fail! Not trying is so much worse!

    2. AnnaBananaHandmade

      I agree with Rita. I was away from sewing for several years, and the expectation of perfection kept me from getting back into it for many more years until, after spending time reading many sewing blogs (including this one), I decided to TRY AGAIN and see what would happen if I made something anyway. It sounds so sad to me now, because sewing is something that I really truly love to do. I can&#

  41. Hands Sew Full

    Gosh I can&#39;t figure out why some people are so cruel. There really is no need for it! Thanks for this post, very gracious and absolutely spot on!

  42. Cecelia

    I read that blog post and I couldn&#39;t believe the snobbery. One person was wondering why their sewing club was all members of 50+ and they were having trouble attracting the younger set. Well the attitude in that post was it. Who is going to subject themself to that kind of crazy criticism. <br /><br />I started sewing in earnest just over 5 years ago when I was pregnant with my oldest

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I agree! I think this era that we live in today is so great that we can learn things we never imagined we were capable of just by searching the internet. There is so much knowledge and inspiration being shared it has fostered a great sewing community.

  43. Amy Hindman

    Well said! When I found your sewing 101 series years ago I eagerly read every post and learned so much! Sewing is a journey and while it may have some bumps and imperfections along the way it is an amazing thing to be able to sew for your children. Thank you for sharing your journey with us!

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I completely agree! Blogging doesn&#39;t mean we are perfect it means we like sharing.

  44. marissa | Rae Gun Ramblings

    I love this! I too am not and will never be a perfectionist. I&#39;m sorry you were picked on. Honestly I&#39;m still kind of in shock over the meanness of the author and people leaving comments on that other post. And what&#39;s sad is that they don&#39;t think it&#39;s mean they just think it&#39;s upholding standards. Gosh I hope my kid has teachers more like you in his life.

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Totally! Sewing is not a dying art just because people praise imperfect sewing. Sewing is alive and well and from what I can tell the more we can encourage people to just try the better the art will be.

  45. Sharon Collins

    I love your blog, Ma&#39;am. That is no lie. I have seen tutorials with helpful tips! I have learned from you. I don&#39;t know how anyone knows enough about sewing to continue to pass judgement but ignore them. You are doing a great service for teaching those who want to sew. Keep up the good work! Who says you can&#39;t teach an old dog new tricks

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Thanks! I love encouraging others to sew, and create and hope that they will always do the same!

  46. marie-anne

    très beau texte ! mes coutures ne sont jamais parfaites mais quand je vois mes enfants porter les vêtements que j&#39;ai cousu, j&#39;en suis heureuse ! bonne continuation, votre blog est une merveille !!

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      C&#39;est tout ce qui devrait compter

  47. Jenn AJennuineLife

    Bravo! I have always been encouraged, uplifted and excited by your posts! Thank you for sharing your journey with all of us!

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I am so glad! Your work is beautiful as well!

  48. Christie Hurst {a lemon squeezy home}

    I think you are amazing and very inspiring to so many–what you do makes it seem attainable for so many who are afraid to try and I think you help them succeed! I agree with your post, Shauna. I&#39;m sorry people are that way sometimes. Generally speaking, I am amazed at how kind the sewing blogging community is. Over the years I have rarely had a negative comment (I saw a tad different side

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I am always glad that the negativity is the minority, I am sorry you got to see some during project sewn your work was incredible!

  49. Jenya @ While she was sleeping

    Well said. Sewing IS magic. I agree, practice makes better. Thank you for taking time to share your journey and your enthusiasm. That&#39;s exactly why I love being a part of this online sewing community.

  50. Lindsay @ Diary of a Crafty Lady

    Amen. I&#39;m sorry someone put you down. I love your response. Thank you, from this non-perfect seamstress.

  51. darcie

    Not all art is high art, and not all sewing is couture. And that&#39;s totally OK. Even da Vinci did pencil sketches, and all of us start somewhere. I love all your work, and I love the online sewing community, and I love what it&#39;s doing for the reemergence of sewing. Sewing is coming back BECAUSE we have this community and we&#39;re lifting each other up and we&#39;re being supportive and

  52. Meghan Welch

    I&#39;m so glad you wrote this! You worded it so well too! I read that post and it was horrible. You are exactly right about that kind of attitude killing the sewing community. In a way it&#39;s kind of like how magazines only feature perfect photo shopped models. Why would I only blog about perfect projects and flawless sewing? Sharing my creations, flaws and all, shows that I&#39;m real

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Yes! Woman have so much pressure from everywhere to be perfect look perfect keep perfect homes have perfect children, why have the added pressure of perfect sewing? Really we should change all the views on perfection but I will start with sewing 🙂

  53. Vera Luna

    Well said. As a mom, I always tell my kids that they should keep trying if they&#39;re not satisfied with what they&#39;ve drawn, created or accomplished. And I always praise their effort, even if the outcome is not what they expected. I love the blogging community for providing just this type of support. I&#39;m sure that there is enough self-criticism already. We don&#39;t need any other critic

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I love that you encourage their efforts even when they want to do better or may have wanted a different outcome. It&#39;s the same attitude we should have with sewing, people will naturally get better and improve for themselves because they want to.

  54. Shruti

    I love your blog. Have been coming back to it for reference and inspiration and sometimes even just to read what you&#39;re writing! I totally agree that you need not be &quot;perfect&quot; to put your projects out there! As long as you&#39;re not selling it (and even if you are, if the buyer has no problem with it, why should somebody else put their noses in your matter!) do your stitch lengths

  55. needleandted

    “To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” Aristotle<br /><br /> Keep on doing what you&#39;re doing, you&#39;re doing a great job.

  56. Epesse

    I have learned so much, have so much fun reading blogs, that I don&#39;t care if something is no ferpect… In Spain we say: Quien da lo que tiene no está obligado a más (Who gives what he/ her has, is not obliged to anything else). Here in the blogosphere we share what we have, and you can learn a lot from others mistakes. Cheers from Málaga (South Spain).

  57. Annemieke Jacobs

    Very well written. I&#39;ve read this blogpost and all the comments including yours there. I was amazed at what some wrote. That&#39;s like me not have to try writing in Englisch because i could write a spelling error. Or starting a new job and have to be perfect at it because i get payed for it….. I love sewing! I am not at all a professional but i can draw and have a creative mind. So i do

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Yes! Getting paid doesn&#39;t mean perfection is required. I am so glad you are doing patterns and moving forward and no one should ever tell you that you can&#39;t.

  58. Ty Bebe

    When people ask me how I learned to sew I literally tell them Shwin &amp; Shwin taught me. It&#39;s your blog and a couple of others that gave me the encouragement and desire to try to figure out this art and I am so grateful for that. I can honestly say this little sewing community has changed my life and has helped this super shy girl feel a little more outgoing and comfortable and have more

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Thanks alexia! You are the sweetest! Also pretty sure you are one of the plug the machine in and first time ever you make pure gold! Your creations are lovely! We shouldn&#39;t have a fear of sharing in this community, we should have kindness and support

  59. Lightning McStitch

    Very well written. I&#39;ve just bumbled along and I&#39;m now at a point where I&#39;m mostly pretty pleased with my sewing. Sometimes I think I really should photograph things like the hems on my early knit tops just to demonstrate that I started out doing some pretty ordinary work, and sometimes still do.<br />If you document your progress and give tips as to how you achieved a better result

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      It does take time and work and if I didn&#39;t love it then it wouldn&#39;t be worth it, but when I see what someone made because I shared a tutorial it makes me love it all even more. I love that you bought a pattern everyone was hating on. People don&#39;t have to love everything or think everything is great, but even negativity can be handled better

  60. Victoria

    Thank you so much for sharing your skill, enthusiasm, and support! The work you do, sewing and community building, is beautiful! I also admire the tone of this article, measured and positive, which is really hard when someone else singles you out like that.

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      My goal is to always build each other up, even the negative people in the world need some love. The point of all of this is to remember that we are all human and we should be there to support each other.

  61. Orange Rose

    Very well said. But you or anyone else really should not have to clarify or justify what you do. Negative and bitter people will always be there. But love, encouragement and positivity wins every day and ALL DAY!

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I agree no one should have to justify why they aren&#39;t perfect, but I think every now and again a reminder that I know I am not perfect and that we can all keep trying anyway is good 🙂

  62. Rosemary Shannon

    I love the online sewing community which I believe bridges so many age groups of women. I have been a sewer since age 8, 57 years! My grandmother was a &#39;professional&#39; home sewer making dresses for many of &quot;her ladies.&quot; I met some of my best friends while sewing for high school theater productions, making dozens of costumes on a very tight timeline for a variety of sizes of

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      My absolute favorite thing about this community is that there is no age limit, or requirement. I love that women of all ages and skill set can feel welcome. Thank you for sharing your story!

  63. Mary Boudreau

    Like Rosemary above I too have sewed for over 50 years. Sewing is a creative art. I taught my children that sewing allows you to have something that no one else has. I have made just about everything imaginable in the sewing world, definitely not all perfect, maybe none perfect. At this moment I volunteer with a seniors group who are making backpacks for the school children in an African

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I just love this! Thank you for sharing your skills in such a lovely way! I am sure those backpacks are so well loved.

  64. Unknown

    Amen! I&#39;ve only been sewing for a few months and admire your creativity and willingness to share with and teach others!

  65. Heidi Kettner

    Well said, Shauna, well said!!!

  66. Erica S

    It makes me so sad to hear that someone in the sewing community is picking apart someone else&#39;s work. I learned to sew off of your and a couple other sewing blogs that offered tutorials for clothing, but also tutorials for basic sewing skills. Bloggers like you (and those others) that take the time to learn, photograph, and explain a basic sewing technique have taught a new generation of &

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I am so glad you sew! While it is sad that people do feel the need to pick apart each other sometimes I think it&#39;s more important to focus on how great it can be to create, and spending our time teaching and lifting others up is time well spent 🙂

  67. Claire Kennedy

    This is really astonishing, and what it tells me in spades is the whole process of creating (which is VERY magical, abstract, and very hard to describe in words), is foreign, intimidating and or otherwise scary for this commenter/person. What&#39;s really evident in my creative artistic world is that those who are truly creative are giving and very generous with their ideas, while those who are

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      So true! Negativity holds a lot of people back, both the person being so negative but also the people who are hurt by the negativity. Sewing is art people should feel free and happy to share it.

  68. Jen@thecraftingfiend

    Love this response shauna! I just want people to be encouraged to sew! If anyone looks back at my personal blog they will no doubt get quite a few laughs , I know I do at that early sewing! But I wanted to sew fir my kids, and my kids cry often when I make something for myself and not for them lol. I sew because I love it, not because I need to be the best at it. Always learning. Always growing.

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Agreed! You have been such an inspiration as well! I think it&#39;s wonderful how many women are actually encouraging and supportive.

  69. Michelle Martini

    You have so much grace. Snobbery sucks. <br /><br />Just as some experienced mothers will swear their children *never* threw a temper tantrum in the middle of the grocery store, some experienced sewists forget their first garments fell apart in the wash. <br /><br />My aunt has been sewing for decades. She was taught French heirloom sewing and is a purist when it comes to detail and technique. We

    1. Michelle Martini

      (My aunt said that quote. I forgot to make that clear.)

    2. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Well that just made my day! You tell your aunt she is as sweet as honey!

  70. Kristen

    This post makes me smile. I wholeheartedly agree! (By the way, after reading it, I had to go find the post for that raglan tee — it&#39;s fantastic!)<br /><br />A few years ago I made a simple blanket for my niece. It was my first attempt at making a blanket; I just pieced a few fabrics together for the top and appliqued her name on it. The backing shifted around and the corners were pretty

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Thanks! Same the first blanket I ever made was when I was expecting my son, I hadn&#39;t sewn in years. The tension on my machine was all wrong it was skipping stitches left and right and the blanket was not only terrible crooked but had holes all over the place in the seams from skipped stitches. Yet I was proud I accomplished something. My son still sleeps with the blanket today. It looks like

  71. mumziepooh

    Ugggggg-this is very frustrating to me. I had the incredible privilege of learning to sew at the knee of my grandma. I wanted a Barbie sewing machine more than life itself but grandma wanted me to learn on a real machine. That was almost 50 years ago. I sewed Barbie clothes (Barbie girl all the way!) and moved on to clothes for me – I had a mom that would shake her head at my fish fabric for

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Thank you so much for sharing your story! I too learned to first sew by making barbie clothes. They were pretty rough but the designs were my own and my friends all wanted the clothes. It unlocked a whole world for me. My sewing was off and on after that but once I had kids I started up again and have never looked back. I hope that my kids all have the chance to discover their own magic in sewing

  72. Heather x

    Honey, there are people out here like myself that rely on people like you! I have no mother figure to teach me, I watch blogs like yours to learn…I make a lot of happy accidents…they are my design flaws but I am also having a lot of fun learning from online sewing communities….you are an awesome bunch :)<br /><br />Heather x<br />Its sew this n that

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      so glad we can all be in this together! Keep on creating!

  73. Amanda

    I made some clothes for my kids when they were little and they were a little awful but i loved them so much because i had made them all by myself. Also I got my love of sewing from my mother who would make me help her pin patterns and i remember having so much fun with her. She made me a quilt when i was little that was so heavy you couldn&#39;t move under it and still had some pins in it so

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      so true! Thanks for sharing your story!

  74. Laurie

    I am over 60 and returned to sewing a few years ago after decades off. I was beyond rusty! Blogs like yours and others really helped me move along with hope. My skills returned and improved as I sewed and took up quilting. Nothing is perfect yet, but I sure have a lot of people who love my gifts!

    1. Margaret Reed

      Same here…I tell you what patterns are so different than the old ones. I am SO rusty it is a shamw!<br />

    2. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I am so glad you returned to the craft! It&#39;s never too late to start and it&#39;s never too late to return 🙂

  75. OnceUpona Sew

    I&#39;m sorry this happened to you. I don&#39;t know how adult women can believe that sort of thing is ever appropriate. Beautiful response. -Rachel

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      It&#39;s alright 🙂 I have pretty thick skin, it saddens me more when I see the damage it does to what is a normally lovely community. I would rather remind women to be positive than harp on some bitter comments. No one should be afraid to sew and share.

  76. Joansy W

    It&#39;s a shame there are people who feel it is their job to demean other people, and I love your response to whoever tried to dampen your spirit. I have sewn for years, for my children and now my grandchildren, and I doubt anything I&#39;ve ever made has been perfect. But I love to sew for the same reason you and millions of others do, and I won&#39;t stop because of some mean-spirited Mr. or

  77. At Grandma's Knee

    I sew professionally in the UK and also teach sewing, knitting and crochet, but I am my own worst critic 🙁 and get quite anxious when something I make is not quite how I want it to be, but I would never point out other people&#39;s imperfections! Couture sewing is really hard work and you never stop learning but I often find myself admiring other people&#39;s possibly &#39;imperfect&#39; work

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Thanks for sharing your story! I love that you teach as well it&#39;s so important!

  78. The Bluths

    That person sounds like an idiot. Nuff said

  79. Jamra

    Right on! I LOVE reading your blog and I LOVE seeing mistakes. It encourages me to keep trying! I did a little bit of sewing before my daughter was born 2 years ago but now it is a passion that I enjoy every day. I am amazed at how much I have learned in the past 2 years. I would try things that I had no experience with and didn&#39;t know what I was doing, like putting in a zipper and would find

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I am so glad that you aren&#39;t afraid to try anything! You will be so amazed at what you CAN do when you aren&#39;t afraid to try. I used to be afraid to make a buttonhole. Like seriously afraid, I used elastic loops or snaps. Then one day I said it&#39;s foolish to be afraid of something like this so I tried. Now I love buttonholes, making them is therapeutic to me and once I got past that I

  80. GrayColors

    I really cant get past wow… I agree that the sewing community is dying because people think things have to be perfect and they give up or dont even try. I have many friends who are interested and refuse to try because they &quot;know it wont look right&quot;. I hate it when people say that. So what? Just try again! My first project for my son was horrible but i immediately tried again and

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Thanks! You are so right we can&#39;t be afraid to try!

  81. Zoe

    Love this post! Hadn&#39;t been here before, but I will be paying attention to your blog from now.<br /> <br />I sometimes see projects which I don&#39;t love, as it takes all types. I am far more frustrated and annoyed when I hear people say &#39;Oh I could never do that, that&#39;s far to difficult for me&#39;. I want to shake them and say &#39;Yes- yes you can and it will be rewarding!&#39; A

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Thanks! (and welcome) I agree you don&#39;t have to love everything you see fashion (which is a big part of sewing) is very personal, but you can still be positive and encouraging towards someones work even when it&#39;s not your style. I appreciate your attitude and I love that quote thanks for sharing!

  82. Amanda Harvey

    I agree with everything you said. I love reading all my sewing blogs that I follow, I have learnt so many things from them. Surely it is up to us as individuals as to how perfect we want to sew our items not the people that write the tutorials, blogs etc. <br />I applaud you for the time and effort you put into your tutorials, patterns, blogs etc. and I thank you for all that you have taught me.<

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I totally agree! I have many friends as well as my grandma who are true perfectionist. They spend the time and the energy to be precise and perfect in everything they sew. I love them for it, I love when they teach how to do something &quot;perfectly&quot; No one would ever improve anything ever if there was nothing better out there. But I think all levels of sewing and being &quot;perfect&quot;

  83. amy mayen

    I&#39;ve learned more from bloggers showing off their errors and imperfections than I&#39;ve learned from any book. When people are talking about you, you win. I don&#39;t know how to explain it right, but they are thinking about you and devoting energy to slander you…so you win. Good post- and as my daughter says- &quot;haters are my motivators.&quot; Kids are crazy but good for you for

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Your daughter is so wise 🙂 I agree seeing imperfections is helpful, it&#39;s always nice to know that everyone fails sometimes but even better when we know they keep trying.

  84. Marlalj

    I own a sewing machine that I have been terrified to even open for over a year. The fear of utter failure lets the machine sit in the box. I read blogs like yours so I have the confidence to one day try. Shame on the person who used their energy to criticize you or put you down. Keep doing what you do because there are people out here you need you.

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Open that baby up! Plug it in and give it a whirl! Start with a pillowcase even, you may end up so proud of that pillowcase you sleep on it every night and it may just inspire you to keep going! Don&#39;t ever be afraid of failure.

  85. Alice McGary

    Amen, Sistah!! When I want a cirtique, I&#39;ll ask for it.<br />

  86. mommaloves7

    As a very wise Ms. Frizzle ( Magic School Bus) said : &#39;Take Chances, Make Mistakes, Get Messy !&#39;

  87. Jackie Sorich

    Keep sewing and having fun. We all start at the beginning,and by making things we learn. Sure everything is not perfect, nor does it need to be. Your family and friends are fortunate that you sew and teach and share. Lucky us. <br />Not everyone wants the couture type of sewing in their skill set. A nice T shirt can bring joy as well as a finished seam. To each her own. Also being kind

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      My kids would surely take a tee shirt over a well tailored channel style jacket any day 🙂

  88. Erin

    I have been a fan of yours since I started sewing and cant believe you could be the target of such ugliness. You have been an inspiration to me! <br /><br />xo

  89. nest full of eggs

    I believe sharing what you love will bring you joy. I find it fun sharing with fellow sewing enthusiasts and I also get so much in return; the blogosphere provides the best form of encouragement and inspiration.

  90. Donna Hollingsworth

    For most people, sewing is an act of love and caring for another person. I love to sew and my projects are never perfect but no one has ever turned down one of my sewn gifts for lack of perfection! From years of dealing with others I can tell you this, when you are doing something right there will always be someone to try to hurt you, offend you, or break your confidence. Please don&#39;t let one

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Making something out of love for another person is simply the best!

  91. Falafel and the Bee

    I create because I have a need to create..and one of the best things about sewing is the beautiful supportive community of people that I have &quot;met&quot; online. We are all in it together. Thanks for writing this, and for sharing what you know with me.<br />~Michelle

  92. Heather

    I think that any and all sewing/do it yourself is awesome. Sewing is a beautiful and practical craft(and art). It is a wonderful and empowering feeling to make something!

  93. Margaret

    Very well said. I sew because I love it. I make clothes because I love it. They are not perfect by any stretch. But, I also teach a sewing class and I stress that if you are happy with the final product then it is good enough. You don&#39;t have to be perfect. There is a saying I have heard that goes something like this….only God is perfect so all my quilts are imperfect. I live by this motto.

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Yes if YOU are happy with the outcome that&#39;s all that should matter!

  94. Jennifer Trujillo

    Thanks for your post but ultimately who cares what other people think. I believe every single person that tries their hardest deserve a medal. Most of us have kids and its a triumph to find time to even sew and even if you don&#39;t probable you have a full time job and its demanding and you sew when ever so….whatever..that kind of negative people do not even deserve, our time, our energy and

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      It&#39;s true we shouldn&#39;t care what others think, or say or even do, but we should do what makes us happy. I would rather encourage others to find happiness, and share happiness.

  95. Jessica

    Love this post Shauna! I think the fear of imperfection kills so much creativity. I always plan on failing in some degree on every project, but still can feel proud of accomplishing something with sewing. It takes courage to sew and push ourselves, and even more to share our journeys with the world. Glad to share an inspiring positive &quot;conversation&quot;! You&#39;re awesome as a

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Thanks! Coming from one of the most creative people I know, it means a lot.

  96. Jacqueline Kennedy

    Hi Shauna, I just wanted to say that you are great, your blog is probably the reason I am sewing for my little girl Anna (a couple of months younger than Penny) and enjoying it so much! I first sewed an Abbey dress from your tutorial, which was my first-ever item of baby clothing, and was hooked. Seeing the things you can do amazes and inspires me. I just wish we had better fabric shops in the UK

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I am so glad you get to create for your daughter! The Abbey dress was one of the first things I ever made for Abbey, it unlocked a whole world for me.

  97. Klockarbarn

    Thank you for writing this post. It feels like you´re speaking for many of us who are sewing just for the fun of it. I would like to say so many things here but this isn´t my language and I can´t find the words. But I do understand what the others written up here and I can see that you getting nice respond. Though my language problems I´m still trying 😉

  98. ice cream

    This was my post to Bunny:<br />Bunny….what if someone said to you, &quot;You are a great sewist. But, you really should stop blogging. You don&#39;t really have a face for internet. Your writing really isn&#39;t very good.&quot; And then they went through your blog and pointed out all of your grammar errors. What if they went through your pictures and showed your &quot;rolls&quot; in

  99. Carla Hegeman Crim

    This post and the comments really fill me with joy…THANK YOU Shauna! As you know, I got super upset when I read the post in question (particularly the initial comments and her responses to them). I thought I had a developed thick skin after 8 years in the PDF pattern business, but this hit a nerve. This person targeted bloggers who she deemed successful enough to make money. She then went

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      I know you were tossed into the &quot;fire&quot; with me, It&#39;s such a wonderful thing hearing all the supportive side of the online sewing community. You are wonderful, what you teach and the patterns you make are such an inspiration. This community needs more of people like you 🙂

    2. Mel

      Not to mentioj, Carla&#39;s patterns are some of the best ever. <br /><br />As someone with 100+ patterns from the Big Three, I can&#39;t tell you how wonderful it is to have a pattern with clear images and excellent instructions so that I actually CAN finish a project.

  100. Chelise

    You are awesome. That&#39;s all I have to say!

  101. DolloMalice

    Thank you for this! It was beautifully worded. It was not degrading or demeaning, but it stands up for this beautiful community we all love. Now that I am getting busier in blogging my sewing escapades, I see so much inspiration, work, sweat and tears, as well as triumphs. If we cannot support each other and watch one another grow in a supportive matter, then this community means nothing. I am

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      This community really is beautiful! I want to strive to keep it that way, and to help it continue to grow. I see all the hard work women put into creating something and sharing something (blogging is hard sometimes) and I just know they must be so proud of it. It&#39;s a wonderful thing to be on the encouraging and uplifting side of things.

  102. JoAnn

    I think that was a great response. You were able to show just how wrong it is to try and discourage anyone trying to make a craft of any kind. If you love to sew, scrapbook, or make a pair of ear rings we should always lift people up and support each other. I think You are doing great in everything I have seen. We all get better in time but if it&#39;s not perfect it&#39;s still handmade with

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      Yes! So true! Any kind of creating you love to do should be encouraged and done for the love of doing it. For so many people creating something is an outlet used to help recharge them from the woes of life. Without it we could be a very depressed society.

  103. Sara Curtis

    Wow! I don&#39;t have time to read the other comments, but these are great thoughts! I find that the sewing and blogging have stretched me and helped me to grow in so many ways. It&#39;s a way to learn new things, keep our minds active when we spend much of the days with preschoolers, and express creativity. I&#39;ve been sewing for many, many years, but blogging has made me re-think the way I

  104. a little sewing

    mmm, I think there was some miscommunication here – I have been following Bunny&#39;s blog since she started it, and before that I followed her work on Patternreview, a sewing discussion forum. Bunny is kind and super skilled, generous, talented, etc. I am really not sure what caused her to bring up this &quot;discussion&quot; – I can only guess. I have also gone to the same high-end kinds of

    1. Shauna@shwinandshwin

      This post was not meant to attack anyone, or to be negative back towards the author of the post. I am sure she is very skilled and talented, and I would encourage her to share as well. Unfortunately the post and the comments on that post were rude, catty, and hurtful. Posts like that and comments like that are far more damaging to the art than a bad pattern. I think many of us myself included

    2. a little sewing

      Well, I have had the experience of turning my sewing hobby into my livelihood, and it was a very eye-opening experience. Let&#39;s just say I can relate to your hurt feelings. There will always be a lot of politics and people with agendas when money starts to change hands. It took a lot of soul searching for me to decide how bad I wanted to earn my living that way and whether I was up to the job.

  105. Sewing Sober

    Shauna I love this! I sew because I love to see the look of amazement and appreciation upon my little girls face. The first thing I sewed for her was a batman cape made up of a satin moo moo from my gma, and a terrible batman logo on the back made of pink fleece. I made wrist cuffs to go with it as well as a headband. It was the worst thing ever LOL but she didn&#39;t care. For her, it was like I

  106. Samantha

    I feel I am late to this discussion and may already be repeating what someone else has said above – so please forgive me if i do. I am a &#39;new&#39; sewer. I have wanted to start a blog for quite awhile now to document the new skills I am acquiring and to – maybe – help others out with tutorials and community support (I am a bit handy with a camera and have a writing degree under my belt)

    1. Jackie

      Good for you! I started a blog to have my own place to show they things that I make. I do it for me, because I like sewing. I&#39;ve only been doing it for about four years, when I find the time, and I still feel very new to it all the time. Also, I have a disclaimer for when my friends ask me to make things for their kids…I am not the best sewer but I sure do try! Honestly, they don&#39;t care

  107. Mel

    Beautiful response to a bully. <br /><br />I can&#39;t tell you how much you and so many other sewing blogs have taught me… Especially when professional sewing teachers in home ec actually kicked me out of home ec in 7th grade when I wasn&#39;t domestic enough…. I now have an online shop and actually do sell the clothes I&#39;ve made. Along with quilts, pillowcases, accessories, etc. Because

  108. Alyssa

    As a sewer who is still learning (and primarily from blogs), I really like to see that the sewing bloggers I admire started out somewhere too!! Don&#39;t let negative people get you down! I really enjoy your blog. Beginning stages and all!!!

  109. Susan

    That is a brilliant response to a very unprovoked and bitter attack.Even though I hadn&#39;t come across your blog in the past, I was horrified by the attempt to publicly humiliate people just trying to share their creative journey and perhaps influence other people to take up this amazing hobby. I learned to sew many years ago, had quite a long break for various reasons, and have now

  110. Terra Sews

    Hi Shauna! I loved your response and referenced it in my response to her. I hope that&#39;s okay!<br /><br />Terra

  111. Terra Sews

    Hi Shauna! I loved your response, and linked to it in the one on my blog. I hope that&#39;s okay!<br /><br />-Terra

  112. Loo

    Thank you for handling criticism so well and sharing it with us. As a (failed) perfectionist that has had a few sewing classes, I love the online sewing community. Many of us work and / or are mothers and don&#39;t have time to take a semester long class to begin to learn all the basics of sewing. Not to mention the classes are generally not offered at 1 in the morning or whatever time our

  113. Justyna

    I start sewing a year ago, while beeing on maternity leave. And it started because I saw one of the tutotials on your blog and thought maybe I should try it. Bought sewing machine few days later and made first leggings for my bwby girl. Was so proud of myself and since then sewing become my passion, I spend all my free time sewing and Im getting better with every project. It changed my life, I

  114. Kathy Hennessy

    Applause! Perfect response to mean ole Bunny!!!

  115. Emily Thompson

    I haven&#39;t seen the original mean post, but I have seen several responses. I am not a perfectionist and I post things on my blog that are less than perfect… I think it&#39;s inspiring and REAL to show that we aren&#39;t all perfect and I can still enjoy and learn from sewing tutorial that are less than. thanks for your beautiful post.

  116. Entwined Essentials

    I love this post, very well said. It doesn&#39;t only apply to sewing, it applies to life. I wish everyone treated everyone like flowers and rainbows. =)

  117. Adair Olson

    Found the original post, but it looks like it was edited, and I toddled over here to comment because I don&#39;t want to contribute to her spiteful little world.<br /><br />1) The gist of her overall point read like this: &quot;Young sewists today just suck a whole lot. Why don&#39;t they take advice from us older sewists who don&#39;t suck as much as they do?&quot; I used to teach writing,

  118. ★Max California

    Ugh people are so petty and at the same time so stupidly high &amp; mighty. I have no idea what blog this is, but it is nasty. I studied fashion and dropped out because I disliked the narrow-minded ways of some of my teachers and my classmates. If she has nothing better to do than scour the internet and compile photos and words together to cut others down then I actually feel sorry for her! What

  119. ★Max California

    Ugh people are so petty and at the same time so stupidly high &amp; mighty. I have no idea what blog this is, but it is nasty. I studied fashion and dropped out because I disliked the narrow-minded ways of some of my teachers and my classmates. If she has nothing better to do than scour the internet and compile photos and words together to cut others down then I actually feel sorry for her! What

  120. Misty

    Amen Sister! I found your blog two years ago as I was beginning to learn to sew. I was really apprehensive about my errors at first, but your blog really inspired me to continue learning, practicing and improving! I also realized I have a knack for design and now a days most of what I sew comes from my own imagination. I’m sure that not everyone would love the garments I make, but I not trying to impress or please anyone but myself and my kids! I think you are incredible and talented and REAL and your blog has given a lot of woman the confidence to sew what they love–for the ones they love. The satisfaction that follows has little to do with the perfection of the garment…but the pleasure and joy that comes from making others feel special and unique.
    Thank you for speaking out and defending those of us who need tutorials and sewing 101, real people who have little free time to learn to sew! Without your help, we’d have given up before we ever got started!

  121. Sewing 101 || Hand worked Button Holes || Shwin&Shwin

    […] **Edited to add, this post has become a point of ridicule for some. My handworked button holes are not perfect, they are far from perfect, the point of the “lesson” is to show something I am learning and working on and share the technique. I am still working on fine tuning the look of my handworked button holes although I plan to leave this post up. If you care to laugh and rumble about the button holes and how imperfect they look feel free, if you want to practice the technique and improve your skills great. If you want to know why I sew you can read more about that HERE […]

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