Felicity Banks

#96: Sew Something

March 29, 2010 at 2:35 am (Daily Awesomeness)

I’ve had a basketful of semi-sewn scraps for about ten years. That’s over a third of my life.

Today was the day to attempt to make something of them. Specifically, a pretend quilt. Some of the pieces have stories – my Year 10 formal dress (first in a dynasty of similar dresses, two others of which are also represented), a sarong, part of a woven bag from Indonesia, some curtains, some of the wrap my mum made me for my Year 12 formal, part of a cushion cover, etc.

This is how they looked when I started (after cutting many squares and sewing them in rows a decade ago):

This is how they looked partway through (sorting out the rows so they made a doona-cover shape; getting attacked by cat):

(The foot isn’t mine, incidentally. I’m not THAT hairy.)

And this is how the completed doona cover looked when I finished – and added a possessed cat I’d prepared earlier (I had sewn the combined pieces to the doona cover, cunningly remembering to leave a doona opening):

I have now spent five hours on what was an “almost finished” doona cover thingy. I ran through half a dozen bobbins (that’s a lot of thread), but accomplished the whole project without ever using a pin. Yay for “near enough is good enough”!

I also read another person’s manifesto today, which is here: http://chrisguillebeau.com/3×5/a-brief-guide-to-world-domination/comment-page-8/#comment-19751

The most important part is to ask yourself two questions:

1. What do I want out of life?

2. What can I give the world that no-one else can?

My answers were:

What do I want?

To matter.

Specifically, I want to inspire others to live heroic lives by writing excellent books, and by living a heroic life. I’ve recently altered my blog to more overtly live a life of Daily Awesomeness (as you may have noticed).

What can I give to the world that no-one else can?

My writing.

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I think the one thing the author should also have said is that courage is like muscles – it needs a gradual increase in exercise to get strong. So if you’re scared to go to a party – go to a party, but take a friend. Then build up to further heroic acts. If you’re scared of sewing, FLEE! FLEE LIKE THE WIND!!!!

Play along at home: What is a small fear you have (sewing definitely counts)? Do something a teensy bit brave this week, and/or fix one thing from that stupid mending basket.