sewing projects

the best kind of sewing

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Really, I could never sew for a living. 
I realized yesterday, as I was happily stitching along on a project for my cousin’s birthday, that my best sewing comes when I’m inspired by who the gift is for. The reason I say I couldn’t sew for a living is because part of my realization yesterday was that my best work happens when I’m sewing with a specific person in mind. Yesterday it was my four year-old cousin. (yes, you get cousins younger than your own children when your father comes from a family of fifteen) He’s a soft-spoken, chubby-handed little boy in  gold, wire-framed glasses who knows more about tractors than most grown men. He’ll drool over glossy Case IH literature like some kids drool over chocolate frosted cake.
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So in the final hours before his party (and in the final minutes trying to take three pictures by ugly overhead light), I became inspired to make him a tractor to lay his head on, to usher him off into his own, personal, machinery dreamland. And I tell you the project couldn’t have gone more smoothly. Each piece of fabric fell into place–the colors, the prints. Not a stitch (well maybe one or two) fell out of line. It just came together perfectly. And not because I think I’m the end all of pillow-makers, but because I think that when I’m sewing from my heart everything falls perfectly in to place.

P1010007_5

Really, I could never sew for a living. 
I realized yesterday, as I was happily stitching along on a project for my cousin’s birthday, that my best sewing comes when I’m inspired by who the gift is for. The reason I say I couldn’t sew for a living is because part of my realization yesterday was that my best work happens when I’m sewing with a specific person in mind. Yesterday it was my four year-old cousin. (yes, you get cousins younger than your own children when your father comes from a family of fifteen) He’s a soft-spoken, chubby-handed little boy in  gold, wire-framed glasses who knows more about tractors than most grown men. He’ll drool over glossy Case IH literature like some kids drool over chocolate frosted cake.
P1010004_11

P1010006_12

So in the final hours before his party (and in the final minutes trying to take three pictures by ugly overhead light), I became inspired to make him a tractor to lay his head on, to usher him off into his own, personal, machinery dreamland. And I tell you the project couldn’t have gone more smoothly. Each piece of fabric fell into place–the colors, the prints. Not a stitch (well maybe one or two) fell out of line. It just came together perfectly. And not because I think I’m the end all of pillow-makers, but because I think that when I’m sewing from my heart everything falls perfectly in to place.

22 comments on “the best kind of sewing”

  1. OH MY!!!! love the “fields” in your tractor pillow!!! Adorable!!!! I’m also wishing you and yours a blessed and happy new year!!!

  2. The pillow is precious, I have a little nephew that loves tractors and would be thrilled to receive something like that. I completely understand what you mean. I can draw when I’m inspired and I’m guided from a passion or creative from with in. Other than that I seem to just be able to doodle???

  3. I just love your description of the little man – and I am sure that he will be over the moon with his fabulous new pillow.

    It is so beautifully done – as is your description of how it feels to create something with love…

  4. What a wonderful pillow for your sweet little tractor lover. I so agree with your sentiments about sewing, when I’m sewing from the heart it’s always better.

  5. I love seeing the projects you do Molly. You are very talented, but unlike other craft-bloggers they also seem realistically accomplishable. It goves me hope that someday I WILL sew and I WILL work with clay. Thanks Molly and Happy New Year!

  6. i’m a john deere girl myself but that’s one good looking piece of machinery 😉

    nice job. i hear you about the gift-specific inspiration. i could never be a buyer for my mom’s antique store, either. i only want to buy what I would want to purchase in her store…

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