Mallory and Zede share their personal struggles of juggling sewing time with parental or other caretaker responsibilities. We won’t lie to you this episode will pull at your heartstrings.

The struggle is real and you are not alone in your quest for carving out precious sewing time. Mallory recently (as in 15 days ago) had a new baby and now has two small kids at home. She is finding it more challenging to set aside time to sew. While looking at instagram she found a post that really resonated with her from Michelle. A. Sews and confirmed that yeah, kids take a lot of your time but you should still make time for just you.

Mallory also realizes as Zede’s daughter and neighbor that she probably still takes up her moms time. After a good chuckle Mallory prompt’s her mom, Zede to share her sewing and parenting journey.

Grab your tissues! Zede explains that her parenting and sewing story is not as traditional as Mal’s because right around the time she found out she was expecting her first child her mother was diagnosed with cancer. For most of her maternity she took a leave from work to take care of her mother. Zede moved into her parents home for the last half of her pregnancy and provided round the clock nursing care for her mom. She said the two things she brought with her were her sewing machine and a Jane Fonda LP and book.

She sewed a few baby items and altered some nightgowns for her mom but her sewing time was limited. Immediately after her baby was born her mother passed away. Zede took to sewing for an escape and as therapy. She says, “Guess what, you can cry while you sew and no one can hear you”. Zede made so many outfits and things for her new baby and it gave her hope for the future.

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THIS BROADCAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

The SewHere Patreon Page

Hello Stitchers!

Thank you for Sew-pporting the media and community that Zede and Mallory Donohue offer via SewHere.com, the Self Sewn Wardrobe Facebook Group, and our Sewing Out Loud podcast.

We are constantly overwhelmed by the generosity and curiosity of our community, and we love serving you.

Some of our audience has requested a way to say “Thanks” for our services and entertainment as patrons.

While we sell sewing supplies and online classes on our site, some stitchers just simply enjoy the community we provide, and prefer to shop locally, or avoid huge shipping costs overseas.  We listened, and after a lot of consideration, we opened this Patreon account.

Thank you again for your Sew-pport!
Zede and Mallory Donohue

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So how do you make the time or prioritize sewing into your schedule? Mallory admits that sometimes she’s her biggest problem and that she will occasionally get analysis paralysis. She plans on writing down all of her ideas for what she wants to do sewing and other related and then decide what she’ll tackle first.

Zede also mentions that sometimes all of her interests and other activities can overcomplicate her life and make choosing how she spends her time more difficult. Multi-tasking and having a dedicated sewing space always available really helps her. She says even if you have to make a little sewing area in your bedroom, do it. It is easier to actually sew when you don’t have to waist precious time setting up for it.

Mallory and Zede both agree tat focusing your efforts one task can be challenging but a good thing. It’s ok to cut back on things that take lots of time and energy with little reward to pursue other things that make you happy.

Zede and Mallory recognize that everyone has there own struggle with finding time to sew not just new parents. Zede often hears people say when my kid gets older it will be easier. She says that’s not necessarily true, things just change and you have to change with them.

She remembers as her kids grew up her older daughters were out of the house and she was left as the primary chaperone for Mal, who apparently loved to dance as she was always taking her to dance lessons. Zede realized she had little time to squeeze in exercise for herself so she took dance lessons with Mallory.

On top of all the dancing she was also performing in recitals and making the costumes, of course. How did she do it all? Well as the story goes, one evening she was in the kitchen with Mal and with a sad face and dramatic tone (shocker- Mal was dramatic as a child too) looks over the top of a can of peaches and asks, “will we ever have fresh fruit again”? Zede responded with “not unless they sell it at the gas station”.

Born was the “Don’t feel bad about the can of peaches” pearl of wisdom à la Zede Donohue. She says sometimes you have to eat the can of peaches to get it all done and that’s ok.