Hello All! How’s it going?
Last week, I blogged about a fabric I love… this 100% rayon Batik.
and a pattern I hate… McCall’s M7080.
I’m allowed to hate a pattern, right?
I offered to give it away. Guess what… NO TAKERS! Hundreds of views and not a bite. You’d think I was trying to sell ICE at the North Pole. GOT THAT McCALL’S?
But I won’t dispair, instead it will go to a charity shop. For that matter, I plan on sending quite a few things to the charity shop in the coming month. I have time off work the end of June and a proper purging of the house contents is in order. Maybe there is someone out there who will need my “stuff” (and this pattern).
I seem to go through a spring cleaning every year, but this year while making many trips to visit our parents, to help empty out their home of 40 years worth of “stuff”, I have had a revelation. What is important about my “stuff”? Pretty much nothing!
We need food, water, shelter. We need enough clothing so we don’t have to do our laundry naked. We need work, a hobby, rest, companionship. Boatloads of “stuff” isn’t ever going to give us that.
Uncertain if I was having a mental breakdown, I googled “give away my stuff” and found this blog post – “Why you should give away 50% of your stuff“. Apparently I am not going crazy. I love the lines from this article “… you are not your stuff.” and “… it will never love you back.”
I remember doing a big closet clean out in April of 2015, blogged here: “I was ruthless…” Now it seems I didn’t go far enough. So the first long break I have from work the end of June – the purging starts and off to the charity shop it goes!
If you could only possess a few frivolous “things” what would they be? Mine would be my Mother’s and my Aunt Helen’s antique sewing machines. I’ll have to show you those machines someday!
P.S. Since I was travelling last weekend and not sewing, I didn’t accomplish much on my shirt. I have to do the collar, sleeves and hemming next.
Let me tell you though, I’m still happy with it! 😍
Happy Sewing!
35 Responses to “So bad I couldn’t give it away!”
Good luck with your clear out. There was a lot of ‘Kondo’ talk on blogs a while back but I found that approach a bit severe. I try to purge on a regular basis but sometimes it feels like the ‘stuff’ is breeding in the cupboards!
Yes, I saw the Kondo talk going around. I’m sure it was great for some people. But I was afraid if I got involved it would mean buying another self help book or course and I spend too much on fabric to allow that to interfere! With my method – I get a claustrophobic feeling and half the stuff is out of here – I don’t have to buy a book! 😂
What a lovely & generous thing to do with this dress & pattern!
💕 Have downsized quite a bit during my last 2 moves, and continue to keep at it. Am finding it’s a constant push/pull effort ~ adverts constantly saying “buy” and me needing to reply, Why?, and walking away. 😉
Aww.. That’s not good. A lot of work and no interest? Well we only have so much time so if there aren’t many bites for our ads, it will all end up in charity. (Perhaps I shouldn’t say that too loudly!).
I love that material, so pretty.
Well, I started going through my daughter’s closet. Books, Archie magazines, children books, magazines, it’s all going to a thrift store. I’m starting small. If I do small trips then I’ll get started, if I think of a big trip I won’t get anything done.
What I would keep? Photo albums and art supplies. 😊
I have done one step at a time too. I know now that our kitchen contains only what we use now. Next comes a closet at a time and a room at a time. Photo albums are always a must and something to keep you happy, such as art supplies, etc.
I have that pattern! I’ve yet to try to make it, though. I actually like the style, but I think I was thrown off by the amount of ease in the bodice. There’s a fine line between “loose fitting” and “baggy.” It’s great that you could save the fabric, though!
I personally find it really hard to get rid of my own things, although I can be pretty ruthless when helping others clean house. Moving usually helps me purge, but I’ve been in one place for several years now and the stuff just piles up!
Yes, I did find it to be baggy, and the waist should have been higher. I prefer it as a top too. I think there will be a little less pink then! I’m looking forward to seeing your version when you make it up. Moving is always an incentive to clean up. My parents moving into a senior’s home was a great motivator for me to take a good look at myself!
Ha! Can’t believe no one wanted that pattern :). Honestly, I have so much I should part with in my closet and I’ve decided that some of my old makes that I don’t wear should be passed on in spite of the fact that I loved them in their day. I read on a blog (I can’t remember where) that you should take photos of the items you are having a hard time parting with and that makes it easier because you know you won’t ever forget them.Would love to see those cool sewing machines in a post :). I love how the old ones look, and they’re surprisingly functional too.
Well, like I might have said earlier, I still have my wedding dress that I made for myself. I do want to blog about that (photos) before it falls apart! So taking photos is a good idea. Perhaps set up a Gallery of them in your blog? I will blog about the sewing machines when I get them. One is a name I have never heard before, but apparently a good machine, and the other is a treadle Singer which my sister, who doesn’t sew, says is a work of art!! 😀 I am so happy my mother kept both of them.
I can’t wait! When my grandmother’s was sold by a relative who didn’t understand I was so sad. I wait to see your wedding dress too.
That’s too bad… Thank you for your interest!
OOh Linda… don’t get me started on the stuff..This post is on point.:) I just moved so my mind is on purging and cleansing. So many useless things or should I say things that just accumulate. You ask a really important question. Will take some time to answer that for myself indeed. All the best with the cleanse. 🙂
Thank you! All the best to you with your move too! That is the best time to clear out the unused stuff. But it is a lot of work.
It is a lot of work .. 🙂 Thank you
That’s a funny bit, the bad pattern with no takers! I’ve been attempting to declutter for quite some time now, and have made some progress. It’s not easy, but having fewer items lets each one carry more importance, don’t you think? Good luck with your decluttering, but don’t toss that pretty batik top! 😉
You’re right. I read somewhere that a woman was asking her daughter to choose which toy stays and which goes to charity, apparently she pretty much had two of everything and it made her decide which was more important. No, the top stays now, as a dress I would have gotten rid of it, as a top it will become a staple in my wardrobe!
Maybe that pattern reminded a lot of us of “Little House on the Prairie”? Who knows? This week I am cleaning oiut my parents home as they have gone into assisted living. They hoarded for 70 years and the task is a full-time job everyday for hubby and I until we can get to the back of the closets and attic and have a huge garage sale and charity shop giveaway. I too love rayon batik but with the lengthwise stretching (saggy butt at the end of the day) being an issue, I had read that cutting pieces crosswise keeps that from happening…may try that in the future.
Well, I sympathize, our parents have moved into senior’s homes too, that’s why there’s all the travelling and the big dean up there, but we have only 40 years of accumulated stuff to take care of. I am happy they are happy with their new home, but it is a lot of work, isn’t it! Thanks for the tip on the Batik. I might try it next time!
I have times when I’m really good at getting rid of stuff and others where I just seem to accumulate, so I sympathise with you. I’m having a huge clearout at the moment – where does it all come from?
I’m similar, things sit for a while and are then put away out of sight, then one day you can’t even open the closet door… It’s amazing!
You rang so many bells in your blog, I reckon I get so attached to clothes I make it is very difficult to even send them to charity, even if they could sell them! Good luck with the de clutter.x
Thank you! I am one of the worst. I still have my 28 year old wedding dress! I do plan on getting photos of it and passing it on to someone else.