Our economy is currently a hot mess. It’s not easy, but I can handle the stock market gyrations because I know it’s part of the normal market cycle. What’s more worrisome to me is the hyperinflation our leaders can’t seem to get a handle on. The basic necessities of everyday living have increased exponentially. My natural gas rate plan is up for renewal soon. My new rate looks like it’s going to be double the rate I locked in last year. Ouch!

Don’t know about you, but quilting keeps me sane. It’s also one of my primary core pursuits. This quilter is certainly going to keep on quilting, even if her quilty dollars are fewer in number at the moment. It’s a game to see how far I can make my money stretch. I’m shopping my stash first, trading out fabric and supplies with other quilty friends and making less expensive substitutions where I can. I still buy any needed essentials for a project or class; however, I’m doing a fair amount of comparison shopping online first. Hopefully, it never gets to the point where I have to stop buying quilting essentials because prices are simply too high.

For me, the social and educational aspects of quilting are most important. Getting to guild meetings and sew days with friends is a priority (gas in the car over the newest Tula Pink charm pack in case you need an example). So is learning new skills – whether learned through a book, YouTube video or in a F2F class. One of the reasons I joined the ECQG is because of the workshops they bring to the membership at extremely reasonable rates. I’m very selective about the classes I actually take and value for the money is definitely a consideration. I’m super excited about the hand beading and embroidery for quilters workshop I’m taking at the end of July. On the other hand, I opted to pass on a 3 hour quilted postcards class being offered elsewhere in the ATL for $120 plus a kit fee. Google/YouTube is my friend. The kids and I did a similar activity for about $10 in supplies.

For hubby, supplies needed for his hobby are hard to come by and expensive when you do find them – even for substitute brands. We’ve learned to take advantage of buying opportunities whenever we can. He’s definitely cut back on practice days and the number of tournaments in which he participates. He even came home early from the past two tournaments, choosing not to spend money on fees and use up precious supplies on additional events. The inability to participate fully as he’d originally planned has caused him some frustration.

As my mother likes to say, “This too shall pass.” Unfortunately, I think we have several more months of uncertainty, and possibly a recession, before things start to return to normal.

Volunteer to teach a survival sewing class at an after school program or to a scouting group. Teach students how to thread a needle, how to sew basic mending stitches by hand and how to sew on a button.

Volunteer to mentor a young person at a sewing/quilting camp held during summer or school breaks.

Lead a beginning sewing group in the maker space at your local public library.

Start your own neighborhood or  “sew with friends” group.  The focus can be whatever strikes your fancy – garment sewing, knitting, cross stitch, embroidery, EPP, machine sewing, Featherweights & vintage machines. See if you can use a room at a public library, the clubhouse of your apartment/condo or neighborhood or open up your own home to host the group.

Share your knowledge with newer sewists at sew-ins and retreats.

Be an enabler. Sewing & quilting has a higher cost of entry than many other hobbies. Gift excess stash, patterns, notions, machines, machine feet, tools, etc. to someone who’s really been bit by the sewing bug, but doesn’t have a lot of cash to invest.

Be generous with your praise and gentle with your criticism. Try to remember what it was like when you first learned how to sew. Don’t point out every little mistake. Be sure to step in if you catch something major, but sandwich that criticism between two positives if at all possible. Example, you notice the cross seams are twisted on the back where the rows are sewn together. You’ll want to bring it to their attention, so they can fix it now. Mention how hard they’re working/matching points nicely, etc. and you noticed that some of the seams are twisted on the back. Explain that they need to be lying flat and explain how to use the seam ripper to unpick and then restitch the seam so that the seams are going in the same direction.

Today was exactly how I imagined retirement would be! My quilty peeps and I were together again for a few hours of stitching and fellowship. It’s been almost four months since we last met for a sit & sew. It was wonderful! Hubby even remarked how happy I looked when I returned home. The group meets every Friday at an area library. This was my first opportunity to join them. It’s a come as you can and bring your own project to work on. A few of the ladies are also part of another biweekly group that meets on Wednesdays. It’s much more structured with everyone working on the same project. I do like the accountability piece. I’ll join them one Wednesday to see what that group is like.

After my trip to the vintage sewing machine museum in Tulsa, I was inspired to pull out a Featherweight and take it to the sew in with me today. Jane went along for the ride. Yes, she’s missing decals, has a compromised clear coat and several pin scratches on her bed. It’s all good. It’s amazing how smoothly she sews after a few minutes of operation. She’s also the machine I’m planning to take to the Sew Purty workshop in August. I’ll tear her down, clean her up and reassemble her under the watchful eye of someone well versed in vintage machine restoration. (I’ve learned how to service and adjust my own machine. I simply want to take it to the next level.) Jane has character. I like that I don’t have to treat her with kid gloves when we travel, or be afraid to let the kids try her out. Can’t say that about the others in my collection!

Have a happy, safe July 4th weekend!