Breaking Free of the Productivity Guilt Trip

Those of us who sew for a hobby (or knit or do any other type of productive hobby) often fall into this mode of thinking: "I can't make it if I'm not going to use it". We fret over the party dresses we've created that languish in our closets. We convince ourselves not to make fabulous things because they're impractical and instead try to find motivation to make the more boring, more practical pieces. We want everything we make to fit seamlessly into our wardrobe.

This is what I call the productivity guilt trip. And I've decided to break free from it!

Because sewing is a productive hobby, it's easy to feel that any sewing activity must be useful and productive. But so many other hobbies are not productive! Do coin collectors spend their collection? Do model builders give their models as Christmas presents to small children? Do spoon collectors use their spoon collection to eat cereal? If all of these hobbyist can be unproductive and just enjoy their hobby for the fun of it so can we!

While vintage sewing usually falls into the productive category anyways, my new love of costuming has been hard on my conscience.  Aside from the Renaissance Festival, costuming opportunities are pretty slim where I am. And though I'm going to Costume College again next year, it does seem rather silly to sew all of these fancy dresses just to wear once!

And recently I've decided that my costuming is going to be my unproductive hobby! And that's ok. Partly because I just want to enjoy it but also partly because I don't need any new clothes. I have a whole closet full of nice clothes. Plus, with my work taking up more time (and being less vintage appropriate), vintage and vintage style becoming more and more a just on the weekends thing. So I give myself license to costume away! Well, as long as I don't spend the rent money or anything crazy like that. :p

 

So bring on the pretties!