It occurred to me today, while I was setting myself up to do some embroidery, just how long the preparation takes. Choosing a design, finding and adding some text, placing, hooping. Do any other Cuties spend ages setting up or is it just me?

Strange I was just telling my customer how long it takes to do a quote,
If the client just emails me. It takes much longer without them here. As I do it a few different ways, and then have to send it onto them via email. If they come to me , I can do it straight away. Yesterday I got NO sewing done. Was just doing quotes.
So Sarah, it is not just you.
Hugs Yvonne

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by airyfairy 04 Oct 2013

I do not think that people (certainly not my friends) have any idea of what goes into doing a 'little bit' of embroidery.

I once downloaded a form that calculated cost for embroidering items. It took all sorts of things into account, write off of your machine, thread used, cost of stabiliser, time spent on stitching and - wait for it - equal time for preparation. I never managed that!

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by airyfairy 04 Oct 2013

Thank you Martine for that

We all do the same But we all wouldn't give it up, The look on some ones face when you give them a home make things is worth it

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by airyfairy 04 Oct 2013

Absolutely

Okay I think I can say I can join this club. I also need lots of time to select the right color and fabric. Sometimes I neven can not decide and ask my daughter. Especially when it is a design I have not sewed before.
So at the end of the day I'm somtimes a bit sad for not having sewed at all, but only looking at designs and trying to match colors.

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by airyfairy 04 Oct 2013

It certainly seems that I am not the only one.

It is not just you! I am usually surprised at how little I can get done in a day due to all of the prep work.

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by airyfairy 03 Oct 2013

I have again been playing around with different designs and have not done much else.

I am hoping to start combining designs and have spent hours looking at designs. I hope my room to get better and finish a few things. It all takes time, unbelieveable amounts of time!

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by airyfairy 03 Oct 2013

The whole process just takes up a huge amount of time.

You're not alone. Some projects do take longer than others, but generally it takes quite a while.

It takes me one day to set up before embroidering. My husband think it's easy - choose a design, hoop and stitch. LOL

Yep, what everybody else said, choosing the design and colors. And I have software, so I can play with every color known to woman right in the software. Actually, the actual sew out is the easy part, hee hee hee. Glad I'm not alone, too, hugs, Marji

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by airyfairy 03 Oct 2013

I also spend at least a day thinking about it!!!

Forever.

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by airyfairy 03 Oct 2013

So true

Gee, I guess I'm in good company here. Sometimes it takes me more than a day to find the design I'm happy with.

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by airyfairy 03 Oct 2013

Know the feeling

I'm glad it's not just me! It seems to take me forever to decide on a design (just the right one, of course) and then the colors before I can even consider hooping - already usually have an idea of or have what fabric to use.

And then hoping the machine works without LOOPIES!!!!

My Machine is set up in my Lounge so that I can watch TV at the same time. When I have visitors other than my Crafty friends I have to put everything away. It then takes me a few days to get myself back into gear again for this same reason as above. I hate it when people don't call first and catch me with everything everywhere. Motto --- Put things away before starting the next Project.

3 comments

by vickiannette 03 Oct 2013

Might be easier to find a small TV for your sewing room.

by mi30kaja 03 Oct 2013

You have got to be joking. I can't fit into any other room as I have stuff all over the bead as it is..

by airyfairy 03 Oct 2013

Lyn - I also have no sewing room but I have my own little sitting room with TV, computer and my machines that fit in a cupboard, so I also put everything away each time I sew but I find it makes me tidy.

It definitely takes me more time to decide than to actually stitch!
Hugs, Nadyne

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by airyfairy 03 Oct 2013

I sure does

Add me to the list, picking out the fabric, the shirt, the grandchild I need to sew for next. the list goes on. lol!

Add me to the list. Takes forever and then I have to find the fabric. Especially harder for in the hoop projects (which I love). Actually purchased a cute purse yesterday, hooped the stabiliser and in the end had to take it off the machine when going to bed as I still couldn't decide on the fabric. DUH!!! Lynx

I don't spend a lot of time but I do want it to be right
Bev

Seems to be the norm for anyone doing ME.

Definitely just not you. Sometimes it takes longer to set up than to do the actual design. Especially, like you, I need inspiration after looking hours for the perfect design.

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by airyfairy 02 Oct 2013

Thank goodness I am not the only one.

You are not alone. On many things I make to see at craft shows I spend way more time on fabric cutting, gathering accessories, etc. than I do on sewing the items.

Me too!! I can not charge for my time...no one could afford me! I'll spend hours on a project! At least my daughter appreciates all the time spent!

I often start with a design and then spend ages finding the right fabric!

Me too Sarah - all day sometimes ;(

Oh, now that is a loaded question, Sarah! Add in deciding thread colors and we could be taking all day for one design!!! Sometimes I wonder if I would be better off with just primary colors...LOL!

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by airyfairy 02 Oct 2013

I remember when I first started embroidery and I bought 6 colours a black and white. How naive was that!!!!

by graceandham 02 Oct 2013

Ah, if it were that simple! My supplier included 8 or 10 threads in the purchase price, and I thought that was a gracious plenty.

Same here! It takes me longer to select a motif than to finish the project.

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by airyfairy 02 Oct 2013

Going through my designs takes the longest.