Sonya Philip

I'm super excited for my upcoming show in Chicago. It's an exhibit of 100 Acts of Sewing at the Lillstreet Art Center. I am flying out tomorrow with my family and we will take in the sights and sounds (and cold weather) during the kid's spring break. The opening is next Friday, March 29th and I'm teaching a workshop that weekend, details here.

• March 10, 10:00am - 4:00pm

Dress Workshop Kala Art Institute, 2990 San Pablo Ave. Berkeley

• March 14th, 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Pop-Up Britex Makeshift Society, 235 Gough St. San Francisco

• March 30-31st, 10:00am - 4:00pm

Visiting Artist Workshop Lillstreet Art Center, 4401 N. Ravenswood Chicago

• February 2nd, 11:00am - 3:30pm

Sew Your Own Dress Workshop 1890 Bryant Street, San Francisco

• February 16th, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Needle Felting Class Kala Art Institute, 2990 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley

• February 23rd, 10:00am - 4:00pm

Make Your Own Dress Workshop SCRAP, 801 Toland Street, San Francisco

The idea of embracing imperfection is something that I've had on my mind recently. It is seems to run counter to sewing and really what makes up most of our lives - we are conditioned to appreciate balance and symmetry.

When I teach knitting, I find myself warning students off of the desire to go home and start again because the beginning looks ugly. Through the repetition of each motion, muscle memory kicks in and the formation of the stitches becomes easier and more even. Of course I undo and redo things, but there is a point where I let go of an ideal. As the saying goes, "Perfect is the enemy of the good." By doing, we improve.

This is not intended as a rallying cry for mediocrity, there is always a place for doing something well. But everyone is a beginner at some point. While there are those that have a knack, for many of us, the start can prove wobbly at best. By making something and using it, we honor the effort. It might not be blue-ribbon worthy, but does it need to be?

sew one hundred more dresses

create a series of simple dress patterns

write a book

take more pattern making classes

walk or swim one day a week

spend less, save more

travel more

sew more wardrobe basics

knit more sweaters and socks

teach and encourage more people to sew