Mini Rant On
Three times this week people have volunteered me to sew for them. Two of them I just met for the first time. Where do they get the nerve? I want to buy some.
The conversation usually starts like this:
"you sew, right?"
"yes"
I know what's coming next, and I'm sure you do too. At this point my emotional response varies from suppressed rage to disbelief, depending on my blood sugar level.
"I should get you to make me a _______."
or
"I should get some material and get you to make me a ________."
When someone uses the word material, it irritates the hell out of me. I have always managed to resist the urge to get them to elaborate on what kind of material they are referring to, reading material, insulation material, plastic material, absorbent material, roofing material etc. I refer you to the Merriam Webster Dictionary for details. The term is FABRIC or CLOTH. Let's all say it together, FABRIC OR CLOTH.
Depending on how well I know the person, and how much I like them, my response varies. But one thing remains constant, I never ever ever say sorry or make any kind of apology. I don`t have to, it is my time and I own it.
"I don't have enough time to sew all the things I want to sew for myself"
or
"I don't sew for other people unless I am married to them or we have some shared DNA."
This one can take some time for some people to understand. Seriously. Sometimes you can actually smell smoke.
or
"I don't sew for other people, it makes me suffer from anxiety."
or
I pretend I didn't hear them and ignore them, this is the easiest, but least satisfying.
or, combined with one of the other responses
"I will teach you to sew and you can make it yourself."
or
"sure, would love to, that will take me around 4 hours, I charge $20 per hour, the pattern will cost $15, and the fabric will cost anywhere from $10-$20 per meter and it will take 2 meters, for a total of over a $135 and it could be more depending on the pattern. When do you want to go shopping for the fabric?"
So far no one has taken me up on the two responses. Thank god.
Why do people always always assume sewing ability is something they should get for free? You wouldn't say to a carpenter, I should get some building material and get you to build me a house, or to a plumber, I should get some copper material and get you to upgrade my master bathroom, or to a mechanic, I should get you to fix my car, it's been making a funny sound. And assume that they would be happy to do it for nothing. Why is sewing so undervalued?
So far this year I have been asked four times to sew for other people. Actually that isn't accurate, it has been assumed by four people this year that I would sew for them. Assumed. My blood pressure is rising just thinking about it.
How often are you asked to sew for someone else?
How do you respond when people ask/demand/beg you to sew for them? I would love to know how other people deal with this issue. Tell me.
