How do you do it?

[MallowMom]

Before DS, I was the crafting queen. I scrapbooked, sewed, painted, did lots of photography, etc.. The first few months after DS was born I found I had NO time for anything except taking care of him (he had colic and was/is high needs). I tried to sew myself a skirt for Christmas...he was 6 months old and I couldn't get anything done. He wasn't even crawling, yet I had to stop every few minutes to check on him, or give him another toy, or whatever. It was incredibly frustrating. He was never one of those babies you could just put in a swing or bouncy chair. He had to have 100% of my attention!

Now that he's 13 months, I still have great diffculty doing anything "crafty" with him around. I've tried putting a gate up at the door to my crafting room, but then he gets mad becuz he's in the hall and I'm in the room. I've tried putting toys on the floor for him to play with while I'm sewing...that lasts about 5 minutes till he wants to play with my sewing machine, or the pincushion

I've basically given up on doing anything crafty while DS is awake. Most of my sewing goes on late at night, after I get done with the office work (I work from home at a "real" job, too ).

How do you other mammas sew/craft with a little one underfoot? I know some WAHMs have 3-4 kids and I wonder how in the heck they manage to get sewing done! :

Morgan

[Mattia]

My son requires all of my attention when he's awake too.
If he lets me put him down during a nap(he ALWAYS naps ON me...lol) I get some crafting in then. Otherwise, I only work on my crafts when my honey is home. This way Bas can get the attention and cuddle time he wants and needs from his papa, while I go and work on my projects.

Hope you find a way to get some crafting time in... it's good for the soul!

[bestjob]

I was never the really crafty type, but I knit...

a) in the car on long/short trips (as long as I'm not the driver)

b) when I am waiting for other people to finish doing something like making their beds or brushing their teeth

I'd like to sew, too, but it just isn't as portable as knitting.

[Throkmorton]

Seb just sort of ignores my sewing room. I am one of the lucky ones, and can sew during his 3 hour naps. I knit on my way to and from work, because it's 1 1/2 hours each way.

[LdyBluNH@aol]

there are times when i negotiate for my dh to have "special dad time" with my dd

and if it involves beingout of the house even better!!!

[LaLaLuna]

I don't think this is waht you wanted to hear, but I"m just now getting back into projects and my high needs baby is six!! (with a 3 yo brother)

I had to just switch gears- I can't do the peyote stitch bead projects anymore or sewing projects that are more complicated than fairy wings and simple blankets. I learned to crochet and make simple projects that are easy to put down and pick up again. I also felt old wool sweaters and cut them down to make toddler/preschooler sized wooly clothes. Not too complicated and not a lot of cutting/ironing to do. Finish the edges in a blanket stitch so it's another project that's easy to stuff in the diaper bag and take with you to work on in odd moments. I figure in a couple years they'll both be old enough that I can do some of the other stuff I used to do- right now I just have to be patient and wait.

[Kerrie]

I don't know how other people do it. I find that I have to get DH to cover for me. If I just had DS I could do almost anything - he is an easy baby. DD on the other hand is a handful. I can't do anything with her around especially since my sewing are is a disaster with pins and such everywhere. Good luck figuring out what will work for you.