Solo Dating Challenge, Episode 5: Sewing Class with Justen

This was probably the most spontaneous solo date yet.

I was lying in bed, scrolling on TikTok instead of going back to sleep as I originally planned, when one video caught my attention.

It was a young man named Justen, telling viewers how he started his sewing journey and that he hosts a sewing class for beginners. This piqued my interest and I clicked the link on his page.

I’ve been wanting to learn how to sew for a long time, so this was a perfect opportunity. I learned how to alter a little bit, but my skills are very rudimentary.

Anyway, I looked at the class schedule and the next one was actually that same day at 2:20, and it was only $65!!

You better believe I signed up as quickly as I could.

I didn’t really know what to expect, since his page didn’t give a lot of details about the structure of the class, except for the fact that we didn’t need any equipment.

Perfect.

Anyway, parking was $4 for four hours. I paid for my parking and just like that, I was in class. Ready and eager to learn.

There were two other students there with me and it was really nice because you could tell we were all excited to be there. There’s just something about a group of people willingly coming together for a common purpose that really makes me smile.

The class was so much fun, and very beginner-friendly.

We learned about the parts of a sewing machine, the types of stitches, and a few foundational terms. I walked into class knowing nothing, and walked out feeling confident that I could try some simple projects on my own.

One of my favorite aspects of this class was how hands-on it was.

Justen had us set up our own machines and practice stitching by following patterns on paper. It sounds simple, but it worked. With each line, each curve, each repetition, I could feel my confidence building.

I made a conscious decision to focus, slow down, and really be in the moment. And because of that, I was able to relax and fully enjoy the experience.

The two hours flew by.

This class ended up being more than just learning how to sew. For me, it was an exercise in being intentionally present.

Most days, my mind feels like it’s running a thousand miles an hour, with a hundred tabs open at once.

I tell myself I’ll use the weekends to reset, but more often than not, I end up filling them with errands and responsibilities.

But this time, I sat down… and I allowed myself to just be there.