#6 The Perfectionist Advantage: Why Your Focus in Your Superpower

Today, I want to talk about something that I think may resonate with many of you: perfectionism.

It's a pretty heavy word that is often associated with anxiety and a fear of failure. If you consider yourself a perfectionist, as I do, you're probably pretty hard on yourself when you don't meet the standards you set for yourself. Your fear of doing it wrong, wasting fabric, or messing things up can sometimes stop you from even starting a project, or for most of us, finishing it.

Perfectionism is most commonly thought of as a negative trait for exactly these reasons, but I'd like to put a positive spin on perfectionism and show you how to use it as a superpower instead.

When it comes to fitting, we all know—it isn’t easy.

The path to mastering fit can feel overwhelming at times. Especially for those of us who consider ourselves perfectionists. But I believe that perfectionism can be used as a tool that will help you to truly enjoy the fitting process.

As I mentioned, perfectionism often gets a bad rap, but the truth is, it drives us toward improvement. When you look at the positive side of perfectionism, you'll see that you won't be describing yourself as a perfectionist, you'll describe yourself as motivated, detail oriented, ambitious, thorough, focused, determined, self aware and innovative. These, in my opinion, are the most important traits of someone who can master any skill, even garment fitting. 

It’s about growth, learning, and making each project a little better than the last. And if we ever do feel like we’ve achieved perfection, I think we’ll want to look back and say, ‘I enjoyed each project it took to get here.’

Three small but impactful ways you can make perfectionism work for you:

1: Focus on One Improvement at a Time

Instead of trying to make every part of a project flawless, choose one area to focus on improving. If you're one of my Fitting Essentials students, you know there are 6 steps to fitting success. Focus on the skills you need to develop within a single step.

Maybe it's perfecting your measurement process and pattern work, or mastering the fit of Area 1 (the neck and shoulders). Each time you sew, focus on that one thing, and you’ll see growth without feeling overwhelmed.

2: Celebrate Small Wins

It’s so easy to focus on what’s still not perfect, but take a moment to celebrate what you’ve done well. Maybe your pattern work is so precise it’s a piece of art, maybe the seam lines match perfectly, or the fit is closer than ever before. Those little wins? They’re what keep moving you forward.

3: Use Results as Data, Not Failure

Every unsatisfactory result is an opportunity to learn. Instead of seeing it as a setback, view it as information. What didn’t work? Why didn’t it work? This mindset not only helps you improve, but also keeps you from getting stuck or giving up entirely.

Fitting isn’t easy, but it is a skill you can build step by step.

If you’re looking for guidance on where to start, download The Perfect Fit Guide if you haven't done so already. It’s the perfect starting point to help you understand the fitting process and begin moving toward your goals with confidence. I'll leave a link for you somewhere on this page.

If you'd like to join a group of fellow perfectionists just like you, join me in the In-House Patterns Studio Facebook group and share your thoughts there. I’d love for you to start a conversation and get some peer support. 

Remember perfectionism can be a good thing when it’s paired with self-compassion and a positive spin.