Are you feeling the stresses of the modern world? Our plugged in existence, addictive screens, wars and sufferings, even those far from home, are present on our devices in miniature form. Time to step away from this visual chaos and do some slow stitching to calm the crazies. Rae says this because even sewing and crafting in the modern age contains screens and sometimes frustrations.
Adopting a hand sewing practice with minimal expectations can work to set our mind at ease and for Rae, help her have a better night’s sleep and well conditioned fingers when her work calls for some precise hand stitching. It does not even have to be sewing; knitting, embroidery, needlepoint, crocheting, even paper collage, coloring and puzzling can work. She has come to believe that putting down that screen a few hours before bed time and working only from printed directions (if there are some,) helps you find a zen place. Here is more from Rae and links to projects that we offer up as restful responses to the modern world.
The Beginings of Rae’s Hand Sewing
Sewing has been my only profession for over 35 years. I left the world of Nursing Home Social Services when I had my first daughter and turned my side hustle sewing skills into a small business. Because it grew slowly and was mostly bridal sewing, there was plenty of handwork; adding or reapplying lace, buttons and beads to creations for clients. Working with a needle and thread in my lap has been a habit of mine since childhood.
As my business slowly grew, these restful sewing experiences became a bit more high stress and deadline focused. For a while, when I was moving into wearable art with intention and selling machine made pieced tops at craft shows, it was exhausting mentally and physically.
Slow Stitching with Fit for Art
Once Carrie and I developed Fit for Art and created enough sample garments to populate our booth at sewing shows, filled our closets and tested new directions, I slowly began adding some hand work embellishment and small gift-like projects to our repertoire.
Check out our blog posts about sleep masks, mindful mending, boro stitched coats and vests, an embellished jean jacket, composition book cover and more.
My time spent in France and teaching at La Cascade reinforced the power of hand work and crafting for living and stitching with a more relaxed vibe. The added benefit of a small hand held project is that it keeps my stitching fingers nimble and strong.
Now is a great time to try out some of these little projects as they can be perfect gifts for friends. If you have a group of sewing friends, gather them together on occasion to stitch in company and take a peek at each other’s makes for inspiration. In the blog post where we launched the sleep mask projects, we recommended hosting a sleep mask party for stitching friends.
Here is How to Get Started
But first, begin your own practice. Gather some materials, place them in a basket or small closable bag near your favorite chair or the TV and get started. Keep it easy, maybe making a few samples of boro applique or embellishing toile scraps onto denim. Just start, don’t set a goal. Remember perfection can be the enemy of progress (to reframe a quote by Winston Churchill). Relax and let slow stitching calm your crazies.
Perhaps you have a book of small projects you have always wanted to experiment with… get it out, choose a direction, and experiment when you have a few minutes. Or take a look at our Inspo: Slow Stitching Board on Pinterest and watch this week’s Facebook and Instagram posts for ideas.
