Sewing and Relaxation: An Expressive and Therapeutic Hobby

Sewing and Relaxation: An Expressive and Therapeutic Hobby

The skill of sewing has been with us as long as we have been wearing clothing. While fashion is one of the biggest industries across the globe, you can create your style as you develop your talent. Beyond expressing yourself, sewing is a proven therapeutic pastime with tremendous mental health benefits. Read about the marriage between sewing and relaxation below!

Sewing has Historically Saved People

Throughout history, we are aware of the stories of how sewing has saved people in many ways, such as:

  • War couriers who would convey the enemy’s strategy in maps sewn into their clothing
  • Women POWs held in WWII camps who asserted their self-identity by embroidering signature cloths into the quilts they crafted
  • Citizens in England who, during WWII, reclaimed the parachutes that landed in their back gardens to make clothes and utility items
  • Homemakers who started a cottage industry by using the flour sacks that held grain, sugar, and flour to make clothing and all manner of household items
  • Anti-apartheid activist Ruth First who stitched markers hidden on the back of her lapel to mark and countdown her incarceration
  • Male prisoners in Britain who participate in an organization that allows them to sell their embroidery online to earn commissions

These are all examples of utility, coupled with the desire to express oneself. Beyond the practical application of these activities, there is a useful mental health benefit that one experiences in the isolated nature of sewing.

Indulge in Time for Yourself Through Sewing and Relaxation

Sewing is a departure. It is a task that calls for your attention to detail. While it can happen in groups, the work you do is between you and your two hands. For sewing, you must put the screen down for a while.

We may consider the time spent idly surfing the Internet is a mindless activity, but in fact, it exposes your brain to sensory overload. You can equate this to the amount of time you spend in front of a screen.

Sewing is an excellent opportunity to indulge in “me time.” If you do a lot of work for others as a caregiver or a mom, sewing is one of the best ways to spend time with yourself, for yourself.

Singular Focus Frees the Mind

Multi-tasking may be a handy capability on the job when pressed for time, but when did it become a constant requirement? Stacking up a series of things to accomplish so that you only touch something once to shave minutes off tasking is useful, if you remember everything. Backtracking to pick up what you forgot tends to undermine the multitasking effort.

When you are sewing, you are solely paying attention to the task at hand, exercising your skill and technique to produce a finished piece. You are allowing yourself to feel that sense of accomplishment that comes with standing back and admiring your work.

If you experience déjà vu whenever you pick up your sewing activity, it is a sign that you were in the moment when you previously put it down. Déjà vu is a positive effect on your brain when sewing, as it permits you to experience a moment beyond the worries and fears of this modern world.

One Step at a Time, Sewing as a Form of Meditation

You can accomplish most sewing projects in steps, which means you can pick it up later. You do not have to complete the piece in one sitting. This practice adds to the process of taking it one step at a time, like the way we should take on life.

Sewing is getting increasing recognition as an effective anti-depressant. The work absorbs your attention while seeing progress in a project calms the mind and reduces stress. The ability to accomplish something gives a boost to your mood by relieving the pressure from feeling as though you must handle many things at once.

Sewing has proven to benefit those who struggle with dementia. The tactile nature of working with fabric, patterns, and various textures can trigger sensory responses and help bring back memories. Tailoring may be a useful means of prompting conversation with relatives and caregivers.

Sewing is a Whole-Mind Activity with Extra Payoffs

There is no shortage of groups you can join to further your sewing exploits and learn as you share your projects. Engaging with others who enjoy sewing introduces you to experts who share their knowledge and expertise. You can gain a lot of skillful shortcuts and insider secrets this way.

Something else that develops as you sew is a sense of style of your own. There is a young man in Great Britain who took up sewing and started making period clothing. It is the kind of clothing that makes you think of David Copperfield when you see it – the Dickens novel, not the magician. He has the tails and the top hat and the frilly cravats.

He wears nothing else anymore, and he loves the way it makes him feel as he steps onto the streets in his bespoke attire. He walks everywhere he goes for the best exposure. It has changed his mental view of life tremendously, and he always looks dashing, by the way.

You can wrap sewing around your schedule without hassle. Enhance your life experience with sewing as you:

  • Discover a new passion
  • Work at your own pace
  • Obtain a sense of accomplishment
  • Connect with others who share your passion
  • Develop a style
  • Receive recognition from others
  • Fight off the requests for you to sew things for others

It is by indulging our industrious nature that we discover our true colors. By exploiting your developing talent as a sewist, you’ll find that life is somehow much more enjoyable and satisfying. The proof is in how addicting sewing becomes, the more you involve yourself in it.

At The Inspired Sewist, we can help you follow your passion for the thread and needle. Whether you’re a pro or completely new to sewing, our friendly staff can help you through your needs. Contact us for more information!