Slow Stitch

 I have noticed on various internet platforms for embroidery the idea of Slow Stitching.  I looked it up and found it had a number of definitions.  One view is stitching by hand a piece where you make the design up a you go along; the idea of being improvisational.  Another view was stitching by hand any type of pattern or design including things you would normally do by machine like a doll or stuffed animal.  While the definitions seem to be different, the one thing in common is stitching by hand.  That is slow stitching.  You can’t go very fast when stitching by hand. 

And it doesn’t matter if you have a pattern in mind or you don’t.  What matters is to enjoy the process of stitching.  It can be very therapeutic to have the needle and thread go in and out of the fabric.  Just the fact that you need to be still when doing it is therapeutic in our fast-paced world.  Ever try stitching while on an exercise bike or while taking a walk; kind of hard.

This idea of slow stitching is based on the concept of mindfulness.  Mindfulness is concentrating on the act of doing something.  It can be anything.  Take washing the dishes.  How many of us really pay attention to what we are doing when washing the dishes? You just want the chore to be over.  Have you ever paid attention to how the water feels on your hands while doing the dishes, how the light reflects off the soap suds, or the wet dish or the flowing water?  Try it sometime and you will find that washing the dishes becomes a new experience.

That is how it is with slow stitching.  Pay attention to how the fabric looks in your hand? How does it feel in your hands?  Can you hear the thread sliding through the fabric?  Concentrate on the color of the thread against the fabric?  You are not looking at it to see if it contrasts or blends well but just simply how it looks.  Look at how interesting the piece looks with that one stitch that is just a little wonky.  Don’t rip it out.  You want that kind of wonky.  We are looking for contemplation in our stitching not perfection.  And you are not on a deadline so the piece you are working on could take a day, a week or even years.  That is all OK.  What you are involved in is the process of stitching, not the finished product.

Next time you want to try something new, just pick up a needle and thread and a piece of fabric and start stitching, slow and thoughtful.  You might find you come away feeling more relaxed, more inspired and maybe with something beautiful to look at.  Happy Stitching.

 

©2022 Cheryl Fillion