Slow Stitch: Mindful and Contemplative Textile Art

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As you're sewing, keep your mind focused on your stitches, not on what the end result will look like. This is the time to enjoy the process of creating, not to worry about how neat the finished article will look. Step 4: Admire Your Creation If you need some inspiration to get started, consider some of these great projects, all of which give you a specific goal to work towards while still letting you concentrate on the joy of creation.

There are 101 ways to practice mindfulness. For some people, mindfulness is about sipping on a cup of herbal tea and meditating. For others, it's about taking a walk and appreciating nature. For yet others, it's about sewing. Lastly, you’re ready to just start stitching! Whatever your medium may be, you can focus on your intention and enjoy the slow and creative process of making your project.

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Sashiko also refers to a form of decorative reinforcement stitching from Japan that started out of practical need during the Edo era but is now an art form in itself. Let’s face it: None of us are perfect and we all have some inner critic who’s going to tell us we’re not good enough or our art is not up to snuff. You can buy beautiful luxury fabrics if you have the means to do – the important thing is you reflect a little bit on the source of that fabric. Sometimes cheap is not always good for the environment or maybe a company doesn’t align with the same values as you do. Maybe you don’t have a supply stash from decades and in that case it certainly justifies buying new fabrics. Slow stitching is about using the needle and thread in the same way you'd use a paintbrush. It's about creating art, about enjoying the process rather than worrying about the product. Slow stitching lets you put your inner critic on mute. You're not working towards a particular end goal. Whatever you end up with doesn't matter. Providing you enjoy the process of creating, you've achieved what you set out to do. You Can do it Anywhere

I suggest that you continue this first piece with simple running stitch, before adding in other stitches. This means that you’ll learn the quietness of the doing, rather than worrying about how to do other stitches. I know that once you start on this piece you’ll be looking for all the fabrics and threads to use. Slow stitching is a term that has only been used for a few short years, but stems from the history of hand sewing, stitching, mending and repair that humans have done almost since we learned how to make string. It’s something that I use in most of my everyday creative practice, as well as share in my workshops and online courses. This makes it easier to hold your piece as well as feel less daunting that you’ve got this big piece of fabric to work on and finish. I’ve been able to successfully set up slow stitching on my couch in the living room and in my bed, even if the bed isn’t the most ideal place to work!It’s really up to you when a piece is finished, and once your fabric pieces are stitched down you can choose to embellish your slow stitch project with other things as well! Embroidery Thread - Slow stitching might be about throwing convention to the wind, but you'll still need the basics like thread. While you don’t have to go all minimalist, it’s nice to know that you can escape from having to lug around a sewing machine just to meet up with friends to do a little sewing together. It’s also great for travel! Slow Stitching is a Soulful Process Your creation can be kept on you all the time as it is very portable and taken out to use when otherwise you might have turned to electronic devices which can make you anxious – so slow sew on the train, the plane, at the doctors, whenever and wherever you want.

In the Indian subcontinent ‘Kantha’ stitching (essentially a running stitch) is used for example to decoratively stitch layers of old saris together. Slow stitch is a branch of the Slow Movement, which advocates a return to pre-industrial techniques and gradual processes that provide quality and personal value to objects. It is about slowing down and creating from a sustainable balance; about reusing; about doing things as well as possible and not as fast as possible; about savoring time, not counting it. Slow Stitching is an emerging technique which is influenced by an era when we wish to recycle/upcycle old fabrics and learn how to enjoy theprocessas much, if not more than, the outcome. I use a combination of different threads and fabrics. Some because I love the material, the pattern, the way it works with the other ones I’ve chosen. With threads I like to use a combination so that I build up different textures in the work. While the commercialism of the crafting industry can get tiresome, you are still allowed to buy stuff for your projects. The main thing is you USE those supplies more than you just buy and collect them!

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Most of the time I just hum right along, being happy to just be in the moment without worrying or stressing about stuff going on in my life. And when I am stressed, needlework can definitely reduce that amount of stress, it’s a lot like mark making with fabric!

One of the beauties about slow stitching is that it doesn't come with an instruction manual. Slow stitching isn't about following a set of rules and regulations. It's about tapping into your creative instinct and going with the flow.Truly all you need is some fabric, threads and needles. Set aside some time. I like to boil the kettle and make a pot of tea. Settle somewhere lovely, comfy. You might have children or family beside you. You might be on your own somewhere.