Slow Stitch: Mindful and Contemplative Textile Art

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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! Take some smaller pieces - scraps - of fabric. These can be offcuts from other projects, little corners snipped off bigger pieces, torn fabrics from clothing. Precious linen, silk, cotton, etc from treasured linen cupboards. If the lighting is good, if you're comfortably set up, and if there are no distractions around, you'll find it easier to get into a meditative state of mind. Consider lighting some candles, playing some relaxing music, or even burning some essential oils. In the Indian subcontinent ‘Kantha’ stitching (essentially a running stitch) is used for example to decoratively stitch layers of old saris together.

It seems these times, in the not too far distance, are fast becoming lost. As we slouch on the couch, immersed in someone else’s made up reality, a blue glow on our face. Communication happens from room to room in a home via asking a device to send a message. These are times when we are less connected to our selves, our intuition, our sense of nature and how to be in it. 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. One of the things I love about slow stitching is it doesn’t have to be any specific sort of project or even a specific medium. You could quilt, embroider, knit, crochet – or perhaps even combine a bit of all your favorite needlework and textile arts. Step 1: Gratitude for Supplies & Materials There are all sorts of things you can use in slow stitching – much like I say when making junk journals – if you can glue it on, you can use it! In slow stitching, we just sew it on instead. 🙂 No Planning or Expected Outcome Fabric Scraps - If you don't already have some pieces of scrap fabric from past projects, the first port of call is your wardrobe. If you have any old clothes that have seen their better days, consider whether you could repurpose them for scrap material. Otherwise, take a look on Etsy or try your local fabric store for cheap fabric bundles. Step 2: Consider Your SurroundingsWhile 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!

The key point is that there are no right or wrong answers – it is simply what you want it to be. Your stitching does not have to be perfect or follow a pattern – again it is what you want it to be. Slow stitching is a craft where modern creativity meets ancient practices; a craft that's about the journey, not the destination. Slow stitching isn't about mending or making garments from a pattern. Neither is it about working towards a goal or a timeframe.I like to think of slow stitching as the “art journal” of the sewing world – it’s a great place to practice, explore, and experiment with different ideas and learn new techniques. The best part about slow stitching? You don’t necessarily need any expensive tools to get started. Some fabric scraps, a needle, and thread is all that’s really necessary – although there’s plenty of beautiful trims & embellishments that can be used to finish off a piece. The Benefits of Slow Stitching

Claire Wellesley-Smith’s beautiful book "Slow Stitch: Mindful and Contemplative Textile Art" is a great introduction to the art of slow stitching. The book is gorgeously illustrated with projects that Claire, a textile artist working in Yorkshire, England, has made with her own fair hands. It's a great guide that lets you connect with a new way of working using simple techniques based on age-old practices. Lynn Krawczyk: The Hand-Stitched Surface: Slow Stitching and Mixed-Media Techniques for Fabric and Paper I use what is called a running stitch, also known as a straight stitch. It’s the most basic of all stitches, but of course you can use other stitches if you want to try some more advanced embroidery techniques. In Japan ‘Boro’means ‘rags’ or ‘tattered cloth’ which is patched and often held together with simple runningstitches called Sashiko. One of the best things about this mindful creative process is you don’t have to be perfect – not at meditation and not as sewing either!You also don’thaveto make anything from it – no rules again – but if you want to, you can – whatever you fancy doing. It is almost like giving yourself permission to relax and let your creativity come through, with no comparison to anyone or anything else. But if you've spent a lifetime working with set rules and towards specific goals, going into a task without any end in mind can be daunting. Mindful stitching is about letting your creative juices flow and just running with it. Mindful stitching lets you turn your thoughts to what you're feeling at the moment and express those feelings with your needle and thread. One of the joys of slow stitching is that you don't have to begin with any specific sort of project in mind. Neither are you confined to any particular medium. You could knit, crochet, embroider, quilt, or even combine them all together. When you make a quilt the usual way, you need to plan meticulously. You're working towards a defined outcome and more often than not, you'll be using a particular motif or theme.

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. 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. Feel free to pour yourself a cup of tea, light some candles or diffuse your favorite essential oils to set the space for mindful stitching. You don’t have to have the perfect setup or even a studio – the important thing is you are comfortable and can be intentional in the stitching process. Another thing you can do is get intentional about something you’ve been thinking about lately. For example, I’ve been thinking about opening up my own shop to sell journals and inspiration kits for slow stitching. What better way to stay focused on that than while actually stitching?Another nice advantage of slow stitching is it’s portable and well suited for travel, especially if you’re sewing by hand. You can bring an English paper piecing project almost anywhere, and you can certainly embroider with minimal supplies in tow. Slow stitching is an organic process. There are no hard and fast rules about what you need or what you should do. However, if you're drawing a complete blank about how to start, here are a few pointers. Step 1: Gather Your Materials Of course, this process of sewing everything on by hand is slow…but this is a great time as a creator to remember you enjoy the act of creating – certainly we wouldn’t spend all the time we do on projects if we didn’t! Step 4: Finish and Enjoy!