Slow Stitch: Mindful and Contemplative Textile Art

Product Information

Now that we’ve talked about what slow stitching is and how to get started, let’s go over some common questions I’ve been asked the past couple of weeks since I’ve become hopefully addicted to slow stitching. Common Questions & Answers About Slow Stitching Do I have to sew everything by hand? Slow Stitching is a rewarding activity, because it's an art that can be any size that the artist decides, from postage stamp size projects to quilt sizes that can fit on a bed. The project can be worked on over the course of days, months, or longer, OR it can be completed in a matter of minutes, (depending on size and intricacy). And, the beauty is that any size project can be worked on for just a few minutes at a time. So unlike, say a painting, where at times, an artist must devote time to finishing a sequence of events or get negative results, slow stitching allows the artist to pause, as desired. An artist can work on the projects for 5-10 minutes at a time, 20 minutes a day, or even, once a month. And, many slow stitching projects travel well. This means that you can take your supplies with you when traveling, waiting in your car, or sitting in a waiting room. You can quietly sew your stitching and not make a mess or noise. 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 Surroundings Of course not! You can still use your sewing machine. The important thing is to practice gratitude and set that intention and focus on the creative process more than the final result. I have had a lot of fun “slow stitching” on my Vintage 1947 Singer Sewing machine! Am I Never Allowed to Buy Anything Again? Really, it’s a process, an idea, a feeling more than an actual outcome and thing. Of course, the beauty is that it encompasses both process-led-making and making for use.

You’ve probably heard or seen versions of slow stitching in the online world. It’s a big thing nowadays. And I think that’s less to do with fashion-cycle-trends (though of course that helps remarkably), but more to do with the fact that in our ever-increasing-speedy world we are deeply in need of some slow down, of being connected to our quiet selves for time. 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. 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. 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.Now that we’ve talked about what slow stitching is and it’s benefits, I hope you want to try it and would love to get started! Below is a simple tutorial that goes over the basic supplies and materials you’ll need, but of course keep in mind there really are no rules – you can do as you like! How to Get Started in Slow Stitching 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. Hand Stitched Buttons - Buttons might be small, but their uses are extensive. Hand stitching buttons can add a special layer of personalization and bring a big hit of interest to whatever project you decide to use them on. I personally like to use upcycled fabrics from thrifted finds because not only are they are much more affordable that way, but also because it helps reduce landfill waste.

When you're creating something, you want it to be as perfect as possible. That's natural. But constantly judging your efforts and holding yourself up to a high standard isn't always healthy. The focus of mindful stitching is on the intention and the joy of creating. What the final product looks like isn't relevant. If it's got raw edges, so be it. If a few of the stitches are wonky, it doesn't matter. Hand embroidery is a technique that is naturally slow. It’s a repetitive process that requires you to be present but can also take you to a place of connection with your body, your materials, and your environment. Embroidery–and textile art in general–are historically recognized as practices performed in community to form memories.Slow stitching is a new art form built on old traditions. The movement was originally spearheaded by Mark Lipinksi, one of the quilting industry's most well-known figures. The only requirements needed to learn to slow stitch are the will to stitch, the ability to thread a needle, and time to complete your pieces. Children slow stitch, experienced textile artists love the process, as well as mixed media artists. But, anyone, even people who have never sewn anything, can slow stitch and most love it. 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.

You don’t need a lot of fancy supplies to get started – you can use some old fabric scraps or if you don’t have any fabric yet, a lot of shops sell fat quarters super cheap which is a great way to build a stash. Slow stitch isn’t a specific technique; it’s an invitation to embroider with a deep appreciation of what happens while you do so. ‘Slow’ refers to much more than the time it takes to do things. Rather than seeking a specific result, it’s about being more conscious and mindful of our creative process and the simple pleasure of the path. 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.

Uploading

Modeled after the slow food movement, the point of slow stitching isn’t to be perfect, or even to make a cohesive final piece {although many pieces are beautiful pieces of textile art!} – the intention is to enjoy the process one stitch at a time, to relax, and to not stress about all the things we might worry about if we were trying to make a perfect quilt or sewing project.

Slow stitching is the process of pulling a threaded needle through fabric.... and then repeating the process. It's meditative, creative, and most of all, unique. Anyone can slow stitch. It's a welcoming process that uses fabrics, lace, yarns, scraps of textiles, old clothing, even paper and sometimes, vinyl and plastic. By creating pieces that you adhere to a base piece of fabric, you create something unexpected, beautiful, and give new life to (sometimes, old and unwanted) materials. Here are the top questions that I get asked from people who are interested in creating their own pieces. 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. 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. For me, the art of slow stitching is all about just intuitively letting the creative process flow…I don’t worry about following a pattern, or having perfectly cut pieces, I even let raw unfinished edges hang loose.

How did you find the philosophy of slow stitch?

I define slow stitching as a mindful needlework process that focuses on intention and the joy brought from creating – not so much the final result of the piece itself. 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. When you’re hand stitching you automatically slow down. The process of sitting quietly and watching needle pull through the fabric, makes you more conscious of the moment you’re in. This slows your breath down, meaning that you’re breathing deeper into your stomach. Rather than the fight-or-flight way that modern society forces us to live and breathe, you’ll find the sense of stillness settle over you. Breathing into your stomach allows your whole body to settle itself, to let go of the stress of everyday life, to repair and replenish itself from the fraught day.