Yes! After 25 years of teaching HS math (and AP Stats, yes to graphs and bar charts!), I think we are doing kids a great injustice by not having an hour every day for them to create. For god’s sake, do NOT call it “Home Ec”. Anything that can be shared with the words “Look what I did!” whether it’s music, art, baking, gardening, sewing, carpentry. Give kids a chance to find that one tactile thing that speaks to their heart. Then you can force them into all the Honors and AP classes, but they’ll have something to do when they need to create.
Totally agree! Having dedicated time to create, imaginem and just enjoy the process of making is vital for all ages but *especially* for kids and teens.
At 68 years old, I’m grandma age although not a grandma or even a mother. It’s a somewhat dismissive description, not by you, Stacy, but by journalists who think they are being clever. Ever hear the fashion term “coastal grandma?”
I started machine sewing at 11; my first dress was an A-line shift. Sewing is my creative outlet, a way to take a flat plane, a piece of fabric, and form it into a garment that fits me.
Well I didn’t mean to go down a rabbit hole but there you go! Keep on sewing🧵
Absolutely, I would lump "grandma hobbies" and "coastal grandma" in the same category of dismissive buzz words.
Your comment resonates with me too. I learned to sew at age 10, and the magic of taking a flat piece of fabric and turning it into a 3D shape will never get old! I still have some of my very early garments, many of them are just tubes of fabric that I called a "skirt" or "dress" depending on how they were worn, but it still felt like a miracle every time I stepped into a garment that I'd made.
Love this article. I am nearly 75 and have been sewing since I was a child. Guess who taught me. Yup, my grandmother. But let's not let unenlightened people frame the practice or sex or age for us. There's no reason the word "grandma" should have negative connotations. After all, a grandma is just a woman who's had children who have had children. There's absolutely nothing negative about that. But to return to sewing, the most important reason I sew is to feel close to my own grandma, who died just about forty years ago.
Yes, absolutely agree with all of this. I sew for a similar reason, although it was my mom who taught me. But she learned from her mom, so I do feel like I am participating in a sewing legacy every time I sit down at my machine. ❤️
I agree with your points. Sewing absolutely is a way to create meaning. I fell into garment sewing more seriously after graduating from college and experiencing depression from months of fruitless job searching. Manipulating fabric, from seam ripping thrifted garments to using clearance yardage and making a fresh garment, gave me a sense of completion and accomplishment. I did that with my hands and saw results at a time when writing endless cover letters was not providing them. Ever since I've been hooked and even when my sewing output changed, I know that hobby is here to help me process different things.
Ah, this resonates with me. I also turned to sewing when I was at a real low point with my career--I'd left a job after some serious burn out, and I didn't know where to turn. This was during an economic downturn, too, so jobs were scarce. Being able to make something with my hands and feel accomplished at the end of the day was one of the things that pulled me through. Like you, I know I can always rely on my sewing practice to help me process whatever is going on in my life, good and bad.
Thank you, Stacey. Put simply: when I’m in my sewing room, I’m in my happy place where I can tune out the craziness of this world and simply create. It calms and soothes my soul. What’s next for me is growing my larger crafting/maker community, as sewing can be lonely. To that end, I’ve co-founded a “crafting circle” — a bunch of middle-aged women who meet monthly and bring whatever they’re working on (or not). We admire each other’s work, teach a new skill if the spirit moves us, or just hang out and talk. It’s so wonderful.
Brilliant idea! I have fond memories of crafting circles with friends over the years, and every time I have the opportunity to create with fellow crafters in real life, it's so energizing.
I don't think a newsletter has ever made me cry before but there's a first time for everything. You write so beautifully and truthfully Stacey, and you've hit the nail on the head
Thank you Stacey. I love sewing. I’m not always satisfied with the outcome, but I love trying. I delightful in the feel of the fabric, caressing it after washed and folded. Once ready to cut, sometimes it needs a little press beforehand. There is something special in the fragrance of the iron’s heat on the cloth, as well as the smooth finish. Cutting slowly and precisely is another wonderful experience. It requires concentration. Then the actual sewing! Carefully assembling the seams and introducing them to the needle, then gliding everything through to the end of the seam. Taa daa—garment is nearly complete. Adding the details: top stitching, binding, buttons, zippers, elastic, hems. It all brings the garment to life. Project’s over! Time to start another. There is so much to this activity, bringing me great pleasure. Grandma hobby (and I am one), HA! It is a journey of creation!
Absolutely, this is so beautifully articulated! Sewing can be such a tactile experience, among many other things. The journey of creation is lifelong. ❤️
Absolutely beautifully articulated! Stacey this post has obviously moved and resonated with so many of us! I can relate to every comment! All of our senses are used and memories infused with each one. I love the feel of fabric, the look of it, the sound that scissors make when they are cutting it out. I have a memory of the sound of the big, heavy shears that were used in fabric stores when I was a child, usually on a solid wooden surface. The sight of a beautifully matched plaid, or wall of quilting fabrics displayed by colour - so many simple things just make my eyes happy! and like Gerrie, the smell of the ironed cloth, or of each different type of fibre.
I appreciate you opening up this topic, especially so personally and eloquently. Thank you! Alzheimer’s claimed my mother exactly 3 years ago. I gathered many of her favorite garments, intent on transforming them but, so far, am so attached to them that I can’t bring myself to do it. Except for a few polar fleece pullovers, which I used as lining for quilt remnant aviator hats for my 4 sisters. Yes, absolutely, sewing creates meaning. In so many ways. And, it fills me with a sense of awe: I transform a 2D object into a 3D object that takes into consideration the complexity of a human body! This feels so empowering. And almost magical. Sewing is utility. Sewing is grounding practice. Sewing is the opportunity to be a lifelong learner. Sewing is my JOY!
Yes to all of this! Sewing IS joy, among so many other things.
It took me a long time before I felt ready to start transforming my dad's shirts. Even now, I've only taken apart a few of them. I'm trying to be gentle with myself, only going as fast as my heart will let me, which feels right.
Stacy, thank you for complicating, in a very good way, this issue about why sewing is a good thing. I am with you, sewing is a way for me to make meaning in my life, a way to honour and make visible my point of view, a way to live my values in all my daily interactions. I can’t expect others to really understand the significance of my sewing practice, unless they want to write about it and extol sewing’s virtues. Then I do expect them to look more deeply and not settle on the ‘grandma’ terminology, but instead draw attention to what so many people have learned and contributed to the world through their lifelong practice of the sewing arts. Your words have helped me to be really proud of all the times I have consciously chosen to return to my sewing room in order to deepen my life and move my self forward.
I'm planning to do the same with my fathers shirts! Haven't started yet because I too want to savor the process and be thoughtful in the making. Lots of love Stacey, great writing! 🫶
Thank you, Chelsea! It took me a long time before I felt ready to seam rip even a single stitch on one of his shirts. Sending lots of love your way, too. ❤️
This is beautifully put and I loved reading about your quilt. I’m making some pyjamas out of a bedsheet that belonged to my great grandma. I didn’t know her but we all had this sheet on our bed growing up and it has a feeling about it - sort of joyful/light - and I think that must be her. Makes it really fun to work with and I like giving it a new chapter.
Thank you for this beautiful article. I thoroughly agree with all your thoughts and yes "Grandma hobby" makes me want to spit! Wishing you many hours of peace and comfort making your exquisite quilt.
There are so many layers to why we sew!! Getting exactly what I want is a major reason for me, especially because I don’t like how most rtw clothing these days are made from polyester. The main reason I sew is for a creative outlet, both in choosing patterns and fabrics that are an expression of myself, and in problem solving. I have a bag of my aunt’s shirts that I took to make into a quilt after she died when my cousin seemed overwhelmed by the decision of what to do with them. Transitioning the clothing into something new that fits into your life helps to process the transition of the person.
Excellent article Stacy-thank you. When I sew I feel a deep connection with the ancestors-my own and all others who came before me. It’s almost as if they’re in the room with me as I make things giving advice and admiring my work. It’s such a solitary pursuit. I can almost hear my grandmother’s voice and see my mother’s hands as I stitch a seam. Oh wait. That’s my hand….how did that happen?
Yes, same here! Someday I will write a newsletter about sewing and legacy. I have many of the same feelings as you when I sit down to sew, and there are few other activities that make me feel so deeply connected to my ancestors. ❤️
Yes! After 25 years of teaching HS math (and AP Stats, yes to graphs and bar charts!), I think we are doing kids a great injustice by not having an hour every day for them to create. For god’s sake, do NOT call it “Home Ec”. Anything that can be shared with the words “Look what I did!” whether it’s music, art, baking, gardening, sewing, carpentry. Give kids a chance to find that one tactile thing that speaks to their heart. Then you can force them into all the Honors and AP classes, but they’ll have something to do when they need to create.
Totally agree! Having dedicated time to create, imaginem and just enjoy the process of making is vital for all ages but *especially* for kids and teens.
I SO agree with you on this!! 👏
At 68 years old, I’m grandma age although not a grandma or even a mother. It’s a somewhat dismissive description, not by you, Stacy, but by journalists who think they are being clever. Ever hear the fashion term “coastal grandma?”
I started machine sewing at 11; my first dress was an A-line shift. Sewing is my creative outlet, a way to take a flat plane, a piece of fabric, and form it into a garment that fits me.
Well I didn’t mean to go down a rabbit hole but there you go! Keep on sewing🧵
Absolutely, I would lump "grandma hobbies" and "coastal grandma" in the same category of dismissive buzz words.
Your comment resonates with me too. I learned to sew at age 10, and the magic of taking a flat piece of fabric and turning it into a 3D shape will never get old! I still have some of my very early garments, many of them are just tubes of fabric that I called a "skirt" or "dress" depending on how they were worn, but it still felt like a miracle every time I stepped into a garment that I'd made.
70 years old here and your comment resonates.
Love this article. I am nearly 75 and have been sewing since I was a child. Guess who taught me. Yup, my grandmother. But let's not let unenlightened people frame the practice or sex or age for us. There's no reason the word "grandma" should have negative connotations. After all, a grandma is just a woman who's had children who have had children. There's absolutely nothing negative about that. But to return to sewing, the most important reason I sew is to feel close to my own grandma, who died just about forty years ago.
Yes, absolutely agree with all of this. I sew for a similar reason, although it was my mom who taught me. But she learned from her mom, so I do feel like I am participating in a sewing legacy every time I sit down at my machine. ❤️
Isn't it wonderful?
I agree with your points. Sewing absolutely is a way to create meaning. I fell into garment sewing more seriously after graduating from college and experiencing depression from months of fruitless job searching. Manipulating fabric, from seam ripping thrifted garments to using clearance yardage and making a fresh garment, gave me a sense of completion and accomplishment. I did that with my hands and saw results at a time when writing endless cover letters was not providing them. Ever since I've been hooked and even when my sewing output changed, I know that hobby is here to help me process different things.
Ah, this resonates with me. I also turned to sewing when I was at a real low point with my career--I'd left a job after some serious burn out, and I didn't know where to turn. This was during an economic downturn, too, so jobs were scarce. Being able to make something with my hands and feel accomplished at the end of the day was one of the things that pulled me through. Like you, I know I can always rely on my sewing practice to help me process whatever is going on in my life, good and bad.
Thank you, Stacey. Put simply: when I’m in my sewing room, I’m in my happy place where I can tune out the craziness of this world and simply create. It calms and soothes my soul. What’s next for me is growing my larger crafting/maker community, as sewing can be lonely. To that end, I’ve co-founded a “crafting circle” — a bunch of middle-aged women who meet monthly and bring whatever they’re working on (or not). We admire each other’s work, teach a new skill if the spirit moves us, or just hang out and talk. It’s so wonderful.
Brilliant idea! I have fond memories of crafting circles with friends over the years, and every time I have the opportunity to create with fellow crafters in real life, it's so energizing.
I don't think a newsletter has ever made me cry before but there's a first time for everything. You write so beautifully and truthfully Stacey, and you've hit the nail on the head
Thank you! ☺️
Thank you Stacey. I love sewing. I’m not always satisfied with the outcome, but I love trying. I delightful in the feel of the fabric, caressing it after washed and folded. Once ready to cut, sometimes it needs a little press beforehand. There is something special in the fragrance of the iron’s heat on the cloth, as well as the smooth finish. Cutting slowly and precisely is another wonderful experience. It requires concentration. Then the actual sewing! Carefully assembling the seams and introducing them to the needle, then gliding everything through to the end of the seam. Taa daa—garment is nearly complete. Adding the details: top stitching, binding, buttons, zippers, elastic, hems. It all brings the garment to life. Project’s over! Time to start another. There is so much to this activity, bringing me great pleasure. Grandma hobby (and I am one), HA! It is a journey of creation!
Absolutely, this is so beautifully articulated! Sewing can be such a tactile experience, among many other things. The journey of creation is lifelong. ❤️
Absolutely beautifully articulated! Stacey this post has obviously moved and resonated with so many of us! I can relate to every comment! All of our senses are used and memories infused with each one. I love the feel of fabric, the look of it, the sound that scissors make when they are cutting it out. I have a memory of the sound of the big, heavy shears that were used in fabric stores when I was a child, usually on a solid wooden surface. The sight of a beautifully matched plaid, or wall of quilting fabrics displayed by colour - so many simple things just make my eyes happy! and like Gerrie, the smell of the ironed cloth, or of each different type of fibre.
PS Love, love, LOVE the hexagons!! 🤩
Thank you! 😊
I appreciate you opening up this topic, especially so personally and eloquently. Thank you! Alzheimer’s claimed my mother exactly 3 years ago. I gathered many of her favorite garments, intent on transforming them but, so far, am so attached to them that I can’t bring myself to do it. Except for a few polar fleece pullovers, which I used as lining for quilt remnant aviator hats for my 4 sisters. Yes, absolutely, sewing creates meaning. In so many ways. And, it fills me with a sense of awe: I transform a 2D object into a 3D object that takes into consideration the complexity of a human body! This feels so empowering. And almost magical. Sewing is utility. Sewing is grounding practice. Sewing is the opportunity to be a lifelong learner. Sewing is my JOY!
Yes to all of this! Sewing IS joy, among so many other things.
It took me a long time before I felt ready to start transforming my dad's shirts. Even now, I've only taken apart a few of them. I'm trying to be gentle with myself, only going as fast as my heart will let me, which feels right.
I love this essay so much. Thank you! It is super irritating to hear the term “grandma hobby” even when I know no ill intent is intended.
Stacy, thank you for complicating, in a very good way, this issue about why sewing is a good thing. I am with you, sewing is a way for me to make meaning in my life, a way to honour and make visible my point of view, a way to live my values in all my daily interactions. I can’t expect others to really understand the significance of my sewing practice, unless they want to write about it and extol sewing’s virtues. Then I do expect them to look more deeply and not settle on the ‘grandma’ terminology, but instead draw attention to what so many people have learned and contributed to the world through their lifelong practice of the sewing arts. Your words have helped me to be really proud of all the times I have consciously chosen to return to my sewing room in order to deepen my life and move my self forward.
I'm planning to do the same with my fathers shirts! Haven't started yet because I too want to savor the process and be thoughtful in the making. Lots of love Stacey, great writing! 🫶
Thank you, Chelsea! It took me a long time before I felt ready to seam rip even a single stitch on one of his shirts. Sending lots of love your way, too. ❤️
This is beautifully put and I loved reading about your quilt. I’m making some pyjamas out of a bedsheet that belonged to my great grandma. I didn’t know her but we all had this sheet on our bed growing up and it has a feeling about it - sort of joyful/light - and I think that must be her. Makes it really fun to work with and I like giving it a new chapter.
That's so lovely! I love the idea that the bedsheet holds and passes down some part her spirit. ❤️
Thank you for this beautiful article. I thoroughly agree with all your thoughts and yes "Grandma hobby" makes me want to spit! Wishing you many hours of peace and comfort making your exquisite quilt.
There are so many layers to why we sew!! Getting exactly what I want is a major reason for me, especially because I don’t like how most rtw clothing these days are made from polyester. The main reason I sew is for a creative outlet, both in choosing patterns and fabrics that are an expression of myself, and in problem solving. I have a bag of my aunt’s shirts that I took to make into a quilt after she died when my cousin seemed overwhelmed by the decision of what to do with them. Transitioning the clothing into something new that fits into your life helps to process the transition of the person.
Excellent article Stacy-thank you. When I sew I feel a deep connection with the ancestors-my own and all others who came before me. It’s almost as if they’re in the room with me as I make things giving advice and admiring my work. It’s such a solitary pursuit. I can almost hear my grandmother’s voice and see my mother’s hands as I stitch a seam. Oh wait. That’s my hand….how did that happen?
Yes, same here! Someday I will write a newsletter about sewing and legacy. I have many of the same feelings as you when I sit down to sew, and there are few other activities that make me feel so deeply connected to my ancestors. ❤️