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I SIMPLY MUST SEW

An unknown author said, "Sewing mends the soul," and it is true.

A familiar old adage put it this way: "A stitch in time saves nine." Although this statement probably did refer specifically to sewing, in our home, it carries a broader meaning. If Mom can cut out a few free moments on a busy day to sew for a while, the entire family can benefit from a happier Mom!

SEWING IS PROFESSIONAL THERAPY.

As a bustling career professional, I simply must sew.

When business clients hem and haw at me all day, I find it somehow therapeutic to sit down at my old Singer sewing machine and run a few fabrics through. In a nearly inexplicable way, the mere act of putting the pressure foot down on a sturdy corduroy or cotton can relieve plenty of pressure in my brain.

The mere act of pinning and cutting out a garment pattern can break a pattern of stress in a busy week. Just kneeling on the floor with a super-sharp pair of shears can do wonders for my mental outlook.

And, if I fire up my Rowenta to press a seam, I know the mere process of pressing open a seam will give me a few moments to iron out greater concerns.

SEWING IS FAMILY THERAPY.

As a multitasking mom, I simply must sew. With a household that fairly bursts at the seams, I simply must sew. When family frustrations build, leaving me fit to be tied, I find relief in my stitchery.

Although my children may continue needling one another downstairs, if I can sneak off for a little private sewing time, I can button my lip long enough to return with wiser words for my offspring.

My family has been forewarned. When Mom hunches over the serger to take the edge off a rough patch of garment, it's time to back off. The family knows that, given time, the entire sewing process will probably take the edge off Mom as well!

SEWING IS PERSONAL THERAPY.

Stomping on the acceleration pedal for my sewing machine is fun. Even when my patience has worn thin and my temper is threadbare, I can find new energy in this hobby.

My old machine is noisier than an old-fashioned locomotive. When it really gets rolling, my Singer can bump and bounce around in the sewing cabinet faster than a barrel-racing quarterhorse. Boom! Rumble-Rumble! Boom! It is amazing how many other noises this soothing thunder can drown out.

My sewing habit could even be tagged as constructive. After all, the results are wearable garments. From personally tailored prom dresses to mended jeans, my family benefits from my hissy fits, as long as they give me leeway to sew!

In ages past, people sewed their own clothing for financial or practical reasons. Today, with fabric stores closing their doors all over, sewing is becoming something of a lost art. Fabrics and notions are growing pricier. Store-bought garments may even be cheaper than home-sewn ones. Still, sewing continues to hold value in a somewhat surprising sense.

SEWING IS CHEAPER THAN THERAPY.

Learn more about this author, Linda Ann Nickerson.
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