The Art of Slow Stitching
Finding peace in the process
Yikes! Another week has gone by and we find ourselves at the end of September. Where has the year gone? hahaha Have you heard that one before? It seems that the world has accelerated and we can’t make it stop; somedays I feel like yelling “let me get off”. Slow down, what’s the hurry? Where are we going in such a rush? We are at the age of fast everything: fast consumption, fast answers, fast travel, fast food …
Do you remember the world before Internet? What did we do before screens, tablets and phones?
I remember growing up with books instead of TVs and tablets; walking to the bookstore and stopping at the bakery to buy a pastry (or two); taking the train to go downtown which gave me time to daydream or read a book or knit a scarf; it was the same for a lot of other people travelling at the same time I was. We got to know each other after a while, and shared conversations. Not a single screen in sight.
Nowadays, no matter where you are, you look around and everyone has a device on their hands. They sit at tables at restaurants with family and friends and everyone is occupied with their own little shining and bright world in their hands. No conversation, no sharing, no laughter.
The world seemed to move at a slower pace then, and although I use technology every day – it seems we cannot escape it – not even during our creative moments, I wonder sometimes at our need to do everything faster.
This is where the slow movement comes in. Its origin can be traced to the mid-1980s and the beginnings of the Slow Food Movement in Italy started by Carlo Petrini who became haunted by what he considered fast food companies eroding Italy’s ancient culinary culture. Closer to home, one man set out to change the way we create, stitch and quilt. Mark Lipinski created the Slow Stitching Movement as a mission to tell quilters and stitchers to stop and slow down. The slow movement can be summed up in one single word: BALANCE.
I’ve been doing a lot of slow stitching lately, mainly encouraged by the workshop by Deb Cooper offered by TextileArtist.org that I joined for free. And then because I loved it so much and wanted to learn more, I joined Stitch Club, where there is a workshop by Mandy Pattullo on creating small beautiful and inspired textile books.
I have been working with neutral fabrics for over 15 years so I have quite the collection. Out came the small pieces that are kept in a basket ready to use. And then I went looking for my trim, and lace and pieces of family history in the lace and vintage fabrics my mother sent me over the years.
And if you are thinking “You are so lucky – I don’t have any?” I’ve got you covered as I’ve curated some beautiful fabrics, lace, trim and buttons to get you started.
Here is what I’ve worked on this week: embellishing the pages of the book with botanical designs. I don’t have any to draw from, so – I did use the Internet to find some. I am not great at drawing, but I could manage these botanical designs. Below are two of the pages in my sketchbook.
This past week, I created the front and back covers for the book. I used the embroidered details on a vintage French table runner I loved. To highlight the design, I fused a piece of mustard yellow silk under it. And added some lace trim and details to the back of the covers to make them more interesting.
Below are some of the pages I created this week, with some of the botanical designs inspired by my sketches.
I am happy with these. Each one carries within a piece of me. Are they perfect? Yes, to me they are because they were made by my hand. I know, someone might look at them and think that the stitches are not the same length, they are not perfect, some don’t “align” to whatever they need to align to. But they are all mine. And I like them this way.
In the world of textiles, it’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of perfection, but the beauty of handmade work often lies in its imperfections. Stitching is as much about the process as it is about the outcome. The act of making—of threading needle through fabric, of letting your hands move intuitively. That is where the true magic happens. Each stitch, whether perfectly aligned or slightly askew, carries with it the energy and intention of the maker. It tells a story, one that doesn’t need to be flawless to be meaningful. I want to repeat that. To make sure it sticks. IT TELLS A STORY – ONE THAT DOESN’T NEED TO BE FLAWLESS TO BE MEANINGFUL.
What I’ve learned this week, while working on these pages, is that simplicity can be just as powerful as any intricate technique. Using simple botanical designs, I focused less on “fancy” stitches and more on allowing the natural beauty of the fabric and the shapes to shine. The collaged backgrounds provided texture and depth, while the straightforward stitches brought them to life without overpowering the piece. In this way, the work becomes an exploration of harmony rather than perfection.
We don’t need complicated stitches to create something beautiful. In fact, sometimes the most meaningful pieces come from the simplest techniques. When we stop striving for perfection and embrace the imperfections, our work becomes more authentic, more personal, and more connected to the human experience. This freedom in making allows us to create with joy, and that joy is something that can be felt in every stitch.
Thanks for reading. Until I write again, I hope you create with joy and that you feel it in every stitch.
Ana
If you are looking for a book on the subject matter, I have a few recommendations for you:
- Slow Stitching by Claire Wellesley-Smith and it’s sequel Resilient Stitch: Wellbeing and Connection in Textile Art
- Stitch, Fabric and Thread: An Inspirational Guide for Creative Stitchers by Elizabeth Healey
- Embroidering the Everyday by Cas Holmes
- The Intentional Thread: A guide to Drawing, Gesture and Colour in Stitch by Susan Brandeis
As usual, I encourage you to support your local bookstore. Here in town, I visit The Next Page in Inglewood. They deliver and will ship worldwide.
I have created an online live workshop to get you started. 20% off the regular price when you register before October 6th. See you then?
