Slow stitching for gratitude
and a daily practice of making
Every day in December 2024 I practiced Slow Stitching for Gratitude. Struggling with low spirits and energy in the winter, I set out each day to focus on gentle positivity through making. I did not realise how transformative and beautiful a practice it would become as the stitches blossomed into their own entity. I lived and breathed for this time out, akin to showing up on the yoga mat each day.
2024 had been another deep delve into plants, natural fibre and colour. However it was very technique-heavy and getting my menopausal brain around the science and chemistry of dyes and inks was enjoyable but tiring. Come December, I was really missing the creative side of my practice and as the Earth was fast asleep in her winter slumber offering little by way of natural colour, it was time to stop the theory and return to making.
Out of practice and creative flow, the big projects and artworks I had in mind were too overwhelming to start. I needed something simple and textile art being my thing, slow stitching seemed an obvious choice. The aim was to do a little bit each day, nothing too complicated, trying to let go of outcome and perfection and enjoy the process of making. These principles are the ethos of the slow stitching movement.
It would be remiss of me to leave out the origins of slow stitching here. Based on the simple running stitch, it has been heavily influenced by the traditional Japanese arts of Boro (a method of mending and patchwork using scraps of fabric) and Sashiko (a decorative and functional running stitch used for reinforcement). Slow stitching has gained popularity in recent years as a meditative and expressive practice that values process over perfection, encompassing well-being, mindfulness, sustainability and intentional creativity.
I spent the last day of November selecting thirty pieces of cloth. Yes, December does have thirty one days but the final day of the month and year, was to be left free for reflection. I also wanted to group them into five sets of six because of the colour palette available from my natural dyed scraps being red, brown, green, purple and blue. I pinned the complementary colours of collage pieces to the foundation cloth and it was really fulfilling to see them all lined up in a row awaiting their turn to have life breathed into them. Empty canvases with an unknown destiny.
I don’t know where my ideas come from sometimes and why I decided to sit there that day and make them. It was just a strong gut feeling, a resounding “I am going to do that now”. The number of creative ideas I have in any one day can be overwhelming. This has not always been the case and I think it has a lot to do with the menopause, although brain fog can be crippling in my speed of understanding new concepts and my ability to retrieve events, names and places. Nevertheless, this has not deterred me in my determination to follow my passion. I do not know the creative power’s source but I am grateful for it because it has led me on this journey. Perhaps you could call it my inner voice, maybe I can just hear it more clearly now?
Slow stitching each day became an evolving expression of self. I look back at the first piece on 1st December of grid-like stitches, simple and beautiful in their own right. But noticing how they changed throughout the month was really fascinating. Although conscious and intentional, I did try to flow where my hands wanted to take me. Patterns started to emerge, shapes and geometry that I liked and a change of direction and width. Symbology appeared out of the scraps and stitches, some reminding me of standing stones and of the masculine and feminine. They were little pieces of energy, love, hope and representations. I was overcoming hurdles, undoing and mending, allowing feelings and emotions to flow from heart to hand to stitch.
I also found it to be a meditative practice. It made me slow down and breathe; I was more present in my body and self. It allowed me to gently acknowledge my thoughts without judgement. It seemed to teach me patience and trust that this had a purpose. I could feel the cycle of negativity reversing, driving out the winter blues. My head is always so busy and I know all of us find modern life hard with a constant inbox of ‘to do’s’. But honestly it was a real respite from this. It was an act of self-love by saying no to the racing thoughts and overwhelm I often experience, just to be in the moment.
Another layer of relationship and meaning came from the colourful palette of plant dyes. I knew which plants they came from, where they grew and whether they were gathered on a walk or from my dye garden. Some of the scraps such as the purples/lilacs (logwood) and yellows (turmeric) came from workshops I had attended and it was nice to incorporate these samples too.
I foraged some amazing plants last year and have accumulated quite a collection of gorgeous fabrics imbued with soft tones. They are sitting on my shelf, neatly rolled up waiting for their purpose to unfold. I have become rather precious about them because each one has a colourful story that I get attached to. I am not sure if this is a good thing but I want to honour each piece of cloth and the meaning that has gone into each one. But while I am waiting for the inspiration to arrive, it seems a shame that they are just sitting on the shelf unable to be enjoyed. It appears I have become over precious about things, waiting for the perfect idea to drop in.
What slow stitch has taught me is that flow is better than no flow. Perhaps I should just cut up the fabric rolls into scraps to be enjoyed through textile collage work. That would be liberating to get the scissors out, there would be no turning back! And after all, the seasons will turn once again with more colour to offer. I will report back on my progress on setting the fabrics free….maybe in parallel of letting go of my own perfectionism, holding on tightly to an old sense of self I am desperate to be free of.
To conclude, as I can see I am going off on a tangent and well done to anyone who is still reading my digressions. As the final day approached, the last day of 2024, it felt like an accomplishment to admire the little pieces of cloth, delicately transformed by the pattern of stitches. My own sense of style and aesthetic had emerged building up my creative confidence stitch by stitch. As an aside, it seems I am now an expert in Instagram reels, which was tiresome but I also quite fun adding music and narratives to the videos, giving context to each piece as the practice evolved. I was away over the Christmas period in Finland on a family holiday and I brought the stitching along with me. This provided a beautiful ‘Insta-ready’ backdrop of ice and snow which I left for the blue woad indigo pieces. I was particularly fond of the Christmas Day photo in the shape of a tree. I definitely have some favourites amongst the collection. It’s funny to think they are made out of rags, scraps and time. It is energy and love that have transformed them. From rags to riches you could say (I am pretty pleased with that analogy).
Slow Stitch for Gratitude was all about focusing on the good things I have in my life using stitch as a medium. But I can think of one hundred more treasures that I was gifted through this practice. It was soothing, transformative, empowering and magical; all from simple stitches and showing up each day. I certainly feel more hopeful and positive. Every piece was a stitch closer to wholeness.
I am delighted to be running a slow stitching workshop which I hope will be one of many. It will take place on the afternoon 1st March 2025 near Harrogate, North Yorkshire UK at FreshAir&’s beautiful Nidderdale studio. To book on follow the link Book Workshop . I am also facilitating slow stitch on the monthly gatherings at Harrogate Creative Stitchers, formerly a branch of the Embroiderer’s Guild.
For more information about Slow Stitching I can recommend Claire Wellesley-Smith’s book Resilient Stitch, which includes contextual work and different artists influenced by this style. I am also absolutely in love with k3nclothtales’s YouTube channel full of slow stitching ideas and much more. Kathryn is a true creatrix and is wonderful company to listen to her chatting away while alone in my studio. More beautiful slow stitch inspiration can be found on Instagram at Jude Hill’s @spiritcloth and Megan Elizabeth’s @threadspells .
Happy slow stitching!