In October 2024 I needed a fun sewing project to take my mind off some major life stressors. I had recently lost a friend to suicide, and another friend had just suffered a stroke. When these awful things happen to us, it’s hard to find ways to manage the loss. There’s dealing with the hurt and trauma, and then there is paving the way to moving forward. I find building something new with my talents gives me a little peace.
The aftermath of loss is a thing. It is easy to shell up and not move forward. I know we need to take time to do that, but we also need to keep on with our legacies. When my friend’s stroke happened, I was there. I was the one who called 911. All I could see was how can I help, what do I need to do to make the situation better. That was it. We are fortunate her stroke was mild and she recovered, but watching it happen does not leave your mind.
The Project
To move my mind from all of this, I needed an outlet. I wanted a fun sewing project to help me recover as well. My legacy was also something I wanted to work on. I wanted to share my talents and creativity with others. I was not sure what it was, but I knew I was going to sew. Pinterest, Etsy, and YouTube are such great avenues to see other people’s creative sides. I looked, watched, and admired the talent and skill that lit up my screen.
My project was a blend of both Hobby Lobby and Walmart. I love shopping at both. I am not sure which one was where my inspiration started, maybe it was both places. First, Hobby Lobby has great seasonal, novelty, and special occasion fabrics. Walmart, secondly, does novelty and seasonal apparel for girls that are adorable. Walmart’s seasonal shirts are animated and sparkly, perfect for my project. Both places also have great price points that make creating affordable.
The Shopping and the Sewing
I bought 3 Halloween shirts from Walmart and fabrics from Hobby Lobby. It was fun driving my shopping cart around Hobby Lobby’s fabric department picking and sorting. I was feeling happier, excited, and my brain was thinking forward. I could feel the wheels spin in my head over the idea of creating something new. I ended up purchasing around 5 total yards of fabrics. A black and white gingham, purple with black dots, orange with black dots, mini sequin dots, and a purple abstract. I was having a blast.
Once I finally got back to the sewing room, I was playing with all the prints pairing them to the shirts. I started mapping out which fabrics were going with what, how many rows, and where to add the sparkle. My friend calls this type of sewing “playing,” and I suppose it is. That is what I wanted to do, was play with my sewing machine with fun sparkly fabrics. And I did! Lots of cutting, pinning, gathering, stitching, and pressing were done. I ended up with three adorable dresses. I couldn’t wait to share. I was feeling like I was coming out of a funk, with some sparkle and color.
What did Everyone Say?
I decided to make a fourth dress. This meant another trip to Walmart and Hobby Lobby. The ladies at Hobby Lobby’s cutting counter were amazed when I showed them the dresses. They wanted to know how I came up with the idea, and what pattern I used, and who the dresses were for. Even a Walmart stocker in the children’s department was delighted, and started to share with me someone she knew that sews. Her face brightened up as she shared, and I felt brighter too.
With all of this, from watching the dresses come to life, I was gaining some momentum. Sparkle and creativity was brightening up others as well. My friend was home recovering from her stroke got a kick out of watching me play. She was sleeping a lot, as stroke patients do. I would check in on her frequently with her basic daily routines. When she could sit and watch TV, I gave her small sewing tasks to do. She took out my basting stitches, clipped all my threads, and promptly displayed the dresses over the sofa when she was done. It made her giggle, gave us something to chat over, and I loved to see her smile.
Eventually I finished all four dresses. They were individually wrapped in lavender tissue then covered in brown paper. I tied it with a pink tule bow, placing a hand written card to each girl. The packages were mailed and in a few days they arrived. I received unboxing videos, pictures of them in the dress, and thank yous. I shared these pictures with my friends, and the ladies at the fabric store. The feedback warmed my soul.
What now?
There’s so much to consider in this process. Sewing for others is a complicated thing. Sometimes I am paid, and sometimes I am not. Doing “anything” for others is the same way, we are paid sometimes and others we are not. I’d like to think we are paid all the time.
I have completed countless amount projects over the past 35 years. Most of it is at the request of someone paying me for my time. I have gotten very good at what I do. The top interior designers in my city hire me for their projects. I feel very flattered to be chosen as a leading fabricator.
While I am paid for my interior design work, I also know my fun sewing is part of my sparkle. I think the two go hand in hand. Sewing for clients ke
Moving Forward
People say to me all the time, “I wish I could sew like that!” I also hear, “My mother sewed and I never picked it up, I did this instead, but I would love to learn.” Another statement is, “I had a bad teacher in school, and I got frustrated.” I also hear, “People sew? Wow that is an old fashioned art or craft. Do you sew it by hand?” And I think my all time favorite is, “Does your sewing machine have pedal that you pump?” The list is endless, and I have heard them all. In all of those comments, I hear lack of skills, desire, positivity, and relevance. Do you ever get comments like this? Or have you ever asked these questions?
I am here to help you get back on your sewing journey, like I did with my healing. I am designing patterns that are both simple and fun. Patterns that will help you build skills while being creative at the same time. Along with patterns, I will be sharing the home decor sewing industry. Please stay tuned for more. And if you have suffered a loss or tragedy, did a project help you?
P.S. Sewing machines now come with a odometer and an I.P. address. How about them apples? #bernina
Smile Kind Twirls 
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