A much needed dose of serenity.
As I am sewing-machineless at the moment and a bit frazzled after a weekend of teenagers at other than their best behaviour, I’ve been snatching some hand-quilting time this morning. I say snatching, because there really are a zillion other things that I should be doing.
That said, I need some calm in my life more than I need a clean house and the washing machine running.
There are few things guaranteed to bring tranquility like hand-quilting does. It really is one of those actions where it is well nigh impossible to multi-task. I can listen to a nice audio book or something on the radio, but that’s it. I can’t even talk on the phone without getting a crick in my neck.
Slow, steady, regular…I even notice my breathing slowing down. The troubles of the weekend melt slowly into the background as I just let myself wallow in something that I enjoy. Progress is slow. I notice that I’m not as practiced as I was before I switched to doing more machine-quilting. It will take eons to finish this piece – a Winter White Schnibble by Carrie Nelson.
But that’s OK. It’s helping me get my head back in the right place again. And that feels good.
Helen
November 22nd, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Hello Helen, Like you I find hand stitching calming, really enjoy it and find that it goes surprisingly fast. I was planning to splurge on a new sewing machine – my current model does not have a top drop-in bobbin which means that I have to stop everything and remove the extension table before I can put in a new bobbin (I also can’t see when I am running low on thread). But now that I am comfortable with hand stitching I might just put that purchase on hold. By the way the quilt that you are working on is going to be lovely.
Re the previous post about knitting and your 11 year old saying that you were “an old lady” just remember that he too will be your age one day.