On September 21, 1982, President Ronald Reagan declared September as Nationwide Stitching Month (Proclamation #4976) “in recognition of the significance of house stitching to our nation.” Stitching abilities have lengthy been part of our tradition and have supplied wanted objects for our lives in addition to offering a calming, therapeutic exercise for many people.
At one time, most properties had a stitching machine, used primarily for clothes development/mending and residential decorations. Right this moment, most sewers are quilters, crafters, and embroiderers. The machines of right this moment vary from primary machines with just a few stitches to mixture embroidery/stitching machines that may scan and sew subtle designs. These are very totally different from the “Singer” treadle machine that our great-grandmothers used!
The theme for this 12 months’s Nationwide Stitching Month is “Sew Sustainable.” For a lot of who’ve been stitching for years, this has at all times been part of why we sew. The Sew Sustainable theme encompasses many features of “earth pleasant” methods.
Mending is one space of “Sew Sustainable” that the majority of us with a machine observe. Many individuals who personal a stitching machine use it primarily for mending small rips and tears to placing on the large patches over knees in pants/denims and different stress areas. Why throw out a great garment when it may be mounted with only a few stitches to provide it an extended life?
Reuse, Repurpose, and Refashion are additionally areas underneath the “Sew Sustainable” umbrella that sewers from previous generations have been excellent at. Quilting, in fact, reused the items from unwearable clothes and refashioned these into heat and delightful quilts for the mattress. Some quilters nonetheless do that right this moment, though lots of our present man-made garment materials don’t work in addition to the older cottons. Repurposing/refashioning objects can unleash creativity. A prime or gown may be modified by including some trim, adjusting sleeve size and hemlines, altering buttons, and many others. Dying a garment and including trims may also create a totally totally different look.
Pure fibers are at all times a good selection for stitching initiatives. Cotton, wool, silk, and linen have been worn and used for hundreds of years. Personally, I want each carrying and creating my stitching initiatives with pure fibers: my outcomes are higher with the pure fibers. Usually, you may “form” the pure fibers if it’s good to stretch a bit or “ease” one thing to suit; man-fibers resist manipulation as they wish to preserve their form. Pure fibers are additionally a bit extra environmentally pleasant than man-made and are renewable.
Donate can be a great way to reuse your cloth stash and instruments. In case you have objects that you’ll not use, search for organizations in your space which may take these. I fill a bag with the scraps from my initiatives and donate these to somebody who makes charity quilts. I do know the scraps are going to a great trigger! Additionally, your native quilt guild is usually a supply for donations – they usually have neighborhood initiatives going and can welcome extra supplies.
As a part of Stitching Sustainably, think about your tools. All the time select the very best you may afford: higher instruments and notions will last more. A very good pair of stitching shears may be resharpened (I’m utilizing the identical pair I started stitching with a few years in the past!). Additionally, a great stitching machine ought to final you a few years as effectively. Make sure to maintain the bobbin space clear of lint and thread particles and have the machine serviced each one/two years, relying on how a lot you utilize it.
Sustainable stitching isn’t new – many people already observe the factors which can be to be celebrated this month. Stitching is a superb pastime that may be satisfying to each the soul and the atmosphere!
-submitted by The Stitching & Vacuum Heart
