Spreading Joy with Stitching

One of the questions I get asked the most from people who are picking up a new kind of stitching or handwork is, "what do I do with all my samples?" 

It's a great question, and the truth is, you don't need to do anything with them - it's okay to create art just for the sake of creating and learning. That said, I know as well as anyone that those bits of fabric can pile up, and we don't always have the space to continue storing everything we've ever made, and not everyone is interested in selling their art.

So when I recently saw this question pop up once again in an embroidery group I am part of, one of the answers really resonated with me: one person leaves small stitched pieces in Little Free Libraries with a note explaining it's for anyone to take as long as it brings them joy. I thought this was such a beautiful idea, and it got the wheels turning in my head about the other ways we might be able to spread joy with our stitching.

Gifts for Strangers

There is something really special about receiving a gift, and that's true even when the gift is from someone we don't know. This makes giving our stitching away to unsuspecting strangers all the more rewarding for us, knowing that we are spreading that warm, fuzzy, feeling of joy. Plus, the recipient will feel a bit like they've uncovered buried treasure, so it's really a win-win!

There are lots of intentional places that you could leave stitching to be found by someone who can appreciate it. Consider:

• Local Little Free Libraries (I've seen these at hospitals, in front of churches, at hostels and B&Bs, and even just on the street in front of people's homes - all seem like lovely options!)
• On tables or chairs at your public library
• On public benches (a small rock can be a great weight to keep things from blowing off of outdoor benches)
• At community mailboxes
• At family resource centres

And I'm sure there are many more that I haven't even thought of! Wherever you decide to leave your treasures, just be sure it's in a space where people will find it and will know it isn't lost - a small note to indicate that it's free for the taking and is meant to bring joy to a stranger is very useful!

^{Sashiko Stitch Club member Lilly Anderson stitched these pieces for friends and family - similar works could be distributed to strangers!}

Snail Mail

I've been speaking with a few friends recently about how joyful it is to send and receive letter mail, and how it just doesn't happen nearly often enough in modern days! Some of the lovely members in the Sashiko Stitch Club have been sharing cards that they've created, and I think that's such a good way to combine the ideas of sending more mail, and also sharing the stitching love.

It could be a fun idea to go through your finished works and see if any of the pieces you're willing to part with make you think of a particular friend. Or you could go the other way - perhaps there is someone in your life who is going through something hard, like processing the grief of losing someone, and you have a piece that might bring them joy. Happy occasions, too, like expecting a new baby, can be marked with stitched postcards or a small piece accompanying a letter.

Quite simply, consider those close to you, and see if you have something that can spark a moment of peace, joy, or reflection in them.

^{One of our monthly stitches, stitched by Sashiko Stitch Club Member Alice Paradis and added to cards.}

^{Cards for loved ones in two mediums by Sashiko Stitch Club member Lilly Anderson.}

^{Stitched stationery from Sashiko Stitch Club member Linda Grey.}

Symbols of Solidarity

Have you ever worn a t-shirt that represents your favourite band, and had an absolute stranger compliment you on your shirt and/or music taste? It feels so good to bond with a new person over something we love. It's natural to want to feel like we belong, and overtly wearing clothing or accessories that make declarations about the things we enjoy is one way that we connect to others.

Many of us like to stitch words, symbols, and phrases that mean something to us, whether it's related to a TV show or movie that you love, a video game you've spent a lot of time on, or more serious symbols of resistance and solidarity. By turning these projects into patches for our bags or coats, wearable pendants or brooches, or even signs that we carry to protests, we can use our stitching to connect with others. We may even inspire others to try their hand at stitching, which is another one of those joyful ripple effects that we can have on the world.

^{Dice bags stitched by Sashiko Stitch Club member Beth McGee for her Dungeons and Dragons-loving friends}

Sharing by Doing

While it isn't really something that you can do with your finished pieces, it's worth mentioning that another great way to spread joy through your craft is by sharing it with others. For Lilly, a member of our Sashiko Stitch Club, this meant teaching her elementary school students the basics of stitching, and getting the little ones excited about making felt turtles. In turn, those excited little ones tell their friends about it, and the joy ripples out even further.

Amy, one of our Zen Stitching team members, shares her craft by teaching free mending workshops at her local library, showing others how to darn their clothes. Want to connect with local folks without actively teaching? Simply stitching in public is a great way to start conversations about craft with strangers, and even just gathering with other makers to converse whilst working on individual projects helps forge those community connections.

^{Amy mending a sweater at a community mending day.}

The Process is the Point

Creativity has purpose, even if the thing we are creating isn't traditionally "useful" - getting our hands moving and our brains working is reason enough to make! But if those pieces are piling up and you're ready to let them go, why not share the beauty you've created?

Even when the object we've made moves on, it has provided us with presence, care, and attention. And when we pass these creations on thoughtfully, they can provide joy and hope to others as well! If you've got some pieces laying around that you aren't sure what to do with, consider using them to spread joy to your friends and neighbours, and see for yourself how those stitches spread warmth far beyond your own two hands.