Benefits of Hand Embroidery

Hello, my fellow embroidery lovers!

We are finally here with our new blog section! I am delighted to talk on topics that we all can participate in. So join me and let’s talk about anything about hand embroidery and life!

Hand stitching comes with more benefits than what meets the eye. Has needlecraft helped you? How do you feel while embroidering? Why do you embroider?

There were only a few ladies when I started my hand embroidery circle in late 2019. The sole idea was to use creativity to make them feel good. It was supposed to run for a month or two. But, by the end of two months, it grew to ten ladies, making it obvious that the activity would have to continue and remain open-armed. Every single one of them mentioned how they have benefited positively from hand embroidery. That explains why some of them traveled long distances to join the embroidery circle. The therapeutic effect of hand embroidery was quite apparent. And so, the temporary workshop now has a name ⁠— A Needle Bit Of Joy.

Benefits of Hand Embroidery

Drawing from my experience and the embroidery circle, I have listed some benefits of hand embroidery.

1. It is therapeutic — keeps your fine motor skills sharp and your mind focused.

Doing hand embroidery is such a great stress buster for me. It’s like I forget about everything around me and immerse myself in a world of my own. It resets and prepares me to be a better person. ⁠—N

Hand embroidery helps many of us to focus⁠—keeping worries and the chaotic thoughts of our daily lives away. It is meditative and has been used as a therapeutic method to improve mental and emotional health. Did you know that World War soldiers, mainly from Britain, Australia, and New Zealand were encouraged to take up hand embroidery for their rehabilitation? It was a part of the occupational therapy to help them gain back their fine motor skills and treat trauma. Louisa Pesel, a famous German-English embroiderer, played a remarkable role in introducing the art of needlework to these soldiers.

World War 1 Soldiers from New Zealand practicing needlework as a means of therapeutic distraction from the effects of war trauma. Credits: The Conversation

2. Builds patience — lowers your blood pressure and reduces your acne!

Hand embroidery takes me through a step-by-step process repeatedly, that made me more patient. After stitching for many years, the virtue of patience has seeped into my everyday life. I am so much relaxed. —B

Hand embroidery inculcates patience in many of us over time. This is a much-needed virtue in today’s mad rush – probably the right balance. Taking the time to decide the materials, stitches, and patterns for your project and stitching it to the finish requires a certain amount of perseverance. It trains our brains to be disciplined. When you see the results, you understand it was all worth it. So, it is a great art to introduce to kids!

3. Boosts confidence — the more you make something beautiful, the more you know what you are capable of.

Hand embroidery brought back self-worth and confidence in me. I now have a sense of being able to do more than what I had thought. —M

Apart from being a way to practice mindfulness, hand embroidery gives gratification from watching the pattern unravel as you stitch. Your efforts are reflected in something beautiful and learn to appreciate yourself. In turn, this restores self-confidence as it has in all the women attending the circle of A Needle Bit of Joy. The companionship of the stitch group itself brings about a particular ‘healing’ for them. When you learn to embroider, I always say, try to do it in the company of others.

4. Enhances creativity — encourages us to solve life problems creatively.

When I discovered hand embroidery and how much I enjoyed it, I worked around the things in life to find time to stitch! I am better organized and can manage time well. —S

The circle is now taking a small step ahead. The ladies have started producing small hand-embroidered stuff to be exhibited and sold. What made it possible? The increase in confidence and also because the wheel of creativity has begun to turn! Ideas flow in better. For a couple of them, making time to stitch meant bringing a better change in their daily routine and lifestyle, too!

5. Express yourself — don’t want to talk? Just stitch!

I just found out that I love to stitch in black. It’s just easier for me to express myself in black. I enjoy more when I outline the patterns in black over the bright fabric. —S

Hand embroidery reflects your thoughts, feelings, and ideas like any other art form. Stitch up what you feel and hang it where you want people to know. Small words of encouragement stitched on a piece of fabric can form a great gift to others. It can also become a part of a more significant revolution.

“Dragonfly” made using black pearl cotton. Credits: Hand Embroidery Stitches for Everyone

6. Inexpensive and environment-friendly — a needle, some threads, and a piece of cloth—that’s all you need to start and keep this hobby!

I could not find fabric to stitch on, so I took hold of some of my old skirts. I just find it more fun to stitch over the old cloth! It’s the process of stitching that mattered more to me. —J

When the world plunged into a strange and unprepared situation early this year, forcing us to be quarantined to our homes, the only thing that kept these women sane was their time with hand embroidery. They still share their proud creations through our chat group and keep each other encouraged! This was partly because they did not have to invest much to continue the hobby.

And how much does it cost the environment? Almost nothing! Hand embroidery can be done with even the basic materials and things available in your house. Tools like the needle and embroidery hoop can be re-used for years. Old fabric can form the base. The most common threads are made of natural materials like cotton and silk. You can also naturally dye the cotton threads!

Do you agree with these? Please add your stories and let me know if I have missed anything. Tell us how hand embroidery has affected your lives. Let’s talk.

If you want to foray into the world of hand embroidery for its benefits or just for fun, you can start with this section on embroidery for beginners.

Warm regards,
Sarah