Belle the cat has a zen experience. |
'Your stitching should be something you are comfortable with. The mere act of doing it should bring you relaxation and tranquility and satisfy something deep in your soul, says Cindy Oravecz, a stitcher for the last 33 years.
"'You may produce a beautiful quilt or a lovely piece of embroidery but the true reward of stitching is within yourself," she says.
'What could it be that would allow a skilled hand to execute a perfectly regular and even stitch — a stitch that almost looks mechanical in its exactness?
Of course, there are tricks to know. But once all the tricks are learned and applied, what is it that contributes to that regular and tiny stitch so continually perfect over the course of piece after piece in a large and intricate quilt?
The answer is one word — peace.
Talk to stitchers who have mastered the appliqué stitch and they will tell you that with that mastery has come a much higher reward.
'"It's a religious experience for me," one devoted appliquér remarked. "I am quite serious. It gives me peace and serenity in my life. Without it, I shudder to think …"
Some quilters call it their "sanity," some a "healing." Others say it gives them the sensation of floating.
They are talking about hand work whether it be darning a sock, hand quilting, hand piecing or hand applique.
They are also describing an experience people from varying cultures and religions around the world have described similarly since the second century— the deep relaxation attained from meditation.
Quilters that attain this serenity find that precise even stitches are a natural progression with the experience of relaxation.
You'll find more on Zen, relaxation and appliqué in Cindy's second book, The Enchanted Garden.
But perfect stitching may not be for every stitcher. Many people relax behind the sewing machine and what is this hang up we humans have about perfection anyway, says Cindy.
There is another kind of sewing that Cindy does that also is relaxing in another way — her flower making.
"'When we make flowers, whether it is from fabric or ribbon, our stitching doesn't have to be perfect. The gathering stitches are larger and they can be a bit sloppy. In fact, if you are too neat in class — too perfect — you may get yelled at!" Cindy says jokingly.
All the 3-D flowers in the Into The Garden book and The Enchanted Garden book and the ruched mums made with The Ruching Edge and The Mini Ruching Edge are made with a simple gathering or running stitch. The stitch is about 1/8 inch long and does not have to be perfect.
Flower making is very conducive to chatting and laughing with your neighbor in class, watching TV with your family and just not getting too uptight about perfection!
It’s a lot of fun.
People with poor eyesight can do it as well as the very young.
'"My son, Stephen, put beautiful roses all over his superman shirt when he was just 7 years old," Cindy says. Her motto: "The best stitches and the happiest work seem to come when you enjoy yourself." |
