There was a girl on social media who said, “You aren’t depressed, you just need a new hobby.” And y’all…I don’t disagree with her.
Full transparency, I suffer from depression and I do understand and recognize that taking a walk, getting a hobby, just doing “it” is not the cure for depression. In this instance, I am specifically speaking about my experience with understanding the difference between that feeling of being down and off “funk” and the depression funk that I need more professional help to battle.
I have hobbies but lately, they’ve been feeling more like obligations than stress release. Running hasn’t been fun, knitting and crocheting has resulted in a lot of projects starting but not a lot of projects completing. I couldn’t seem to concentrate on reading and cooking was more of just getting a meal so that I can continue scrolling and not completing projects. When the Facebook blessed me with a sweet deal: a FREE sewing machine and serger, along with some random bits and bobs that go along with sewing, I thought, “Why not?” and was set to find my new thing.
After grabbing the machine, and because I am me (a me who refuses to accept that she can have and enjoy nice things) I let this machine sit until my family suggested I sell it at a garage sale.
Rude!
After lots of fussin’ and cussin’ while watching instructional videos, I called up a friend, Carla, who sews and she told me about a group that she runs that teaches sewing and she shared when they met. Carla told me to bring the machine and she would walk me through the process. A few weeks later, I finally made it to group and successfully learned how to thread my machine and was given a tutorial and walkthrough of what the machine is and does. Plus I made a few practice stitches.
Hooray!!!
And then, because life and work and family and general malaise, got in the way, I did not touch the machine for weeks. It sat on my porch taunting me as I did everything except make. Wait. That’s not entirely true. I did move it out of the way so the cat could lie on the treadmill. (Another neglected piece of hardware but I digress)
Anywho, recently, the stars aligned, I was able to get to another library meetup, and baby, I was sewing!
I made the wonkiest bag that ever was but *I* made a bag!
The idea of sewing has always been a big mystery. As a knitter, I can read a pattern and I fundamentally understand HOW yarn is transformed into a finished object but sewing? Oh my! A person takes a pieces of fabric and transforms it into gorgeous clothes and that seemed like something out of my reach.
September was National Sewing Month and throughout the month I practiced cutting and making straight lines and transforming yards of fabric into accessories. This month I am excited for the class I signed up for to make a basket and have been eyeing a class for how to make clothes. There are times that I regret not learning from my grandmother who sewed to bring in extra income. I am thankful that I can sew as a hobby and learn new a new skill.
Having this new hobby has been great. I am not trying to monetize what I make but to progress I this new skill and enjoy the process.
Happy sewing!!
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