I sew, I create, I make. I am worthy of respect and not bound to the ties of social convention, marketing or retail that thinks I should be a certain size or way.
I sew therefore I am free.
Long ago we all sewed. We made and we were confident that we could “do”. Sure, some of us were better at it than others. Some loved it and some dreaded it. But we could do it and a million other things that are now taken for granted, scoffed at or thought to be just for those unable to swipe a credit card and have it done for us.
At one time we all “did” and we were free. (No, not perfect, but not caught by the short hairs either by inability so stunning that is makes one’s eyes bug out at times)
And then time marched on and manufacturing took over and social norms changed. We no longer did for ourselves. We became modern, we became enlightened and yet we lost things. We lost skills and ability and even the confidence that we could do these things that our foremothers and fathers took for granted each day.
Yes, we gained the notion that as women and men we are equal and yet in the same breath that fight for equality and the march towards a bright future lost us something as both men and women. We lost trust that we could do for ourselves and one of the smallest but most powerful examples is in sewing.
A Canary in our Very Own Coal Mine
While often overlooked it seems I think that the loss of sewing skills and confidence as a society was a canary in the social coal mine to a time where we actually throw away a $200 jacket away because the zipper is messed up. Or spend our time feeling like shit because we can’t find clothes to fit our very human bodies in a sea of one- size fits few garments given to us by the industry.
Learning to sew is powerful stuff. It is a step towards independence and the ability to have say in how things look, and fit and feel while not being at the mercy of our retail culture. To know how to sew is to know how to care for yourself, have confidence in your ability and that feeling translates to all parts of life.
When we removed sewing from school we actually took a step backwards and not forward. We took away a powerful tool from our girls and our boys and it is time to give them the power back.
And while school might not be the right place for this any longer our communities are. Our quilt and sewing shops, our scouts and our community meeting halls are perfect spots to gather and learn.
Who could YOU teach to sew??
Next step – Creating programs that instill confidence, not kill creativity.
