Stitching Through Life’s Ups and Downs: How Needlework Became My Therapy

Forgive me for sharing this story on a quiet Sunday, but it is something I feel has power in its words and I would like to share. 

Crafting is often overlooked as a therapy, We have all heard of art therapy and it has its place and its notoriety but what about craft therapy? You have probably heard about coloring therapy and seen the adult coloring books for mindfulness but what about embroidery? 

I am a true believer that “doing things” is a great healer for the mind.  I have endless supplies in my cupboard, but found them in my moment of darkness to be overwhelming. I didn’t know what to start or where to start. 

I was in a discount store and saw the most basic craft kit for an embroidered house plant. You know the kits, right? They are like $2, cheap thread, plastic hoop, and generally are imported with lots of foreign instructions if any at all.  

I know you are cringing at the thought, but hear me out. that little 2 dollar kit was a distraction like no other.  I had hit rock bottom, I only left the house if I was desperate for food supplies, I hated people, I didn’t want to talk to anyone, and didn’t want to brush my hair or put on shoes and socks. 

I ran out of milk, a basic staple required to fuel my body with coffee. I ventured out and ended up with the kit, it was a random thing, I didn’t actually hold much hope for actually doing it, but I thought what the heck, and I threw it into my shopping cart. 

a few days passed and I got caught up in family drama, I found myself crying on the kitchen floor.  I felt like my world was caving in on me. I sat there crying and noticed the shopping bag on the floor, it contained a bar of chocolate which I had also purchased. 

I reached over for the chocolate, planning to eat my way through the grief, when I saw the kit.  Don’t get me wrong, I still ate the chocolate, but I also opened it up and started checking it out.  Unraveling all the thread, right there sitting on the kitchen floor.  As I made little mini balls of yarn up with the thread, I fussed until each ball was adorable and complete, I laughed at the mini balls ….  Then I told myself I would just start it off, one thing led to another, and 2 hours had passed, still sitting on the kitchen floor doing this embroidery kit. But, you know what else has passed? the overwhelming sadness.  I literally stitched my way through it. 

So what did I do next? I went to the dollar store and purchased some more DIY craft kits.  I now have a box of “therapy packs”  It contains a mindless craft kit and a chocolate bar.  This is now my first aid kit.  I grab a kit and just start, I don’t have to look for supplies or think about the design.  I have even purchased some small kid’s craft kits, for simple tasks. 

I hope this post inspires you to make a “Craft therapy” box up for yourself too.