I’m really proud of the newest series on the Sewcialists, which will continue to run periodically between theme months. It’s titled “Who We Are”, and it’s an exploration of identity, intersectionality, and sewing. Basically, it’s what happens when my teacher brain melds with my love of sewing and my enduring nosiness into other people’s lives!
The premise of the series is asking people how identity affects sewing, from age, ethnicity, gender, orientation, health, language, sewing experience, body type, or any one of a million other possibilities. The first post introduces the idea with some reflective questions, and the second post is more about me and why I think this conversation is worth having! It’s really worth reading the comments – they are excellent!
I’ve already learned a lot about people that I don’t think I would have learned otherwise… and I’m really looking forward to reading about different perspectives and experiences as the series continues! Please go check it out!
Crafting A Rainbow 
I am legally blind and this definitely effects my sewing. My limited vision is in only my left eye. The lens in my right eye was removed. I was born with cataracts and developed secondary cataracts later on. My childhood was full of eye doctor appointments, surgeries, and uncomfortable glasses. Today, I choose to only wear reading glasses when I need them and navigate my world through what limited vision I have. When I see, I use a lot of touch. I feel my stitches compared to the edge to check seam allowances and top sticking. As a result, my stitch lines have never been perfect, so I’ve started using invisible thread and love how my projects turn out now. I used to toss out nearly 60% because of how visible the lines seemed and I knew the fully sighted could tell much more than I could. It takes me longer than usual to complete a project. I even took some fashion design courses at a local college and warned my certificate.
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I am diagnosed with aspergers and have anxiety and depression. I also suffer from cult related PTSD. Yea, I know. That’s quite a whopper to live with. You see, I’m the result of incestuous rape. My mother chose to keep me and sometimes, I honestly wish she hadn’t. But, I digress. I’ve always had trouble socially. I was that awkward kid in school who wanted friends, but no one wanted to be my friend. I’d walk out the lunch line lost not knowing where to sit. I’m still the awkward person who wants friends, but no one seems to want anything to do with me and I fail so much when it comes to trying to interact with people. I hurt so much, that the slightest upset makes me want to run away. I joined a religious group out of acceptance. I felt I finally found a group that wanted me around. Until, they told me my mental health issues were due to demons and I was possessed and these demons were using me to get into their group. I was shunned and tried suicide.I am the one with no social media account because every time I try, I end up feeling depressed. I’m the one who is afraid to go places because I feel unwanted there. I shut myself up alone in my home with my animals and my husband as my only friends. And, this is when I find solace at my sewing machine. It’s the only place where all these problems and worries and anxieties go away. It’s my refuge, my escape. It’s my happiness!
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This is so fab. One of my favourite pastimes is people watching. I don’t know if this is a tendency in people who sew or if it is the scientist in my evaluating behaviours and ‘social camouflage”. I don’t think that there are really too many people whose outer projection matches their inner self (or is that my wishful thinking) due to social and cultural constraints. I am really looking forward to this series. Xx
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