There’s still an old treadle sewing machine at my grandmother’s house. It gradually became buried beneath boxes of books, toys, clothes, and a few musical instruments. All those stacked-up objects were very important once; they passed from one generation to the next. And beneath it all, that huge sewing table: sewing as a bond.
Among my childhood memories is my mother kneeling in the living room, with the furniture pushed aside to make room. She would lay the patterns on the fabric and cut. She sewed for herself, for me, and for my sister. Matching outfits for special occasions, Carnival costumes, our First Communion dress, and even her wedding dress.
She knitted sitting on the sofa, just like my grandmother. She counted under her breath and sometimes cursed when she dropped a stitch. Yes, sewing as a bond was always part of our home. But now everything is different.
The pace of life has changed, of course. But I often think that staying connected through creativity would be a beautiful way to share time. Time we deserve, time we need to set aside and give to one another.
On this blog, we’ve talked about many dimensions of sewing: sewing as therapy, as a way to relax, as a tool for unleashing creativity, as a tool for helping others, and so on. And now we want to add this new dimension of sewing as a bond between generations. Regardless of gender or age, just creativity and a shared way of expressing it.
Because of course, this isn’t about forcing anyone. If your kids (or not-so-little ones) don’t like it, it won’t do any good. But if that sewing gene has crossed the generational divide—as it has in the case of Pol, the middle child of the Lulu Ferris family—you’ll have found something beautiful. A special bond and a new way to get to know, recognize, and understand one another.
A way to spend quality time as a family, bringing grandparents and grandchildren together; bringing mothers together with their sons and daughters; developing children’s skills while preserving those of older family members.
These are the options we’re making available to you to accompany you with a little motivation:
- Online classes from Lulu Ferris: so you always have something new to sew, without leaving home. From beginner sewing classes and embroidery to all kinds of tutorials for making garments and accessories.
- Workshops for boys and girls in Mataró: if your little one shows creativity and a passion for the art of sewing, they’ll also love sharing it with children their own age. We have a couple of children’s workshops scheduled for March. You can see them here.
What do you think?
Do you think sewing could be the new bond that brings you together and gets you spending time together? Is it already?
We’d love to hear your stories and experiences! And I’m sure the blog’s other readers would, too. Have a wonderful week!