How Sewing Pulled Me Through Some Hard Times

I’ve had very rough periods in my life when I’d stay up late because I couldn’t sleep. And I used sewing to get through some trying times.

At first, I stayed up because creativity would strike me, and I wanted to finish projects. Then it morphed into more than that, saving me from the anxiety that hung over me like a nightmare.

I’ll share my experience and why I was burning the midnight oil for my mental health. You might also be able to relate to my story.

Sewing to Cope

Okay, I’ll start by mentioning that sewing has always been a part of my life. I started it when I was young, and it was just a fun thing to do. 

It wasn’t until I got older and saw the real benefits, like making my own clothes that fit, and being creative. 

A Love for Creating

I’ll fast forward to after graduating from college and my mom giving me her sewing machine. I’d stay up past midnight because I loved working on projects. 

Between sewing, reading, and traveling, my days were so peaceful. And I only had a couple sewing patterns at this time, but I would get creative and mix and match them.

Then I moved to another state and rented a room from a lady who owned a gigantic home. My room had a big space with plenty of natural light, and I set up my sewing machine.

I bought fabric and thrifted clothes, and went to work. I’d make my tops and skirts cuter by adding details. I also discovered Joann’s pattern sales, where I bought patterns for only $0.99!

Besides sewing and hanging out with friends, I was having such a great time in my life. I had money saved up, but I decided it wasn’t going to last.

Then I Got a Job

I found a job, and at first, I was excited about it. But after jumping into the frying pan with no mentoring or assistance, I got really stressed. 

My happiness turned into sleepless nights filled with anxiety. But I kept sewing, and on the weekends, I’d stay up until midnight as the hum of the machine soothed me. 

But I wasn’t happy about work. People around me told me that everyone struggles in the early stages.

I saw many colleagues quitting in the middle of the week. But I held on, gave it time, and kept sewing. 

I also discovered some sewing podcasts and looked forward to listening to new episodes. One in particular talked about sewing into the early morning, and I felt like she was in the room with me, also creating.

And It Got Bad

Well, I gave the job time, and I looked forward to the weekends when I could sweatshop. That’s the term I learned about sewing very long hours.

Despite meditating, exercising, and having hobby time, the stress got to me. I was working under some new bosses, and they were downright toxic.

And I was also in grad school getting my master’s degree. So, I was very busy studying too.

I pushed weekday sewing to the side, but on the weekends, I was still on the machine, listening to my podcasts. Then one day, I couldn’t take it.

The job eventually became too much, and I quit. But luckily, I met a friend in one of my grad school classes who encouraged me to visit him at work.

I did, and his boss offered me a job! I was leery at first, but my friend convinced me that this boss was really cool.

It Got Even Worse

Well, I thought about the new job, and I needed money. So, I accepted it, but it took 6 months for them to hire me.

During that time, I was looking for part-time work or anything else. I was scared I’d run out of money.

But I did everything I could to save. I continued going to classes and was careful about my spending.

I couldn’t sleep well because the anxiety of not having an income kept me up. However, the stress of that last job was worse.

I worried that my new job would fall through. I contemplated whether I should stay in the field at all.

This was when I’d stay up sewing until 3 a.m. It’s not that I kept a timer to tell me when to stop, but this was when I’d usually get so tired that I could fall asleep. But after sewing for hours, I’d forget about all the uncertainty in my life. 

Suddenly, It Got Better

But I waited and sewed late into the morning for 6 months straight. I’m telling you, I made so many things!

Then one day, I received a call to come in and process my hiring papers! By this time, I was ready to work. Being on the sewing machine had cleared my mind enough.

And the first day I started my new job, I absolutely loved it. The vibe was laid back, and my co-workers were cool.

My boss was understanding, and everyone liked him. He was a retired professional basketball player and was all about encouraging people to chase their dreams.

I went back to going to bed early and only sewing when I didn’t have classes. And I also continued to sew on the weekends when I had time.

It Got Bad Again

But in a short time, our amazing boss decided to retire, and this was sad. A ruthless tyrant replaced him, and she was on a mission to make our lives just as unhappy as hers.

She yelled at us and micromanaged the dumbest things. Like when I used a pink highlighter on my notes, she went off on me. 

Why? Because she didn’t like pink. Use yellow, she said. She was all about showing you who was boss.

Although I liked my co-workers and the job itself, she was a real thorn in my side. And she made the workplace a heavy, dark place. 

We spent our time at work avoiding her, as a moving target is harder to hit, right? And I started taking sick days, or mental health days, just to sew.

Sewing as Therapy

The ironic part about this job was that I worked with many mental health specialists: therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists.

When they found out that I sewed, they told me it was such a great way to combat stress and anxiety. They invited artists, writers, and dancers to come in and work with the clients for this same reason.

We talked about how sewing and creating helped with mindfulness. And they didn’t like the run-ins with our boss either.

I told them how sewing put me in a meditative state, or a flow. While creating, I was in another world and would forget about my stressful work situation.

Plus, I had all these handmade outfits I’d wear to work, which gave me something to look forward to. Look good, feel good.

A Surprising Connection

Would you believe that one day my boss approached me and caught me off guard? I thought she definitely had something negative to say.

But she said, “Oh, I heard you sewed. Did you make that outfit?”

“Yes,” I said. “With a sewing pattern.”

“Really?” Then she cracked a smile that I’d never seen before, “I used to sew when I was younger. I really hated cutting those patterns.”

I mentioned that cutting wasn’t my most favorite part either. And then we got into a whole conversation about sewing. Seriously.

There was actually a nice, human side to her. And in the end, she told me to stick with it. 

I actually stayed at that job for 5 years. But I don’t think I would’ve lasted that long if I didn’t have sewing to keep me sane.

Final Thoughts

I’ve used sewing to cope with some of the most stressful times of my life. And it has worked to calm my mind while giving me something constructive to do.

I’m not saying it solves all my problems, but it has been great for my mental health. Though I don’t stay up late sewing anymore, I am for sure sticking with it.

More About Sewing

I have many other posts on my blog. You might want to check them out.

• I’ll tell you about the time I tried to teach sewing at a public school and what happened.

• Here’s how I taught kids about sewing when it wasn’t in the curriculum. 

• Want to read about my first sewing job and how it ended? 

I’d love to hear all about your sewing journey!

Originally published: October 9, 2025