If you’ve ever sat down to work on your embroidery you will know about the benefits the practice brings. Within minutes of working on a project your mind grows quiet and the repetitive action fulfils your body’s need to be occupied. Research conducted byUniversity College London in 2020 confirmed that artistic activities can ‘lower inflammation and stress hormones such as cortisol’ while also helping reduce the risk of dementia. Other studies have been more specific, pointing to a direct link between textile crafts and improvements in mental well-being.
Practices such as crocheting, knitting and embroidery, have high participation rates in the UK, more so than other practices such as music or painting. Perhaps the comforting tactile nature of the materials helps contribute to the calm that can soothe us. Unlike music or painting, most textile practices rely on muscle memory and large swathes of work can be completed by the hand while the brain switches off.
Embroidery and other hand crafts are truly democratic and the kind of therapy that just about everyone can participate in.
With all this in mind, it quickly becomes clear why there has been a resurgence in the uptake of textile crafts during the ongoing pandemic. These are anxious times and we all crave a little bit of inner peace.
Here is our list of the key benefits brought about by embroidery.
1. Alleviate Stress. The act of embroidery can release of neurotransmitters that promote joy and well-being, while alsoreducing stress hormones.
2. Reduce Anxiety. Taking time to looking at and appreciate a pleasing piece of embroidery, or any visual art, can help manage and reduce anxiety.
3. Lower blood pressure and a decrease heart rate.A study conducted by the Home Sewing Association found that people doing cross-stitch enjoyed these exact physiological changes.
4. Keep your brain healthy. Spatial and gestural practices such as embroidery are important for the development, maintenance and repair of the brain.
5. Help the brain recover from injury. Stroke victims can re-establish neural pathways and improve brain plasticity.
6. Keep your eyes sharp. Practiced in good light and for the appropriate length of time, embroidery can help maintain and strengthen eyesight.
7. Be mindful. Embroidery can help us engage inmindfulness, keeping us in the present moment, silencing the parts of the brain implicated in generating negative emotions.
8. Build confidence. Completed embroidery projects can generate feelings of accomplishment, helping build self confidence.
9. Brighten up your home. A completed embroidery project can be used to decorate the home creating a more pleasing environment.
10. Express yourself. While some people sing and others dance. Embroiderers can express themselves through embroidery
11. Art therapy. Explore yourself through the artistic practice and safely explore the emotions, memories and ideas your work provokes.
12. Save the planet and look cool. If you’re embroidering on an item of clothing, it can be a great way to extend the life of the item and give it a new lease of life.
This list is by no means exhaustive and each person will likely have their own stories to tell of how embroidery helped them both mentally and physically. At Hand & Lock we hear all the time how people have reaped the mental and physical rewards that embroidery can bring. People have embroideredthemselves out of depression and they have used embroidered to rehabilitate themselves from physical injuries.
Some use embroidery to express personal and political truths, helping educate others. An hour of embroidery won’t save the world but it might help save you.
If you haven’t discovered the benefits of embroidery already, why not make 2021 the year you discover inner peace through embroidery.
Hand & Lock have a selection of embroidery kits for a variety of techniques along with an increasing number of hand YouTube tutorials to get you started.
FAQs
You can become mindful when you're engaged in the practice of embroidery. Guiding your needle and thread through fabric has you concentrating. As you naturally focus on the rhythm of your stitches, the colors you're using, the motifs you're rendering, you become mindful of just this task. You quiet intrusive thoughts.
How does embroidery help mental health? ›
You can become mindful when you're engaged in the practice of embroidery. Guiding your needle and thread through fabric has you concentrating. As you naturally focus on the rhythm of your stitches, the colors you're using, the motifs you're rendering, you become mindful of just this task. You quiet intrusive thoughts.
What are the benefits of embroidery to our health? ›
Embroidering Reduces Feelings of Stress and Tension
Embroidery is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety as it is not only relaxing and therapeutic due to the repetition and rhythms, but it can actively reduce our cortisol levels. Cortisol is a hormone in our bodies responsible for the stress signal.
Why is embroidery so calming? ›
They believed that a feeling of calmness can be achieved through the repetitive movements involved in embroidery, the tactile quality of the embroidery on the fabric, and the sound of the needle piercing the fabric, as well as the need to concentrate. “It's very relaxing.
How is embroidery helpful? ›
It is therapeutic — keeps your fine motor skills sharp and your mind focused. Hand embroidery helps many of us to focus—keeping worries and the chaotic thoughts of our daily life away. It is meditative and has been used as a therapeutic method to improve mental and emotional health.
Is embroidery good for your brain? ›
The advantages of embroidery at a glance:
It stimulates hand-eye coordination and at the same time works to improve your concentration. Brains can be trained just like muscles and embroidery is a very nice exercise for your brain, just like push ups would be for your muscles, for example!
What does embroidery teach you? ›
Hand embroidery requires a lot of patience and helps you build it too. Self-confidence. Completed embroidery projects can generate feelings of accomplishment and build self-confidence. Attention to detail and concentration.
Why do people love embroidery? ›
Some people enjoy knitting, embroidery, etc because they find it soothing. It's a repetitive motion akin to movement meditation. They enjoy having something to show when they're done. As for why some people enjoy hobbies that other people don't, because people are simply different.
Is embroidery a skill? ›
Learning embroidery will give you a practical skill that allows you to create a wide variety of projects and has money-making potential. Many people find embroidery to be an effective form of meditation and stress reliever.
Is embroidery a meditation? ›
In fact, hand embroidery is an ancient mindfulness practise, performed by men and women throughout history. Yet, in the modern trends of meditation, mindfulness, self care, yoga and more, embroidery tends to be forgotten.
Cost: Screen printing is generally more cost-effective than embroidery. The difference in price between the two increases as the size of the design increases.
Is embroidery a cheap hobby? ›
Cost and Supplies: Embroidery can involve expenses related to embroidery hoops, needles, threads, fabric, and patterns. While it can be an affordable hobby, costs can accumulate depending on the complexity of projects and materials used.
Why is embroidery beautiful? ›
Embroidery is like a beautiful tapestry of life; each stitch is like a drop of paint on a canvas, coming together to form something unique and special. Embroidery is an art form that has been around for centuries, with its roots stretching back to the ancient cultures of Egypt, Persia, China, and India.
Why is making art good for mental health? ›
Studies have shown that expression through art can help people with depression, anxiety, and stress. Art has also been linked to improved memory, reasoning, and resilience in aging adults. We're diving into the powerful impact art can have on your life.
What are the emotional benefits of sewing? ›
It improves mental health and well-being through cultivating mindfulness, reducing stress, and boosting self-esteem. Sewing fosters creativity, creates social connections, and allows us to find solace, purpose, and joy.
