Tying Up Loose Ends

As a not-so-proficient seamstress, my hand at sewing is limited. But that’s not to say I cannot do anything with fabric.

I have sewn simple kitchen and small window curtains, even tablecloth and cocktail napkins. My favorite utilitarian item I’ve sewn so far is a red-cherry-and-green-stem apron that I have worn so much, holes have made their way through the front of it, forming a veritable black hole full of potential that was lost on the fabric itself.

However, for Halloween this year, I have decided to do two things: sew up a simple orange-pumpkin-white-ghost black apron. My other project is to hand-tie a fleece blanket with themed material…the theme this year? Darkness. It has a cool gray background decorated with full moons and black bats flying about.

As I sit around in my hobbying hours tying up the loose ends of this blanket, I am reminded of how my life looks as frayed as the fabric I’m working with. So many strands, so many different perspectives to consider, so many different difficulties of life forcing me to give them my attention. Yet I’d rather just sit and do a quiet past-time, presumably putting aside the problems encroaching on me from all sides.

When I consider the plethora of issues staring me down as I type, I am overwhelmed and confused as to where to begin. In sewing, however, it’s pretty simple, most of the time. You just pick up your needle, weave it across, from left to right, or move the fabric under the machine toward or away from the needle, and it does the work for you. It’s usually straightforward.

There is something to be said for having side interests even when you have a lot on your plate, like I do. With each stitch, or each tie of the fleece strands, I bring myself to a mental place where I can say to myself, “one thing at a time.” Life is hard enough without me making it more challenging, and yes, many of us, including myself, are multi-taskers out of necessity. I mean, what single mom doesn’t do this on a daily basis?

But when I am able and take the time to address just one aspect of my project, just one part of my life at a time, the baby steps add up, and eventually, I’m up the stairs I thought I could not climb.

May we all be able to achieve new heights, express our potential, and “level up.” Who knows how high we can get.