How Sewing Changed My Life
Written by Holly Chamberlain
In this blog I speak about eating disorders and mental health, I don’t mention specific numbers or details and it is intended to be a helpful resource for people who are facing similar struggles. However if you feel that this may be triggering for you, please feel free to click off now. If you need to talk to someone, here is a list of resources that you might find helpful: Beat eating disorders , Mind
Take care of yourself and I hope to see you soon <3
I have always been a creative person, known for having lots of hobbies. I loved to draw and colour when I was younger, and I took up dancing and performing, just to name a few. I always strived for perfection, never giving up until something was exactly right. I didn’t know that something I perceived as my greatest strength would simultaneously become my greatest weakness.
Dancing gave me so much joy, until I discovered calories. My strive for perfection had spiralled out of control. I became obsessed with how I looked, my life became small and the things that once made me happy were overshadowed. Being 14 I didn’t understand the damage that I was doing to my body. I spent years destroying myself from under fuelling until finally, when I was 17, I received help. Everything I loved was taken away from me, family, friends and dancing. Without these I felt completely lost and alone, and to say that my days were bleak would be an understatement.
My sister was studying fashion design at the time and had been taught to sew when she was younger by our grandma. One day I decided I wanted to learn to sew too. I already knew the basics, so it wasn’t too difficult to pick up. I pulled out her sewing machine and within a week, I had made my own pink, stripy pyjama pants. I carried on making, learning from Youtube and Tiktok videos and started posting my designs on Instagram. Over time, I figured out how to design and make my own patterns and ended up selling my handmade clothes to people all over the world. I slowly began figuring out who I was outside of my eating disorder and suddenly recovery became a lot easier.
Sewing had saved my life.
Before discovering my love for sewing, I had no reason to get better. Finding a passion that gave my life meaning again gave me an incentive to keep fighting to move forward.
Hobbies like sewing and knitting are incredible for your mental wellbeing. There are so many studies that prove the benefits crafting can have on improving symptoms of stress and anxiety. It gives your brain something to focus on away from screens and social media, lowering your cortisol, creating a meditative effect through repetitive motion and improving confidence when you accomplish something new. I love the temporary break from reality that it gives me. If it wasn’t for sewing, I would not be where I am today.
Recovery isn’t linear and I know that one hobby won’t fix everything, however I have also experienced first hand how having something that gives you a temporary break from your current struggles can be huge in helping you find happiness again.
If you or someone you know are struggling, please don’t hesitate to reach out for help. You are not alone and things will get better!
