Ready, Set, Sew: Join our First Annual Sewcial Retreat

A weeklong (virtual) journey to reset, reconnect, and rediscover a calmer _____

Hello there,

Here we are one week away from our first weeklong Sewcial Experiment; a virtual sewcial retreat of sorts! No sweat, nothing to organize, I’ll set you up with everything you need (excl tools) to cultivate a daily space for yourself and start a journey to reset, reconnect, and rediscover a calmer _____ (fill in the blank).

Whether it’s mindset, pace of life, home, life balance, sense of self, perspective, that fits best in the blank space, know that the few minutes a day I’m proposing can help take things down a notch or elevate your day from the mundane to joyful. Sewing definitely makes things better. There is no log-in required so you can follow along at whatever time works best for you each day, but I do have an idea below for you and your friends.

If you’re not yet a paid subscriber, you can sign up here

I like to think of this practice as active meditation. The repetitive motion of the needle moving in and out of fabric creates a soothing, rhythmic flow grounding our attention in the present moment. It's like breathing—steady, deliberate, and calming. Remember that from the post Finding the savasana in stitch? Unlike traditional meditation, where the focus is on stillness, hand sewing invites us to engage our hands and mind simultaneously. We remain focused on each stitch, pattern, and/ or texture, all the while this tapestry of our marks is coming together almost without us realizing it.

Life can see so busy that we don’t think we can afford the time for this mindfulness but in the words of Jay Shetty

The most promising time to meditate [is] when the circumstances [are] the most challenging, the environment the most bumpy and noisy…Mindfulness isn’t training to be present in peaceful places. It’s about practicing presence in all kinds of situations, including those that are the most difficult. Distracting circumstances, even intense ones.

Sewing provides a natural pause (sos beag) from the hustle and bustle of daily life. It’s such a tactile activity; the process allows other concerns to slip away for the period of time we set aside. We’ll just focus from 3 to 30 minutes a day. You may prefer to focus on sewing a length of thread each day rather than the time - that’s my favorite approach. Whatever you can manage, that is the only ask. In this context as we stitch, we give ourselves permission to experiment, create, and focus on the process rather than the outcome. This is a sewcial experiment after all ;)

Holding the fabric, threading the needle, and completing each stitch fosters a physical connection to the present moment for us. In addition to this tactile or active meditation sewing encourages patience and self-compassion. Mistakes become part of the process, teaching us to slow down, embrace imperfection, and find joy in this sewcial journey. Let’s adopt the mantra “Every fault is a fashion” and allow ourselves to make peace with any mistakes, we’ll just keep going and be excited to see what is revealed at the end of the week.

I really want to emphasize this, this sewcial retreat isn’t about perfection or pressure—it’s an experiment, so think play, creativity and curiosity.

Each day, you’ll receive a guided email introducing a foundational embroidery stitch, from the running stitch to couching, culminating in a final experiment where you’ll combine everything you’ve learned into something that is uniquely yours.

Whether you’re a seasoned stitcher or have never threaded a needle before, this retreat is for you and your chance to embrace a more mindful practice, one stitch at a time! And with a community to cheer you on, share your progress, and inspire you, this will be a week to connect—not just with others but also with yourself.

Looking forward to sharing this with you! Why not make this retreat even more special by gathering your friends and sewing together? Whether it’s in person over a cup of tea or virtually from wherever you are, this is the perfect opportunity to share the joys of stitching, connect with purpose, and create something beautiful—together. Imagine the conversations, the laughter, and the collective creativity as you all take time to pause, reflect, and sew side by side in these demanding times.

Begin to gather your bits and pieces and I’ll see you next week!

Le grá,

Catherine x-x-x-x-x-x-x