It’s Time to Sew: Patchwork Projects for the Holidays

Today we have a guest contribution post from Sally.

Sewing is an activity that many homemakers find relaxing, healthy and even spiritual in nature. Whether you’re repairing a minor problem with some clothes or you’re focusing fully on a patchwork project to display on the walls of your home, the absorbing nature of the task can be a meditative experience.

It's written in the Letter to the Hebrews that we should "make every effort to live in peace with everyone", and that starts in the home. Not only is the task of sewing a natural way to wind down, framing your creation and placing it on the wall can help give your home a holy, peaceful ambience. There are plenty of ways that your sewing can be customised to fit the religious holiday seasons,

too. In this post, we’ll share some of our favourite ideas.

Lent and Easter

Peace and relaxation is important for any home. In the book of Samuel, David tells his men to meet others with the greeting "peace be to you, and peace be to your house".

For instance, relaxing and calming indoor fountains are a great feature to add to ensure a calm atmosphere, which is essential at any time of the year, but even more important during the holidays when spirituality is key. Easter time is the most important part of the year for many Christian families, and it’s common for homemakers to create Easter baskets and other special displays to create a spiritual atmosphere. But have you considered sewing some special patchworks to display around your home at Easter?

Depicting scenes from those books of the Bible which tell the many stories of Easter, such as the Gospel of Mark, is one option. And if you would like to have a mixture of religious and nature-based works, why not consider designing a quilt or patchwork which celebrates new life? Sites like Etsy are excellent resources for finding designs, and you’ll be spoiled for choice.

Christmas

In honor of the story of the Three Wise Men who brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus Christ when he was born in Bethlehem, Christians have continued the tradition of exchanging gifts at Christmas time.

Patchworks are the ideal gift for many people, as each one is truly unique. And while some family members may not be looking to display designs on their walls at home, there’s no reason why you can’t customise your sewing. If you’re making gifts for children or grandchildren, why not design a beautiful and modern patchwork quilt that they can add to their bed linen box?

If you’re part of a circle of homemakers, why not consider a patchwork exchange for Christmas? Under this system each person makes just one item, and then each person receives another one in return. That way, you can focus fully on just one gift while ensuring that each person receives a thoughtful present they will treasure for a long time to come.

As is written in the book of Luke, "whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!'" No matter what time of year it is or what holiday you're celebrating, it is important to live out this principle by creating a calm atmosphere for you, your family and your guests. No matter what you plan to sew, patchwork is the perfect way to achieve this aim.

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