Solace through stitching ...

The 'Stitching Out Stigma' project has brought so much into my little life!!

Firstly, the opportunity to connect with others who also live with mental health conditions, such a valued point of contact for myself, as I live with silence, struggling to 'mask' in my daily life. I have so valued the supportive atmosphere of this group!

Secondly, the opportunity to celebrate the joy of creativity through cross-stitch and use this proactively to fight against the stigma that silences me through this inspired project ...

And finally, the opportunity to make a new friend, who is now so very dear to me!


I jumped at the chance to participate in stitching the 'Stitching Out Stigma' (SOS) squares together, as I needed to feel part of the supportive community that is SOS ... to combat the loneliness I often feel as I battle daily in secret ... alone with my mental health struggles, even when with other people. It made me feel that I had some value ... that I could contribute some worth ... when so often I feel worthless ...

On first sight, the amassed squares awed me into silence ... each one so beautiful and individual, unique in their meanings/messages. The impact become even more evident as I helped to lay them out ... with their words and motifs jumping out at me, forcing me to pause and admire them ... just so amazed by the creativity, honesty, pain and hope conveyed through simple stitches ...

It was immensely moving.

I was honoured to be able to offer to stitch one of the two wall-hangings ... to be a temporary guardian of so many people's thoughts, effort and talent, encased within their beautiful square/s. The feeling of responsibilty initially stalled me, as I wished to do justice to this inspiring project, but mirroring many aspects of my life with my mental illness, I so wanted to overcome my fears.

And therefore I began ... 

Tentively to begin, arranging  the squares in the agreed pattern ... then 'tweaking' to fit into rows ... creating balance through considering the visual impact ... from bold designs, striking in their simplicity, to intricate, detailed wording and motifs.

I began pinning into place, admiring the SOS group choice of lilac banding, defining the individual squares. Braving the 'permanancy' of the sewing machine, with shaking hands, I sewed the first row, and then stood back, loving the impact of the uniqueness, combination and contrast of the squares.

As I added more and more rows, this impact magnified ... a simply glorious fusion of colour, pattern, wording and motifs ... the adaptibilty of a simple cross-stitch!

The next stage, adding the verticals was the challenge! The spacing between the squares needed to be consistent, to maintain not solely the 'grid effect', but also to prevent any covering of the detailed edges of the squares, which in some squares, was obviously carefully chosen to enhance the square's meaning ...

With the liberal application of pins (to both my fingers and the wall-hanging!), I commenced adding the verticals of lilac banding, and watched with amazement as the pure beauty of the wall-hanging emerged beneath my hands ...

As I stitched, the incredible detail of the squares sprung out at me ... the more I looked, the more I saw. The striking simplicity of some, illustrating the pure beauty of cross-stitch ... to the added embelishments and stitched motifs ... beautiful ... and so very moving.

The positive occupation of stitching was a true blessing for me, a huge distraction in a period of difficult days, fighting as I view it, the "wolf at my shoulder", the overwhelming, controlling nature of my mental health condition. As I stitched, I sought solace within the messages of resilence, courage amid adversity, and also hope for a brighter future, relayed through the simple medium of cross-stitches within these squares, conveying the sheer strength and bravery of the individuals who contibuted them, many also battling mental health difficulties themselves. The words in front of my eyes were theapeutic for me, and I hope, will be so for many others in their final setting, gracing the walls of the new mental health hospital.

As the wall-hanging grew in size and impact, so did the challenge of stitching it ... at times, feeling overwhelming ...

I remembered the instruction of the inspiring creator of this project, Natalie McCulloch, "No stress acceptable in SOS land!", and so sought encouragment by posting progress photos on the SOS Facebook page. The immensely supportive comments of the SOS group members helped encourage me to perserve ... and gain satisfaction from overcoming stitching difficulties as I encountered them ... triggering reflection of the parallels to trying to live life with mental health difficulties ...

And so I perserved ... gaining motivation from the emergence of an incredible tapestry of squares ... truly beautiful!

Finally, the last square was pinned and stitched into place, and I stood back, awed by the sheer impact of the wall-hanging ... it took my breath away with its beauty, complexity, colour and vitality. The searingly honest representations of the pain and suffering when living with a mental health condition and experiencing/fearing stigma, yet interspered with heartful messages of encouragement and hope.

... the power of therapy through threads ... Stitching Out Stigma ...

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