Stitching a Healthy Mind:The Benefits of Quilting

Samantha Olewnik

RLS-23800: Leisure and Aging

Professor Legg

December 15, 2014

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The art of crafting with textiles has been practiced for eons by many different cultures,

for both functional and decorative purposes (Shaw, 1995, as cited in Davis, 2012). Textiles are

defined (in a very general sense) as any sort of fiber-related material that is made from plants,

animals, or synthetics (Collier, 2011). The fibers garnered from these sources are “felted or spun

into yarn, dyed, knit, crocheted, or woven. Fiber making has long been a necessity for clothing,

protecting, providing warmth, and holding or carrying objects for previous civilizations, as well

as today (Barber 1994, as cited in Collier, 2011). Quilting involves the stitching of two layers of

textile fabric together with a layer of insulation in-between, also known as filler (King, 2001).

The technique of quilting fabric was originally applied to the creation of clothing, such as its use

for padding by the Saracens during the Crusades to prevent chafing caused from their heavy

armor, or its use by the Egyptians as a means of warmth (Collier, 2011). Today quilting

sometimes conjures up images of scrappy patchwork bedcovers, but it has experienced a

popularity revival in recent decades. This is partly due to the convergence of the counter-culture

and feminist movements of the 1960’s and 1970’s, in which hippies took up “handcrafts” as a

means of rejecting mass production and consumerism, while feminists sought an outlet through

which to garner recognition for the contributions that women’s domestic work has made to

society (Hanshew, 2009, as cited in Davis, 2002). Quilts are now viewed as “material culture;”

they are able to shed light on the time and culture in which they were created, as well as the lives

of the individuals who crafted them.

It has been found that women quilt for many reasons, but some of the most common are

to enjoy an activity that they feel is meaningful and leisurely, to reduce stress, and to express

themselves (King, 2001). Today’s average quilter is sixty-four years old, female, and spends

nine hours per week on her craft. (Loeffelholz, 2014). This holds true regardless of skill level

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(those who consider themselves to be beginners, intermediate quilters, or professionals.) The

average quilter also spends an average of $3,296 every year on this activity, owns 3.1 sewing

machines, has a stash of 189 spools of thread, subscribes to or reads 3.7 quilting magazines, has

an entire room dedicated to sewing/quilting activities, and dedicates three hours every week to

browsing, visiting, or interacting with quilting-related websites on the Internet, often on a tablet

or eBook reader. Lastly, the average quilter’s number one reason for quilting is simply for the

beauty of it (Collier, 2011).

There have been a few studies done on how quilting can affect one’s well-being (Cheek

and Piercy, 2008, Collier, 2011, Collier and Karolyi, 2014, and King, 2001). It has been reported

that the social aspect of quilting proves to be very valued by quilters from all walks of life

(Collier, 2011 and King, 2001). Crafting with textiles allows an individual to enter into an

encouraging and inspirational community, a luxury that can be hard to find in today’s urbanized

world. Quilting magazines, shops, clubs, and websites all provide opportunities for women to

connect and share ideas, leading to a greater sense of social acceptance and overall well-being.

It has also been found that quilting allows women to express themselves within and

beyond their cultural and family networks; their “identities [are] grounded in [this creative

outlet]” (Cheek and Piercy, 2008). Quilters can express themselves while simultaneously

indulging in beneficial “me time” that can alleviate stress. Quilting has also been articulated as a

deeply personal and psychological experience by those who practice regularly (Collier, 2011).

Quilters talk of the “serenity and peace” that they experience while quilting, revealing that they

hate to miss even one day of the craft: “Hand piecing is just another way to stay in touch with the

inner self because your hands are occupied while you are not, and you can think…there is

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something that pulls your life all together when you are piecing…you will have your life back

together [when you finish]” (Cheek and Piercy, 2008).

Further, quilting has been found to improve one’s mood beyond one’s participation in the

craft, as well as support the maintenance of this improved mood (Collier and Karolyi, 2014).

While some hobbies and/or leisure activities have been shown to only affect the crafter’s mood

during the activity, quilting goes beyond the time spent working with textiles to improve one’s

overall outlook and mindset long after the crafter steps away from their work. Out of eighteen

different handcrafts studied for their influence on mood (including knitting or crocheting, rug

making, beading, and basketry,) quilting was found to induce the third highest level of

“rejuvenation,” or lingering improved mood, when compared to other handcrafts. This indicates

that it is a highly beneficial handcraft option, both for the crafter’s present and future mental

health. Quilting was even shown to allow women to better cope with feelings of grief and

depression despite physical impairments, such as chronic fatigue, resulting in the management

(or resolution in some cases) of their illnesses, while simultaneously experiencing feelings of

joy, social connectivity, and confidence (Collier, 2011). These findings point to quilting as not

only a source of leisure that can improve mental health, but an aid in the maintenance of physical

health as well, no matter what emotions or experiences the quilter is sorting through as they

work.

Quilting has also been shown to provide an outlet for the resolution of Erikson’s later

stages of adult development, including “generativity vs. stagnation” and “integrity vs. despair”

(Cheek and Piercy, 2008). These “stages of life” involve the looking back upon one’s past to

determine whether or not one feels they have lived their life to the fullest, as well as if they have

or have not sufficiently passed on some of their knowledge to younger generations (McGuire et

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al., 2009). It has been found that quilting enables women to feel that they can continue to care

for others well into their older years because the finished crafts that they gift to others can be

tangibly used and appreciated (Cheek and Piercy, 2008). Quilting also fills the “need to be

productive,” and relates to generative acts like leaving a legacy. Quilters who have taught

younger generations their craft feel that they are passing on important traditions and leaving a

memory of themselves to others, improving overall mental well-being. They know that they are

making a difference in a younger person’s life because they are instructing them in a useful craft

that they can use to benefit themselves and others in the future. Quilters also express the feeling

that their craft allows them to show that they truly care about those around them as they gift

away their creations. These gifts in turn serve as a means of keeping the past and the memories

of themselves (the crafters) alive, even after the crafter is no longer alive herself, supporting the

resolution of Erikson’s final stages.

In terms of constraints to an older adult’s pursuit of quilting as a leisure activity, there are

a few barriers that may interfere with its enjoyment. Financial barriers can play a role in the

pursuit of quilting, as an almost constant supply of fabric, thread, and sewing supplies are all

required as evidenced by the 2014 Quilting in America Summary (Loeffelholz, 2014). If an

older adult has a limited budget or is living off of their monthly Social Security check (or living

in poverty, as fifteen percent of adults aged 65 years or older are,) they are not going to be able

to maintain their necessities (like food) while also simultaneously keeping up with the average

quilter’s shopping habits, meaning that they will not be able to engage in quilting at a level

similar to their peers’ (McGuire et al., 2009).

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Furthermore, various physical limitations may also affect a quilter’s ability to engage

with their textiles. Although it has been shown that the art of quilting can help people work

through mental health struggles and even absolve physical impairments like chronic fatigue

(Collier, 2011,) quilters still need to be able to see and hold the fabric that they are working with.

The development of abnormal visual impairments such as macular degeneration or glaucoma can

interfere with a quilter’s ability to see their fabric, hindering their process of cutting and stitching

it, as well as interfering with their ability to choose which fabrics they would like to work with or

purchase. Visual impairments of this kind can even lead to the loss of a driving license, meaning

that unless an elder has a social circle on which to rely for transportation, they might have to give

up going to the store to pick out fabric in general or stop visiting the quilt shop with sewing

machines on which they do their work.

Problems with one’s hands can also directly affect one’s ability to quilt. Although hand

stitching is not as necessary in today’s quilting world with the aid of sewing machines, a quilter

must still possess enough dexterity in their hands to measure, cut, pin, and guide their fabric if

they hope to make a successful quilt. Ailments such as arthritis or general joint pain can inhibit

these tasks, making quilting a painful and/or frustrating leisure pursuit.

Lastly, an older adult’s long-term care placement can directly affect their ability to quilt

through the placement’s ability to provide access to quilting materials and supplies. An elder

who is confined to a long-term care placement facility, such as a nursing home, without a vehicle

of their own (or the ability to drive) will be at the mercy of the home’s resources. If the nursing

home does not have a crafting area with a sewing machine, or simply does not stock sewing

materials like fabric and thread for residents to use, the elder will not be able to engage in the

pursuit of leisurely quilting. If a facility does not have a communal sewing machine or supplies,

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a resident’s main opportunity to sew would lie in their possession of a personal machine, and

depending on their financial situation or the size of their living quarters, this might not be

possible, severely limiting their opportunities to quilt.

Quilting is a leisurely pursuit that many different age groups enjoy and benefit from, but

the average quilter in America today is an older adult woman with an extensive range of quilting

resources and involvement (Loeffelholz, 2014). Quilting is a craft that promotes social

interaction as well as personal reflection and growth, all while simultaneously promoting mental

health and feelings of usefulness, productivity, improved mood, and reduced stress amongst

those who indulge in it (Cheek and Piercy, 2008, Collier, 2011, Collier and Karolyi, 2014, and

King, 2001). Although financial and physical constraints can prove to be detrimental to an

elder’s engagement in quilting, this handcraft has also been found to alleviate and reverse certain

physical illnesses like chronic fatigue (Collier, 2011). The art of working with textiles dates

back to ancient civilizations, yet quilting has remained a popular craft even in the 21-st century,

with a resurgence in interest being credited to the counter-culture and feminist movements of the

1960’s and 1970’s. The use of modern technology, such as computers and the internet, has also

proven useful in maintaining the vigor of the quilting industry, and may prove to be a beneficial

means of spreading the word about the craft to elders who are interested in handcrafts but have

not yet tried to quilt.

Quilting has been proven to be extensively socially and psychologically fulfilling for

those who enjoy it, as well as being intellectually stimulating and/or acting as a coping

mechanism for many women (Geda, 2009, as cited in Collier, 2011). Older women who quilt

have been found to possess better cognitive and emotional adjustment skills than women who

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don’t, and the practice of this handcraft in older adulthood can even protect against cognitive

impairment and memory loss in later life (Schofield-Tomschin and Littrell, 2001, as cited in

Collier, 2011). For many, quilting serves as a creative outlet in which they can express

themselves, benefit others, and pass on traditions and a legacy, proving that this handcraft is not

only rewarding for the people who pursue it, but also for other generations, including those yet to

be born.

Bibliography

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Cheek, C., & Piercy, K. (2008). Quilting as a Tool in Resolving Erikson’s Adult Stage of Human

Development.  Journal Of Adult Development, 15(1), 13-24. doi:10.1007/s10804-007-9022-7

Collier, A. F. (2011). The Well-Being of Women Who Create With Textiles: Implications for Art

Therapy. Art Therapy: Journal Of The American Art Therapy Association, 28(3), 104-112.

doi:10.1080/07421656.2011.597025

Collier, A. F., & von Károlyi, C. (2014). Rejuvenation in the “making”: Lingering mood repair

in textile handcrafters. Psychology Of Aesthetics, Creativity, And The Arts, 8(4), 475-485.

doi:10.1037/a0037080

Davis, N. (2012). Material culture and the rise of quilt indexing. Indexer, 30(2), 80-84.

King, F. (2001). Social dynamics of quilting. World Leisure Journal, 43(2), 26-29.

Loeffelholz, K. Quilting in America Summary 2014. Retrieved from

http://www.quilts.com/announcements/y2014/QIA_summary.pdf

McGuire, M., Boyd, R., & Tedrick, R. (2009). Leisure and Aging: Ulyssean Living in Later Life

(4th ed.). Champaign, IL: Sagamore Publishing.