Quilting As Part of Recovery

Quilting has always been a place of comfort for me, but I’ve learned that it can also be a place of healing. It’s looked a bit messy the past few months, and I would love to share some of the mess and some of the beauty that has come from it. The quilting industry is rooted in making, sharing, and showing up for one another, and in a season when I needed those things more than ever, quilting on my BERNINA 790 PRO became a steady thread I could hold onto.

Creativity You Can Use and Love

Quilting has always been a creative outlet for me, but last fall it became something entirely different. In mid-October, I experienced a stroke, and suddenly my days were filled with recovery. Speech therapy to relearn how to put thoughts together in conversation. Occupational therapy to slowly rebuild strength and mobility in my left hand. Progress came in small, sometimes frustrating increments, and nothing felt automatic anymore.

The one thing I could still do was sew.

It wasn’t quick, and it didn’t feel good right away. My hands didn’t move the way they used to, and my energy looked different than it had before. But sitting at my machine, guiding fabric under the needle, felt familiar and comforting. Quilting gave me a way to stay creative while my body and mind were healing. It reminded me that creativity can be steady and patient, and that making something useful and beautiful can be a quiet form of therapy when words and movement feel hard.

A Community That Truly Welcomes You In

Recovery can feel deeply isolating, but the quilting community has a remarkable way of showing up, often quietly and without being asked. During this season, quilting wasn’t just about what I could physically do; it was about being reminded that I was surrounded by people who cared deeply and understood the language of making.

One day, a box arrived in the mail. Inside was a quilt made by some of my dearest friends in the quilting community. Each person had designed and sewn two blocks and sent them on. Those blocks were brought together by an incredible longarmer, then passed to another friend for binding, and finally finished with a hand embroidered label made by yet another friend. It was a true collaboration, and one that left me absolutely speechless.

Moments like that are what make this industry so special. Quilters give freely of their time, their skills, and their hearts. Whether it’s answering a question, sharing encouragement, or creating something so deeply personal, the quilting community has a way of reminding you that you don’t have to carry hard seasons alone.

So Many Paths Forward

One of the most beautiful things about quilting is that it meets you where you are. Sometimes it’s fast and exciting, and sometimes it’s slow and deeply intentional. During my recovery, quilting was not about productivity or finished quilts. It was about showing up and trusting that small efforts still mattered.

That flexibility is what makes the quilting industry so special. Quilting can be a hobby, a career, or a steady companion through a difficult chapter. There is no single definition of success here. The industry needs makers who bring their full stories with them, including the pauses and the rebuilding. Quilting doesn’t require perfection. It simply asks that you begin, and then keep going at your own pace.

I really really hope that some (or all) of this resonates with you today. I was recently encouraged to share about my experience, and I felt a bit a loss of why that would be helpful. Putting this blog post together has made me feel a bit vulnerable, but I trust you to take that vulnerability and reflect on the spaces and times in your life that would benefit someone, simply by you sharing!

If quilting has taught me anything, it’s that creativity has a way of carrying us through every season. Whether you’re picking up a rotary cutter for the first time or returning to your sewing machine after a long pause, there is space for you here. Making something with your hands can be grounding and surprisingly powerful.

If you’re feeling inspired to create, I’d love for you to visit Mae Just Sew and explore my quilt patterns. Each one is designed with joy in mind, and I hope they offer you the same sense of comfort and creativity that quilting has given me. Wherever you are on your quilting journey, I’m so glad you’re here. -Mae