Give Yourself a Hacci Sweater Hug: Sewing for Mental Health Holiday Style

December 01, 2022

Hi RCF friends! I'm really excited to share my latest project featuring houndstooth hacci sweater knit with you. I'm also sharing a few tips on how I incorporate sewing into my mental health self-care routine - especially during the holidays. 

For me, sewing for the holidays can be both fun and rewarding - and it can be stressful and sad. I lost an older brother several years back during the holidays. So while the holidays are largely a time of much happiness, I struggle every now and then with my mental health. Normally when I think of holiday sewing, family pajamas or fancy red twirly dresses come to mind.  

But holiday sewing can take on so many different forms. I recently paired one of my favorite patterns with a favorite fabric base to create a dress I can wear throughout the holidays and beyond.   

Sewing has become such an important part of my life. It has given me the opportunity to continuously learn and grow; to connect with others who enjoy sewing just as much as I do; and to learn a lot about myself along the way. Here are a few of my strategies for sewing during the holidays. 

1. I put myself on the "Nice" list. How many times in the past have I made a list of holiday projects for family and friends and neglected to think of myself?! I used to think of it as "selfish sewing" but I've since realized that taking care of myself - both mentally and physically - is anything but selfish. When I sew for myself, I'm not only creating pieces that make me feel and look good, I'm modeling positive, healthy behavior for my daughters. I still sew projects for other people frequently. I just make sure to weave in some me-projects. 

2. Rely on a favorite pattern like an old, trusted friend. If I start to get stressed out trying to decide what to sew, I think about using one of my current favorite patterns that I could sew in my sleep. I had a lot of patterns to choose from for my blog post - too many choices in fact. Rather than let decision paralysis sink in, I chose one of my current go-to patterns to feature: the Arlington from Love Notions. I've ALWAYS loved turtlenecks - my high school senior pictures would back me up on that statement. And I've loved Arlington since the day of its release. I have now sewn each style of Arlington - with the dress being the most recent project. 

3. Clothes sewn with super soft fabric feel SO good and almost instantly put me in a happy mood. I've used RCF hacci sweater fabric in the past for tops but this is my first dress using the "feels like a cross between your favorite blanket and pajamas" fabric. It's like giving yourself a hug. The hacci sweater fabric has a nice drape to it and it's heavy enough to keep me warm but not too thick to be hot. I felt a little bit like I was wearing pajamas. I originally put this dress on to take photos and ended up wearing it the entire day while I worked at my corporate job from home. A lot of my coworkers are aware that I sew and a few complimented me and asked if I made the dress. While I don't go seeking out these compliments, it does feel nice to receive them. 

The holidays can be a difficult time for those struggling. Be kind to yourself and to each other. And buy all of the soft fabrics :)

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