Is it just me or have you noticed positive changes in your overall health since you began quilting?
Things like improved skin tone and texture, your clothes fit better and you have a bounce in your step?
Where, when and how did these changes occur? Was it the fabric? The improved lighting in my new sewing room? All I know is that I had no idea quilting significantly improve my health and overall quality of life?
All I wanted to do was make pretty things! The notion quilting could also make me feel pretty was not on my list!
The Results Are In
Turns out, the effects of quilting, (in addition to other types of craft that requires concentration and allows for creativity) has been fairly thoroughly researched. Since the purpose of this post is not to bore you with statistics, cumbersome data sheets or white paper analyses I’ll just briefly show highlights of my own limited research below:
University of Glasgow (2012) – Journal of Public Health
A qualitative study of 29 women in a local quilting group found that participants consistently linked quilting to cognitive, emotional, and social benefits. They described feeling “flow” while working, being uplifted by color choices, and experiencing improved self-esteem from friendships formed in the group. “The rhythmic, repetitive nature of quilting was seen as calming, helping to reduce anxiety and ground the mind”.
Mayo Clinic Study of Aging
This research found that engaging in craft activities, including quilting, was associated with a 28% lower risk of mild cognitive impairment in later life. “While cognitive benefits are not stress-specific, sustained creative engagement like quilting can reduce rumination and anxiety, contributing to overall mental health”.
True, these are only two studies – many more are out there but the findings are all basically the same: the effects of quilting have a positive impact on a person’s mental and emotional well-being.
For those of you who would like to become a quilter but aren’t sure if this is right for, take a look at the list below. See if your life could benefit from any or all of these Five Health Benefits:
Stress Relief & Improved Mental Health – To be more specific, participating in repetitive, focused work task that also incorporates eye-hand coordination does have a calming effect. For me, it actually becomes a form of meditation. It allows me to create a state of mindfulness while lessening my awareness of the world around me. When your attention is focused on what your hands are doing, that leaves little room in your mind for worry and anxiety.
There is, however, a caveat. When I have to bring out the seam ripper, I’m not always in a calm state of mind! Stress relief can come in many forms. For me, being organized or using an established system of organization (as shown in the image below) is probably the single most important thing to lower my stress levels. If you’ve ever wanted to be a more organized person, quilting will be your best teacher. Once you have a system in place that works for you, you will notice a significant decrease in headaches and muscle tightness.
Enhanced Cognitive Function
I have discovered quilting to be one of those tasks where I am always learning something new. It would not be an exaggeration to say I learn something new every. single. day. It is my understanding learning involves creating new memory connections in the brain. Learning, especially new information, requires the ability to attend to that task or instruction and then be able to hold that attention and concentrate. Again, when the brain is actively involved in thinking, it doesn’t have time to regress or decline.
The quilt top shown below was made during the Nine Patch Collective‘s Sweater Weather 2024 QAL. (Click here to join the 2026 Sweater Weather Sampler QAL). Each block required an entirely different technique and skill level. My brain some serious gymnastics with a couple of those blocks but in the end, I created something I am very proud of.
Create New Social Connections
This one may have the greatest impact on a person’s overall mental / emotional even their cognitive and physical well-being. Finding “your people” – those who share a common interest (quilting) and creating bonds of friendship offers a level of support not found anywhere else. Quilty friends are supportive, loyal and can become the primary reason for getting out of bed each morning. Isolation and loneliness are our mental health’s worst enemy. Quilt groups, guilds, retreats and workshops are invaluable for creating and maintaining these crucial social relationships.
A Fabric or Quilt Shop. This is our candy store – the fabrics our candy. The very act of gazing upon bolts of multicolored fabric immediately transforms you to another world. You look around and realize you’ve found your perfect home away from home. Before you know it, each of the different fabric collections begin to draw you in and that’s it. You’re there until your budget tells you it’s time to leave.
Your Sewing Room. If you’re feeling down or anxious, think of fabric as your emotional support animal. The simple act of touching your fabric restores a sense of calmness that tells you everything is going to be okay. No problem is too big to tackle – you have your fabric to turn to for support and guidance. As an added bonus – fabric contains antioxidants and other anti-aging properties, has ZERO calories and may even lower your blood pressure!
Placing the right fabric in the right light next to your face is the quickest and easiest face lift you’ll ever receive. Everything looks better when paired with the right fabric!
The Sewing Machine. While for some, fabric is the elixir for their soul, but for others, it is their sewing machine. Machines today are built and equipped with enough bells and whistles to turn back the hands of time. A computerized machine with memory, advanced stitch settings and an arsenal of attachments has the potential to make sewing as stress-free as possible. This alone will prevent you losing your hair or your patience and will keep your skin smooth and wrinkle-free!
Quilting WITHOUT a Sewing Machine. Yes, this is still a thing! The swoon worthy traditional quilting frame shown above has me wishing for days when life moved at a slower pace. I don’t think I’m alone here. When life feels like it is moving a little too fast, especially for those of us old enough to remember a time before the internet, cell phones and social media, the natural response is to find a way to reclaim that low-tech lifestyle. Slow stitching and quilting by hand do just that.
Let’s recap the Top Five Health Benefits of Making a Quilt:
- Reduces Stress. No worries = No worry lines or facial wrinkles.
- Improves Cognitive function. Attending to a detailed task and learning new techniques keeps the mind sharp.
- Wards Off Loneliness and Isolation. Joining a sewing/quilt group and attending classes/workshops/retreats is easy, fun and a great way to stay socially connected.
- Anti-aging Properties of Fabric. The tactile and visual attributes of fabric is soothing and calming. Making the right fabric and color choice is uplifting for both your soul and your smile.
- Nostalgia. Slowing down and taking the time to enjoy the process removes all anxiety produced by unrealistic schedules and productivity standards.
QUILTING ALLOWS YOU TO BE YOU
Now that you have a better understanding of the restorative properties of quilting and are wanting to start your own quilting journey but don’t know exactly where to start, I have some GREAT news! I have created a FREE checklist – The Ultimate Purchase Checklist for Beginning Quilters. And for the seasoned quilter who is curious and would like to know what quilting tools and notions I personally use each day, you will find this checklist useful as well!
I hope you enjoyed this and maybe, learned something along the way.
And don’t forget to click the link above to download your FREE purchase checklist!
Finished Is Perfect!
