Creating Textile Hearts

Finding Solace During Grief

By Emily Potter

In the midst of great loss, I found a lifeline to keep me going. Understanding the need for masks in our community as well as for those outside the state of Michigan, I began a simple process: learning to make masks for first responders, friends and family. During the pandemic of 2020, our family faced many challenges within our walls. We lost several friends, faced a loved one battling cancer and lost 2 very close extended family members. Add to that teaching two kids from home while still working our jobs and one can understand why an outlet was imperative for stress relief. My Granny had taught me basic sewing skills and I had a sewing machine ready for action. I also had my pairs of trusty Fiskar scissors.

As I found the proper fabrics, cut and sewed pieces of fabric that were hard to come by, life began returning. I had a purpose, I had something to keep me going in the midst of great loss and grief. Over the months I crafted and made more than 300 masks to share with others locally and in other states who requested help. I found a very basic pattern from a sewing group and watched as all kinds of people crafted and created masks to help others. My husband would help me cut out patterns so I could have more ready at one time, assembly line style.

Once the need for masks had slowed, I began looking for other possible ways to craft with fabrics. I knew Fiskars was a great brand and have used the products for years with great success. When you’re doing a large volume of sewing, you realize the importance of having tools you can trust to do what you need them to. Sadly, my first project after the masks was Christmas ornaments made from my Grandpa’s flannel shirts. He passed unexpectedly in October of 2020 and I was searching for a way to connect with the family I couldn’t travel to see, but wanted to gift with a special item in memoriam. I found a pattern and between tears cut out ornaments for each member of our family, even the youngest great grandchild. I also crafted a huggable pillow for my widowed Granny who was struggling to stay healthy herself.

While the process was heartbreaking, it also gave me something to concentrate on and commit to completing. Once everything was done, I mailed out boxes of ornaments to the family. Many met the gifts with tears, but all were thankful for the investment of time and effort. My Granny sobbed when hugging the flannel pillow and had the best Christmas she could under the circumstances. She passed in early January at the end of a long hospice battle.

Another hard hit meant I needed something to help keep me tethered. I still had a few more requests for masks, but as those fizzled out, I began to think of all the possibilities. I have moved into piece quilting with a machine and learning more about how to make items that I can use every day, not just during a global pandemic. My Fiskars have never lost their strength or precision and I am hopeful that my boys, who are curious about helping me, will also learn to sew. Perhaps someday they can pass on the legacy of the lives blessed by the work of those scissors.

My Granny taught me basic skills at an early age that came into play during a brutal time in not only our country, but for our family. Loss after loss meant we could have crawled into our shell and focused inward, but the fabric arts gave me a reason to help, heal and inspire others. I know the simple investment of my Granny, the push to help others and the use of dependable tools not only made things easier to process, but gave me a lifelong hobby I am expanding the use of every day.