This is the only time that I will make a point of highlighting how MS affects me and my sewing. It’s not something I like to dwell on. I see it as an irritating thing that I have to workaround. It’s part of my life and here to stay whether I like it or not, so if I want to continue sewing I need to adapt.
The most difficult thing I deal with is probably not what you are thinking. The wheelchair actually doesn’t pose that much of an issue (I’ll explain why in a bit).
My main challenge is fatigue, closely followed by a lack of concentration.
I can start the day feeling very positive and have great intentions as to what I’m going to achieve. I get all set up, maybe even start to sew and then bam, out of nowhere my body decides it’s had enough. I’ve learnt the hard way that it isn’t a clever thing to ignore this and try to push on. I have found that only sewing for very small amounts of time is the best way of progressing through a project. It might initially seem as if it’s taking longer, but in the long run, there are fewer mistakes and so it ends up being quicker.
The other irritating thing is concentration-or lack of it.
I struggle to stay focused on what I’m doing or remember what comes next. I have issues with my short term memory so it can be quite amusing how many times I manage to misplace things (even the same thing) in a single session.
I also have numb fingers, involuntary spasm that make my hands or legs jerk and drop things all the time.
So, those are the challenges, (sounds like a disaster when I write it down doesn’t it) but here is the good bit. I love sewing, in fact I totally love sewing and it truly lifts my spirits. There is no better feeling than when I have completed a project and I get such an endorphin rush and sense of accomplishment (which is quite a rare thing). Sewing is physically good for me too. It’s a medical fact that by having to concentrate and think of things I wouldn’t normally do, I’m creating new neural pathways in my brain which is great for helping reduce brain shrinkage, it’s an important part of maintaining my long term health, even if it does sometimes cause me headaches from concentrating too hard.
I have to confess that without my wonderful husband Brian being my wingman, sewing would be so much harder. He helps me every step of the way. He would be the first to admit that he really doesn’t have any interest in sewing, but bless him, he has made the effort to learn about it so that he can help me. (to me that’s far more valuable than a hundred diamond rings).
My sewing project usually starts with me having an idea of what I want to make, then I find a fabric and get ready to place an order, or use something from my stash. Brian will check to make sure that i’ve got all the details of the order correct and that i’ve ordered enough for my size etc. Or if it’s from my stash that i’ve got enough and have all the notions I will need.
My sewing room used to be in the summer house in the garden, but over time it became increasingly difficult to keep getting out there, (it was also freezing in the winter and too hot in the summer). So now I’ve taken over our dining room which is wonderful because it adjoins our lounge and means I can easily pop in and out.
I had gotten used to transferring from my wheelchair onto a wheeled office chair when working in the summerhouse, and I still prefer to do this now as the dining room is only just big enough to accommodate my wheelchair so the office chair is more practical. I can push my self around easily and the advantage of a small space is that everything is within reach.
When it comes to cutting out the fabric Brian will do this for me. I do have ergonomic scissors and a rotary cutter, but my hands get fatigued very quickly and jerk a lot when i’m trying to focus pressure in an area. I’ve learnt that it’s not defeat to delegate a task, you have to pick your battles wisely.
I know it probably sounds corny, but I enjoy sharing my hobby with Brian and it makes creating things even more enjoyable. I’m just very glad that I don’t have to return the favour learning about mechanics😂.
Anyway, I diverse, back to sewing (see mind wandering off again!). We use wonder clips to hold fabric together as it’s easier for me to use rather than pins which I struggle to feel. Although I have recently discovered easy grip pins which are a lot easier. (See my equipment video)
My sewing machine is a Brother with hand control operation rather than a foot pedal which is just perfect, my over locker and cover stitch aren’t, but we have found that by attaching the pedal to the side of the units I can use my knee (and body weight to lean against the pedal) which is surprisingly effective.
We will talk through each stage of a project before I attempt it so that I know what i’m doing. (Well, that’s the theory!) In practice, I still manage to make mistakes, but this is just part of the fun of sewing with MS. Most mistakes can be rectified, it’s only fabric at the end of the day and not worth getting upset or frustrated about. Once I’d learnt to accept that fact, sewing became enjoyable again.
The inevitable reality is that I will make lots of mistakes, but in the big scheme of things its irrelevant, what matters is that I will get there in the end and I am still able to sew.
I believe that if you want something badly enough, you will find a way to achieve it.
I’m very lucky having Brians support, but if you have a disability and want to sew, ask a friend, family member or carer to help. Sewing brings so much pleasure it’s worth finding ways to still do it.