I have a confession: I hide in my sewing/craft room. Sometimes this is to decompress after a stressful day at work, while other times it’s to avoid the news story of the day. Still other times it’s to distract myself when I’m worried about someone I care about.

Recently, I was there for a hybrid reason. I definitely wanted to avoid news reports, but was also worrying about someone, and that someone was me.

As a federal employee, each day has become more uncertain than the next. One day I’m calm, confident and not phased by the talk about downsizing and layoffs; the next day I’m crunching numbers in a spreadsheet and brainstorming all kinds of crazy ideas about what to do “if” my name ends up on one of the dreaded lists.

I decided that fussing about something I have no power to control is dumb, so I decided to retreat to some crafting as a distraction. I had just received the pattern I had purchased in a de-stashing Facebook group, so I was ready for a new challenge.

I have a healthy stash of fabric so I went digging for some fabric that would match and that I would enjoy working with. I found the remains of a Laurel Burch print fabric remnant and decided to use a plain orange fabric as the coordinating color.

At first I wasn’t understanding the pattern directions, and even questioned whether or not it was accurate. I’ve learned over the years, though, that sticking with it and following the directions to the letter on my first attempt not only saves me time and aggravation, but almost always teaches me something new.

In this pattern I was reminded that cotton fabric and cotton blend fabrics may act differently when fusible interfacing is applied. I also considered the potential impact of the temperature of the iron in that mix.

It was a new-to-me bag style too, so I learned yet another way to construct a bag and another way to construct straps for totes and other bags that does not involve purchasing webbing.

At the end of it all, I hadn’t been able to move the needle on the mess in the federal government, or resolve the myriad of financial concerns that may arise should I get less than welcome news.

What I did accomplish was finding some joy in the convergence of color and pattern, as well as the satisfaction of conquering a new challenge. These are intangible gifts that strengthen and fortify our resolve and self-knowledge and are ready in reserve when we need them.

I finished reading Dopamine Nation, and had a lot of things to ponder from the book. One of the takeaway lessons for me was that our culture has developed a habit of chasing pleasure (dopamine), and there are many businesses out there lined up to promise us pleasure, for a price. For me, the less immediate joys inherent to crocheting, knitting and sewing have been a moderating force.

I’m no more or less impacted by the cultural norms of society or the deluge of marketing messages, but I have options available that help me more peacefully and competently navigate the difficult times. Another advantage to a fiber arts refuge is that we have a tangible reminder of how we conquered whatever foe we were wrestling with that day, whether it be a tricky pattern, or worry about the state of things in the world.

My funky fabric bag will go many places with me. When I stumble into a challenge, it will be there to remind me that I have the tools I need to get through it – whatever “it” might be; AND that sometimes, we even come out on the other side with something bright, happy and fun!

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