Stitching a Healthy Mind:

The Benefits of Quilting

Samantha Olewnik
RLS-23800: Leisure and Aging
Professor Legg
December 15, 2014

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The art of crafting with textiles has been practiced for eons by many different cultures,
for both functional and decorative purposes (Shaw, 1995, as cited in Davis, 2012). Textiles are
defined (in a very general sense) as any sort of fiber-related material that is made from plants,
animals, or synthetics (Collier, 2011). The fibers garnered from these sources are felted or spun
into yarn, dyed, knit, crocheted, or woven. Fiber making has long been a necessity for clothing,
protecting, providing warmth, and holding or carrying objects for previous civilizations, as well
as today (Barber 1994, as cited in Collier, 2011). Quilting involves the stitching of two layers of
textile fabric together with a layer of insulation in-between, also known as filler (King, 2001).
The technique of quilting fabric was originally applied to the creation of clothing, such as its use
for padding by the Saracens during the Crusades to prevent chafing caused from their heavy
armor, or its use by the Egyptians as a means of warmth (Collier, 2011). Today quilting
sometimes conjures up images of scrappy patchwork bedcovers, but it has experienced a
popularity revival in recent decades. This is partly due to the convergence of the counter-culture
and feminist movements of the 1960s and 1970s, in which hippies took up handcrafts as a
means of rejecting mass production and consumerism, while feminists sought an outlet through
which to garner recognition for the contributions that womens domestic work has made to
society (Hanshew, 2009, as cited in Davis, 2002). Quilts are now viewed as material culture;
they are able to shed light on the time and culture in which they were created, as well as the lives
of the individuals who crafted them.
It has been found that women quilt for many reasons, but some of the most common are
to enjoy an activity that they feel is meaningful and leisurely, to reduce stress, and to express
themselves (King, 2001). Todays average quilter is sixty-four years old, female, and spends
nine hours per week on her craft. (Loeffelholz, 2014). This holds true regardless of skill level

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(those who consider themselves to be beginners, intermediate quilters, or professionals.) The

average quilter also spends an average of $3,296 every year on this activity, owns 3.1 sewing
machines, has a stash of 189 spools of thread, subscribes to or reads 3.7 quilting magazines, has
an entire room dedicated to sewing/quilting activities, and dedicates three hours every week to
browsing, visiting, or interacting with quilting-related websites on the Internet, often on a tablet
or eBook reader. Lastly, the average quilters number one reason for quilting is simply for the
beauty of it (Collier, 2011).

There have been a few studies done on how quilting can affect ones well-being (Cheek
and Piercy, 2008, Collier, 2011, Collier and Karolyi, 2014, and King, 2001). It has been reported
that the social aspect of quilting proves to be very valued by quilters from all walks of life
(Collier, 2011 and King, 2001). Crafting with textiles allows an individual to enter into an
encouraging and inspirational community, a luxury that can be hard to find in todays urbanized
world. Quilting magazines, shops, clubs, and websites all provide opportunities for women to
connect and share ideas, leading to a greater sense of social acceptance and overall well-being.
It has also been found that quilting allows women to express themselves within and
beyond their cultural and family networks; their identities [are] grounded in [this creative
outlet] (Cheek and Piercy, 2008).

Quilters can express themselves while simultaneously

indulging in beneficial me time that can alleviate stress. Quilting has also been articulated as a
deeply personal and psychological experience by those who practice regularly (Collier, 2011).
Quilters talk of the serenity and peace that they experience while quilting, revealing that they
hate to miss even one day of the craft: Hand piecing is just another way to stay in touch with the
inner self because your hands are occupied while you are not, and you can thinkthere is

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something that pulls your life all together when you are piecingyou will have your life back
together [when you finish] (Cheek and Piercy, 2008).
Further, quilting has been found to improve ones mood beyond ones participation in the
craft, as well as support the maintenance of this improved mood (Collier and Karolyi, 2014).
While some hobbies and/or leisure activities have been shown to only affect the crafters mood
during the activity, quilting goes beyond the time spent working with textiles to improve ones
overall outlook and mindset long after the crafter steps away from their work. Out of eighteen
different handcrafts studied for their influence on mood (including knitting or crocheting, rug
making, beading, and basketry,) quilting was found to induce the third highest level of
rejuvenation, or lingering improved mood, when compared to other handcrafts. This indicates
that it is a highly beneficial handcraft option, both for the crafters present and future mental
health. Quilting was even shown to allow women to better cope with feelings of grief and
depression despite physical impairments, such as chronic fatigue, resulting in the management
(or resolution in some cases) of their illnesses, while simultaneously experiencing feelings of joy,
social connectivity, and confidence (Collier, 2011). These findings point to quilting as not only a
source of leisure that can improve mental health, but an aid in the maintenance of physical health
as well, no matter what emotions or experiences the quilter is sorting through as they work.
Quilting has also been shown to provide an outlet for the resolution of Eriksons later
stages of adult development, including generativity vs. stagnation and integrity vs. despair
(Cheek and Piercy, 2008). These stages of life involve the looking back upon ones past to
determine whether or not one feels they have lived their life to the fullest, as well as if they have
or have not sufficiently passed on some of their knowledge to younger generations (McGuire et
al., 2009). It has been found that quilting enables women to feel that they can continue to care

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for others well into their older years because the finished crafts that they gift to others can be
tangibly used and appreciated (Cheek and Piercy, 2008). Quilting also fills the need to be
productive, and relates to generative acts like leaving a legacy. Quilters who have taught
younger generations their craft feel that they are passing on important traditions and leaving a
memory of themselves to others, improving overall mental well-being. They know that they are
making a difference in a younger persons life because they are instructing them in a useful craft
that they can use to benefit themselves and others in the future. Quilters also express the feeling
that their craft allows them to show that they truly care about those around them as they gift
away their creations. These gifts in turn serve as a means of keeping the past and the memories
of themselves (the crafters) alive, even after the crafter is no longer alive herself, supporting the
resolution of Eriksons final stages.

In terms of constraints to an older adults pursuit of quilting as a leisure activity, there are
a few barriers that may interfere with its enjoyment. Financial barriers can play a role in the
pursuit of quilting, as an almost constant supply of fabric, thread, and sewing supplies are all
required as evidenced by the 2014 Quilting in America Summary (Loeffelholz, 2014). If an
older adult has a limited budget or is living off of their monthly Social Security check (or living
in poverty, as fifteen percent of adults aged 65 years or older are,) they are not going to be able to
maintain their necessities (like food) while also simultaneously keeping up with the average
quilters shopping habits, meaning that they will not be able to engage in quilting at a level
similar to their peers (McGuire et al., 2009).
Furthermore, various physical limitations may also affect a quilters ability to engage
with their textiles. Although it has been shown that the art of quilting can help people work

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through mental health struggles and even absolve physical impairments like chronic fatigue
(Collier, 2011,) quilters still need to be able to see and hold the fabric that they are working with.
The development of abnormal visual impairments such as macular degeneration or glaucoma can
interfere with a quilters ability to see their fabric, hindering their process of cutting and stitching
it, as well as interfering with their ability to choose which fabrics they would like to work with or
purchase. Visual impairments of this kind can even lead to the loss of a driving license, meaning
that unless an elder has a social circle on which to rely for transportation, they might have to give
up going to the store to pick out fabric in general or stop visiting the quilt shop with sewing
machines on which they do their work.
Problems with ones hands can also directly affect ones ability to quilt. Although hand
stitching is not as necessary in todays quilting world with the aid of sewing machines, a quilter
must still possess enough dexterity in their hands to measure, cut, pin, and guide their fabric if
they hope to make a successful quilt. Ailments such as arthritis or general joint pain can inhibit
these tasks, making quilting a painful and/or frustrating leisure pursuit.
Lastly, an older adults long-term care placement can directly affect their ability to quilt
through the placements ability to provide access to quilting materials and supplies. An elder
who is confined to a long-term care placement facility, such as a nursing home, without a vehicle
of their own (or the ability to drive) will be at the mercy of the homes resources. If the nursing
home does not have a crafting area with a sewing machine, or simply does not stock sewing
materials like fabric and thread for residents to use, the elder will not be able to engage in the
pursuit of leisurely quilting. If a facility does not have a communal sewing machine or supplies,
a residents main opportunity to sew would lie in their possession of a personal machine, and

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depending on their financial situation or the size of their living quarters, this might not be
possible, severely limiting their opportunities to quilt.

Quilting is a leisurely pursuit that many different age groups enjoy and benefit from, but
the average quilter in America today is an older adult woman with an extensive range of quilting
resources and involvement (Loeffelholz, 2014).

Quilting is a craft that promotes social

interaction as well as personal reflection and growth, all while simultaneously promoting mental
health and feelings of usefulness, productivity, improved mood, and reduced stress amongst
those who indulge in it (Cheek and Piercy, 2008, Collier, 2011, Collier and Karolyi, 2014, and
King, 2001). Although financial and physical constraints can prove to be detrimental to an
elders engagement in quilting, this handcraft has also been found to alleviate and reverse certain
physical illnesses like chronic fatigue (Collier, 2011). The art of working with textiles dates back
to ancient civilizations, yet quilting has remained a popular craft even in the 21-st century, with a
resurgence in interest being credited to the counter-culture and feminist movements of the 1960s
and 1970s. The use of modern technology, such as computers and the internet, has also proven
useful in maintaining the vigor of the quilting industry, and may prove to be a beneficial means
of spreading the word about the craft to elders who are interested in handcrafts but have not yet
tried to quilt.
Quilting has been proven to be extensively socially and psychologically fulfilling for
those who enjoy it, as well as being intellectually stimulating and/or acting as a coping
mechanism for many women (Geda, 2009, as cited in Collier, 2011). Older women who quilt
have been found to possess better cognitive and emotional adjustment skills than women who
dont, and the practice of this handcraft in older adulthood can even protect against cognitive

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impairment and memory loss in later life (Schofield-Tomschin and Littrell, 2001, as cited in
Collier, 2011).

For many, quilting serves as a creative outlet in which they can express

themselves, benefit others, and pass on traditions and a legacy, proving that this handcraft is not
only rewarding for the people who pursue it, but also for other generations, including those yet to
be born.

Bibliography
Cheek, C., & Piercy, K. (2008). Quilting as a Tool in Resolving Eriksons Adult Stage of Human
Development. Journal Of Adult Development, 15(1), 13-24. doi:10.1007/s10804-007-9022-7

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Collier, A. F. (2011). The Well-Being of Women Who Create With Textiles: Implications for Art
Therapy. Art Therapy: Journal Of The American Art Therapy Association, 28(3), 104-112.
doi:10.1080/07421656.2011.597025

Collier, A. F., & von Krolyi, C. (2014). Rejuvenation in the making: Lingering mood repair
in textile handcrafters. Psychology Of Aesthetics, Creativity, And The Arts, 8(4), 475-485.
doi:10.1037/a0037080

Davis, N. (2012). Material culture and the rise of quilt indexing. Indexer, 30(2), 80-84.

King, F. (2001). Social dynamics of quilting. World Leisure Journal, 43(2), 26-29.

Loeffelholz, K. Quilting in America Summary 2014. Retrieved from

http://www.quilts.com/announcements/y2014/QIA_summary.pdf

McGuire, M., Boyd, R., & Tedrick, R. (2009). Leisure and Aging: Ulyssean Living in Later Life
(4th ed.). Champaign, IL: Sagamore Publishing.