A Happy Accident Turned Creative Exploration
As someone who enjoys drawing and sketching ideas, I’m always looking for new ways to push the boundaries of my work and recently, I decided to experiment with an unconventional medium—my sewing machine. The idea of using the machine as a drawing tool intrigued me. It feels like an opportunity to merge my love of sketching with the tactile nature of textiles, creating something that could bring a new layer of interest to my artistic process.
The image you see below was, quite honestly, a happy accident. I had a random piece of fabric and a vague sense of curiosity, so I simply started stitching without a specific plan in mind. My goal was to see how drawing with a sewing machine felt, what kind of lines and shapes I could create, and how I might adjust my techniques to make the process more intuitive. What I ended up with surprised me—a piece that, despite its spontaneity, had an unexpected coherence and texture that I hadn’t anticipated.
From Sketchbook to Sewing Machine
When I sketch traditionally, I love the freedom of a pencil or pen gliding over paper. Translating that into stitching was a bit of a challenge at first. The sewing machine introduced an element of control and precision that I wasn’t used to. At the same time, the tension between the machine’s mechanical nature and the fluidity of my ideas created a dynamic contrast. It forced me to think about my “lines” in a new way—how they could be built up with thread and how the fabric’s texture could interact with my marks.
I realised that unlike drawing on paper, sewing into fabric adds depth, dimension, and even a sense of movement to the work. The fabric puckered slightly under the stitches, creating shadows and texture that made the piece come alive in a way a flat sketch never could. This opened up a whole new realm of possibilities—one where the material itself becomes part of the artwork.
Happy Accidents Lead to New Ideas
The beauty of experimentation is that you often end up with results you didn’t expect. That was definitely the case here. By allowing myself to stitch freely and without overthinking, I discovered that machine stitching can mimic the spontaneity of hand-drawn lines. The slight irregularities in the stitch patterns gave the piece a raw, organic quality that felt more expressive than perfectly calculated drawings.
This happy accident led me to start thinking about how I could blend traditional drawing techniques with textile art in more deliberate ways. Could I layer different types of fabric like layers of ink or pencil shading? What if I introduced different coloured threads or more intricate stitch patterns to add detail and texture? The possibilities seemed endless, and this small experiment opened the door to a whole new area of creative exploration.
A New Chapter in My Creative Journey
What started as a playful experiment has now evolved into something much more meaningful. Drawing with a sewing machine has become a new tool in my creative toolbox, and I’m excited to see where it takes me next. It’s not just about stitching lines on fabric; it’s about exploring how to bring the energy of traditional sketching into the world of textile art, creating pieces that are both visually and texturally engaging.
If you’re someone who enjoys drawing but has never considered textiles as part of your process, I highly recommend giving it a try. You don’t need to be a master with a sewing machine—sometimes the best results come from experimentation and embracing the unexpected. Whether it’s through happy accidents or planned designs, blending drawing and sewing has the potential to open up new, exciting directions for your work. This experiment reminded me that creativity thrives when you step outside your comfort zone and that sometimes, the best ideas come from moments of unplanned discovery.
#Drawing #Sketching #Textiles #TextileArt #SewingMachine
Rachel Bakewell 