While some of us have distinctive pastimes like duct tape art, rock collecting, or juggling, juniors Blaire Bemel and Ingrid Topp-Johnson have a hobby that is both quirky and useful at once.
They sew. From sewing skirts and pencil pouches to embroidering and embellishing their own clothing, Bemel and Topp-Johnson magnify the creativity of their everyday lives in stitches. However, their proficiency in the art of sewing, a rare talent among teenagers today, didn’t develop overnight.

Bemel discovered her passion during her sophomore year. “Last year during winter break I was volunteering at a children’s hospital and I walked in and saw a quilt that had been made by a volunteer. I wanted to make one just like it,” Bemel said. Now she sews “skirts, pencil cases, aprons, pillows, stuffed animals, and baby blankets—really, whatever comes to mind.”

Bemel uses a sewing machine she calls Elna, and isn’t a fan of patterns, typically just going with what works best with what she’s making at any given time. “Usually I give them [my creations] away to friends and family. I’ve donated some blankets,” she said. “If my friends ask me to make something, I’ll charge them for the fabric and five dollars for my work. I have my own tags for when I give things away.”

Although Bemel does sell some of her creations to her friends, she does most of her sewing projects simply for her own enjoyment. “It’s super relaxing,” she said. “It’s a really good feeling when someone asks you where you got something and you can actually say you made it. More people should do it.”

Like Bemel, Topp-Johnson also sews as a hobby, although she started much earlier, as a first grader who loved historical fiction set in times when elaborate needlework and fine threads were all the rage. “I do most of my work with embroidery [by hand]. I experiment with machine sewing and dressmaking and I’m in the process of embroidering a pillowcase I made in fourth grade,” she said. “I mostly make stuff for myself, for my own use, sometimes purely for artistic or aesthetic value.”
Topp-Johnson loves the balance between art and practical use which sewing provides her. “I really like the process of creating something really tangible, a piece of art that also has a concrete use,” she said. Sewing is not only an extremely handy hobby, but it also helps Topp-Johnson to focus and multitask—skills needed in many life contexts. “I often embroider while I’m watching television,” she said. “It’s a good skill to have. It’s really easy for me to fix my clothes, embellish them, etc.”

Ultimately, Topp-Johnson thinks that the question to sew or not to sew really comes down to one’s personal interest. “If it’s something that appeals to you, go for it!” she said. While the sewing may not captivate the majority, it has a special place in both Bemel and Topp-Johnson’s lives.

“For me, it’s less of a craft and more of an art,” Topp-Johnson said.
This article was originally published in the September 2014 Print issue of The Rubicon.  The story can be seen in its original form by clicking on the “In Print” tab or at ISSUU.com.