By Taylah Eastwell
Christeen Jacobs is passionate about brightening other people’s darkest days.
Growing up watching her mother bead beautiful gowns for her client’s, Christeen saw sewing as an art form from a young age.
Her inherited flair for self-crafted creations saw the establishment of her own made-to-measure bridal and evening wear business in Sydney – where her dresses were crowned ‘Gown of the Year’ for three years running.
But for Christeen, the biggest accomplishment has been the improvements in her client’s mental health since the opening of her second business, Sew and Sew Sewing School.
“I have been teaching sewing in my studio for 15 years and I teach a lot of women who suffer from depression and mental health illnesses,” she said.
It was this that led Christeen to branch out into the online world, creating an online beginners sewing course so her clients could continue to reap the benefits of sewing without having to leave the house on days where their mental health was suffering.
“I found when they enrolled in my course there were days when they would call and say they can’t get out of bed, so they would lose those classes.
“When they would call, I would say jump on your sewing machine and they would call me at the end of the day to thank me, saying its what they really needed,” Christeen added.
“That was the reason for doing it online, a lot of them don’t want to leave the house. Everything they need for the course is provided,” she added.
Crafts such as sewing have known benefits to mental health, such as relaxation, stress relief, a sense of achievement, reduced anxiety, increased happiness and self-confidence.
Textile crafts also increase the ability of crafters to live positively with conditions of chronic fatigue, depression and other long term mental health problems.
“I’ve seen it for myself. They come here and I can see when they walk in that its not a good day. They will start to do what they’re doing and start laughing and joking, you can see their mood change – they often give me a hug or message when they get home and thank me,” she said.
The mental health benefits of Christeen’s online course speak for themselves, with many of her clients now running successful craft businesses of their own through her encouragement.
“I’ve got women who have started cushion businesses, children’s wear and one who suffers terribly with mental health and now makes coats and vests out of old blankets”, she added.
The online course is tailored for those wanting to learn to sew at home without any pressure, with clients having up to six months to complete it.
Upon enrolling, a sewing tool package is sent out, including cotton, scissors, rulers, and picks as well as a fabric pack that includes samples of fabric and a pattern to make a skirt to enable beginners to practice skills they have learnt throughout the course.
The online forum also has a discussion group so participants can encourage each other and share photos of what they have made.
“I’m so passionate about the mental health course, I feel like this is what I was put on this earth to do. I’ve seen the benefits. When they get involved with sewing they clear their mind of all their worries and it gives their brain time to heal”, she said.
