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What Are Glimmers and How to Find Them in Your Patchwork and Quilts
Life is full of little moments. Some are hard, some are lovely, and some are so small we barely notice them.
Most of us know about triggers, the things that spike stress, worry, or that tight-chested “ugh” feeling. But there is another side to the coin: glimmers.
Glimmers are tiny moments that bring a sense of calm, safety, joy, or connection. Not the big, dramatic stuff. The small stuff. The everyday “oh, that feels good” moments that add up.
And if you are a patchwork person, glimmers are basically hiding in your sewing kit.
Think about the last time you were rummaging through your fabric stash and found a print you forgot you owned. Or you spotted the perfect thread colour. Or your needle just glided through the fabric like butter. That little spark of happiness? That is a glimmer.
WHAT ARE GLIMMERS?
A glimmer is a simple moment that gives you the warm fuzzies. It might be:
- hearing birds outside while you stitch
- the weight of a finished quilt on your lap
- the feel of linen or a crisp quilting cotton
- geeking out over a thread colour (or the Pantone Colour of the Year, #wink)
Glimmers are often described as the opposite of triggers. Triggers can kick your nervous system into fight-or-flight. Glimmers nudge you toward rest, feeling calmer, more grounded, more able to focus, which is precisely the headspace most of us want when we are sewing.
WHY DO GLIMMERS MATTER?
Because when life is full, fast, or overwhelming, we tend to rush straight past the good bits.
Glimmers help you slow down and reconnect with what feels steady and good. They do not erase problems. They just balance the scales a little.
And here is the best part: noticing glimmers is a skill. The more you practise spotting them, the easier they are to find.
FINDING GLIMMERS IN PATCHWORK (ESPECIALLY HAND SEWING)
Hand sewing and patchwork are glimmer factories because they are sensory, rhythmic, and satisfying.
Here are a few glimmers you might recognise:
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The texture glimmer
Running your fingers over fabric and noticing the “hand” (that is the feel of the fabric). Smooth. Crisp. Nubby. Soft. Delicious. -
The colour glimmer
Pulling fabrics for a new project and watching the palette come together. That moment when you add one print and the whole stack suddenly makes sense. -
The rhythm glimmer
The steady stitch-stitch-stitch of hand piecing. The gentle tug of thread. The quiet focus. (Yes please.) -
The tiny win glimmer
Matching points. Nesting seams. Pressing a block and it lies flatter than you expected. Small victories count. -
The progress glimmer
Not even a finished quilt. Just progress. One more row. One more block. One more evening of “I made something.” -
The connection glimmer
Sharing your project with a friend, a class, a sew-along group, or your online patchwork posse. Feeling understood by other people who also get excited about a new needle or a weirdly perfect beige.
HOW TO GET MORE GLIMMERS (A PRACTICAL MINI PLAN)
You do not need a new routine. You just need to notice what is already happening.
Try this next time you sit down to sew:
Step 1: Pause for 10 seconds
Before you start stitching, take one slow breath and look at your project like you are meeting it for the first time.
Step 2: Pick one sense to pay attention to
Choose just one:
- touch (fabric texture, thread tension, the needle moving through cloth)
- sound (scissors snip, fabric rustle, the quiet of the room)
- sight (colour combos, the shapes coming together)
Step 3: Collect three glimmers
While you sew, mentally note three “good moments”.
They can be tiny. Ridiculously tiny.
Example: “That stitch line looks awesome.” “This fabric feels lovely.” “This is relaxing.”
Step 4: Name it out loud (optional, but powerful)
Literally say: “That is a glimmer.”
It sounds simple, but naming it helps your brain file it as important.
GLIMMERS IN THE CRAFTAPALOOZA CORNER
At Craftapalooza, I genuinely believe patchwork is about more than making pretty things (although yes, we love pretty things).
It is also about slowing down, making with your hands, and finding those small bright moments that make the day feel a bit lighter.
Next time you sit down to sew, see if you can spot your glimmers. I bet you have already had heaps of them without realising.
Tell me in the comments: what is a glimmer you notice when you are sewing patchwork by hand?
LEARN TO HAND PIECE PATCHWORK
If you want to experience the glimmers of hand piecing for yourself, you can join my free Mini Masterclass in Hand Piecing Patchwork.
It is delivered to your inbox over three days and includes written instructions, PDFs, and video help, plus the cutest little house block to practise on.
(And yes, signing up also pops you onto the Scrappy Digest newsletter. You can unsubscribe any time, but wait until the three masterclass emails have landed first.)
