July - Creative Prompts

We all know that one of the hardest parts of being a creative are the days where the ideas are completely MIA. Whether you have taken some time away or focusing on other projects and looking to create something fresh and new, these exercises are perfect for getting those creative juices flowing!

Hands-On Creative Exercises

1. Fabric Scrap Collage (No Sewing)

   Use only fabric scraps and pins/glue to make quick, spontaneous compositions. No pressure to finish—just explore texture, colour, and layout.

   
   

2. Stitch Meditation (Slow Stitching)

   Set a timer for 10–15 minutes and stitch without a plan. Let the needle guide you. Focus on rhythm and feeling, not outcome.

   
   

3. Limited Material Challenge

   Create a piece using only:

   • One colour of thread

   • Two types of fabric

   • No more than three stitches

     
     

     Constraints often lead to unexpected discoveries.

     
     

4. “Ugly Fabric” Redemption Project

   Dig through your stash for those tiny leftovers, or fabric you just plain hate, and see what you can create with it.

   
   

5. Monochrome Texture Panel

   Choose one colour and build a small textile piece using as many textures and materials as possible (e.g., velvet, linen, tulle, yarn). Focus on contrast through texture, not color.

   
   

Idea-Based Prompts

6. “Tactile Memory” Prompt

   Close your eyes and recall the texture of something from your childhood (a blanket, dress, upholstery). Try to recreate or reinterpret it in fabric or stitch.

   
   

7. Textile Map

   Make an abstract or literal map using textile techniques—map your bedroom, emotional state, dream, or a city. Let the process be interpretive.

   
   

8. The Dictionary Game

   Flick through to a random page in the dictionary, chose and random word and recreate it in fabric form. Think about how you might visualize it through layers, thread, or paint. I did this with my most recent piece around the prompt ‘maraschino cherry’

   
   

9. Emotional Stitching

   Assign different stitches, colours, or threads to emotions. Spend a session stitching how you feel that day—no representational imagery needed.

   
   

10. Repair as Creation

    Practice visible mending on something worn or damaged—this shifts your mindset from perfection to process and celebrates imperfection.

I hope these prompts have given you some inspiration to get stitching again. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself and just let your ideas flow into the fabric, you might be surprised what marvel you create.