Modern individuals have stopped engaging in many traditional activities and crafts. For instance, many women no longer practice needlework. Does this have any negative consequences, and what were the benefits of women’s needlework and embroidery? #

Indeed, modern society has largely shifted to urban living. Just a hundred years ago, many activities and skills that seemed natural and essential for every adult have become obsolete. One might think that this would make people freer and less burdened. It was anticipated that with the advent of machine production, people would have more time to rest and devote their newfound leisure to self-improvement and education. However, the reality turned out quite differently.

When it comes specifically to women’s needlework, sewing, and embroidery, these skills were essential for every woman, regardless of social class or financial standing. Sewing and embroidery were not only significant in reducing household expenses by clothing the family and repairing garments but also, like many traditional activities, positively impacted a woman’s mental and emotional qualities. It is no coincidence that prospective royal brides were tested by being given tangled yarn to unravel, with their behavior closely observed. If a girl became flustered or lost her temper, she was immediately disqualified. Engaging in embroidery cultivated Christian virtues such as patience, silence, diligence, and more. The ability to sew and embroider was a mandatory skill, taught alongside foreign languages, for instance, at the Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens. For ordinary women, these skills provided vast opportunities for self-expression and moral satisfaction—goals that have become elusive for many modern women.

Today, women often feel compelled to leave the home, reluctant to remain “within four walls.” For women in traditional cultures, this was not an issue. A girl could create a handmade gift for a loved one. Family members cherished and preserved items made or embroidered by wives, mothers, and grandmothers, which not only provided physical comfort but also emotional warmth during long journeys or military campaigns. In the absence of photographs, these items served as poignant reminders of the family hearth. A historian can often identify a person’s region of origin based on the style or pattern of embroidery on their clothing, linking them to previous generations and connecting them to a lineage of ancestors who dressed in similar ways.

For modern women, learning to sew and embroider offers an excellent opportunity to earn income and contribute to the household budget without leaving home. This is especially valuable for mothers of large families, who can raise their children while working from home, sparing young children the emotional distress of separation from their mother. Consequently, many women, despite the lack of necessity for such skills today, still strive to learn traditional crafts, which can bring great benefits both to themselves and their families.

— Priest Evgeny Gureev.