A conversation with SPSCC and Sisu Stitchery’s Dr. Heidi Aijala 

Rachel Benton

Once upon a time, long before I had this column, I worked for the state in a job that was not compatible with who I am.

I firmly believe that nothing in life is ever truly wasted, and I am not only grateful for that belief, but also have fabulous evidence of it in the friendships I formed with some of my incredible co-workers during that time, including Dr. Heidi Aijala. 

A few years later, I was at a local festival when a basket of vintage-style stickers caught my eye. I paused to look at them for a moment when I heard a warm voice call my name. I turned around and realized I was standing at the Sisu Stitchery booth — aka Heidi’s booth — and those stickers I had been admiring were her logo. 

Warm, kind, understanding and embracing nostalgia, Aijala’s career can be defined by how she encourages, educates and connects people through the arts.

She does this important work both as the Writing Center Director at South Puget Sound Community College and through classes, embroidery kits and other offerings she shares through Sisu Stitchery. Aijala also holds a doctorate in Victorian literature.  

I hope Aijala inspires you as much as she inspires me. Enjoy our conversation! 

 Our conversation 

Benton: I would love to hear where your love of embroidery and literature began.  

Aijala: “I think a lot of it stems from my mom. Growing up, she was always an avid reader and would encourage us to visit the library. I grew up with a strong desire to explore and be part of our artistic culture. I like reading a lot of diverse stories, and when I discovered 19th century literature and poetry, I just really fell in love. While I was always a crafty child growing up, I think much of my love of embroidery stems from my love of 19th century fiber and visual arts. 

“I first began cross-stitching during grad school. Grad school, well college in general, can be mentally taxing, fatiguing and frustrating. As I was dealing with all of that, my child Ivy, who has Fibro-Adipose Vascular Anomaly (FAVA), was dealing with health issues and going to the hospital a lot. I needed something that was not school to help ground me and calm me. 

“Starting this year, I have started donating 5 percent of every sale to Project FAVA, which supports patients and caregivers navigating this disease. Supporting Ivy through this is such an important part of my life, and I want to give back to the community in that way.”  

Benton: What are some of the things you have learned along the way through teaching both embroidery and writing? 

Aijala: “I think my background as an educator for 15 years has a lot to do with how I teach embroidery and my love for doing workshops. Personally, I learned that repetition is very helpful. My work in the classroom helped me quickly identify students’ needs and adapt to meeting them where they are. I think a lot about breaking down concepts into smaller, more digestible parts, and am constantly revising.  

“I always leave my embroidery workshops feeling amazed by what people create. People do not finish their projects every workshop because the workshops are two hours, but embroidery is a very slow craft.”  

Benton: We need slowness in our lives, especially in a society that runs on instant gratification and very quick access to whatever we want. What have you learned through the process of slowing down?  

Aijala: “I think it has helped me to be a little bit more grounded, patient, regulate emotions and have understanding. It has shown me that I do not always have to be ‘on.’ Slow stitching is just so calming! Research shows that slow stitching helps regulate the nervous system.” 

Benton: Why do you think the arts are so important for today’s society?  

Aijala: “They call them the humanities because they help us connect with our humanity, more than anything else. I strongly believe that the arts bring us closer to ourselves and to one another. The arts leave so much room for interpretation, and I think that is lovely.

"We all bring our diverse lived experiences to our creations and to our viewing experiences. A lot of art can be done in isolation, but sharing or engaging in communal activities can bring us back to who we are as humans. It is all about community, participating and sharing dialogue, and we really need that.” 

To learn more about Aijala and the amazing work she is doing through Sisu Stitchery, I invite you to visit her website and follow her on social media. 

Rachel is a writer, arts advocate, performing arts enthusiast, and passionate about our beloved Thurston County. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in History and Political Science and minor in Music. You can enjoy more of Rachel's writings by visiting her website. All inquiries for Rachel can be submitted here.