Evelyn Lee
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

It started with my mother’s simple question the summer after my freshman year of college: “Want to take a sewing class with me?” Initially, I said no. As a pre-medical student, I felt I needed to spend my summer doing something that would benefit my medical path, not a hobby that seemed trivial. However, she wisely responded, “Learning to hand sew would be extremely beneficial to you. Isn’t it similar to suturing?” I laughed, but was intrigued by the thought. Conceptually, they seemed similar enough. I decided to research any connection between the two and found a 2019 New York Times article linking fine motor hobbies such as needlework to surgical skills.¹

The piece noted that some faculty in the United States and Britain are seeing weaker manual dexterity in trainees, possibly because schools offer fewer hands-on classes and more time is spent learning on screens. The advice was straightforward: start early and practice. As Dr. Robert Spetzler put it, “What makes a great surgeon is unrelenting practice.”¹ Transplant surgeon Dr. Maria Siemionow credited the hours she spent crocheting sweaters when she was young with training not only her fingers but also improving her spatial sense, planning, patience, and precision. After reading that, sewing no longer felt like a side hobby. It felt like preparation. If careful handwork matters later, why not start practicing now?¹

So, I created Sewing for Surgeons, a small initiative that brings together pre-medical students in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to practice needlework, hand sewing, and crocheting. At our events, I teach the basics, and everyone gets time to work on simple, confidence-building pieces. Some of our projects have included pumpkin plushies, small makeup bags, and fabric garlands. We usually host 15 to 20 students per session, which keeps the room lively but still personal. As the group has grown, we have added some structure while keeping the relaxed feel. Beginners start with a short lesson, and returning students often act as informal table leads for the next round. The pace is calm and collaborative. Over the course of a few meetings, hands become more steady and stitches more even. People joke that two hours go by without anyone checking a phone, and that same level of focus leaves us feeling lighter by the end of the meeting. For pre-med students who rarely get a break, it also works as stress relief, a place to zero in on one small task and leave a little more sure of our hands.

Practice is only part of it. We also give back. Our donation projects give everyone a clear reason to learn and a way to use the skills right away, not years from now. We have hand sewn horseshoe pillows and fidget aprons for our local hospice, and crocheted cancer ribbon pins for Cancer Services in the Triad. We have donated nearly one hundred items so far, and many students keep sewing for donation outside of events. Knowing the pieces will end up with patients and families keeps us focused and makes each session feel connected to care.

Sewing for Surgeons is open to anyone who wants to learn. I cover the cost of needles, thread, and fabric with what I earn as a certified nursing assistant and with support from a summer research fellowship. I do it because I love these evenings. The room settles into quiet focus, conversation comes easily, and a real community has grown. I have made close friends here. I also enjoy teaching, and I keep learning new methods alongside everyone else.

Needlework may seem simple, but it teaches skills that future surgeons need. It builds steadiness, patience, and attention to detail. Each stitch is a small rehearsal for the operating room, a chance to train our hands and our focus long before we ever hold a scalpel. For pre-med students, it offers something rare: a calm space to practice care, one thread at a time.

Reference

1. Kate Murphy, “Your Surgeon’s Childhood Hobbies May Affect Your Health,” The New York Times, May 30, 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/30/well/live/surgeons-hobbies-dexterity.html