Oh no, I can't sew

Made It Worse Challenge: The Prompt - Write a true or fictional confession about a situation where you tried to fix something and only made it worse.

Trying to fix something can feel like progress, even when it isn’t. Good intentions have a way of complicating things.

Start with the moment something goes wrong, then follow the attempt to set it right. Each step should move the situation further off course, whether through misjudgment, overcorrection, or simple misunderstanding. The voice can be reflective, defensive, or matter-of-fact, but it should stay close to the logic that led things there.

Let the piece hold on the outcome. What matters is not just that it got worse, but how and why it did.

Everything went wrong. I couldn't remember how to thread a bobbin, I couldn't sew straight, and I didn't use the right color thread.

I then thought what is wrong with me. Maybe I should just put this away for now and come back when I am less tired. That has to be it. I'm just tired. I will come back to it in the morning.

The morning made no difference. I still bumbled through. I can't figure it out. I have made faceless dolls for granddaughters, along with their clothing, and I have made ribbon skirts and have always mended my own clothes. I've even made a few pieces of clothing. What in the hell is going on?

I just wrecked a new pair of jeans. Well, maybe I can take what I did apart? I started that, and even that didn't work right!

My sewing used to be great! I took Home Economics in middle school, so what happened when trying to sew my jeans. I have always needed to mend store bought jeans as the legs are never quite right.

Well, I asked my daughter to come over, you know. She can sew! Instead, we visited for a while and she had to go.

So, there sit my jeans. Too embarrassed to take them to the woman I have used to mend a few things, since I moved to this part of the country. I also took her a shirt I had started, along with directions about what I wanted. It came back wrong so I thought I would do this job myself.

And what happens but I don't seem to know how to sew!

Well, I happened to attend LiveStrong, a cancer support group down the road. I found myself complaining about my sewing when others started to laugh and one friend said, it is from the chemo brain.

Okay, that was a good excuse early after chemo, but what about now. She then said, you lose what you are going to in the first year. After that your good! So, you lost your sewing abilities with chemotherapy.

Was this real or were they teasing me? I had sewn for many, many years prior to chemo brain at 60. Do you just lose this ability? Is it possible? Research was next.

Question: Can Chemo Brain Affect Your Ability to Sew? Yes — chemo brain (also called “brain fog” or cancer-related cognitive impairment) can make it harder to sew or perform other fine motor and concentration tasks, even if you’ve been able to do them before.

Why it can happen - Chemo brain refers to changes in memory, thinking, and focus that some people experience during or after cancer treatment. These changes can include: Trouble remembering steps or details. Difficulty concentrating for long periods. Trouble multitasking. Slower processing of information. Reduced fine motor coordination. American Cancer Society.

Sewing often requires visual focus, hand-eye coordination, and the ability to follow a sequence of steps. If chemo brain affects your concentration or memory, you may: Forget where you left off in a pattern. Struggle to follow a written or visual pattern. Have trouble keeping stitches even or aligned. Lose focus and make mistakes more often.

How common is it? Studies show that up to 75% of people with cancer experience some form of cognitive change at some point in their journey, and these changes can interfere with daily activities. Mayo Clinic Connect.

The severity and duration vary — some people notice improvement after treatment ends, while others may have lingering effects. Other factors that can worsen it. Fatigue, sleep problems, stress, anxiety, depression, poor nutrition, and certain medications can make chemo brain symptoms worse. American Cancer Society.

What you can do: Break tasks into smaller steps and work on one part at a time. Use visual aids like pattern guides or templates. Take short breaks to rest your mind and hands. Practice simple sewing tasks to rebuild confidence and coordination. Stay physically active — movement can help improve brain function. Mayo Clinic Connect.

Bottom line: If you’ve had chemo brain, it’s possible that sewing has become harder because of reduced concentration, memory lapses, or fine motor challenges. These are real and common side effects, and with small adjustments and support, many people can still sew successfully.

And what I decided was that when I have time, I will try again! I will break my project into smaller steps, and take breaks often. I will practice simple sewing to get my confidence back.

Great tips thanks to American Cancer Society and Mayo Clinic Connect. My month of May is too busy to start this month, but maybe I can finish those jeans this summer!