The Traveling Altar: SEWING WITCH EDITION!

Have you ever run into those times where you’ll be traveling, and you really want to take your altar with you?  Many Witches have found travelling altars a perfect way around this problem, and let’s face it, sometimes, they’re just downright adorable.  But what happens when you’re traveling to a place that may not be so friendly, or maybe your visiting relatives/friends that don’t know yet about your religious affiliations, and you want to keep it that way?  Traveling altars are great, but one look at the contents of one, and it’s usually pretty obvious that a Witch is at work there.  Many times in history, people practicing witchcraft (long before Wicca, mind you) had to hide their tools in plain sight, using everyday, mundane tools as something magickal.

For the Sewing Witch, it’s no different.  I’ve talked before about using a needle as an athame.  Here are some other sewing supplies that can be used in magick.

• Sewing needles make great athames.  Just be careful not to prick yourself.  In fact, you might dull the needle, unless you plan on actually using it to sew. (and you might want to do so)
• Dressmaker’s pins are great for wands.  They have a small ball at the end, and you can hold it from here to cast your circles (they ball endings come in an array of colors, so check those out!)
• Small shears, or pinking shears, can make a great boline. (a knife meant to cut, unlike the athame)  You can usually find pretty, decorative ones at antique stores, Joanne’s, or your grandmother’s basement.
• A thimble is a good substitute for a cauldron.  It’s also probably you’re only option, as there aren’t many rounded, bowl-like objects in sewing. 
• For representations of the elements, you can either carry around small squares of fabric associated with each element (I’ll go into this in my next post) with a symbol of the element embroidered into the square, or you can just carry thread in the color you associate with each element.  (I also suggest that you keep black and white thread with you.  Actually, maybe some of each color would be good)

Here is a good image of a traveling sewing kit (that you can make yourself http://sew4home.com/projects/fabric-art-a-accents/653-felt-travel-sewing-kitty )

Many sewing kits, including this one, have a small pocket for buttons, safety pins, a needle threader, and some hook and eyes.  If you plan on just using this as an altar, and not also doubling it as a sewing kit, there’s honestly no need for the hook and eyes and possibly the safety pins. (buttons can be used to represent the elements as well)  What I like to keep along with me is a small embroidery hoop, and a couple of squares of fabric for each element.  That way, I can embroider symbols in the color element I want on the fabric element I need.