Tattoos
1/30 days of writing challenge
I have a visible tattoo on my upper inside left arm. When I wear a tank top or a short sleeve shirt it peaks out.
“What is your tattoo?”
“Did you design it?”
“What does it mean?”
“Why a sewing machine?”
When I am in a new place I get these questions daily. I understand. I would ask too.
But somehow, before I got the tattoo I had no idea how much attention it would get.
So here are the answers to these questions.
The tattoo is a sewing machine with a half mandala (a geometric figure representing the universe in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism) under it and a chandelier detail coming off the mandala.
Some people think it looks like a sewing machine sitting on a table that is covered by a quilt. It isn’t, but art is art and whatever they see is fine.
I don’t quilt. Which blows peoples’ minds. To the general population sewing=quilting.
Anyway, back to the tattoo. I did design it. I had been planning it for over a year before I finally decided to get it done.
What does it mean? This question is harder for me to answer. I don’t think tattoos have to have a deep meaning. I usually just say “I sew” and I am amused by the faces people make to this simple reply. People want a story. They want the tattoo to represent “all the seamstresses in your bloodline who didn’t make it through the war” or some such. It’s not that deep. I sew and my grandmothers both sewed. I think it is a valuable skill.
I am not sure what people expect these days of tattoos. I guess if the tattoo was a quote, an animal, or some flowers it might get me less questions. Those are expected and usual. Although I am sure “what does it mean?” Is something that anyone with a visible tattoo gets asked.
So if you have a tattoo, tell me in the comments
– What is it?
– Did you design it?
– What does it mean?
![](https://morganfolk.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/0B9DE4D7-EB65-4F22-9EFF-9A3961D676C3_1_201_a-778x1024.jpeg)
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