Our elefantz reading this week from Jane Brocket's book The Gentle Art of Domesticity focuses on beginning and not following through on crafts. That is me. I tried so many different crafts over the years. I took up counted cross stitch way back in the day when my kids were pre-schoolers. Not sure if I took a work shop or just started. I bought patterns and floss and more patterns. I had baskets and bags of books and frames and rolls of fabric and I was going to make every one of them. I even started teaching it at our local school. We made little framed Christmas ornaments. After all, it had to be something doable for the 10-11 year olds.
Problem for me was, I wanted to have a completed something right away. I had not yet learned the art of slowing down and just stitching for the sake of enjoying stitching. Taking one stitch then another.
I even sold stitchery kits at home parties for a while. I probably bought more kits than I sold or so it seemed. I did, however, complete this one. I recall redoing that top right corner several times until I had it perfect. It had to be perfect. I operate out of left brain function and cross stitch was invented for people like me. I loved following the straight rows and columns and the counting. The colours were already selected so I did not have to pick and choose.
But I did change the colour of the cows. They had to be brown. And I did change the style of the house so it is my house. And I did change the verse because I could.
Most patterns have a floss list so you can purchase all the recommended colours. I bought lots and lots of floss. And containers to store them in.
The dates on these two samplers say I completed them in 1990. But when did I start them? I recall starting this while working as a poll clerk at a federal election. I had to sit there all day and people came in to vote sporadically. I thought it would be easy enough to do that outline border. My goodness, I had to stop and start counting so many times before I had it right. Then I stitched in all the little frames for each section. I loved it.
And why did I stop stitching samplers? Because I started not finish quilts!
Blessings,
Chris
I even sold stitchery kits at home parties for a while. I probably bought more kits than I sold or so it seemed. I did, however, complete this one. I recall redoing that top right corner several times until I had it perfect. It had to be perfect. I operate out of left brain function and cross stitch was invented for people like me. I loved following the straight rows and columns and the counting. The colours were already selected so I did not have to pick and choose.
But I did change the colour of the cows. They had to be brown. And I did change the style of the house so it is my house. And I did change the verse because I could.
Most patterns have a floss list so you can purchase all the recommended colours. I bought lots and lots of floss. And containers to store them in.
The dates on these two samplers say I completed them in 1990. But when did I start them? I recall starting this while working as a poll clerk at a federal election. I had to sit there all day and people came in to vote sporadically. I thought it would be easy enough to do that outline border. My goodness, I had to stop and start counting so many times before I had it right. Then I stitched in all the little frames for each section. I loved it.
And why did I stop stitching samplers? Because I started not finish quilts!
Blessings,
Chris
I do love this post, counted cross stitch still eludes me, I have done the stamped cross stitch kits to practice making those little XXX's but I know it isn't the same. I have patterns, fabrics floss and even kits with all the necessities but I still hesitate to start one. For now surface embroidery fills my slow stitching need. I love those two pieces you finished.
ReplyDeleteLovely stitching.
ReplyDeleteI've just rediscovered cross stitch. I'm trying to finish a large piece started in 1983. I find that magnifying readers help a lot! It seems that once I became a quilter, all other crafts fell to the bottom of the closet. Your work is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI never got into the counted cross stitch thing. I enjoy embroidery and thought that was enough. Now I make quilts, needle turn applique and EPP. That is really enough. Your samplers are lovely. Blessings!
ReplyDelete