I was a quilter and crocheted. I happily worked in a spacious sewing room upstairs. My husband became very ill and needed my attention, my back problems made it impossible to climb my stairs, and Covid hit. I had dabbled at cross stitch but I enthusiastically embraced it. I discovered that stitching has helped with my grief and new situation when my husband passed. I am able to stitch all day if I want.
I am a quilter and a stitcher. Both arts calm my mind. I like the creative process and choosing fabrics, colors, etc. I love the feeling of textiles in my hands.
I enjoyed this video very much, thanks! I'm getting back to Cross stitch after leaving it behind, more or less since the early 90's when I opened my quilt shop. After that phase of my life was over (where I had no life to call my own) I took a workshop with Sue Spargo and dived head first into wool appliqué with a side swipe into punch needle. (16 summers in a fire lookout phase) I am finding cross stitch now like travelling in a foreign country! So, I'm watching lots of videos, picking up tips and the fire is lit. BUT! I am also stitching in hand and am finding my left wrist is not too happy - I will have to go back and see what you did to hurt your wrist - otherwise I'll be looking for a frame of some sort. Your last question made me laugh aloud: why do you stitch? My answer is: How do I stop myself? I am happiest when my hands are busy... then there are the audiobooks! Heaven!
The reason I stitch because it relaxes me & it’s a time for me. I have been stitching since 1980 & will continue for many yrs to come. Have been watching you since day 1. Love ir
I stich because it's something I really enjoy. I also love all the beautiful patterns. I also love collecting sewing items: buttons, thimbles, old sewing items. I worry so much about the back of my work because I hear so many who feel that the back should be perfect. Sometimes it takes some of the joy away. Your works were refreshing today. Thank you!
Don't worry about the back ... focus on following a few best practices and creating beautiful joy-filled stitches on the front and the back will take care of itself!
Thanks again for a wonderful video. Why do I stitch? Well there are several reasons, first is that I really enjoy stitching or I should say crafting. It relaxes me. I also love how you have this plan piece of fabric that has nothing on it and you end up with a beautiful picture where there was nothing. I also don't like sitting idle my hands need to be doing something. I have been wondering about a lap stand, so thank you for showing yours and giving tips. Hope your hand continues to heal and do it fast. Happy Stitching everyone.
I am brand new, pretty much to Crossstitch only have dabbled in it just a small amount and your question of why you stitch really resonates with me in this hectic, busy world that we live in I just want to leave something behind for my six grand children that provides a connection between us
thank you for your informative video…I was one of those who bought scissors from your Etsy store and I love my pair. ❤ The reason(s) I stitch are myriad. It soothes me, lets me enter a quiet place in my spirit and become contemplative even though my hands are busy. My husband recently fell and broke his hip and I started a stitch while he was in the hospital and rehab facility. It was a way for me to be present with him and yet not idle. That piece is now complete, currently being framed, and I will always remember the circumstances in my life when I stitched it. I love the process and the camaraderie I have with other stitchers.
Why do I stitch? Excellent question with a long list of reasons. For me, at this time, it is what the inner artist in me is telling me to do. Cross stitch satisfies my need to play with lovely fabrics and threads, and the relaxation benefits are important. The cross stitch community is wonderful too. Plus it is a hobby that doesn't have to be very expensive, though I really do love the luxury linens and flosses!😁
I started stitching again after a 20 year hiatus. I find now stitching calms my soul in a way I’ve never experienced before. The connection between my hand,the cloth and needle/ thread is very therapeutic. I love where cross stitch has grown…the exciting patterns,the many beautiful dyed fabrics and the softness and then all those many different thread options. It’s an unbelievable hobby and has become part of my daily life. Thank you for all your awesome videos, I’ve learned so much from you. PS…I bought the Cosmo cotton floss….wow love them and now have a great stash Thank you
Such a great flosstube, Jean! Thank you for all he advice - so worthwhile! I like to cross stitch because it’s like meditation for me. I started in the early ‘80s because I was drawn to colonial farmhouse styles and found samplers complemented my decorating style plus satisfied my creative side. While I was a mom of two and worked full time in a high level position in an international insurance company, I would stitch on the plane and at night to relax and also to brainstorm/think through work projects etc. Now that I’m retired, I spend a very good portion of each day stitching. Until the pandemic, and searching the net for instructions on a specific stitch, I didn’t realize the world of the cross stitch community - in that search, your flosstube popped up - and, after watching & learning from you, my world really expanded! What a gift! Especially since my LNS had closed. I feel my stitching has improved tenfold and that I should probably go back to work to support my “habit”! Thank you again!
Thank you for your flosstube and for this very poignant question! I stitch because I like to create beautiful objects with my hands that are not functional. We usually do all the time things that have a purpose, but cross stitching is only for the pleasure of the eye, like a nice photograph, or a pretty painting. I like it because it's not connected with our time and it's a reflect of a bygone era. We don't need to mark linens, but we do like to do it, just because it's nice to have our hands creating beautiful shapes on fabric. I stitch because it keeps me occupied with my plans (choosing a patten, the fabric, the threads...) and it's very relaxing. I also think a lot while I am stitching, about myself, my life (past, present and future) and my needs. Moreover, it's my realm, where I am queen. I decide and it's my responsibility. There is no need for compromises or dialogue with anybody! I stitch because I hope that someone in my family or even someone unknow, in the future, when I will be gone, could appreciate my stitched piece and enjoyey them on their wall. Happy Stitching!
I stitch for the process not so much for the finish. I like how it makes me feel when I am in stitching mode. The whole world can be in turmoil but my mind is calm because I am stitching. Eventually I’m going to finish all my completed projects but it it is the stitching I love most.
How nice to be asked why we stitch.....Having been a stitcher many years ago I came back to stitching in our second lockdown of 2020. Having lost my brother due to COVID I needed something that would take me away from thinking about this sad time and give me some me time and space, it worked then and still does, I can loose hours and be in my own world and come back refreshed ready to fight another day.... I so recommend it.
I love your question...and your Flosstube, Jean. I stitch because...it keeps me on my diet! If I'm stitching, I'm not in the kitchen! Beyond that, however, I stitch because it relaxes me and gives me such a feeling of satisfaction when I see progress. Thank you for what you give to all of us!
Thank you for asking why we stitch. I do it for many reasons: it’s relaxing, fun, sometimes challenging, stress reliever (it saved me during Covid lockdowns), and I like being creative. It also is a healthier alternative to emotional eating. 😃 I also stitch because other people have derived pleasure from seeing my work, and although that sounds quite vain, I like being able to give others joy and distract them from their troubles, if only for a few minutes. Thank you for sharing your talent and wisdom and giving other people joy. ☺️🪡
I think I stitch because it calms my soul. I wear many hats in my world but this one is MY hat. Thank you for teaching this old dog some new tricks along the way. 😊
I am so pleased that you are able to stitch again, with certain accommodations. I returned to stitching during lockdown, and thanks to your instructional floss tube videos, I was able to pick right up. I also felt, and continue to feel, that I was part of a community when I really needed it. I think we all did. Lastly, nothing feels more gratifying than a beautiful finished project.
I stitch because first I enjoy it! It is something I can doing anytime and most any where. Thanks for sharing your stitching and knowledge. Have a good week!😊🪡
There are many reasons why I stitch. I love the fabric, the threads, the charts and watching the motif come to life. The repetitive motion is therapeutic and I cherish the alone time to process my daily life in my head while being creative. Finally, my spouse/partner has macular degeneration and requires regular visits to receive injections. I can tote my cross stitch while waiting and happily stitch while waiting. Also, Jean, I can listen to and watch interesting UA-cam videos like yours while I stitch. I simply adore the stitching community! ❤ 🪡🧵
I've always loved hand made things, so I enjoy all kinds of needlework. I find it calming and meditative too. As a nurse, I didn't have anything tangible to show for all my work, so stitching lets me be creative and gives me something to show, enjoy, and leave behind for my children and grandchildren. I like to decorate my home with my projects and make gifts for others. I'm glad you are on the mend!
I am glad to see that your hand is improving! As a physical therapist (now retired) I can say that doing what the therapist says -exercise etc. is very important to get the best results from your surgery! I liked your discussion about scissors very much in both this episode and the last. I have a number of pairs of scissors that I use exclusively for needlework. The best ones are reserved for counted cross stitch, counted thread and hardanger. Others I use for yarn, or metallics. One issue I have is that I must "try on" any scissors that I buy to make certain that the finger holes are large enough for my fingers. I love the look of stork scissors, but I find the finger holes are too tight for me! I liked your sit on frame. I have used one, but I have always used it under the outside of my thigh. I will have to try it between my legs as you did. I prefer to use split rod scroll frames (no basting) (F.A. Edmunds) for most of my work. I have a wonderful "portable" floor stand from K's Creations that can hold a scroll frame, hoop or Q Snap. It is so versatile! And I have several sizes of their lap frames to use with different size projects. I do stitch in hand for smaller projects and find that works for many things. I only tighten my fabric "drum tight" when I am doing Igolochkoy (Russian punchneedle). I stitch because I like the creativity involved. When I complete a project, I have a sense of accomplishment and can see something lovely. I also like to stitch because have met some wonderful people because of it! I find it relaxing (most of the time). I have been known to 'research' the colors of floss to use on a project because I am not certain if the ones indicated by the designer are right for me. I do crochet, needlepoint, counted cross stitch Hardanger and counted thread. I prefer counted cross stitch to needlepoint because with certain designs I can adjust the stitches to include 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 stitches to smooth out the lines of a picture. Often needlepoint is too zig-zaggy for me! My sister, her kids and grandkids will often ask for something specific that they would like. Unfortunately, that means I put my own project aside to finish what they have requested! That's why my ALTWL is not nearly finished! Sometimes you can have a needle (with any finish) that becomes discolored and that can be due to medication that you are taking (especially some antibiotics). Your body chemistry can change and that can affect your needles. In that case I find that changing needles often is helpful. Thank you again for your wonderful floss tube episodes. They are very thoughtful, knowledgeable and encouraging!
I started stitching in 2015 as a stress relief when I had to start taking care of my mother. I did not care what I was stitching, I just stitched. Fast forward to today, a monster has been created. I have stash, I have WIPs, I have multiple stands, dozens for rods and hoops. Very few finishes, but I am working on that. I still have a lot to learn, but now I am trying to improve my stitching. Trying to stitch the best that I can. I have loved the journey.
Thank you for your informative video today. I stitch to relax and to keep my mind busy. This is more important today than ever as my husband died almost 2 years ago. Stitching is my company and passion; it is so rewarding when a project is finished.
I stitch first because I really enjoy it. I have several friends I stitch with quite regularly and we have a wonderful kinship. Plus, I like starting with a bunch of supplies-a plain piece of fabric, a handful of colored floss, a needle, a pattern and ending up with a wonderful project. Almost like making something from nothing. Thanks for all of your tips.
I learned to stitch in the early 80’s as a young Army wife and new mom. It was just what this city girl needed when stationed in the middle of nowhere. I have no artistic talent and yet when I stitch I can create beautiful things. My mathematical brain likes the exactness of the stitches unlike surface embroidery which I never liked. If you control your shopping and don’t buy every pattern you like it can be a hobby that doesn’t cost too much money. Roxie took me 50 weeks to complete but she’s a beauty. I usually have one project going at a time but this year I have done a few small things as a take a break from ALTWL. Stitching is a relaxing break from the busy times we live in.
I started stitching way back in the 1980s as a relaxation or a wind down activity after work. Today, it's still a therapeutic thing for me. But also it provides me with a creative and productive endeavour. It also allows me to show people I care about them when I give them hand-stitched gifts. I make sure that the stitched pieces are relevant to them by choosing designs that reflect things they like or are important to them. It makes the gift more thoughtful and personal. And recipients always appreciate such gifts. I have done all sorts of crafts but cross stitch is my first love so I will always be cross stitching. Stay safe Jean 💕
When I first started stitching I was working in a very stressful environment. Stitching provided a time to calm my mind and recharge. I stitched for myself and did not frame any of the pieces. I just stored them away once completed. Since I have retired, my stitching has provided me with a daily purpose. I have tried to expand and challenge myself to use different count fabrics, more intricate patterns, and different type stitches. I have also learned to fully finish pieces myself as well as having a few professional framed. In addition, I discovered floss tube, and I am in awe how large the stitching community is. I have gifted a few of my pieces and have learned not everyone wants a stitched piece as a gift. Enough said on that subject. So, I tend to keep my stitched pieces and display in my home.
Very good question! The main reason I stitch (and or knit) is that it relaxes me. I can say that I do it to challenge myself or to create a gift or something to decorate my home or myself or to learn something thing new, but the bottom line is really that it relaxes me. Thanks for the tip about Gingher scissors- going to check my stork scissors now! I hope the healing continues! I broke my left wrist six years ago when I was only knitting - and it was so frustrating- I knew what I wanted my fingers to do but they just wouldn’t cooperate!
Hi Jean. Loved you most recent flossTube but just had a couple of comments that I hope you will find helpful. I am a long time #28 Petite needle stitcher. Recently John James and several other companies who sold good quality Petites stopped producing them. There were various rumors as to why (lack of the right gauge wire, lack of craftsmen expert enough to manufacture these tiny needles, etc). The point is, #28 Petites became very scarce. There is a company (new to me, don’t know how long they’ve been in business) out of India that manufactures PONY needles. They come in colors that vary according to size and type of needle. They also make needles that look black with white eyes. These black and white needles are NICKLE FREE. This company makes needles in size 28 Petite as well as all the regular sizes. I have found the Pony Needles in #28 Petite to be of excellent quality and wonderful to use. The colored eye makes threading a bit easier as the opening seems more visible. I found the nickle free #28 Petites occasionally would develop wear at the join point of the eye and the shaft. Friends who also stitch with those same needles say they aren’t having that issue, so maybe it’s more to do with the way I stitch. I do believe Piecemaker still manufactures #28 Petite, but I’ve never used those. Some reasons why many of us love the Petite length needles is: the shorter length allows you to stitch closer to the end of your floss so there’s a bit less re-threading - the shorter length is less likely to bend or break - they feel more delicate in hand which is something one either loves or not - I also find it easier to keep my floss from twisting when using Petites. I wonder if there are more reasons to love #28 Petites that some of your other viewers might have? Also, it looked to me like your Seat stand might be a Nurge? I went through quite a few different seat stands before I finally found the Nurge, which I really like. I wonder if you could talk a little more about the type of seat frame you’re using and what qualities about it you like. (And am I right about the brand you’re using?) Thanks again Jean for sharing your love and knowledge. I’ve been stitching for years, but always seem to find either new information or important reminders just by listening and watching your videos. I hope your hand continues healing well. Sincerely, Barbara Dierolf
The #1 reason I stitch is for the calmness it bring over me. There are other reasons, the accomplishment of completing a piece of art - stitch by stitch, i have friends who stitch and it brings us together.
To answer your question as to why I stitch. I stitch mainly to keep myself busy with something I love to do. I feel accomplished when I do finish stitching a project. I love all the threads and supplies I use while stitching. I like doing things by my self. I stitch so that everyone can leave me alone. Thanks for making videos. I love watching them because you always have something interesting to share with us. God bless you
Thank you for your lovely videos. I am late to this video but will comment anyways, I stitch because I just love the magic of stitching, all these threads come together like magic. It also calms my mind, I feel I have purpose, goals, and process in my creativity. I am working on my very first cross stitch design by Jacob de Graaf, I love it, even though it's different and the holes are hard to find! I also do needlepoint, very traditional basketweave and no other stitches, so I am not entirely new to stitching. For me after a long day in the office, to come home and stitch a cross or a slant stitch where I don't have to think too much, is just the most perfect way to unwind. I don't want complication in my stitching, I don't want to have to figure out new stitches or stress over something, I have other hobbies where I do that LOL. Weaving and developing my rolls of film at home take a lot of concentration, maths, chemistry, measuring out etc. but I LOVE them both. Stitching and knitting are my go to for relaxation.
I'm so glad you're seeing progress in your healing, Jean. Even though you've had to make some concessions, it's great that you've been able to get back to your needlework. Why do I stitch? Let me start by saying I am slightly neurodivergent. At the age of 70+ I was finally diagnosed with ADHD and I'm still learning how t deal with it. That said, I started doing needlework from charts when I was in my late 20's, long before I had that diagnosis. I began with needlepoint, and found great pleasure in picking the ground stitches I would use as background, and sometimes even for the foreground figures. I like geometric patterns. I find it very soothing to see how neatly and consistently I can make areas of stitches so they stand out and enhance the shapes I'm filling in. I found myself increasingly priced out of needlepoint designs, so next I taught myself crochet, then knitting English style. Did I mention I'm left handed? My poor mother gave up trying to teach me to knit. She thought that Continental would come easily to me because of using the left hand to tension the yarn! Nope. By then I was too used to holding a crochet hook left--handed and tensioning with my right hand. And once I was comfortable with English style knitting, over the years I found I liked fairly simple, repetitive patterns made of knit-purl-yp and slip stitches, involving one yarn at a time, to create not garments but shapes. Squares, rectangles, triangles, occasional circles. Then I spotted a needlepoint kit patterned after one of my favorite images, "Smoky Mountain Cats." I had to have it. the needlepoint kit was... unsubtle with the color gradations that make the original painting so distinctive. Enter cross stitch. Repetitive stitches, worked from a chart, relatively little confetti, etc. I was able to combine the soothing act of process stitching with an actual somewhat intricate object when I was finished. Which I guess is a long story that basically says, I stitch to provide a focus that lets me create while listening to or watching someone else's creative output. I like the physical, repetitive, patterned nature of cross stitch. I like that I can work on something relatively simple, like a monocolor sampler that has a lot of text, or a wild yet logical geometric like CM Design's patchwork. And I'm working up to restarting my Smoky Mountain Cats now that I have a better understanding of fabric types, fractional stitches, and combining 2 or 3 shades of blue thread to create those subtle color shifts.
I love to stitch for oh so many reasons...it's homeliness, the connection that I have with family who sitiched--wonderful memories of what I stitched as a child. I love the affordability, the accessability for so many and the wonderous ways that I can explore my love of color, textiles, and learning...It's also just plain fun for me! And, bonus, I get to meet so many others who love the same things even though we express ourselves in very different ways!! Kudos to you for your fine, thoughful and expansive thoughts on this art!!
Great discussion from you again Jean. I stitch for creativity and love but also for brain stimulation as l believe keeping your brain active is more important or as important as exercising our limbs.❤
I have many different pairs of scissors. I have from some one the cheapest to the $60 range. Some of my favorite are the cheaper ones, but I take very good care of all my scissors. The points are always protected and I don’t use them for anything except my threads. Some I have had for approximately 36 years and they cut the same today as they did the day I bought them. I stitch to keep my sanity. When I’m stitching, that’s all I’m thinking about how to keep my stitching beautiful. All the other worries seem to disappear while I’m stitching and it gives me something so satisfying when I’m done with the project.
I stitch because I love it, and to make my days happy, I'm a home person, i was born with i broken back, so I have made it my life to be as good as i can at working with my hands❤
Happy to see that your recovery is coming along well, and you can stitch again! I stitch to have a creative outlet, to have something repetitive and soothing, to be doing something useful with my hands while I think about things, to enjoy the feel of the fabrics and fibers, and see the interaction of the colors and textures. I also feel that with a needle in my hand I am part of the long line of stitchers through the years (my grandmothers, aunts and mother, friends and now my daughter among them).
I stitch because I have a love of thread, color, texture and a sense of accomplishment. I look forward to it each day and I love the community each type of needlework provides.
I do needlework because I like doing it and you get something lovely when you're finished. I don't tend to follow the "rules". As long as the piece is neat and pretty on the front, I don't worry about much else.
I’ve been cross stitching almost every day for the past 25 years. I quickly get bored with tv so I stitch while listening to Utube or the tv. It’s relaxing.
Thank you for a very informative video. I find your insight and expertise in Stitching so informative, how else would I learn about so many useful things involving this creative process. As to why I stitch, I was an avid quilter for very many years. I did do a home sweet home embroidery piece about 25 years ago. I tried needlepoint, but that was not enjoyable for me. About five years ago a quilting friend of mine got me hooked on cross stitching, and I have not looked back since. My husband was in and out of hospitals and doctors appointments for about three years before he passed two years ago and I found that having a piece of Crosstitch to work on while doing the waiting help to ease my mind. I am retired and live alone and stitching gives me a purpose in my day. Sometimes I wake up at four in the morning and will pick up my Cross Stitch sometimes I stay up till midnight and stitch, it is always there for me.
I stitch because I love to create! It is very relaxing for me and I can decorate my home with whatever I create. I get great joy out of stitching. I also quilt which gives me the same satisfaction of creating something beautiful. And like I tell my friends, it keeps me out of the bars! 🤣
I was never happier as a child being given a new colouring book and some felt tip pens. For me it’s like colouring in ; but with thread. Ps I can’t even sew a button on, so for non cross stitchers I actually look quite clever 😂
I honestly don't know why I love cross stitching. I have been stitching for years and I'm not sure if it's the process or the end result that I like best. I was taught how to sew, crochet, and do regular embroidery by my mother, but she couldn't seem to wrap her head around cross stitch. I learned with my cousin, and from then on, if Mama wanted something, I stitched it for her. Maybe that's why I love it. If my mama saw a pattern that she liked, I would always stitch it for her. It was my way of giving back for everything she did for me. Now I find it very relaxing and rewarding. ❤
I started when I had a new baby and a 2 yr. old back in the early 80’s for something for me I stayed home after I had my kids and it was a hard time at times back then no internet although I’m glad I did it it was lonely at times.. So I found something and started it still 40+ years later I still love it. I love to relax zone out and create while enjoying.Its got me thru some bad times and good times.
Stitching is a passion for me. I love seeing how the floss lays on the fabric and making a picture. I love the process and a bit like the ending to a good book, I look forward to seeing the completed project.
I'm a longtime WW person too and got to lifetime...twice. lol...but I'm with you that it seems to make me constantly focus on food and I just want to be free...want to be "normal." You're inspiring to share your car analogy and grief. My dad passed 23 years ago and I know I avoided true grief at that time which made the pounds come on bigtime. Now i know he'd be disappointed that I'm not as healthy as I could be. And add a foot injury and now I cant walk like I had been. Makes it tough, but thanks for sharing the plate focus which is a great strategy. Hoping to use the crockpot much this fall! I think WW concepts like planning, water, daily fruits and veggies will still stick with me but yeah, I think I need to make a shift. Thank you!
I like to stitch for a couple of reasons. It brings me an inner peace. It is calming when my inner seas are rough. I also like to stitch because it is creative. To take a blank piece of fabric and create an image with x's is quite amazing. This applies to all of the stitching I do--knitting, cross stitch, quilting, embroidery, etc.
Thank you for another wonderful episode! I loved hearing you reference the great Southern expression, “Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise!” I actually have made a needle minder with this expression, created from my original hand-lettered version.
Thank you jean for this latest video. I seem to have missed the last 2 so I will go back and watch them now. It was an interesting discussion on needles. I have been having lessons from a Royal School of Needlework tutor and she was at great pains constantly to point out it should be the thread makes the hole not the needle and you choose the needle size that accommodates the thread. I have been trying crewel and stump work lately in readiness for leaving work after teaching Midwives for 38 years. I was worried that I may not know what to do with myself. I know I am laughing at myself now. When I stitch I loose myself and time does not exist, I am at peace, calm and still, apart from the thread going in and out of the fabric. I even set a reminder to make sure I do not go on too long in the evening when I have work the following day. So why do I stitch , because it makes me happy, relaxed and at peace. So glad you are recovering well and are finding ways to continue to stitch.
I stitch because I love it. I tried many different crafts over the years. My mother could knit, crochet, sew, needlepoint, etc. and she taught me all of them but there came a point that I realized that counted cross stitch was the most satisfying for me. I have used many different counts of Aida and linen, tried samplers and full-coverage pieces and even dabbled in designing my own work. I love learning new skills through Flosstube (most importantly the loop start) and finishing techniques. My next project is silk thread on silk gauze!
I stitch for relaxation, I love making homemade items, yes I decorate with stitched items, and carry on my Mother's Grandmother's, Great Grandmother's traditions ❤
Hi Jean! Was at Stitch Point in Friendly this weekend. Told them you sent me! I stitch first for the community. When I’m stitching, I’m connecting to the women before me. I’m thinking of my mom, my grandmother, all their friends and family who taught me all the things. I also love the sound of thread through fabric, the pattern coming to life AND all the pretty accessories!
Why do I stitch…It is relaxing. I knit and crochet and have designed in both. I have taken art classes and have some knowledge of color, line and design but what I put to paper never is right. So I can take a needle and thread and create. Some times I do as the designer did, some times I vary the out come. It is fun.
Why do I stitch? I have a creative gene. I remember a holiday with family friends where their Grandmother who was in a wheelchair did embroidery. Well I had to try so we found a haberdashers (this was Scotland in the 1960s where every town had a haberdashers) and Mum bought a printed tray cloth, some threads and needles. I remember loving one particular blue that was called Periwinkle. I would have been 9. I still have the tray cloth and some subsequent pieces. Fast forward to the late 1970s. I am newly married. My mother in law and her friend discovered cross stitch. I liked the look of it so had a go. It was a small bell pull. I was hooked. In those days we did the wonderful (and expensive) Eva Rosenstand kits. I always used a hoop because that is how I was taught. Due to carpel tunnel in both wrists I gave up about 12-15 years ago. But then I discovered Floss Tube and saw people using stands. It has been wonderful to be able to return to this creative outlet. Sadly the eyesight doesn’t let me to 36 count linen anymore but I am beginning to try different types of magnifiers. Haven’t found just the right one yet but working on it. Needles - arthritic hands determine what size I use. And yes being able to thread it. Thanks for the informative video.
3 years ago I broke my left wrist. It’s my dominant hand. Once the hand healed, I ended upon with carpal tunnel. The long and short of it. I was able to stitch again. Keep going to physical therapy, it does work.
I stitch for the pure joy of creating things. I find my stitching is a confidence booster too. We have so many beautiful options out there and it is awesome to pick up something that I never thought I'd stitch or stitch on! See you soon in Boston!
An avid quilter for years, especially hand stitching, I had a stroke 7 years ago which affected my left side. Unable to do quilting with one hand I returned to cross stitch to satisfy my urge for handwork. I have partial use of my left hand now and alternate quilting and cross stitch. I totally know how frustrating it is to lose the use of one hand. Having been ambidextrous and able to demonstrate skills with either hand, it seems strange to be basically right handed now. I've revised techniques to make it doable with what I can do now. Never say never. Have you considered stitching with your fabric in the well of the hoop? I find it easier to access the back and it gives you the hoop rim to rest your hand against while stitching.
Really great episode. A couple of things. 1. UA-cam notifications are imperfect. I am subscribed and have the notifications set to "all," but somehow missed your scissors episode. I will go back and watch as soon as I finish my Saturday morning "chores" 2. Thanks for all the insights regarding needles. I am a relatively new-ish stitcher and still trying out different types and finding my favorite. 3. Why do I stitch? First and foremost, I find it relaxing and calming. It gives me joy. As you say, it's my happy place. Also, although I am a creative person in the musical arts, I have never been particularly gifted in visual arts (drawing, painting, etc.). Stitching gives me the ability to fill that part creativity niche. Lastly, I enjoy learning new things and skills. I am the person you mentioned who wants to "up their game" and "become a better stitcher. After two years of stitching on Aida with DMC, I have made this year the year of taking on projects to advance my stitching: ✔️stitching on evenweave and linen over two ✔️stitching with different flosses: overdyed cotton (WDW & GAST), Sulky thread, and silk ✔️Stitching a Mirabilia so I can try beading Thank you for your videos. Really enjoy your content.
I had to use a Snag Nab It tool to bring a tail fuzzy end back to the back side recently. All my Gingher scissors are etched with Gingher Italy on them. Great explanation on needles, I have tried to explain this to so many. Some use the same needle size regardless of their fabric, which makes me crazy, but to each his own. The petites feel weird to me, very short; but worked well on a higher count linen stitching in hand, which I normally don't stitch that way. I like to use a hoop, but this was a quick small design. I think with the center eye needle I'd end up sticking myself!! I began this hobby (embroidery too) at age 15 (I'm in my 60's now), it has always fascinated me watching a design come to life. I try to stitch every evening and not have to Frog anything. To me it is relaxing, relieves any stresses of that day and a way of me being creative, making one of a kind gifts & also to decorate my home. Another good video, thanks!
Glad you see u are healing- a bit at a time - thanks as always for your most informative sessions - I stitch - like to have something to do with my hands - cross-stitch because easy to kit - travel with - always have at hand - love seeing the project come to life in the fabric - and the finished project - I have no more than 4-5 projects at time - a couple travel projects that I always take with me because u never know when you will be stuck someplace and need something to work on- and a couple at home to work on -have a great day
Hi Jean - thank you for your valued opinions! I always get some pearl of wisdom to consider for my stitching. You mentioned the petite needles and that you weren’t sure why others find them enjoyable (sorry if I misquoted you there), but I use a 28 petite and I love them for two reasons: I have small hands so they work better than a longer needle for me and secondly, I tend to play “thread chicken” - unintentionally- but I can tuck my thread piece under the last of my stitches when there’s barely a wisp left! Then, “why do I stitch”? Well, I MUST! The quote you often see “ my day is not complete until needle, thread and fabric meet”, is only half true for me - yes, stitching completes my day, but it also begins my day (unless something o toward happens🙄) and that “centers me throughout the day. If I happen to get some mid-day stitching in, all the better! Sometimes it seems I “require it” like I require water, air and other essentials! The idea of leaving a piece of myself for my children and grandchildren gives me warm fuzzies, but even if they didn’t exist, I feel I’d still do it simply out of the love for the craft. Why do you stitch? I hope that will get answered in your next video, and if not, I’ll try and remember to ask you on the New England cruise here in a month👏🏻
I have 2 pair of gingher cutting scissors. I got them when I worked in the fabric department at Ben Franklin. They have only been used for cutting fabric. I have had them since 1996. Never been sharpened. I love all your practical information. I stitch in hand also. I have been doing counted cross stitch since 1975. Before that I did embroidery crewel and needlepoint. I guess it just makes me happy. I never try to compare myself with others. I stitch on what I like I don't really care for all these linens that are so small. I can stitch on them. But I want to see the stitching not to have to get a magnifying glass to see it.
Excellent information,I’m glad that your hand is doing better…I stitch because I like all the things used and the quietness and calming sense that I get from slowing down..Thank you for taking the time to share stitching information..
It keeps my mind busy and I don’t think as much. I ran fast food and I was use to multi tasking also and now I can’t do it so cross stitch busys me. Great info on needles.
What is the brand of your seat frame? It looks like it would work better for me than the tabletop frame I have but rarely use. I now stitch because it is hand work that is portable. I was first a quilter, but it’s not portable or easily portable. Now I am both. I LOVE both and want to become more and more proficient doing both. They are an expression of love to craft something beautiful as a gift or have in my guest room for company. I am guilty of keeping my current stitching project in the hoop… mostly for convenience. Thank you for these topics and helpful information.
Using a petite helps when your thread is running out and you need to finish it off. That difference in length of the needle has saved me from having to start a new thread for that last stitch. I use the coated pony needles. They are very comfortable to stitch with.
I stitch because I find it relaxing and have something attractive for my home in the end. I also love learning about the history of needlework, especially all the women (and maybe a few men) who have done the craft over the centuries around the world. Do you have a recommended booklist on needlework to share? I hope you continue to improve in your recovery. As always, a very informative episode. Thank you so much for doing these videos. I bought a pair of Big Bow scissors from you and love them! I appreciate all of your great recommendations! Tulle or bias tape? They aren't sticky, so how do you secure them at the end of the wrap? What manufacturer made your seat frame? Do you have a tutorial on attaching beads? I couldn't find one, but would like to see how you do yours. I would love to cruise with you, but I get so seasick. Have a wonderful time!
I stitched before kids and enjoyed it immensely Took a break to raise my boys and started back up when COVID hit - it was relaxing for me and kept me busy when I wasn’t working. I’m still stitching- but along the way I’ve been stressing myself out to get projects done for gifts. I need to work on not getting stressed out and enjoy the process of stitching…
I stitch to calm my mind. It’s the same ‘zen’ I get when building puzzles. Stitching is like building a puzzle! Now I’m looking into lap stands - would love some recommendations for a lap stand that I can use with Nurge hoops, Qsnaps and/or scroll frame.
Hi. I love to stitch I get so much pleasure from it and it is very relaxing. I found the Pony Black needles they are made from titanium. After using these I find that I a nickel plated needle my hand hurts and they are not comfortable in my hand. Thank you for all you share with us.
I don't know why I stitch. I just do it and. Love it. Hand works is my thing. I knit crochet quilt and other things. I have a charm quilt. 3500 pieces. 1 inch by 1 1/2 inch. No two fabric the same. Cotten. I mayfly quilt be hand but because of all the seams I had it machine quilted.
Heartland Quilting and Stitching has small, lightweight needle minders. They are unique in that the needle goes through the center of the needleminder--not on top. Their needleminders are beautiful.
Stitching for me is therapy... I do not take any pills to be able to go through the day... I stitch or quilt throughout the night... if I am happy or unhappy I stitch... if I am mad or very very angry, I stitch ( that way I do not kill my loving husband)... if I have a problem and need to find a solution, I stitch! In my opinion it is better than talking to a psychologist or therapist or even a doctor. Hard to do that with artrose on both hands, but I still do it.
When mentioning needles, you didn’t say anything about the ball point needle and I’d love to hear your take on them. I stitch full coverage and so this needle seems to work best for this type of stitching. Another reason I like these needles, is the eye of the needle is the smoothest one I’ve threaded so far. I’ve not been able to fine another needle with a similar eye. I wish I could as I prefer using a pin stitch to finish my threads, but this is hard to do with the ball point needle.
Can you please give me specifics about your sit stand. Brand name would be helpful. I have a very large one now and it's too difficult to use. Thanks much !!
When stitching in hand, you can use the sewing method but you don't have to. Basically, it means stitching without a hoop or any kind of frame. Thanks for the good wishes!
Hmmm ... I also clicked on it and found the same error message so I checked the URL and it's correct. All I can think is that Etsy is having an issue. Hopefully, it will be fixed soon!
I was a quilter and crocheted. I happily worked in a spacious sewing room upstairs. My husband became very ill and needed my attention, my back problems made it impossible to climb my stairs, and Covid hit. I had dabbled at cross stitch but I enthusiastically embraced it. I discovered that stitching has helped with my grief and new situation when my husband passed. I am able to stitch all day if I want.
I am a quilter and a stitcher. Both arts calm my mind. I like the creative process and choosing fabrics, colors, etc. I love the feeling of textiles in my hands.
Ditto!
I enjoyed this video very much, thanks! I'm getting back to Cross stitch after leaving it behind, more or less since the early 90's when I opened my quilt shop. After that phase of my life was over (where I had no life to call my own) I took a workshop with Sue Spargo and dived head first into wool appliqué with a side swipe into punch needle. (16 summers in a fire lookout phase) I am finding cross stitch now like travelling in a foreign country! So, I'm watching lots of videos, picking up tips and the fire is lit. BUT! I am also stitching in hand and am finding my left wrist is not too happy - I will have to go back and see what you did to hurt your wrist - otherwise I'll be looking for a frame of some sort. Your last question made me laugh aloud: why do you stitch? My answer is: How do I stop myself? I am happiest when my hands are busy... then there are the audiobooks! Heaven!
I like taking a blank piece of fabric and seeing a picture appear. It’s magical.
Me too. The stitching comes to life. ❤
The reason I stitch because it relaxes me & it’s a time for me. I have been stitching since 1980 & will continue for many yrs to come. Have been watching you since day 1. Love ir
I stich because it's something I really enjoy. I also love all the beautiful patterns. I also love collecting sewing items: buttons, thimbles, old sewing items. I worry so much about the back of my work because I hear so many who feel that the back should be perfect. Sometimes it takes some of the joy away. Your works were refreshing today. Thank you!
Don't worry about the back ... focus on following a few best practices and creating beautiful joy-filled stitches on the front and the back will take care of itself!
Thanks again for a wonderful video. Why do I stitch? Well there are several reasons, first is that I really enjoy stitching or I should say crafting. It relaxes me. I also love how you have this plan piece of fabric that has nothing on it and you end up with a beautiful picture where there was nothing. I also don't like sitting idle my hands need to be doing something. I have been wondering about a lap stand, so thank you for showing yours and giving tips. Hope your hand continues to heal and do it fast. Happy Stitching everyone.
I am brand new, pretty much to Crossstitch only have dabbled in it just a small amount and your question of why you stitch really resonates with me in this hectic, busy world that we live in I just want to leave something behind for my six grand children that provides a connection between us
thank you for your informative video…I was one of those who bought scissors from your Etsy store and I love my pair. ❤ The reason(s) I stitch are myriad. It soothes me, lets me enter a quiet place in my spirit and become contemplative even though my hands are busy. My husband recently fell and broke his hip and I started a stitch while he was in the hospital and rehab facility. It was a way for me to be present with him and yet not idle. That piece is now complete, currently being framed, and I will always remember the circumstances in my life when I stitched it. I love the process and the camaraderie I have with other stitchers.
Why do I stitch? Excellent question with a long list of reasons. For me, at this time, it is what the inner artist in me is telling me to do. Cross stitch satisfies my need to play with lovely fabrics and threads, and the relaxation benefits are important. The cross stitch community is wonderful too. Plus it is a hobby that doesn't have to be very expensive, though I really do love the luxury linens and flosses!😁
I started stitching again after a 20 year hiatus. I find now stitching calms my soul in a way I’ve never experienced before.
The connection between my hand,the cloth and needle/ thread is very therapeutic.
I love where cross stitch has grown…the exciting patterns,the many beautiful dyed fabrics and the softness and then all those many different thread options.
It’s an unbelievable hobby and has become part of my daily life.
Thank you for all your awesome videos, I’ve learned so much from you.
PS…I bought the Cosmo cotton floss….wow love them and now have a great stash
Thank you
Such a great flosstube, Jean! Thank you for all he advice - so worthwhile! I like to cross stitch because it’s like meditation for me. I started in the early ‘80s because I was drawn to colonial farmhouse styles and found samplers complemented my decorating style plus satisfied my creative side. While I was a mom of two and worked full time in a high level position in an international insurance company, I would stitch on the plane and at night to relax and also to brainstorm/think through work projects etc. Now that I’m retired, I spend a very good portion of each day stitching. Until the pandemic, and searching the net for instructions on a specific stitch, I didn’t realize the world of the cross stitch community - in that search, your flosstube popped up - and, after watching & learning from you, my world really expanded! What a gift! Especially since my LNS had closed. I feel my stitching has improved tenfold and that I should probably go back to work to support my “habit”! Thank you again!
Thank you for your flosstube and for this very poignant question! I stitch because I like to create beautiful objects with my hands that are not functional. We usually do all the time things that have a purpose, but cross stitching is only for the pleasure of the eye, like a nice photograph, or a pretty painting. I like it because it's not connected with our time and it's a reflect of a bygone era. We don't need to mark linens, but we do like to do it, just because it's nice to have our hands creating beautiful shapes on fabric. I stitch because it keeps me occupied with my plans (choosing a patten, the fabric, the threads...) and it's very relaxing. I also think a lot while I am stitching, about myself, my life (past, present and future) and my needs. Moreover, it's my realm, where I am queen. I decide and it's my responsibility. There is no need for compromises or dialogue with anybody! I stitch because I hope that someone in my family or even someone unknow, in the future, when I will be gone, could appreciate my stitched piece and enjoyey them on their wall. Happy Stitching!
I stitch for the process not so much for the finish. I like how it makes me feel when I am in stitching mode. The whole world can be in turmoil but my mind is calm because I am stitching. Eventually I’m going to finish all my completed projects but it it is the stitching I love most.
How nice to be asked why we stitch.....Having been a stitcher many years ago I came back to stitching in our second lockdown of 2020. Having lost my brother due to COVID I needed something that would take me away from thinking about this sad time and give me some me time and space, it worked then and still does, I can loose hours and be in my own world and come back refreshed ready to fight another day.... I so recommend it.
I love your question...and your Flosstube, Jean. I stitch because...it keeps me on my diet! If I'm stitching, I'm not in the kitchen! Beyond that, however, I stitch because it relaxes me and gives me such a feeling of satisfaction when I see progress. Thank you for what you give to all of us!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for asking why we stitch. I do it for many reasons: it’s relaxing, fun, sometimes challenging, stress reliever (it saved me during Covid lockdowns), and I like being creative. It also is a healthier alternative to emotional eating. 😃 I also stitch because other people have derived pleasure from seeing my work, and although that sounds quite vain, I like being able to give others joy and distract them from their troubles, if only for a few minutes.
Thank you for sharing your talent and wisdom and giving other people joy. ☺️🪡
I learn something - 'literally' every single time - I watch your videos. Thank you, thank you, thank you! xoxo Chris
You are so welcome!
I think I stitch because it calms my soul. I wear many hats in my world but this one is MY hat. Thank you for teaching this old dog some new tricks along the way. 😊
I am so pleased that you are able to stitch again, with certain accommodations. I returned to stitching during lockdown, and thanks to your instructional floss tube videos, I was able to pick right up. I also felt, and continue to feel, that I was part of a community when I really needed it. I think we all did. Lastly, nothing feels more gratifying than a beautiful finished project.
I stitch because first I enjoy it! It is something I can doing anytime and most any where. Thanks for sharing your stitching and knowledge. Have a good week!😊🪡
There are many reasons why I stitch. I love the fabric, the threads, the charts and watching the motif come to life. The repetitive motion is therapeutic and I cherish the alone time to process my daily life in my head while being creative. Finally, my spouse/partner has macular degeneration and requires regular visits to receive injections. I can tote my cross stitch while waiting and happily stitch while waiting. Also, Jean, I can listen to and watch interesting UA-cam videos like yours while I stitch. I simply adore the stitching community! ❤ 🪡🧵
I've always loved hand made things, so I enjoy all kinds of needlework. I find it calming and meditative too. As a nurse, I didn't have anything tangible to show for all my work, so stitching lets me be creative and gives me something to show, enjoy, and leave behind for my children and grandchildren. I like to decorate my home with my projects and make gifts for others. I'm glad you are on the mend!
I am glad to see that your hand is improving! As a physical therapist (now retired) I can say that doing what the therapist says -exercise etc. is very important to get the best results from your surgery!
I liked your discussion about scissors very much in both this episode and the last. I have a number of pairs of scissors that I use exclusively for needlework. The best ones are reserved for counted cross stitch, counted thread and hardanger. Others I use for yarn, or metallics. One issue I have is that I must "try on" any scissors that I buy to make certain that the finger holes are large enough for my fingers. I love the look of stork scissors, but I find the finger holes are too tight for me!
I liked your sit on frame. I have used one, but I have always used it under the outside of my thigh. I will have to try it between my legs as you did. I prefer to use split rod scroll frames (no basting) (F.A. Edmunds) for most of my work. I have a wonderful "portable" floor stand from K's Creations that can hold a scroll frame, hoop or Q Snap. It is so versatile! And I have several sizes of their lap frames to use with different size projects. I do stitch in hand for smaller projects and find that works for many things. I only tighten my fabric "drum tight" when I am doing Igolochkoy (Russian punchneedle).
I stitch because I like the creativity involved. When I complete a project, I have a sense of accomplishment and can see something lovely. I also like to stitch because have met some wonderful people because of it! I find it relaxing (most of the time).
I have been known to 'research' the colors of floss to use on a project because I am not certain if the ones indicated by the designer are right for me. I do crochet, needlepoint, counted cross stitch Hardanger and counted thread. I prefer counted cross stitch to needlepoint because with certain designs I can adjust the stitches to include 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 stitches to smooth out the lines of a picture. Often needlepoint is too zig-zaggy for me!
My sister, her kids and grandkids will often ask for something specific that they would like. Unfortunately, that means I put my own project aside to finish what they have requested! That's why my ALTWL is not nearly finished!
Sometimes you can have a needle (with any finish) that becomes discolored and that can be due to medication that you are taking (especially some antibiotics). Your body chemistry can change and that can affect your needles. In that case I find that changing needles often is helpful.
Thank you again for your wonderful floss tube episodes. They are very thoughtful, knowledgeable and encouraging!
I started stitching in 2015 as a stress relief when I had to start taking care of my mother. I did not care what I was stitching, I just stitched. Fast forward to today, a monster has been created. I have stash, I have WIPs, I have multiple stands, dozens for rods and hoops. Very few finishes, but I am working on that. I still have a lot to learn, but now I am trying to improve my stitching. Trying to stitch the best that I can. I have loved the journey.
Thank you for your informative video today. I stitch to relax and to keep my mind busy. This is more important today than ever as my husband died almost 2 years ago. Stitching is my company and passion; it is so rewarding when a project is finished.
So sorry for your loss! I also lost my husband at the end of 2019, and stitching has been very helpful in my grief. 🩷
I stitch first because I really enjoy it. I have several friends I stitch with quite regularly and we have a wonderful kinship. Plus, I like starting with a bunch of supplies-a plain piece of fabric, a handful of colored floss, a needle, a pattern and ending up with a wonderful project. Almost like making something from nothing. Thanks for all of your tips.
I learned to stitch in the early 80’s as a young Army wife and new mom. It was just what this city girl needed when stationed in the middle of nowhere. I have no artistic talent and yet when I stitch I can create beautiful things. My mathematical brain likes the exactness of the stitches unlike surface embroidery which I never liked. If you control your shopping and don’t buy every pattern you like it can be a hobby that doesn’t cost too much money. Roxie took me 50 weeks to complete but she’s a beauty. I usually have one project going at a time but this year I have done a few small things as a take a break from ALTWL. Stitching is a relaxing break from the busy times we live in.
I started stitching way back in the 1980s as a relaxation or a wind down activity after work. Today, it's still a therapeutic thing for me. But also it provides me with a creative and productive endeavour. It also allows me to show people I care about them when I give them hand-stitched gifts. I make sure that the stitched pieces are relevant to them by choosing designs that reflect things they like or are important to them. It makes the gift more thoughtful and personal. And recipients always appreciate such gifts. I have done all sorts of crafts but cross stitch is my first love so I will always be cross stitching. Stay safe Jean 💕
When I first started stitching I was working in a very stressful environment. Stitching provided a time to calm my mind and recharge. I stitched for myself and did not frame any of the pieces. I just stored them away once completed. Since I have retired, my stitching has provided me with a daily purpose. I have tried to expand and challenge myself to use different count fabrics, more intricate patterns, and different type stitches. I have also learned to fully finish pieces myself as well as having a few professional framed. In addition, I discovered floss tube, and I am in awe how large the stitching community is. I have gifted a few of my pieces and have learned not everyone wants a stitched piece as a gift. Enough said on that subject. So, I tend to keep my stitched pieces and display in my home.
Very good question! The main reason I stitch (and or knit) is that it relaxes me. I can say that I do it to challenge myself or to create a gift or something to decorate my home or myself or to learn something thing new, but the bottom line is really that it relaxes me. Thanks for the tip about Gingher scissors- going to check my stork scissors now! I hope the healing continues! I broke my left wrist six years ago when I was only knitting - and it was so frustrating- I knew what I wanted my fingers to do but they just wouldn’t cooperate!
Hi Jean. Loved you most recent flossTube but just had a couple of comments that I hope you will find helpful. I am a long time #28 Petite needle stitcher. Recently John James and several other companies who sold good quality Petites stopped producing them. There were various rumors as to why (lack of the right gauge wire, lack of craftsmen expert enough to manufacture these tiny needles, etc). The point is, #28 Petites became very scarce. There is a company (new to me, don’t know how long they’ve been in business) out of India that manufactures PONY needles. They come in colors that vary according to size and type of needle. They also make needles that look black with white eyes. These black and white needles are NICKLE FREE. This company makes needles in size 28 Petite as well as all the regular sizes. I have found the Pony Needles in #28 Petite to be of excellent quality and wonderful to use. The colored eye makes threading a bit easier as the opening seems more visible. I found the nickle free #28 Petites occasionally would develop wear at the join point of the eye and the shaft. Friends who also stitch with those same needles say they aren’t having that issue, so maybe it’s more to do with the way I stitch. I do believe Piecemaker still manufactures #28 Petite, but I’ve never used those.
Some reasons why many of us love the Petite length needles is: the shorter length allows you to stitch closer to the end of your floss so there’s a bit less re-threading - the shorter length is less likely to bend or break - they feel more delicate in hand which is something one either loves or not - I also find it easier to keep my floss from twisting when using Petites. I wonder if there are more reasons to love #28 Petites that some of your other viewers might have?
Also, it looked to me like your Seat stand might be a Nurge? I went through quite a few different seat stands before I finally found the Nurge, which I really like. I wonder if you could talk a little more about the type of seat frame you’re using and what qualities about it you like. (And am I right about the brand you’re using?)
Thanks again Jean for sharing your love and knowledge. I’ve been stitching for years, but always seem to find either new information or important reminders just by listening and watching your videos.
I hope your hand continues healing well. Sincerely, Barbara Dierolf
The #1 reason I stitch is for the calmness it bring over me. There are other reasons, the accomplishment of completing a piece of art - stitch by stitch, i have friends who stitch and it brings us together.
I agree with Loreen. I do wish we had a stitch group in my area. Guess I should reach out!
To answer your question as to why I stitch. I stitch mainly to keep myself busy with something I love to do. I feel accomplished when I do finish stitching a project. I love all the threads and supplies I use while stitching. I like doing things by my self. I stitch so that everyone can leave me alone. Thanks for making videos. I love watching them because you always have something interesting to share with us. God bless you
Thank you for your lovely videos. I am late to this video but will comment anyways, I stitch because I just love the magic of stitching, all these threads come together like magic. It also calms my mind, I feel I have purpose, goals, and process in my creativity. I am working on my very first cross stitch design by Jacob de Graaf, I love it, even though it's different and the holes are hard to find! I also do needlepoint, very traditional basketweave and no other stitches, so I am not entirely new to stitching. For me after a long day in the office, to come home and stitch a cross or a slant stitch where I don't have to think too much, is just the most perfect way to unwind. I don't want complication in my stitching, I don't want to have to figure out new stitches or stress over something, I have other hobbies where I do that LOL. Weaving and developing my rolls of film at home take a lot of concentration, maths, chemistry, measuring out etc. but I LOVE them both. Stitching and knitting are my go to for relaxation.
Thanks for sharing your isight. I just met Jacob for the first time last month. He is talented, funny, and ever so nice!
I'm so glad you're seeing progress in your healing, Jean. Even though you've had to make some concessions, it's great that you've been able to get back to your needlework.
Why do I stitch? Let me start by saying I am slightly neurodivergent. At the age of 70+ I was finally diagnosed with ADHD and I'm still learning how t deal with it. That said, I started doing needlework from charts when I was in my late 20's, long before I had that diagnosis. I began with needlepoint, and found great pleasure in picking the ground stitches I would use as background, and sometimes even for the foreground figures. I like geometric patterns. I find it very soothing to see how neatly and consistently I can make areas of stitches so they stand out and enhance the shapes I'm filling in.
I found myself increasingly priced out of needlepoint designs, so next I taught myself crochet, then knitting English style. Did I mention I'm left handed? My poor mother gave up trying to teach me to knit. She thought that Continental would come easily to me because of using the left hand to tension the yarn! Nope. By then I was too used to holding a crochet hook left--handed and tensioning with my right hand. And once I was comfortable with English style knitting, over the years I found I liked fairly simple, repetitive patterns made of knit-purl-yp and slip stitches, involving one yarn at a time, to create not garments but shapes. Squares, rectangles, triangles, occasional circles.
Then I spotted a needlepoint kit patterned after one of my favorite images, "Smoky Mountain Cats." I had to have it. the needlepoint kit was... unsubtle with the color gradations that make the original painting so distinctive. Enter cross stitch. Repetitive stitches, worked from a chart, relatively little confetti, etc. I was able to combine the soothing act of process stitching with an actual somewhat intricate object when I was finished.
Which I guess is a long story that basically says, I stitch to provide a focus that lets me create while listening to or watching someone else's creative output. I like the physical, repetitive, patterned nature of cross stitch. I like that I can work on something relatively simple, like a monocolor sampler that has a lot of text, or a wild yet logical geometric like CM Design's patchwork. And I'm working up to restarting my Smoky Mountain Cats now that I have a better understanding of fabric types, fractional stitches, and combining 2 or 3 shades of blue thread to create those subtle color shifts.
Thanks for sharing ❤ I enjoy stitching and sewing because it’s creative and I enjoy making decor and gifts for others ❤
I love to stitch for oh so many reasons...it's homeliness, the connection that I have with family who sitiched--wonderful memories of what I stitched as a child. I love the affordability, the accessability for so many and the wonderous ways that I can explore my love of color, textiles, and learning...It's also just plain fun for me! And, bonus, I get to meet so many others who love the same things even though we express ourselves in very different ways!! Kudos to you for your fine, thoughful and expansive thoughts on this art!!
Great discussion from you again Jean. I stitch for creativity and love but also for brain stimulation as l believe keeping your brain active is more important or as important as exercising our limbs.❤
I have many different pairs of scissors. I have from some one the cheapest to the $60 range. Some of my favorite are the cheaper ones, but I take very good care of all my scissors. The points are always protected and I don’t use them for anything except my threads. Some I have had for approximately 36 years and they cut the same today as they did the day I bought them. I stitch to keep my sanity. When I’m stitching, that’s all I’m thinking about how to keep my stitching beautiful. All the other worries seem to disappear while I’m stitching and it gives me something so satisfying when I’m done with the project.
I stitch because I love it, and to make my days happy, I'm a home person, i was born with i broken back, so I have made it my life to be as good as i can at working with my hands❤
Because I love it! Brings me comfort, happiness and joy!
Happy to see that your recovery is coming along well, and you can stitch again! I stitch to have a creative outlet, to have something repetitive and soothing, to be doing something useful with my hands while I think about things, to enjoy the feel of the fabrics and fibers, and see the interaction of the colors and textures. I also feel that with a needle in my hand I am part of the long line of stitchers through the years (my grandmothers, aunts and mother, friends and now my daughter among them).
I stitch because I have a love of thread, color, texture and a sense of accomplishment. I look forward to it each day and I love the community each type of needlework provides.
Lovely!
I do needlework because I like doing it and you get something lovely when you're finished. I don't tend to follow the "rules". As long as the piece is neat and pretty on the front, I don't worry about much else.
I’ve been cross stitching almost every day for the past 25 years. I quickly get bored with tv so I stitch while listening to Utube or the tv. It’s relaxing.
So glad your recovery is going well!
Thank you for a very informative video. I find your insight and expertise in Stitching so informative, how else would I learn about so many useful things involving this creative process. As to why I stitch, I was an avid quilter for very many years. I did do a home sweet home embroidery piece about 25 years ago. I tried needlepoint, but that was not enjoyable for me. About five years ago a quilting friend of mine got me hooked on cross stitching, and I have not looked back since. My husband was in and out of hospitals and doctors appointments for about three years before he passed two years ago and I found that having a piece of Crosstitch to work on while doing the waiting help to ease my mind. I am retired and live alone and stitching gives me a purpose in my day. Sometimes I wake up at four in the morning and will pick up my Cross Stitch sometimes I stay up till midnight and stitch, it is always there for me.
I stitch because I love to create! It is very relaxing for me and I can decorate my home with whatever I create. I get great joy out of stitching. I also quilt which gives me the same satisfaction of creating something beautiful. And like I tell my friends, it keeps me out of the bars! 🤣
I was never happier as a child being given a new colouring book and some felt tip pens. For me it’s like colouring in ; but with thread. Ps I can’t even sew a button on, so for non cross stitchers I actually look quite clever 😂
Thanks for another great video! I love to watch a blank piece of cloth slowly become a beautiful piece of work … and I was the one who did it!
I honestly don't know why I love cross stitching. I have been stitching for years
and I'm not sure if it's the process or the end result that I like best. I was taught how to sew, crochet, and do regular embroidery by my mother, but she couldn't seem to wrap her head around cross stitch. I learned with my cousin, and from then on, if Mama wanted something, I stitched it for her.
Maybe that's why I love it. If my mama saw a pattern that she liked, I would always stitch it for her. It was my way of giving back for everything she did for me. Now I find it very relaxing and rewarding. ❤
I started when I had a new baby and a 2 yr. old back in the early 80’s for something for me I stayed home after I had my kids and it was a hard time at times back then no internet although I’m glad I did it it was lonely at times.. So I found something and started it still 40+ years later I still love it. I love to relax zone out and create while enjoying.Its got me thru some bad times and good times.
I stitch to help calm my busy mind. I don’t have to think about anything but watching my piece slowly come to completion
Stitching is a passion for me. I love seeing how the floss lays on the fabric and making a picture. I love the process and a bit like the ending to a good book, I look forward to seeing the completed project.
I'm a longtime WW person too and got to lifetime...twice. lol...but I'm with you that it seems to make me constantly focus on food and I just want to be free...want to be "normal." You're inspiring to share your car analogy and grief. My dad passed 23 years ago and I know I avoided true grief at that time which made the pounds come on bigtime. Now i know he'd be disappointed that I'm not as healthy as I could be. And add a foot injury and now I cant walk like I had been. Makes it tough, but thanks for sharing the plate focus which is a great strategy. Hoping to use the crockpot much this fall! I think WW concepts like planning, water, daily fruits and veggies will still stick with me but yeah, I think I need to make a shift. Thank you!
That's taking care of yourself ... good for you!
I like to stitch for a couple of reasons. It brings me an inner peace. It is calming when my inner seas are rough. I also like to stitch because it is creative. To take a blank piece of fabric and create an image with x's is quite amazing. This applies to all of the stitching I do--knitting, cross stitch, quilting, embroidery, etc.
Thank you for another wonderful episode! I loved hearing you reference the great Southern expression, “Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise!” I actually have made a needle minder with this expression, created from my original hand-lettered version.
Thank you jean for this latest video. I seem to have missed the last 2 so I will go back and watch them now. It was an interesting discussion on needles. I have been having lessons from a Royal School of Needlework tutor and she was at great pains constantly to point out it should be the thread makes the hole not the needle and you choose the needle size that accommodates the thread. I have been trying crewel and stump work lately in readiness for leaving work after teaching Midwives for 38 years. I was worried that I may not know what to do with myself. I know I am laughing at myself now. When I stitch I loose myself and time does not exist, I am at peace, calm and still, apart from the thread going in and out of the fabric. I even set a reminder to make sure I do not go on too long in the evening when I have work the following day. So why do I stitch , because it makes me happy, relaxed and at peace. So glad you are recovering well and are finding ways to continue to stitch.
I stitch because I love it. I tried many different crafts over the years. My mother could knit, crochet, sew, needlepoint, etc. and she taught me all of them but there came a point that I realized that counted cross stitch was the most satisfying for me. I have used many different counts of Aida and linen, tried samplers and full-coverage pieces and even dabbled in designing my own work. I love learning new skills through Flosstube (most importantly the loop start) and finishing techniques. My next project is silk thread on silk gauze!
Love the word “best practice vs rules”
I stitch for relaxation, I love making homemade items, yes I decorate with stitched items, and carry on my Mother's Grandmother's, Great Grandmother's traditions ❤
Glad to hear your are continuing to feel better and able to stitch again! Enjoy your upcoming cruise!
Hi Jean! Was at Stitch Point in Friendly this weekend. Told them you sent me!
I stitch first for the community. When I’m stitching, I’m connecting to the women before me. I’m thinking of my mom, my grandmother, all their friends and family who taught me all the things. I also love the sound of thread through fabric, the pattern coming to life AND all the pretty accessories!
Why do I stitch…It is relaxing. I knit and crochet and have designed in both. I have taken art classes and have some knowledge of color, line and design but what I put to paper never is right. So I can take a needle and thread and create. Some times I do as the designer did, some times I vary the out come. It is fun.
Why do I stitch? I have a creative gene. I remember a holiday with family friends where their Grandmother who was in a wheelchair did embroidery. Well I had to try so we found a haberdashers (this was Scotland in the 1960s where every town had a haberdashers) and Mum bought a printed tray cloth, some threads and needles. I remember loving one particular blue that was called Periwinkle. I would have been 9. I still have the tray cloth and some subsequent pieces. Fast forward to the late 1970s. I am newly married. My mother in law and her friend discovered cross stitch. I liked the look of it so had a go. It was a small bell pull. I was hooked. In those days we did the wonderful (and expensive) Eva Rosenstand kits. I always used a hoop because that is how I was taught. Due to carpel tunnel in both wrists I gave up about 12-15 years ago. But then I discovered Floss Tube and saw people using stands. It has been wonderful to be able to return to this creative outlet. Sadly the eyesight doesn’t let me to 36 count linen anymore but I am beginning to try different types of magnifiers. Haven’t found just the right one yet but working on it. Needles - arthritic hands determine what size I use. And yes being able to thread it. Thanks for the informative video.
3 years ago I broke my left wrist. It’s my dominant hand. Once the hand healed, I ended upon with carpal tunnel. The long and short of it. I was able to stitch again. Keep going to physical therapy, it does work.
I stitch because it relaxes me and I so love it! Thank you for your channel, it helps me so much
I stitch for the pure joy of creating things. I find my stitching is a confidence booster too. We have so many beautiful options out there and it is awesome to pick up something that I never thought I'd stitch or stitch on!
See you soon in Boston!
An avid quilter for years, especially hand stitching, I had a stroke 7 years ago which affected my left side. Unable to do quilting with one hand I returned to cross stitch to satisfy my urge for handwork. I have partial use of my left hand now and alternate quilting and cross stitch. I totally know how frustrating it is to lose the use of one hand. Having been ambidextrous and able to demonstrate skills with either hand, it seems strange to be basically right handed now. I've revised techniques to make it doable with what I can do now. Never say never. Have you considered stitching with your fabric in the well of the hoop? I find it easier to access the back and it gives you the hoop rim to rest your hand against while stitching.
Really great episode. A couple of things.
1. UA-cam notifications are imperfect. I am subscribed and have the notifications set to "all," but somehow missed your scissors episode. I will go back and watch as soon as I finish my Saturday morning "chores"
2. Thanks for all the insights regarding needles. I am a relatively new-ish stitcher and still trying out different types and finding my favorite.
3. Why do I stitch? First and foremost, I find it relaxing and calming. It gives me joy. As you say, it's my happy place.
Also, although I am a creative person in the musical arts, I have never been particularly gifted in visual arts (drawing, painting, etc.). Stitching gives me the ability to fill that part creativity niche.
Lastly, I enjoy learning new things and skills. I am the person you mentioned who wants to "up their game" and "become a better stitcher. After two years of stitching on Aida with DMC, I have made this year the year of taking on projects to advance my stitching:
✔️stitching on evenweave and linen over two
✔️stitching with different flosses: overdyed cotton (WDW & GAST), Sulky thread, and silk
✔️Stitching a Mirabilia so I can try beading
Thank you for your videos. Really enjoy your content.
I stitch to save my sanity, taking my mind off chronic back pain one stitch at a time. Also of course, sometimes I have the joy of a finish!
I had to use a Snag Nab It tool to bring a tail fuzzy end back to the back side recently. All my Gingher scissors are etched with Gingher Italy on them. Great explanation on needles, I have tried to explain this to so many. Some use the same needle size regardless of their fabric, which makes me crazy, but to each his own. The petites feel weird to me, very short; but worked well on a higher count linen stitching in hand, which I normally don't stitch that way. I like to use a hoop, but this was a quick small design. I think with the center eye needle I'd end up sticking myself!! I began this hobby (embroidery too) at age 15 (I'm in my 60's now), it has always fascinated me watching a design come to life. I try to stitch every evening and not have to Frog anything. To me it is relaxing, relieves any stresses of that day and a way of me being creative, making one of a kind gifts & also to decorate my home. Another good video, thanks!
Glad you see u are healing- a bit at a time - thanks as always for your most informative sessions - I stitch - like to have something to do with my hands - cross-stitch because easy to kit - travel with - always have at hand - love seeing the project come to life in the fabric - and the finished project - I have no more than 4-5 projects at time - a couple travel projects that I always take with me because u never know when you will be stuck someplace and need something to work on- and a couple at home to work on -have a great day
❤I’m glad you are back to stitching!
Stitching is my therapy.
Hi Jean - thank you for your valued opinions! I always get some pearl of wisdom to consider for my stitching. You mentioned the petite needles and that you weren’t sure why others find them enjoyable (sorry if I misquoted you there), but I use a 28 petite and I love them for two reasons: I have small hands so they work better than a longer needle for me and secondly, I tend to play “thread chicken” - unintentionally- but I can tuck my thread piece under the last of my stitches when there’s barely a wisp left! Then, “why do I stitch”? Well, I MUST! The quote you often see “ my day is not complete until needle, thread and fabric meet”, is only half true for me - yes, stitching completes my day, but it also begins my day (unless something o toward happens🙄) and that “centers me throughout the day. If I happen to get some mid-day stitching in, all the better! Sometimes it seems I “require it” like I require water, air and other essentials! The idea of leaving a piece of myself for my children and grandchildren gives me warm fuzzies, but even if they didn’t exist, I feel I’d still do it simply out of the love for the craft. Why do you stitch? I hope that will get answered in your next video, and if not, I’ll try and remember to ask you on the New England cruise here in a month👏🏻
I have 2 pair of gingher cutting scissors. I got them when I worked in the fabric department at Ben Franklin. They have only been used for cutting fabric. I have had them since 1996. Never been sharpened. I love all your practical information. I stitch in hand also. I have been doing counted cross stitch since 1975. Before that I did embroidery crewel and needlepoint. I guess it just makes me happy. I never try to compare myself with others. I stitch on what I like I don't really care for all these linens that are so small. I can stitch on them. But I want to see the stitching not to have to get a magnifying glass to see it.
Excellent information,I’m glad that your hand is doing better…I stitch because I like all the things used and the quietness and calming sense that I get from slowing down..Thank you for taking the time to share stitching information..
It keeps my mind busy and I don’t think as much. I ran fast food and I was use to multi tasking also and now I can’t do it so cross stitch busys me. Great info on needles.
What is the brand of your seat frame? It looks like it would work better for me than the tabletop frame I have but rarely use.
I now stitch because it is hand work that is portable. I was first a quilter, but it’s not portable or easily portable. Now I am both. I LOVE both and want to become more and more proficient doing both. They are an expression of love to craft something beautiful as a gift or have in my guest room for company.
I am guilty of keeping my current stitching project in the hoop… mostly for convenience. Thank you for these topics and helpful information.
Using a petite helps when your thread is running out and you need to finish it off. That difference in length of the needle has saved me from having to start a new thread for that last stitch. I use the coated pony needles. They are very comfortable to stitch with.
I stitch to have fun and it's calming.
I stitch because I find it relaxing and have something attractive for my home in the end. I also love learning about the history of needlework, especially all the women (and maybe a few men) who have done the craft over the centuries around the world. Do you have a recommended booklist on needlework to share?
I hope you continue to improve in your recovery. As always, a very informative episode. Thank you so much for doing these videos. I bought a pair of Big Bow scissors from you and love them! I appreciate all of your great recommendations! Tulle or bias tape? They aren't sticky, so how do you secure them at the end of the wrap? What manufacturer made your seat frame? Do you have a tutorial on attaching beads? I couldn't find one, but would like to see how you do yours. I would love to cruise with you, but I get so seasick. Have a wonderful time!
I stitched before kids and enjoyed it immensely
Took a break to raise my boys and started back up when COVID hit - it was relaxing for me and kept me busy when I wasn’t working.
I’m still stitching- but along the way I’ve been stressing myself out to get projects done for gifts.
I need to work on not getting stressed out and enjoy the process of stitching…
I stitch for the love of stitching!
I stitch to calm my mind. It’s the same ‘zen’ I get when building puzzles. Stitching is like building a puzzle! Now I’m looking into lap stands - would love some recommendations for a lap stand that I can use with Nurge hoops, Qsnaps and/or scroll frame.
Hi. I love to stitch I get so much pleasure from it and it is very relaxing. I found the Pony Black needles they are made from titanium. After using these I find that I a nickel plated needle my hand hurts and they are not comfortable in my hand. Thank you for all you share with us.
I don't know why I stitch. I just do it and. Love it. Hand works is my thing. I knit crochet quilt and other things. I have a charm quilt. 3500 pieces. 1 inch by 1 1/2 inch. No two fabric the same. Cotten. I mayfly quilt be hand but because of all the seams I had it machine quilted.
Heartland Quilting and Stitching has small, lightweight needle minders. They are unique in that the needle goes through the center of the needleminder--not on top. Their needleminders are beautiful.
Stitching for me is therapy... I do not take any pills to be able to go through the day... I stitch or quilt throughout the night... if I am happy or unhappy I stitch... if I am mad or very very angry, I stitch ( that way I do not kill my loving husband)... if I have a problem and need to find a solution, I stitch! In my opinion it is better than talking to a psychologist or therapist or even a doctor. Hard to do that with artrose on both hands, but I still do it.
When mentioning needles, you didn’t say anything about the ball point needle and I’d love to hear your take on them. I stitch full coverage and so this needle seems to work best for this type of stitching. Another reason I like these needles, is the eye of the needle is the smoothest one I’ve threaded so far. I’ve not been able to fine another needle with a similar eye. I wish I could as I prefer using a pin stitch to finish my threads, but this is hard to do with the ball point needle.
Can you please give me specifics about your sit stand. Brand name would be helpful. I have a very large one now and it's too difficult to use. Thanks much !!
Elbesee Seat Frames in the UK
elbesee.co.uk/
I give more info in episode 105.
Hi, Jean. Does stitching in hand mean that you are using the sewing method? Thanks! I hope your hand continues to improve. 🙂
Meline
When stitching in hand, you can use the sewing method but you don't have to. Basically, it means stitching without a hoop or any kind of frame. Thanks for the good wishes!
I stitch because I have a need to create something of beauty or something that is useful.
I snap those double point needle so fast, I think they are to long.
Why do I stitch…It brings me serenity after I get off work.
Fabric counts are similar to needle sizes in that the bigger the number the smaller the needle and the smaller the holes in the fabric.
I stitch because I’m happiest with a needle and thread in hand. It feels like my hands were made to stitch.
When I click on your Etsy store today it goes to a page that says it can’t display the page?
Hmmm ... I also clicked on it and found the same error message so I checked the URL and it's correct. All I can think is that Etsy is having an issue. Hopefully, it will be fixed soon!
It;'s in my bones.