Read these inspirational accounts and stories from newsletter subscribers in response to Roz's popular topic "What Needlework Means To Me".
Customer Testimonials
What needlework means to me. - Customer Comments
My first reply was from Lynne in England. She and her friend, Sue, came to our Retreat last year and it was such a pleasure to meet her in person! She writes the most enjoyable emails to me on a regular basis. I didn't realize the challenges she has in her life until she wrote this letter to me, and to share with you. She says,
"Having just read the latest newsletter, I thought I would tell you how stitching has helped me in the past.
I hadn't been cross-stitching for many years when I was first hit by the psoriatic arthritis that now blights my days and my hands and fingers looked more like purple boxing gloves with little cocktail sausages for fingers round the edges. This hit literally overnight, and within a day or two, I was almost completely paralyzed - almost every joint in my body, from head to toe was affected including my spine. Needless to say, it was a very dark time for me, and it took several months for me to convince the doctor that I really was in trouble and not putting on a show. Even after a huge hit of steroids, I was not much better, my hands were still in a terrible state, and I couldn't hold a knife and fork. It was galling to have to have my food cut up for me, especially in public!
However, I had already been bitten by the Stitching Bug, and in spite of the pain, I just had to try to stitch. Some days it was only a minute or two before it all became too much, then other days I could do five minutes or more, but the urge to keep stitching was as strong as ever, and within a few months my hands finally started to improve, little by little. This was a Godsend, because I still couldn't walk, and trying to amuse myself half-propped up in bed was a problem. I couldn't hold a book to read, but I sure could stitch! Later on, when I saw a consultant rheumatologist, he assured me that I had done the right thing in persevering despite the pain, as my finger-joints would likely have seized-up completely, apart from which I think I would have gone mad from boredom. I can safely say that stitching has saved my sanity!
Of course, there are days when it is just too painful to hold a needle - just ask any sufferer - and those days are purgatory for us addicts, but there being no cure, we keep on keeping on! I don't know how I would have coped without my needlework!
Love as always,
Lynne from England"
Enjoy more letters I received during these past 2 weeks. Dear Roz,
I found this little anonymous paragraph the other day.
"No female can be quite perfect without knowledge of all sorts of needlework. Many a heartache has been buried in the glowing petals of a silken rose and the sharp edge of sorrow has been dulled by the sweet, calm monotony of a shining bit of steel!"
Nice, isn't it?
Thank you for your letters. I enjoy them so much as well as crafting with that "little bit of steel".
Margaret L.
P.S. I finally finished "Nova"! Now my 6 daughters and daughters-in-law all want one! Yikes!
Here is the Nova pattern Margaret just finished Hello Roz, I just wanted to share with you a little about myself and how important stitching is in my life. My husband is in the Army and he has been deployed to Afghanistan twice, and recently returned from a year in Iraq. I cross stitch as a way to keep my mind sane while he is gone, but it's something I've enjoyed my whole life.
My name is Jen S. and I currently live in Germany with my husband who is in the U.S Army. I have been cross stitching for 26 years, since I was 6. Until recently I didn't have a whole lot to show for it, as I've made most of the items as gifts. But now that I'm older, I am trying to make some things that I would like for my own house. I especially like making seasonal decorations. I just finished Valentine's Row by Bent Creek. This fall I finished Magic Potion by Imaginating. I pick a project for our house each time my husband deploys. It helps me to have something to occupy my free time and keep me from worrying too much.
His family is Norwegian, by way of South Dakota, and I made a Norwegian sampler for our wedding. I'd like to try some Hardanger, but that doesn't look as "easy as sewing on a button." Maybe I'll have to take a class!
Now that I am living in a new country, I am trying to make some quick cross stitch gifts to give to my new friends and neighbors. I have also talked to the Post Arts and Crafts Center about volunteering to teach cross stitch. I hope that people will get involved. I find that many of my peers are not interested in making things for themselves, and I'm trying to start a grass roots campaign back to that, one person at a time!
I love Nordic Needle and I especially enjoy this newsletter. I have never been to the Dakotas, but I would someday like to visit your shop.
When I return to America, I'll plan a trip!
Thanks,
Jen S. Dear Roz:
In 1996, shortly after my Mother passed away from cancer, my husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor that had grown through much of his brain. Although he responded to radiation therapy some, it was still a 20 month roller coaster ride with many doctor visits and hospitalizations until he died in July 1998. I found that just as soon as I took out stitching in a waiting room, it was then our turn to see the doctor! (there's some karma about having stuff in your lap that means you then have to get up) I had one class piece from Rosemary Drysdale that became my "hospital piece" since it was a sampler pillow top with repetitive stitching on fabric I could see so thinking wasn't much involved.
After he passed away and many months of sleep deprivation, stitching became my therapy for sanity. I could tell by the number of "innovative changes" to colors and graphs how well (or not) I was able to concentrate. I also spent many Saturdays at my LNWS stitching away with friends -companionship and compassion that helped me recover also. As a "payback" to the great medical team at what is now the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University Medical Center, part of that concentration therapy and work through the stages of grief was to do "Hope," "Love," "Peace," and "Faith" samplers by Emie Bishop. Not to mention the magnolia blossom for a Hospice Grief Center and "Angels Dwell Here" sampler for the Hospice counselor and many gifts for my friends.
The "hospital piece" is among the UFO's as I don't want to spend any more time in hospitals - although I did pull it out to work on while my father was hospitalized for his massive stroke three years ago. I don't want to think about what it would mean if the piece was actually finished.
Thanks for listening.
Bobbie G.
NC Dear Roz, I am writing from Lima, Peru, in South America. I love the stories you share and I agree with you that cross-stitching is a wonderful healing tool, for you, for me and for many friends I know. I started cross-stitching when I was (I think) ten or eleven years old in elementary school in times that "girls must know this kind of works when they get married".
I left it apart many years and when I got married, thirteen years ago, I made some little things that decorated my house and help me through sad moments because I could not have children and had to go through fertility treatments. Thank God, I had a beautiful baby Jose Miguel who is now 7. I made pillow covers and blankets for him, and later I made others for my friends' children.
One year ago I lost my job and while looking for another I had two months of "forced vacations" which gave me time to do some things that I gave as presents to relatives and friends. Yes, there are people that do not appreciate the time and the care you give when you cross-stitch. But it doesn't matter, that does not discourage me because there are others that are really grateful. Some people even tell me that I could sell them, but I am always giving them to people I love or keeping them for myself.
Last year my husband gave me for Mothers Day a plastic box with many cases so I could give "some order" to my material, I had it all in a shoe box that made him laugh every time he saw me working! I love my plastic box.
I understand very well when Joy W. says "that little glimmer of excitement in my heart when I'd dig through my charts and find floss and cloth for my latest project."
I apologize for my English (which I learned 20 years ago when I lived for one year in Washington DC), I think I have forgotten a lot of vocabulary!.
With love,
Rosario I just finished reading the interview with Joy and had to comment, That person who said, "It's just a few dollar's worth of cloth and thread." doesn't realize the hundreds of hours of dedicated enjoyment and satisfaction that many projects can take.
Marv I am Brazilian and my English is bad, but I understand your language when is written. Cross stitch is really a medicine for my heart . When we occupy our hands with embroidery, we are more near God.
Sonia from Brazil. Dear Roz,
There are never enough hours in the day, I have always sewn. When we lived in the country and a trip to town meant a 4 hour car journey I made all my children's clothes out of shear necessity. My sister in Melbourne used to post fabric up to me to patchwork with, we didn't have the luxury of sites like Nordic Needle where we could buy whatever we needed online, we didn't even have a computer, never mind broadband. I've always loved cross stitch, knitting, crazy patchwork and in the last few years, Hardanger.
I remember starting when I was in junior school in England, I must have been about 6, making various sampler cloths, knitting pot mitts and progressing to jumpers (which took me forever to make) and have always had something on the go. I take my sewing everywhere, it accompanied me when my husband had a serious work related accident some 20 years ago, he was in intensive care for 3 weeks, then went into rehabilitation, and was off work for a further three months. I had 3 young children at the time, and because I lived some 400 kilometers away from the hospital, had to leave them with friends to be cared for. Sewing helped me during the long hour's pf my husband's recovery.
Then 7 years ago, at the age of 15, my third child, was injured in a fishing accident, when a three pronged gang fish hook punctured his eye. He was rushed to hospital, then transferred to Brisbane hospital where he underwent 6 hours of specialist surgery to remove the hook and hopefully save his eye. We have spent many hours, days and weeks in hospital wards, where he has undergone many operations.
I never take complicated projects. I have many completed projects that I can relate to whichever operation he had at the time. They were very dark days.
Now my four children have grown up (but as yet have not left home), I have just sold my business as a sole trader, and hopefully now I will be able to relax and sew to my hearts content. I would be lost without something to work on at night.
Karen, Sunshine Coast
Australia Dear Roz, I first got into needlework when I was doing home care. A client suggested that if I did any knitting or needlework that I may want to bring it with me when I was at his home, since there was not a lot to do there. So, I thought I would try it. It was my first piece, and it was a small teddy bear in a plastic hoop.
A few years later, I was expecting my first child. I was put on moderate bed rest when I was half way through the pregnancy and not allowed to do much of anything. So, I took up cross stitch again. It literally saved my sanity. Then I was hooked. Over the next few years, it helped pass the time at night while my husband was always gone, and helped me unwind after a long, chaotic day with two small children, the youngest having autism. They seemed to know that at 9:00 pm when mom got out the "sewing stuff" as my oldest calls it, it was time for bed!
The calming, repetitive motion has also helped get me through my divorce and moving back in with my dysfunctional family. I swear that I bought Waxing Moon's "Welcome to the Nuthouse" for my mother! It is still one of the best ways to unwind and de-stress, and with my crazy life, has been a complete god send!
Diane L
NY Dear Roz, My husband is a retired Army officer and we lived in Germany...I would like to correspond with the lady that wrote in this newsletter that she was an Army wife currently living in Germany. Could you see if she would be interested?
I mainly needlepoint ...but stitching of any kind breaches the language difficulty. I was on one of Pat Dalton's China tours and one of the ladies needed to go to the hospital. Since I was an RN (now retired) I wanted to go to see what their hospitals were like. The lady on the tour was put in a four bed room and they started IV fluid ...I sat across from her and started my stitching. I noticed several people walking by the door and looking in...then realized that the same person was going by many times. Finally she stopped in the doorway and just looked and then after a few more trips, finally came all the way in to see what I was stitching. She left and returned immediately with a card of thread that was labeled silk. I tried to give her a card of some Rainbow Gallery thread I had but she wouldn't take it. A small bit of cultural interaction brought about by stitching.
Barbara , Tucson Dear Roz
First, I want you to know how much I enjoy your newsletter. It is wonderful to hear others passion for needlework and how they express themselves through it. I began stitching embroidery when a young girl, 8 or 9. My mother was of the generation where you sew your clothes, knit sweaters and afghans, crochet bedspreads, tablecloths, doilies and edging, and made quilts for the bed. So I guess what I am saying is I learned my love of needlework from my mother. Although I have tried Hardanger, needlepoint, and various others cross stitch is my passion. I have given many pieces to family and friends.
You asked how needlework helped through the hard times, one for me was an expected move to Mississippi for my husband's work. Away from friends, family, children and the hardest of all grandchildren. Another when my husband needed surgery for a mid-cerebral aneurysm. The surgery was a success. Stitching occupies the mind and hands and helps to pass the time with something lovely to show for it. My husband and I are looking forward to retiring (just 2 more years) and heading back to the frozen north.
Thanks again for sharing the stories of fellow needleworkers.
Helen
Mississippi
Dear Roz,
In 1988, I was in a car accident which gave me severe whiplash and resulted in fibromyalgia. My children were 9 and 12, and my husband had just been assigned to a new job. For weeks, I couldn't do anything between doctor's appointments and physio, except lay in bed. Our television was in the basement, and I couldn't sit up long enough to watch, nor could I lie on my side. After some months, my doctor told me I would have to give up my career in nursing, and I became very depressed.
Playing the piano had been my release before the accident, but that was out of the question! Two minutes, and I was in tears because of the pain! Arm or shoulder movement hurt, plus I couldn't sit up for long.
I had always sewn clothes for myself and the children, done knitting and crochet, but couldn't do those at all.
Eventually, I could read lying down with my elbows propped on pillows, providing the book was very light! I had a small cross-stitch kit in the house, and though I had never tried it before, thought I might be able to do it lying down. I cut several lengths of thread to lie on the table beside me, put the work in a hoop and, on my back with pillows under elbows, could work for 5 or ten minutes! Finally, something I could do that gave me a sense of accomplishment! I could see the project grow, if not daily, at least weekly!
Over the next few months, I stitched a Sisters piece for my sister in England and two or three smaller pieces.
After about 7 years, my health started to improve, and after 10 years, I was much better. I still live with pain, though nothing compared to what it was!
Last year, I started to learn Hardanger with Elsie Mae as my teacher, in Regina, SK, Canada. Elsie Mae is a legend among stitchers here and I am so glad to have her as a teacher. She is a remarkable role model. Despite now being in a wheelchair in her 80's, she still teaches Hardanger and stitches daily!
Wanda Hi Roz.
My love of cross stitch helped me help my sister fight the fight of her life when she was diagnosed with leukemia in 1994. After a bone marrow transplant at the University of Minneapolis, she needed to go to the local hospital every day for blood or platelets. Her husband had to work as much as possible as there were several times they had to make emergency trips back to the U of M for treatment and he couldn't jeopardize his employment. Their two daughters were both away at school. It was my privilege to be able to spend this time with her. I don't do a lot of seasonal stitching but I do collect Santa's so I started the Santa Collector tavern sign and most of it was stitched while we waited for her treatments to finish. Sometimes there were difficulties in the process and we would be there all day. She loved watching the progress that I made. She had started a stamped embroidery baby quilt when her girls were small and never finished it. She became a nurse and ironically, she was a chemo nurse at the time of her leukemia diagnosis. She planned on working on the quilt pieces during her recovery so that she would have it finished for a future grandchild. She never got to work on the quilt as, unfortunately, the bone marrow transplant failed and after several years of fighting, in October 1998, my strong, wonderful sister lost her battle with leukemia. When she died, her oldest daughter was expecting her first grandson. I took the quilt pieces, planning to make the quilt myself but my grandchildren started arriving at regular intervals and my stitching and sewing time was used for them. When my niece became pregnant with her second son, I took the two pieces that my sister had stitched and I matted and framed them and gave them to my niece at her baby shower. When they unexpectedly became pregnant with a little girl, I stitched one of the pieces and again gave it to her at her shower so the little girl would have something that she would have had if her Grandmother had lived. They will never get to know her but my niece makes sure they know all about her. Now, the youngest daughter is pregnant with her first child and I will take another of my sisters quilt pieces and stitch and frame it for this grandchild so that he will have something of his Grandmother.
Needless to say, the Santa Collector piece is a prized piece of mine and I have many memories of the time I spent with my sister and not all of it was bad. We became closer in that few years than we had ever been or ever would have become.
Brenda S.
Michigan Dear Roz.
Well, I have been reading all the stories that are published in the news letter. I really have much fun with them. A lot of stories are shared by many of us stitches.
My name is Ingrid P. and I live now in southern California. I am from Germany, from Bremerhaven. When I was four years old, I learned to knit and after I figured out not to forget the yarn and moved only stitches from one needle to the other one, the project started getting longer. I was on my way to knit a thousand pair of socks. Later I found my love for lace knitting. I am still hooked on it.
My great-grandmother taught me all these things, knitting, cross stitch, Hardanger, and everything that a young girl needed to know.
In school we were taught everything else, sewing, every stitch that ever existed.
My parents send me to a private school, where I learned more, or new things. So, I always had a lot of variety to choose from. This helped me when I married my husband, a guy from California. He was in the Air Force and gone most of the time. I entertained my lonely days with Hardanger and cross-stitch. I still like projects that have these two stitches in them the most.
I have another hang-up, when I stitch a Hardanger piece, I don't like to cut out the places where it is suppose to be done. I sit for days and look at it, before I do it.
A few years ago I developed a stiff wrist on my right hand. For four years I could not move my hand very much. However I tried as much as I could do. I would not give up my stitching. I was send to sports-medicine and who knows what else. I had surgery on it. My doctor said to me, he did not think that carpal tunnel surgery would do anything to it, but he would send me to a neurologist. I found out I had Parkinson. After a couple of doctors I found one, he know what I needed. He gave me several different pills and a wonder happened in about two weeks, my hand came out of it's for years of stiffness. I say it was a wonder, God healed my wrist. He wanted me to stitch again and make some nice things. I am working right now on an altar cloth. Dear Roz,
I had just learned how to do Hardanger, self taught from a leaflet by Leisure Arts, when my husband was diagnosed with cancer. It went with me every place and especially in the clinic where he received his chemo. The first year I made Sun catchers from your two wonderful books and gave them to the people that worked in the clinic. Every Year I made them an ornament for Christmas, there were 40 of them.
He died in 2001 after a 3 1/2 year battle and I had started angel ornaments, for them and took them up to the clinic 9 months after he died. During that first year I also made 30 15" to 18" doilies to give to friends that had helped me through his illness and passing. All Hardanger. If it hadn't been for this wonderful needlework that was so new to me I would not have been able to go on. I lived and breathed Hardanger the first few years, changing patterns to suit me and sometimes designing my own. Needless to say I am still totally involved with this needlecraft and have almost every book and pattern that you offer. I like to change them some and add Blackwork or Cross Stitch to them too. Thank You for all your inspiration over the years.
Virginia I'm not the type of person to write about myself. When I read what some of the people had written about how needlework has affected their lives, I was compelled to send an email, because needlework has been a large part of my life for many years.
My Grandmother first taught me embroidery, when I was 5 years-old. I fell in love with any kind of stitching. As I grew up, I taught myself many different kinds, needlepoint, cross stitch, latch hooking rugs, many different kinds of embroidery, etc. When I was 18, I was in a car accident and suffered a spinal cord injury. I am now a quadriplegic, with partial use of 1 hand. Many thought I'd never be able to do my needlework. I found a way, and taught myself from being able to hold the needle to doing many different kinds of stitches. Through the years I've had many surgeries, and my needlework has helped me get through it all.
I am now 40 years-old. I still love needlework. I often give my pieces as gifts, and some have tried to buy my pieces. I still have a passion for learning new techniques and I like giving my pieces as gifts for friends and family. I just finished my first Hardanger table runner, which will be a gift for my Mother.
It feels good when you finish a piece, a sense of accomplishment. For me, the more difficult or challenging the better.
Needlework will always be a very big part of my life. It truly helped me through some very difficult times. It also showed me and others that by me finding a way to do my needlework that you should never give up or assume you can't do something.
I don't know what I would do if I didn't have needlework in my life. I am a stitcher for life!
Kara S.
Florida I read with interest today's newsletter and was especially touched by Lynne's story. I too find that my embroidery has on occasion saved my sanity. Sometimes when I've been down with this or that ailment, I stitch and stitch. Recently I injured my left shoulder; by keeping the elbow propped on a small pillow, I can still stitch at the end of the day when I'm too tired for anything else.
Diana S.
I have just read some of the other emails you have received and thought I'd send a quick note about how needlework has helped me.
I started doing stamped embroidery when I was eight and progressed from there to crewel embroidery and needlepoint. My dad had several operations while I was in high school. I would take my stitching with when I spent time at the hospital with him.
I picked up a counted cross stitch kit back in 1989 and have been hooked ever since. This got me through my own knee surgery and my dad's final hospitalizations. He loved to watch the picture show up on the blank piece of fabric.
However, my favorite story is about making "Spirit Dancer" for my mom.
I had started it in 1997 and was making good progress, but it got set aside after the birth of my son in May 1998. He was one of the children who don't nap; even as a baby he would only nap immediately after nursing while I held him. Okay for reading, but not for needlework.
When Marq was three, we got him a Dr. Seuss computer program. His bribe to me when asking for computer time was always "May I play on the computer? You can stitch." This bought me about 30 to 45 minutes of stitching time on a regular basis. I finished "Spirit Dancer" in late 2001.
I still don't have as much time as I would like to stitch, but still use
needlework to help me when I need to solve a problem or get out of a bad mood.
Thanks for your wonderful newsletters and the store I couldn't manage without.
Wendy W.
TN Well, here I am again and I finally after being technically blind and not being able to stitch for months without having to re-pick and stitch continuously I have vision again. and being deaf and a lip reader it isolated me and I would lay my stitching on the cassock under a sheet and when I had just the slightest of clearing vision I would stitch and sometimes it was only for a few minutes and other times I would get in a whole hour before that sight went away again. I have been stitching for 45 years and I truly missed it and my stitching friends at ANG and especially Donna at metamorphosis stitch shop in Nashville have kept up my spirits and encouraged me in all things. I am truly grateful for all my stitching cronies out there and to be able to see again was surely my own personal Easter miracle
Mary L. Hi Roz!
The emails you have featured are very touching, indeed. I first started cross stitching about 20 years ago. A very dear couple whom I met through a church retreat was moving to Finland for several years because he had received a job promotion. Everyone associated with this retreat wanted to make and/or give them Christmas ornaments to remind them of home. I had long made gifts to give rather than buying them and this time was no exception. I went to my local craft store and found a simple cross stitched Christmas ornament that said 'Noel.' I completed it, and I thought, 'Wow! That wasn't too difficult.' I worked my up to more difficult projects.
When my son (now age 14) was born, I didn't want just any old Christmas stocking for him. I searched and searched for a kit that is just right, to no avail. When he was six months, my nephew was born. On that day, my mother (who babysat my son while I was at work) wanted to be at the hospital with my sister, so I took the day off from work. Of course, at that age, all my son did was sleep a good part of the day. I decided I would design and complete my own stocking for him. I started it on that day, July 14, 1993. I finally finished it almost five years later. I worked on this stocking when I could - lunch hours at work, waiting in doctor's office, when I had car trouble, at night after work. I even cross stitched in the car going back and forth with my mother to Mississippi to be with another sister who suffered a miscarriage. I stitched in the hospital waiting room when we couldn't be in her room. When I started this stocking, my son was just a baby. When I finished, he was talking and voicing his opinion on what he wanted under the Christmas tree I had stitched. I had stitched 'boy toys' like baseball ball and bat, plane, train, Nativity scene, etc. By this time, he was obsessed with fire trucks and wanted one on his stocking. I couldn't find a chart for this fire truck [now, I see them everywhere!) and ended up making my own chart. The Christmas after I finished his stocking, my son announced he wanted a new stocking. I informed him that he was not going to get a new stocking because I had poured over four years of blood (literally, I pricked myself a couple of times with the needle), sweat (hot Texas summers) and tears into that stocking, and it was going to become an heirloom. It is now a running joke as my son gets older and has more 'adult' interests. It looks really great because I used Kreinik glow-in-dark filaments on certain elements of his stocking.
Whenever I find myself getting super-stressed, I always have something to work on, whether it is cross stitch or crochet or sewing or whatever. When I am working on a project, I have to concentrate on that, which blocks everything else out of my mind. I almost always have a 'bag of tricks' with me; my friends and family call me the bag lady because of this. I feel lost when don't have a project to work on. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who find themselves in difficult situations. My thanks and gratitude goes to you, Susan and your staff.
Warmest regards,
Marybeth M.K.
Texas OK, I just read today's newsletter, and now I am inspired to tell you a stitching story of my own.
The first time I ever saw a counted-cross stitch piece was 1987. I forget why I had stopped at a craft store, but I happened down an aisle with stitched samples and the sight stopped me in my tracks! They were so beautiful it took my breath away! At the time I was a 35 year old single parent in engineering grad school; I don't think there was a single spare minute in my day, or dollar in my budget, but I bought a kit anyway.
A couple of weeks later I found a spare hour, opened the kit, read the instructions, and managed a couple dozen stitches. That was where the project sat for several weeks.
Then, I found the lump in my breast, quickly had a bunch of tests followed by 2 surgeries which were followed by weeks of recovery, radiation treatments, more recovery. Too much time in waiting rooms and hospital rooms, with too much anxiety attached! That was when I started carrying my stitching around with me everywhere. It was calming and I could focus on it, and I don't know how I would have gotten through those months without it. I was SO glad that I had that first project ready and waiting for me. By the time I finished treatments, I had three completed pieces, that I called "surgery", "radiation" and "recovery". There have been lots of projects since then, under both happier and other stressful circumstances; I still use stitching for focus and relaxation as well as pleasure.
This year I will celebrate 20 years of cancer survival, and stitching!
Denise HI
I missed the last newsletter due to the death of a nephew in a snowmobile accident on our farm. I want to thank you for all the great books containing Hardanger, without them I'd still be a basket case. When my youngest son was born, he's 16 now, I had a bad case of postpartum depression. Only I didn't know it and had to try and keep moving with the new baby and a 2 year old and a ton of cows to take care of. My dad's cousin, she was 75 at the time, took pity on me and gave me a quick lesson in Hardanger, a book, fabric and perle cotton. I haven't quit stitching since. I had always cross stitched, but the Hardanger gave me something I had to think about. Plus having only one color of thread meant the boys didn't mess up things too bad. Jump ahead 12 years and that baby had a horrible accident with an auger and we spent 17 days in the hospital. without my Hardanger I would have gone totally crazy (not just the half I am).
So long story short, without all your books and supplies available, I wouldn't be somewhat normal. Plus, my husband now knows where to take me on vacation, that isn't too far from home and keeps me happy.
Thanks a ton!
Cindy Hi Roz,
I just finished reading the message from Bobbie G in this week's news letter. My story is much the same. I was a casual cross stitcher until March of 1998. That is when my husband and I found out that our second child (a little girl) had died. She was a full term still birth at 41 weeks. For a couple of weeks I just sat on the couch and did a lot of nothing. I figured I needed to get my mind working so I didn't go slowly crazy. I picked up my cross stitch because that way I would still be able to sit on the couch, carry on a conversation (the stitching wasn't difficult because I mentally couldn't handle it) and maybe begin to heal some. I stitched gifts for everyone from my OB to family Christmas gifts. Each one getting a little more difficult. It was wonderful therapy! I joke with my husband that it was cheaper then a therapist.
His still isn't falling for it. :) As with Bobbie G, the one that I started for my daughter's nursery still is unfinished and that is just fine. Stitching has now become more then therapy for me, it is a lifestyle. I love it!!! Kelli R. Hi Roz,
I am a professional woman and time is of great scarcity. But I would like to say it has helped me as much as anyone else, if not more. I got this love of handiwork from my mother. Forced to deal with my brothers' chronic health problems and hospitalization (23 major surgeries over 22 years), she always had something in her hand.
I can even correlate finished pieces of needlework with all the various surgeries my brother has had. The most cherished artwork I could hope to have is her finished needlework.
Doing handiwork has helped me preserve my mental peace, also. Last year, due to circumstances beyond anyone's control, I was forced to remain without employment for 4 months. It was a cross-stitch sampler project for my daughter that got me through those difficult lonely times. When you are feeling things are beyond your control, well, you can't change those circumstances. You can only change how you react to those circumstances. Doing needlework, we gain some hope and courage through the artworks we are creating. Plus, we give ourselves a much needed window in this world of chaos, for reflection and introspection.
When I returned to the hospital, I always have my needlework project.
At times when things happen beyond our belief or control, I reach for it for a much-needed break.
I read in a knitting store a saying - "knit with confidence and hope, through all times of hardship and crisis". I would like to change this saying a bit.
"do needlework, with confidence and hope, through all times of crisis,"
I really feel it is a much much healthier lifestyle alternative than all those anti-depressant medicines out there, and a most wonderful therapy.
Love, M. p.s. I really love your nordic needlework newsletters. I had meant to write to you before this about how Hardanger has helped my through some hard times, but with what happened this weekend, it has helped me once again. The day before Easter at 5am I woke up to hear sirens near my house. I also became aware my phone was ringing and the answering machine picked up my mom's voice calling to me. I jumped up and mom told me she called the ambulance for my dad. We ended up spending three days at the hospital and during that time I stitched and prayed as we waited for dad to improve. I finished one small project and began another. It helped fill the hours and kept me from imagining what could happen to my Patio Daddio. (That's my favorite name for dad.) Thanks to the good Lord and the skillful doctors at Mayo Clinic, dad survived and will live to work on our mutual project. A wooden truck he's carving and I'm rosemaling.
Renee T I just read the e-mails from the women in Brazil and Peru. They apologize for their English and I'm thinking "Oh, to be so proficient in another language!" I think we all recognize another word here or there in some other language, but never enough to use it so well!
Jo Ann
Iowa Hello Roz at Nordic Needle. I love doing Hardanger embroidery. I learned from my daughter's co-worker Eva, who is from Norway. When I was going through chemotherapy in 2003-2004 Eva came to my house one evening and got me started with the basics of Hardanger embroidery. I spent many hours at home not feeling well enough to do much, but always well enough to page through any books I could find on Hardanger embroidery and to work on a project. It helped me pass the hours. My first project was a ring bearer's pillow for my daughter's wedding. My son-in-law said it was their "first family heirloom."
I especially love Hardanger embroidery because it is a part of my own Norwegian heritage. Each piece is a much-enjoyed labor of love from me to the recipient. Attached are photographs of some of my projects.
Nancy K.
CO Dear Roz,
Just 10 years (4/8/97) ago the love of my life was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. With both of us having been in the health care arena for over 35 years, we were very aware of the impending outcome. Following a 5 week course of concurrent radiation and Chemotherapy and then 3 weeks to rebuild some of the white blood cells, he had a Whipple procedure that is a really major surgery. To make a long story shorter, he spent a total of 10 weeks in the hospital after suffering several "crashes" before he was allowed to return home. During his hospital stay, I started and finished Emie Bishops "Love" sampler and that effort was such a source of not only comfort but a terribly tender experience for me since I already knew for what I needed to prepare myself. This past December 22nd we would have been married for 50 years and he still is the love of my life and without stitching every day, I do not know how I would have endured this terrible loss. He passed in September, 1998 and still remains forever in my heart.
I learned to stitch at my mother's knee when I was about 5 or 7 and have learned many mediums of the needlearts and do love not only the beauty of my efforts but also love the opportunity to find a concentration focus that I believe helps one's patience continue to develop.
Thank you for allowing me to share this loving experience I had as I sat beside my beloved's bedside in the hospital. NN is such a comfort to me since I do not have a very good LNS - it only caters to those who knit and rather immature stitchers.
Barb S.
VA Roz,
I thoroughly enjoy reading how important needlework is for others .... especially as a sanity.
I have been doing some form of needlework since I was five when my mother taught me the stem stitch, lazy daisy and French knots in embroidery. I taught myself knitting at age 12, then when counted cross-stitch came into the front I started working with that. I do many types of needlework including tatting. Over 20 years ago I joined EGA and started learning other counted thread techniques, especially Hardanger, which I dearly love doing. But then things changed and I could no longer attend EGA meetings so allowed my membership to expire. Shortly after my husband retired on disability he soon became housebound. For the past six plus years he has been confined to a hospital bed here at home and I became his full-time caregiver. He is on hospice care and if it were not for my daily stitching, currently crazy quilting small items with silk ribbon embroidery and trying to learn Brazilian Embroidery, I would surely have lost my sanity. A hospice volunteer comes once a week so that I may have a couple of free hours to teach needlework at the local senior center. Stitching is vital to keep the mind alert and the fingers supple. I really enjoy stitching samplers especially those with scripture and have the Peace sampler hanging where I see it on the way to the kitchen each morning.
Keep those wonderful newsletters coming. I need to read how others cope.
Blessings to all,
Norma
VA Dear Roz, I just wanted to tell you how much the recent newsletter touched my heart. I have been a physician for 15 plus years and stitching has helped me through med school, residency, and bed rest when pregnant with my twins. I am always working on something especially when waiting for a baby to deliver. Today has been a very bad day for me. Just reading the newsletter made me cry. My hurt is nothing compared to arthritis, have a husband deployed to war... As the lady from Brazil said stitching does indeed make us closer to God. Thank you all for touching my heart.
Jackie
Colorado Hi Roz,
I do so enjoy the many letters from all over the world and the stories they tell.
I do not have any major problems at the moment but can relate to those who do.
I find that if I have had a stressful day or upsetting conversation with some one I love, I can go into my "sewing space" and within a few minutes I have started to calm down. It is a lot better to stitch furiously for a while than to spout some unwanted words that cannot be taken back.
I, too, give most of my work to friends and family. Unfortunately I cannot afford to frame some of them but that does not seem to matter to the receiver. I have been building up a stash of projects because I cannot hang anything on the walls of my house so I just take out the box in which they are stored and enjoy them that way.
Thanks so much for your wonderful newsletter each week. I look forward to reading them.
Lolita
Florida Dear Roz,
In your last newsletter you stated that we should write and let you know how my needlecraft has been an influence in our family's life. When my grandson, Zachary, was three years old, I was cross stitching the "Lord's Supper". Since I baby sit him and his sister, Rachel, since they were born, he watched me everyday and asked questions about who Judas, etc. was in the picture. When he found out who Judas was, he stated, "When I get to Heaven I am going to kill him." I thought this was cute that a three year old believed he was going to heaven. I know he was really sincere and knew the story because he has gone to church all his life. Right then, I told him that when I passed away, the picture was his and he makes sure everyone knows. The picture hangs over my dining room table. After I finished this picture, I had to make my granddaughter a picture. I chose the Lord facing the "Old Rugged Cross" and the words of the song. She also knows this picture is hers when I pass away. Now that the grandchildren are fifteen and eighteen years old, they are really active in the church. They have been on mission trips to Russia and Honduras with their parents. Rachel will graduate from high school this year and has been accepted at a Christian College in Pensacola, Florida and plans to be a foreign missionary.
I really enjoy getting your newsletter each week and read all the stories about people and their lives connected with needlecraft. I will continue to pray for those who have medical problems and the ones who survived Katrina. We really don't realize how lucky we are each day.
Sincerely,
Shirley Good Evening Roz,
At least it is evening where I am! My name is Nova and I reside in Gladstone, Central Queensland, Australia. I was very interested to hear about the 'Nova' pattern that Margaret has just finished - as you would have guessed because my name is Nova.
I am a very recent convert to Punch Needle Embroidery - only since September 2005 when my husband and I made the decision to make a 'sea change' and move from Alice Springs, Central Australia to Queensland and that I would move ahead of him to obtain employment. This I did with the assistance of a great friend of mine who allowed me to stay with her for approximately a month until I gained employment and am into any kind of needlework/sewing you can imagine! We went to a small craft show in Rockhampton, about 1 hour drive north of Gladstone, and I saw a lady with a stall there doing the punch embroidery and thought I would give it a go.
Well my girlfriend reckons we unleashed the dragon on that one - I have done heaps since the first time I saw it at the craft show, especially whilst I was in Brisbane on my own from October 2005 thru until January 2006 when I moved to a coal mining site with my employment.
I have to admit I'm not necessarily into 'traditional' designs and have a particular liking for abstract designs - things that are definitely outside the square.
Like all the ladies in your last newsletter, although I am not physically impaired, I have found the Punch Needle Embroidery a sanity saver and a great stress release.
My 'ideal project' will be a tiger (design already picked out and material worked out!!) when I am a bit more confident - the one thing I am not sure of is the 'fluffing' to make the fur. If someone could advise me on how to get the 'fluffy' effect I'd be most grateful.
Anyway I just wanted to say I get a lot out of your newsletter and have on more than one occasion availed myself of your online shopping and have been most impressed by the service offered especially given that we are on the other side of the world!
Regards
Nova Dear Roz,
I spent almost twenty years doing victim assistance. I went out to the site of suicides and murders to help the victim survivors. I went out on SIDS deaths. I did death notifications, took people to view bodies, helped people through funerals, responded to sexual assaults, domestic violence, all of it. I was often called out in the middle of the night to assist someone during crisis. I loved my work, I got to see the strength of the human spirit, people allowed me in their lives during their most vulnerable time. Me, a total stranger. Returning home from such a call, the adrenalin flowing, during the middle of the night, I knew sleep would not come my way unless I could transition back to home and family. Whenever I came in from a call I would sit down and do needlework for an hour or so.
This allowed me to absorb what had transpired that evening and allowed me to come back to my family not any crazier than when I left. Without needlework I do not think I would have been able to continue it such intense work. I am now a case manager with the disabled and elderly.
Needlework consistently assists me in working through the tension of the job and the emotional attachment I feel toward those I serve. Thank you, so much for the work you do in supplying us with the tools to continue needleworking. It is a lifesaver.
Mary M.
NM My story of salvation through needlework is unusual to say the least. I've been doing needlework of all sorts since childhood. I learned to knit, crochet and embroider from my grandmother before I was 10 years old. When I married at 18, my mother-in-law showed me the "European Way" to knit, which I grudgingly acknowledged as being much better. I learned to tat and also did several cross stitch items, including counted cross stitch. I discovered I love the precision of counted stitching and so, about 15 years ago, I tried Hardanger.
I followed a pattern for my first piece or two, but soon fell into winging it. I have made original design ring-bearer's pillows for family and friends for years now. I even designed and made christening booties for my two sets of twin grandchildren. I enter my work at local county fairs and usually get blue ribbons for my efforts. For the past 2 years I have demonstrated my craft (In colonial costume) at our fair.
This year, my daughter is getting married and I am working on 120 mini sun catchers as favors for the reception! I carry my needlework kit with me everywhere including on the plane when flying (minus the scissors - with precut thread).
Finally, as to the unusual nature of my needlework addiction, I also happen to be very short and 100 pounds overweight! The second time my doctor mentioned gastric bypass or lap-banding the idea scared the devil out of me! So, I went to a hypnotherapist! She helped me substitute doing my needlework for overeating! As of now, I'm down 35 pounds (with 50 sun catchers done) and still going! So, needlework is literally "saving my life".
Maureen Z.
New York Dear Roz: Needlework has saved me. In 1999, my husband took a job in Columbus, GA, and we bought a house way out in the country. My father had died a few years earlier, and I had found out that I couldn't have children. I was pretty depressed. I was afraid to even go out to the mailbox, for fear that someone would see me. One day, I found a little needlework shop in Columbus, The Threaded Needle (no longer open, I'm told) run by two wonderful women, Marilu and Chris. I had learned to cross-stitch from my mother, but I was interested in doing more than what could be found at discount stores. They invited me to come on Fridays, when there was a stitch-in. So I started going, and met more wonderful women, and one funny man. These people were my lifeline to the rest of the world. They accepted me as a fellow stitcher, and made me feel a part of the world, for at least one day a week.
When my mother got cancer and died, they were kind. They encouraged me when I went to beauty school, and then when I got my first job in a salon.
I moved away just as the shop was moving to a bigger location. I missed them so much. I did go back once, and it was different, but still the same lovely ladies, plus a few more. I am now studying biochemistry at UGA, and plan to go into cancer research. I don't think I would have made it, if they had not been there during my most difficult time. I pray often that God will be with them.
Amberly E.
GA
I wrote back to Amberly and asked her if it was OK to share this and she replied with the following email. If any of you from her Columbus stitching group read this and want to correspond with her, let me know.
Dear Roz,
Please do. I have never told the ladies there how much they meant to me, and it's been so long now, that I don't know how to contact them and tell them. I know many of them used to get your newsletter, so they can read it there, for the entire world to see how wonderful they are!
Amberly E.
GA Dear Roz: First of all, I love your newsletter and wait anxiously for it. I have used a few of the tips the ladies have shared.
My passion is Hardanger. I have made long and short scarves, angels, cards, etc. I give most of them away. The main reason I am writing is to tell you about a dark time that Hardanger has made it almost bearable. My husband of many years was diagnosed with myelodysplasia (a blood disease where the bone marrow does not make red cells) in May 2003. He is transfusion dependent and receives two units of red cells every two weeks. This takes most of all day. I take my stitching along and do my Hardanger while waiting. It has been a life saver for me. In addition, a few of the nurses have shown an interest, and I have taught three of them. Now, they are as addicted to Hardanger as I am. Diana B.
Florida< Hi Roz,
I guess I'll chime in . I learned needlework in Holland. I moved there when I was 19 and later married a Dutchman. His grandmother (bless her!) decided that since his sister, Marga could do needlework, so could I. Family in-law pressure got me going. The stressful time it got me through was when I was on the union bargaining team bargaining against the Ontario (Canada) government leading up to our first strike. The government had just fallen and a very retrogressive party unexpectedly won the election. They decided to break the Union during negotiations. Since I don't drink or smoke, like the rest of the bargaining team, my needlework followed me into the late night bargaining sessions while we worked to keep the picket lines intact.
Sheila K. I am a retired elementary teacher-just last spring. A few years ago I broke my leg. It was in the spring of the year and I missed they rest of that school year-about 6 weeks. I went back to school they following fall but ended up missing about 4 and a half months of that year. I spent about 1 year on crutches. During all of that time at home, there were many days that the only thing that got me up was a knitting, Hardanger or cross-stitch projects. My needlework made the days go faster and gave me a purpose each day. I finished 2 afghans and started a baby afgan,2 Hardanger doilies and made cross-stitch Christmas ornaments for everyone I could think of. I also lost my mother that year. I have often said that my needlework, many good friends and family and a lot of prayer got me through that year. After 35 years of teaching, I now really enjoy the extra time I have that was used for correcting papers, and planning for working on my needlework projects. Sonja
MN You asked how sewing has helped. I have had two spinal operations with 3 months flat on my back after each. My children really scored - Hardanger sets and cross stitch pictures cheered me up as I stitched - and enhanced their homes when I finished.
Love you letters.
Joan L.
Australia Thanks you for the newsletter and the recipes....love to read the letters from fellow stitchers......and the recipes are always welcome.....recipes are like patterns......you never have enough
I started stitching 45 years ago........when I was a teenager...my Mother was not one for needlework or anything to do with your hands....and she was amazed that I was interested in anything like that......it has been my addiction as well as my salvation.....when I am down and life throws me a curve....my needlework is always there and I can bury myself in a project and get away from what is troubling me........I can think more clearly when I have done even an hour of stitching.......wish there was a way to loose weight and stitch at the same time...haven't mastered that yet.........I have belonged to EGA and learned many new techniques........I cross stitch, knit, crochet, blackwork and my newest is Swedish weave........I don't have many of my projects in my house they are usually given away.......that is the best part of knowing a craft.....sharing it with others...... I not only give a nice gift ....but part of my love......
Thanks again
Elizabeth P. Hi Roz: I have to say I am a no talent needlepointer and yet it has been my love for years. I have taken classes several times and had finally reached the point where I could recognize a "mess of stitches" when I reviewed areas on canvases. I am a, I think, a cerebral person and the arts elude me much to my horror. I think most of the work shown on your site and other needlepoint sites are truly works of Art. I am the one who got Angel Butz's Angel which I love. I sit and stare at it sometime when I need a peaceful moment. I was looking at it the other up close and am I right, is it done completely in cross stitch? When I looked at it from a distance it seemed just little stitches, but up close I can see all the tiny tiny xxxxxxx stitches all over it. All I can say is WoW...
I took a correspondence class which was very hard for me to complete and I didn't get it finished, the last group of diagonal stitches defeated me no matter how hard I tried. Your site and several others are the one thing that keeps me going at trying to get it. I have some beautiful canvases which I am anxious to get into but have vowed to complete two that have been started and I have been working on for several years first. Then on your site I see and hear about Hardanger and love it but just don't have the courage to try it without someone around me who knows it. Your site keeps my optimism out there and hopefully with all the beauty we are surrounded with from various shops, etc. I will get it if I keep trying. I want it to be my method of relaxation instead of stress and you and your needleworkers keep me on track. I am also working on completing my last canvas finished even though it is long past due and it won't count as passing, but I will know I have learned which is important to me. Thanks for your site, your stitchers and their encouragement with their stories of their love of needlework. It helps us who don't really have the talent acquire it.
Elizabeth Hi Roz
I have been reading your newsletter and am not surprised that so many people have so many different and personal reasons that keep them stitching.
My family is Danish and moved to Australia in the late 1950s. We were brought up with Danish customs ,language and food and of course the biggest of our celebrations being Christmas Eve when decorating the tree meant a lot of special ornaments brought from Denmark as well as making our own. Until I started school I didn't speak English so everything Danish was important to me. When I was very young my father told us stories of the young Danish girls who spent the long winter months stitching to pass the time. When some friends came to visit from Denmark and brought magazines there were some cross stitch designs and the first one I attempted was a Christmas design. I was hooked. At the time there was not much available in Australia as far as cross stitching was concerned so I would stitch everything there was to be stitched in the magazines for decorations , gifts, wall hangings and also on clothes. Stitching the Danish designs always made me feel connected to the family far away and was a great stress relief when studying through school. When ever things were difficult or I needed a break cross stitch would be my release. Finally at around 13 I began designing my own patterns because I couldn't wait till the next Danish magazine or pattern arrived from Denmark.
Now I have my own family. My partner was a musician and was away a lot playing in bands for most of the time and again cross stitch helped fill in many hours waiting for him to come home. These days we have a son and the Christmas designs I stitch for the tree are often created with him in mind. Every year I stitch at least one to mark the year and one day he may have a collection of decorations that will celebrate every year since he was born.
I still design my own and now with Daniel at school. I still mostly stitch Christmas designs but now they have a very Australian theme even though they also have a Danish accent.
All the best
Carrol N. I have always enjoyed doing all kinds of needle work from making doll clothes when I was a child to crocheting, knitting, Cross stitch (my favorite), needlepoint, and quilting. I started stitching when I was 7 or 8 years old with my grandmother by helping (?) her quilt her quilts. Looking back at those long, long quilting stitches I made when Grandma and her friends made their tiny stitches and never criticizing my stitching only encouraging my interest in stitching more.
My favorite pieces I have stitched so far are, Seventeenth Century Style Band Sampler by Pat and Gloria, I learned so much from doing this chart and I still refer to it at times, Mild Menagerie, and Emie Bishop's charts, I had a question on one of her charts so I e mailed her the question and she wrote back with a detailed answer to my question.
People have tried to buy some of my finished work but I find it most satisfying to give them to friends and family.
I look forward to reading the Nordic Needle news letter each week and really enjoy the recipes each week. Do you ever print recipes your readers send in?
Thanks for your time,
Kathy F.
CO I've been doing needlework of some sort since I was 7. I started out with crewel embroidery, and graduated to cross stitch when I was about 13. When I was about 20 I did my first blackwork piece and that by far, is my favorite! I have a couple canvas work patterns at home that I'm trying to get up enough to work on - since I've never done a canvas work before, I'm kind of nervous. My best friend (who lives in Albuquerque; I live in San Francisco) tells me not to worry about it, that it'll be a piece of cake!
I don't know what I would do if I didn't needlework to keep me busy. I actually didn't stitch for about 3 years - having eye problems. I finally got glasses to work with and I picked up old unfinished pieces like I'd never put them down. I've since been designing my own cross stitch patterns and making lots of gifts.
In March my boyfriend had stroke and I stopped stitching for a while again this past March - the stress was just too tiresome. Last night, I started a new blackwork pattern and was able to FINALLY relax again! Even under my bright, hot lights, in unseasonably warm San Francisco temps of 85 degrees, I relaxed!
Stephanie
CA Dear Roz
Needlework has seen me through so many areas of my life, I wouldn't know where to begin to list them all. It has had a calming effect during periods of my life when things have been wonderful, giving me a great sense of pride in my accomplishment. Needlework has also been a wonderful way to work through problems when my life has been more difficult. Going through a divorce after 15 years of marriage and embarking on a life of raising three pre-teen/ young teenagers left me so frazzled that I couldn't even concentrate well enough to do any of the needlework that I love so much. Even during this time, however, I found great comfort in perusing new patterns and reflecting on past pieces that I had made, especially those that I had stitched for my children as they were growing up. I am happy to say that I have finally reached a point where I have purchased the supplies that I need to start a new project! Even better though, I am now teaching my 12 year old daughter to stitch and bought some simple cross stitch kits for her recent birthday. I hope to pass along to her something that brings as much joy and comfort to her life as it unfolds as it has to mine, and something that can continue for generations to come (she still promises to name her first born daughter after me, so I'm sure she will teach her stitch as well!).
Cathy
Indiana Hi Roz,
I have to tell you that I first started stitching at a very young age when I was about eight years old. I started to do a sampler along with my elder sister who was ten at that time.
I never did get the sampler finished and still have it today in my cupboard.
I first started doing Hardanger embroidery about twenty years ago, when I worked in the Post office. I had started my first piece of of embroidery by then and this resident of this small community came in and I asked her did she do Hardanger embroidery as I had made a mistake. With that I was told by her to bring the piece in and she would show me were I had gone wrong. I brought it in and she pulled the whole lot out and showed me how to do cloister blocks properly and from then on I was hooked. I did that small piece and continued with a larger one and then did not do very much for the next few years till 1998, when I decided that I should do more, and now I always have my stitching out especially on my days off in between housework.
Two years ago my mother passed away and I was devastated. After I had been to her funeral and spent time with my sisters and son in England, I came back home and got quite sick myself. Could not seem to find a way out. Embroidery seemed to be the last thing I wanted to do at that stage, and decided I needed a new challenge and so I enrolled on a quilting course for six weeks, doing a beginner lap quilt. I hand stitched it all of course as that is what I like best. These days I do a lot of the stitchery panels as I like them better than doing triangles and stars.
My first love is Hardanger and will always go back to that.
I just wanted to share this with you all, as it helped me at that time.
Ann
New Zealand Dear Roz,
After years of stitching (needlepoint) the designs of others, I received clear instructions from my then 3 year old grandson. "Gahmma," he said pointing to a display in a needlework shop, "I like that Christmas stocking, but, can't YOU make one just for me?"
That did it. I started with his stocking, got it done in plenty of time for Christmas, then his dad said, "Could I put you on a 5-year-plan so you could make one for me?" Indeed I could and did.
I went through the whole family, stitching to beat the band. All the patterns are original with me and involve the Christmas Story, plus individual interests of the intended recipient. AND, all of the stockings are in petit-point. I get much better detail and, at 79 years old, can still see the stitches - although I must admit to slightly more "re-do's" than in the past.
Best to all,
Joan
PS - My grandson is now 25 years old and I am working on a stocking for a third great-grandchild.
JHB Roz,
My paternal grandparents were first and second generation Norwegians in the United States. They were Lutheran missionaries in Madagascar from
1915 to 1921. My father was born there. My grandmother did Hardanger embroidery and she taught the Malagasy natives how to do Hardanger. I have several old Hardanger pieces, some that my grandmother did and some that were given to her. Some may have been done in Madagascar.
I was intrigued by my grandmother's Hardanger as a child. At about age 25 I bought a Hardanger instruction book that sat on the shelf until I was 45. Then a friend gave me a couple lessons and I finally got started. I feel there is a part of my grandmother in me that compels me to carry on her tradition.
Roger James B., 100% Norwegian, age 58,
Iowa Roz, as I have read the wonderful stories in the newsletter, I have reflected upon my own experiences, particularly those that go along with counted cross stitch and the specialty stitches. There are too many to let you know. I'll try to touch on the ones that have touched me most.
My mother and my grandmothers taught me to embroider those stamped pieces when I was very small. At 60, of course, my grandmothers are gone now, and I'm not able to see my mother, although I think of her often. Doing the kind of embroidery I do now reminds me of all of them.
I've been doing counted cross stitch for more than 40 years. When I found it, I couldn't find supplies except for floss around here, so I improvised. Then, it took hold. Was I happy!!!!!!! I could create things without those permanent blue lines, and there began to be wonderful charts. People still have gifts I gave them long ago that I made with my own two hands.
Ever since, I've had events associated with some of my pieces. I was stitching L&L's Ice Angel when a dear friend had a brain aneurysm rupture, through her surgery and following illness and passing. That is no doubt Mary's angel. She is the little tree, and that angel is gently sprinkling sparkling bits of peace upon her. I was able to rest as I stitched the angel, although I was watching my friend suffer things she hated. Now, I remember her life and not the end.
One of the brightest things that has ever happened to me has been the opportunity to volunteer for the past 15 or so years as an AOL chat room host. I should say first we don't host any more because AOL elected not to have hosts any more about a year and a half ago, but I continued because I love it. I was asked to host two chats about counted cross stitch and have done so ever since. Each chat meets once per week, so long as I am able to do so. The Monday-night one is a cross-stitch class. I am usually the teacher unless someone else volunteers. It lasts for an hour. The Thursday-afternoon one is an "open" chat in which we talk about our stitching and everything else of interest to stitchers: food (!), pets, questions about stitching, we bring virtual food, gardening, you name it! Can you tell we like to eat. What have I gained from doing this? So much, I can't begin to tell you. I have met so many stitchers from everywhere with all kinds of interests. Some, I have known for years. Some have become my dear friends. We lost one about a year ago right after she gave birth to her third son. I feel her with me always as I stitch, prepare for chat, or am at chat.
The second big thing is that I have learned so much more than I once knew about counted cross stitch and other counted thread from researching for class. My own techniques have improved drastically. I have learned to teach online. I have even been able to design a few small pieces, to redraw the charts, to draw chart diagrams, and to put everything with them to send them via email attachment to members who want them. And I don't draw stick figures well!!! Most of these pieces have been small samplers to teach specialty stitches. So I gain creativity at the same time. They encourage stitchers to experiment with different colors and with hand-dyed fibers if they choose.
I have researched everything from needles to scissors to fabrics (we're getting ready to do fabrics from scratch for the first time in quite a few years, and I'm trying to draw a "bump" on Aida right now...ROFL...to show the weave). You name it, we've probably done it. I even dared design a small Hardanger piece to teach once. To my own shame, I haven't framed my own models.
Recently, I've been on sort of a hiatus for health reasons from chats. I've been there most of the time but haven't been able to do much in the way of teaching when I've been at class. But my interest in everything stitching has been picking up since I moved in November, and do I have plans for class! After fabrics, which will last a little while, I have a small sampler I am going to teach. I haven't done that in a long time. I am so excited! It's called Love Grows, and I'm almost done stitching it. The chart is done in my software, too. Now, I need to get everything into a format that I can email. I do keep an email list of those who would like summaries of the classes but who cannot get to them because of time or because they are not on AOL.
And I am once again able to relax with my own stitching, which is just what I need. There was a time when I couldn't in what seemed forever. I am delighted to find time to sit to stitch on Love Grows or the big Long Dog sampler I've been looking forward to. I chose a beautiful hand-dyed fabric and am stitching it with white silk. Both are for my new home and mean a great deal to me.
Because I am physically unable to work any more, it has come to me recently there is something I may perhaps be able to do if I start very small and slowly. I've always loved to design the little samplers and have done a few big ones as special orders for people. I have most of what I need to get started very slowly, have talked with big designers about what it takes to start, and am motivated. I also have some "free" artistic idea help. I stitch my models, I do all the work. Ideas, ideas. But slowly and small. And get up from the computer or my sewing chair at least once every hour...for me, probably more often.
I hope you can see just a little what needlework has done and will be doing for me. I am so fortunate.
Jill M.
Roz, thank you. Yes, please feel free to include my email address. I chose not to advertise that AOL is now free to people with other internet services. There is no charge. I believe they can simply go to http://www.aol.com for further information. That's how I get my AOL now. I pay only for my DSL service, which I get through another provider, nothing for the AOL full service. I thought that might seem like advertising, although I have never been affiliated except as a member and volunteer. The only way the chats are available is through AOL. The class summaries, diagrams, etc., are available to anyone on any service who writes and asks me for them. I just add that person to my mailing list. The only criterion is that the person must ask to be added. If you'd like to edit this information and add it, please feel free.
I've found passing needle arts on to anyone who wishes to learn about them is one of the best things I can do with something I love so much. It's how we keep them alive and growing, don't you think?
Jill After reading this week's newsletter I had to share with you my stories. I was taught by my Mother as a child to do embroidery and crewel work. In 1988, my folks were celebrating their 45 anniversary and I wanted to do a wedding sampler for them but couldn't find a kit that I felt would fit their lives. Then I found a counted cross stitch kit with Roses and it was a wedding sampler. That was my first counted cross stitch pattern ( I finished it 2 days before they came to visit which was 2 days after their 45th anniversary) and I became totally addicted to counted cross stitch. Number years passed and my ex-husband and I split. I was working on a mystery sampler at the time he and I were having our fights and when I moved out, I boxed everything up and didn't look at it all. Then one day, I pulled it out and starting stitching on it again. As my friends said "that's the day Debs came back to us". I finished that sampler and of course, have tons more.
Then I met my new husband and he understood how much stitching meant to me and I helped him buy his first counted cross stitch pattern which he finished! Five months before we were to be married, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My stitching became my friend. I always had a pattern to work on while waiting to the waiting rooms for the surgeons and then radiation treatments. In fact, the nurses and techs always wanted to see what I was working on at that moment. Without my stitching ( and of course, my husband, family and friends) I would have never made it through my recovery because I would have been bored out of my mind :-).
Debs Hi, I'm Linda C. from CA. I am a psychologist and work sometimes 60 hours a week. However, every spare minute I can spend is with cross stitching, crochet, quilting, or some other "mad interest". My husband refers to me as a "stitch wit" (read nit-wit)! I have taken it with me to some interesting places. Most recently: last March I had a brain aneurysm repaired. I was diagnosed in January and spent many hours up at Stanford University Hospital in Stanford CA, having tests, waiting for doctor's appointments, etc. We spent many days there prior to my surgery. The anxiety and fear were horrific, and if I had not had my stitching I would have been "inpatient material". I made seven crocheted afghans in the months prior to my surgery. When the surgery was performed, the doctor discovered that the aneurysm was much larger and more fragile than first expected. I came very close to losing my life. When I returned home, I couldn't see well due to double vision. I focused my energy on getting my vision straight so I could finish my last and favorite afghan in May, just before returning to work. I immediately switched to cross stitch, and jumped into the most complicated designs I could find. I have found it to be a wonderful "tranquilizer". Also, I love working with the colors, and lovely designs. I often recommend needlecrafts to my patients, especially those with anxiety problems. The work absorbs attention and filters out anxiety! I am so grateful to be able to see the wonderful work I can do now, and I never forget how close I came to losing all of this. My husband and daughter have been wonderful, and I couldn't have made it at all without my wonderful friends and coworkers. They cooked for me, kept me company, and one of my friends spent three days at the hospital helping care for me! Through it all my stitching continues, and I hope it will, for a long time to come. Keep up the good work; I love the newsletter. It is the first thing I read when I arrive at work on Monday mornings! Many thanks
Dr. Linda C. I enjoy reading about the passion of other needle artists so thought I'd submit this "bio" attachment.
I was asked by the manager of my local duplicate bridge club if I would show some of my needle art work at the club. I was asked to also write a "bio" about how I became a needle artist.
Fran and Her Needlework
In 1950, I had to take an elective to complete my second major, Home Economics, and selected a creative art class where we had to design a sampler implementing dozens of different embroidery stitches. Little did I know then how picking up a needle and creating a needle art piece would become such a passion in my later years.
I returned to needling in one form or another about 30 years later, after we sold our business in San Jose, our daughter was a senior in high school and our son was in college. I was looking for another outlet besides doing volunteer work or taking "for fun" classes at the community college.
In 1980, a friend of mine convinced me that we should take a needlepoint class in Los Gatos. From then on, I was hooked on needlepoint and made pictures, pillows, etc. by the dozens, giving completed projects to family members and friends.
In 1984, we moved to Placerville and while waiting for our house to be built, I saw an ad in the Democrat for a class being taught called Hardanger, a counted and cut-work form of embroidery from Norway. From the very beginning I loved doing it too. The instructor was a wonderful lady named Sue, yes, our Sue C. from Foothill Bridge Club.
Not only did Sue teach me the fine art of Norwegian embroidery, but she introduced me to some local bridge players. At the time, I was strictly a social bridge player, using four-card major suit openings. Life in the country was not boring at all between party bridge at the Monday Club, AAUW bridge, the Placerville Shakespeare Club and needling.
Later, I joined the American Needlepoint Guild and the Embroider's Guild of America. Through these organizations, I went on to learn more advanced needlework: Blackwork, charted embroidery and Brazilian embroidery. Brazilian embroidery did not appeal to me, at all. Sue and I agree. We both like to fill up holes using a needle and fiber.
Through the years, whenever a needlework catalog arrived from Nordic Needle or wherever we traveled overseas or in our motorhome, I always found a piece of needlework that I could not resist buying. I have a closet full of projects yet to finish.
Can't say I have any favorite type of needlework. I go from: counted cross-stitch, to Hardanger, to needlepoint, to charted embroidery, to Blackwork, back and forth. Like most needlers, I always have several projects in process at the same time. My current challenging counted cross-stitch project will probably take me six months to finish.
In the spring of 1999, I was a new widow looking for another outlet to occupy my time and saw an ad for duplicate bridge classes at the Foothill Bridge Club. I signed up for a class taught by Clyde B. where I ran into a familiar face, Sue and many other exceptional and outstanding people who have become an important part of my life.
Little did I know then how addictive duplicate bridge could be. Stan S. started calling four of us, Gayle H., Nancy C., Sandy W. and me, the "Killer B's" after winning our first 2.43 Gold points at a Regional Tournament in Sacramento, June 2000. Thanks to many good partners, I made Life Master, May 2003.
After several hours at the bridge table, if you were to peek in my window, you would see me doing what? That's right. Needle working, of course. Life is good!
Fran S.
CA Hi, I would like to say how much I enjoy reading your newsletter. I am a fairly new stitcher as my Mother never learned to sew and in fact hated to even have to sew on a button. When I was married and had my children I wanted to make clothes for them so went to a Junior College and took sewing classes. I found that I enjoyed sewing and made dresses for my girls and even shirts for my boys. After the children were grown my daughter-in-law introduced me to counted cross stitch. I was hooked and did many projects for myself and for gifts for my friends and family. After my husband died, I was visiting a friend whose home was filled with many Hardanger items and I was fascinated. She offered to teach me and I started learning this beautiful needlework. Unfortunately I moved and was unable to continue learning from her so have tried to continue with the help of some of your excellent books and kits. I really do enjoy Hardanger and find is a relaxing (though sometimes frustrating) needlework. Recently I have tried some Huck weaving and am enjoying this also. Know my projects have brought me much fun and enjoyment and am thankful I am retired and now have more time to pursue these activities. Pauline U. What needlework means to me? Peace of mind. After a day of dealing with all that life dishes out. Needlework is my way to calm down. Children in bed, phone turned off, and a good movie playing on the TV in a dark room, or at time just the right music, light on overhead and recliner tilted up. Needlework going for about an hour or two. Refreshing of my mind. Cross stitching is my favorite form of needlework.
Tammy Dear Roz;
I have loved receiving and reading your newsletters. They bring such a lovely variety of people and passions together all because of a needle and some thread! Your recent requests for stories about stitching and what it means has been so touching and though my heart has sometimes hurt painfully with the stories told, I am the richer for having been allowed to learn of these wonderful people and their experiences.
My own story is simply one of hope. You see, I lost 2 of my sisters in a car accident on their way back to their home from mine just over 3 years ago. The older of the sisters died pretty much at the scene, but the youngest, she held on for 8 days. I spent many a long and lonely vigil in the night hours at Saint Michael's Hospital. Though there was nothing I could really do, I stayed and quietly stitched the dark hours away. With so many questions and emotions that bombard you at these difficult times, my stitching was a place where my mind would find peace in the calming motion of those little crosses. Those lovely little pieces of floss helped me weave a way to healing too. I have spent over 2 years on making an angel to dedicate for the youngest one lost. Now I am working on another angel to honor the memory of my older sister. I had trouble putting the final stitches in the first angel.......it seemed to soon to end, so I started the second angel and then went back and placed the final stitches in the first one. These particular pieces are my 'closure' to something over which I had no control......to lose two people who were not just my family, but my friends. I can create something very special and very beautiful just for them. Just as their love and warmth has woven a special design in the fabric of my life, I have been able to take some colored bits of floss and weave something just for them to remind the world they were here, they were loved and my hope that they will never be forgotten.
Sandy B
Canada A friend taught me how to do the Stitching Cards several years ago and I have made a LOT of very beautiful cards. Last year my next to youngest son had to go down to San Antonio, Texas to the V A hospital for a bone marrow transplant and I had to go with him as his care giver. I spent many hours in the hospital with him making the cards. I even had several "mini" classes. I went from taking 6 pills a day for clinical depression to none and have been off all but the Arthritis and the Diabetes medications since. I have found that I even can do the Stitching Cards while we are traveling and I can talk while stitching. I used to do cross stitch while I was working and made a lot of mini ornaments for the tree but the Stitching Cards work a lot better for me and I give them to the Pastor's wife and they send them to our missionaries. I found the best needle punches on the internet ( I was just browsing on Google one day and I am glad I did) through nordicneedle.com and I have bought not only the sets of three punches for many of my fellow Stitchers but the Chatelaine scissors (which is the best thing since sliced bread, by the way) and several of the pattern books which has the pattern for the American flag. Talk about neat!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am making those cards to announce my husband's and my 50th wedding anniversary next year. (yup, we were married on the Fourth of July in 1958) I am also celebrating the fact that I haven't killed him yet and as we renew our vows with all 6 children and 19 grandchildren and the sweetest granddaughter-in-law around us in our church and hopefully the "Shrimp Boil" afterwards
Keep the newsletter coming. I enjoy it very much
Another happy stitcher
June E. Hi Roz,
I have been reading all the testimonies about what stitching means to people and I realize how blessed I am. My story pales in view of others but I wanted to share.
I lost my job of over 5 years in September, 2006. Needless to say I was devastated. I was hurt...I thought I had friends there, but as soon as the job was gone, I never heard from them again. I spent a couple months recovering.
Then in November I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had surgery exactly one week before my 50th birthday. I went through recovery and radiation.
My two little dachshunds were very therapeutic for me and never tired of sitting on my lap. My other saving grace was my counted cross stitch. I learned to do crewel stitching 32 years ago when my new husband was working lots of nights. I also learned to crochet and re-learned to knit at this time. I've done just about everything over the years, including making all my own maternity clothes (4 babies) but my favorite remains counted cross stitch.
I always have several projects going so no matter what mood I am in, I can pick something up and go to it!
I am still not working, and to be honest, I don't ever want to go back to the stress-laden type of job I had. Some say that cancer can be caused in part by stress. I believe it!
I cross stitch every chance I get. My husband and I also started breeding dachshunds which has been a delight. My four girls are grown (ages 19-26) and two of them live a great distance away. Two of my girls have started cross stitching and I am so happy to be able to impart some of my knowledge of stitching on to them.
I now have more projects, kits and patterns that I will ever be able to do in my lifetime but I have instructed my girls to take my stitching stuff so it will carry on with my girls.
I also suffer from depression, mainly due to thinking about my self-worth, and not working, and take some meds to deal with that, however, stitching is the one main thing that kept me going through surgery, recovery, and now this unsettled time in my life. (My dogs have helped a great deal too. We now have an older doxie, one male and three females.) We had our first litter of puppies and all went to good homes. We are expecting more litters and this will also help keep my mind off my situation.
Tell people to keep hanging in there. If you don't stitch, learn how. If you do stitch, pick up a new project and start it. A new project always makes me feel good.
I also keep a binder that lists all the projects I have made. I include the title of the piece, what kind of fabric I stitched on, the count and color, and the dates of starting the project and the finishing date. It is very interesting to look at. Some of the projects took years to complete, others just days.
Keep up the good work with your store and newsletter. It is an inspiration to us all!
Charie
WI Maureen Z, from NY, writes, "My story of salvation through needlework is unusual to say the least. I've been doing needlework of all sorts sine childhood. I learned to knit, crochet and embroidery from my grandmother before I was 10 years old. When I married at 18, my mother-in-law showed me the "European Way" to knit which I grudgingly acknowledged as being much better. I learned to tat and also did several cross stitch items, including counted cross stitch.
I discovered I love the precision of counted stitching and so about 15 years ago, I tried Hardanger embroidery. I followed a pattern for my first piece or two, but soon fell into winging it. I have made original design ring-bearer's pillows for family and friends for years now. I even designed and made christening booties for my two sets of twin grandchildren. I enter my work at local county fairs and usually get blue ribbons for my efforts.
For the past two years I have demonstrated my craft (in colonial costume) at our fair. This year my daughter is getting married and I am working on 120 min-sun catchers as favors for the reception! I carry my needlework kit with me everywhere including on the plane when flying (minus the scissors- with pre-cut thread).
Finally, as to the unusual nature of my needlework addiction - I also happen to be very short and 100 pounds overweight! The second time my doctor mentioned gastric bypass or lap-banding the idea scared the devil out of me! So, I went to a hypnotherapist. She helped me substitute doing my needlework for overeating! As of now, I'm down 35 pounds with 50 of the sun catcher's done, and still going! So, needlework is literally "saving my life".
60. I used to cross stitch after work in the evening to relax. At that time it would usually take about a year to finish a project. I had 3 kids and a full time job. But it was always a way to free my mind of all the problems of life.
Ten years ago I had a bad car accident. I had a brain injury and was in a coma for 4 months. After all the rehab and years have passed I'm home on disability and have picked up cross stitching again. Now that I have the time to sew I've finished a project in a couple weeks. It's nice to have the time to sew. In the past I've sewed a picture for a couple getting married. It's like this.......(the last name) Family established
below that....the date. Think I've made about 10-15 and they've always been welcome. Whenever someone has a baby I sew the baby's name and birth date and my husband makes the frames. It's a nice gift and they enjoy it.
Last year my mom was going through chemo with cancer. Her and I have always been so close and this was by far the hardest thing to go through. How many times the evenings were full with me sewing to keep my mind off of things. Mom was always into crocheting and quilting and I'm sure that's where I got the interest. When she passed away I sewed like crazy to keep me going. It was such a sad time.
I've picked up crocheting and between that and cross stitching I'm always busy.
My kids say I'm a "sewing machine" because I sew so much.
I know that sewing has helped me get through some pretty rough times. So glad I had that to rely on.
Diane
IL My mom loved to crochet and would often invite me to watch her. When I was about 8 years old, after watching her for awhile, I picked hers up one day and just started doing it. I asked her if this was the way to do it and I have been crocheting, cross stitching, needlepoint, Hardanger, etc. ever since.
It has gotten to be a regular thing that I carry my "craft bag" with me wherever I go. Two of my sisters are "craft bag carriers" also and we often peek to see what each of us is working on.
I spent a lot of time stitching while my mom was in the hospital numerous time as well as other family members. It was a soothing way to keep my hands and my mind busy during worrisome times.
I have a somewhat stressful job so I take out my projects on my lunch and breaks to take my mind off the stressful stuff going on.
All in all, I think stitching has saved my sanity many a day. My daughter and grandkids live in Fargo so I make it a point to try to get to your shop whenever I am in town. It is difficult for me not to want one of everything when I am there.
Vicki
MN I enjoy your newsletters (and recipes!) and am currently working on "Beatitudes", a change from the many angels I have done. My favorite time for stitching is early in the morning for a few hours while having coffee-I can look over my back deck to a marsh, woods, birds and flowers. A project takes about 4 months to finish, this one may take longer. I scan and print the charts so I can mark completed stitches with a red pen-usually start in the center, but started this with the bottom border, then up the sides to be sure the placement is correct-a great project for the hot weather and busy season on the Outer Banks of North Carolina! I have discovered a new stress reliever - since moving from the big city (Indianapolis) to the boondocks (a very small Colorado mountain town) my internet connection is now dial-up. Instead of sitting here drumming my fingers waiting for something to open or download I now pick up a cross-stitch project and glance up once in awhile to see if whatever I'm waiting for has opened yet. Much easier on my nerves!!!
It's amazing how much I have accomplished cross-stitching since I started doing this and I don't dread the computer time anymore. By they way, thanks Nordic Needle for being there - the closest cross-stitch supplies here (within over a hundred miles) are at Wal-Mart!
Annie Dear Roz
I'm writing to you from France and have been reading your news letter since 2004. I'm a secretary. I am 57 years old but now unemployed, spending my time with knitting, crocheting and cross stitching. I lost my job 2 years ago before loosing my job I prepare my "retirement time" looking for websites dedicated to cross stitching and found your web site and registered to receive your newsletter. Reading English every week is a quite good exercise for me to keep my language knowledge. Needle works keep me busy and I love offering small gifts to my children, grand-children and my friends. So I know that despite of the fact that I'm unemployed, I do my work every day with pleasure and I'm still connected to people around me and in the work as I can read. Without needle works I would be sitting at home, depressed and sad because of unemployment. Needle works are now my life and I like sending and receiving embroidered letters or lavender pockets from my friends. So needle works are now my job, my pleasure and my life.
Lucrezia
France I have been composing in my head a response to "What Needle work means to me"
I was about 10 when I took and interest and my Mom set me up with some Huck Weaving. Fast forward through Nursing School and marriage ,when I was pregnant with my daughter I did a stamped piece for the nursery. A few more stamped pieces and then I was doing crewel. I came across a beautiful pattern for a wedding gift but it was counted cross stitch. I swallowed hard, did it and loved doing it. Then came my trip to Scandinavia. I love all the little needlework shops they had.
I came across a Hardanger Kit, thought it was beautiful and wondered if I could learn it. The directions were NOT IN ENGLISH. I bought it anyway took a very short class and I have been learning all the stitches on my own since then. These directions are in English!
Two great books are HARDANGER BASICS AND BEYOND by Janice Love, and A COLLECTION OF BEAUTIFUL STITCHES By Emie Bishop.
I am now 60 years old . When I was 44 my husband died very suddenly. The daughter that I stitched my first nursery piece for is now 38 and the mother of 3 little boys . She has been battling Breast Cancer for 3 years. Through these difficult times in my life I have found peace and calm in my needlework. If I make a mistake I can tear it out and "fix it". makes me feel like I have some control over something, when I can't fix my husbands death or my daughter's cancer.
She will be starting new treatment in a month and I will spend a lot of time at her side stitching. I thank God everyday for Doctors, researchers, nurses and all of my family and friends who pray.
I am sorry if this is long. If you would like to use part of it in your letter go ahead and edit it.
My current project is Emie Bishop's 14 Christmas in My Hearts. Instead of the cross stitch I am going to put silk ribbon flowers on them and then attach them to quilt squares and make a totally hand stitched quilt.
thank you very much for taking the time to read my ramblings.
Hugs
Karen T. This is a current event at my house although it is not so much a typical story. With our son off to college, my husband on assignment in Asia, and a dog recently gone to heaven, it had became clear that we didn't need to hang on to our 5-bedroom, 3.5-bath house with a giant yard. It took us a while to find the kind of floor plan we wanted in a condo but finally found the right one and are closing today. In the meantime, we have put our big house up for sale and, of course, it has to be picture-perfect ready every moment of the day for prospective buyers who come to look. This has meant that I have not been able to work on projects that require spreading out or that I can leave out from one day to the next, and so I committed myself to staying away from my needlework while the house is on the market.
Having so committed, however, I confess that I finally just couldn't stand to go cold turkey. So now I take out one book or pattern leaflet at a time and tuck it under the couch, taking it out just to page through it when I want to relax. And I have put my basket of DMC floss in a corner where I can see it but it is not generally visible to various wandering visitors.
So how do these needlework items save my sanity when the stresses of home selling, packing, and two mortgages start to pile up? Just by being there.
Bonnie W. Dear Roz,
Thank you for your wonderful newsletters. I am enjoying reading all the letters and seeing how and why needlework is special to everyone. It is a long lost friend for me.
I stitched my first piece when I was about 15. I bought a book of Garfield patterns - I had never done cross stitch before, but I liked Garfield so I decided to give it a go. The first one I chose to do said "This kitchen has earned the Garfield stamp of approval", so (of course) I gave it to my Grandma - over 25 years later it still has a place of honour hanging in her kitchen! I was hooked, and would stitch whenever I could, after all my homework, studying and chores were done. None of my friends were interested in cross stitch, so it was a lone hobby for me. I continued to enjoy stitching into my early 20's, and loved stitching projects for my two kids. I started designing and stitching my own patterns, and loved working on large detailed charts. However, my (now ex) husband turned out to be extremely abusive and controlling - he decided that he didn't want me taking time to stitch, and when I wouldn't stop he destroyed and burned all of my finished/framed pieces, WIPs and stash!! It was quite devastating for me and I was forced to not stitch for 10 years! In 2001 I was able to escape from his abuse. I met my wonderful husband, picked up stitching again, and feel like my life is now complete! The contentment I feel when picking up a stitching project after a long day of work is almost surreal! It is my chance to relax and reflect on my day and my life - it's a complete stress remover and it's almost meditative! I have met so many wonderful people through internet message boards that love cross stitch just as much as I do, and that was virtually non-existent when I was stitching in my "previous life". So although I still stitch alone, I now have many cyber friends that share my love of cross stitching.
I still enjoy designing, and may one day fulfill my dream of becoming a cross stitch designer "when I grow up" :) Too busy with my real job to give much thought to that right now though! I have recently taught myself how to do Hardanger. I really enjoy it and because I am of Norwegian ancestry, I definitely feel my "roots" as I am stitching. When I decided I wanted to learn, I asked my Grandma (who is one of 16 kids and 100% Norwegian) if she or any of her sisters could teach me Hardanger....turns out I am the sole stitcher in the entire family! Go figure! :) As a relative newbie to Hardanger, I'm sure I have a lot to learn yet, and look forward to tackling a large, intricate piece!
Joanne D.
British Columbia, Canada Hello Roz,
My first stitching project began when I was in first grade. I was home from school with strep throat and my Aunt Ann came over to stay with me while my Mom went to a meeting. Aunt Ann brought a kitchen towel with a knife, fork and spoon stamped on it and a whole hank of RED floss. She taught me the beginning outline stitch. It took me years to get the towel finished. You could see the progress and skill gained as the towel was completed. When it was finished I gave it back to Aunt Ann and she had forgotten she gave it to me.
Now at age 70, I sew, knit, embroider, cross stitch, and do Hardanger embroidery. Right now my favorite needlework is Hardanger. I have 7 granddaughters (ages 19-6 no boys) I am making/made a big piece of Hardanger for each girl. If I am around when they get married I will give them a piece, if I am not here they can pick out their own piece.
I find needlework very relaxing and I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment when each piece is finished. I very seldom complete a piece of Hardanger exactly like the pattern. I like the freedom to add or leave out what I wish I always have a piece of stitching I can pull out when I am waiting at the Dr. office etc. and watching TV with out keeping my hands busy is a waste of time in my book.
I have also started making quilts. I've always said I don't have room to quilt but here I am doing it anyway. Sincerely,
Doris G. Congratulations on your 32 years of business! I have been a customer of yours all these years. My story: My mother died when I was 10 years old. She was very adept at all kinds of needlework - embroidery, tatting, crocheting, and quilting. She started teaching me all these things and after she died, I continued trying to teach myself.
Then in about 1955, my aunt said to me, "let's do some Hardanger", and I said "Sure". So, we ordered fabric and books and she got her piece done right away. I had no idea what to do so I told her she would have to help me. Before we got to it, she had a stroke and died. So, my fabric and books lay in the dresser drawer for many years.
Then in the lat 1970's, I saw a brochure that said Roz Watnemo would be teaching Hardanger embroidery at a retreat at the Concordia Language Village near Bemidji, Minnesota. So, I sighed up even though it was a 65-70 mile drive. The first day it was so rainy and dark. The lighting in the cabin was not suitable for needlework. I had an awful time. I did such a messy job, but I learned what I had to do, but it was a hard day. Roz was pregnant and so sick; I felt so sorry for her. But, I got really hooked on Hardanger and have made hundreds of bell pulls, doilies, sun catchers, tablecloths, an altar cloth and bookmarks. A stop at Nordic Needle is a must whenever we go to Fargo. Their first shop was "Crafts, Cloths, and Collectibles" in Block 6 in downtown Fargo. A sincere thank you to all you do.
Alice C.
MN Hi Roz,
I have a funny story about how needlework got me through an exasperating situation on the way to Hostfest in Minot, ND. We left Rochester, MN in our RV and were near the Fargo/Moorhead area when our motorhome just died right there on the road. We were able to get it towed, but it needed to go to a dealer where they worked on RVs. Luckily, the nearest place was Fargo ND, which also happens to be the place of my favorite needlework store--Nordic Needle. We were towing a car also so mom, dad and I decided to go shopping and there was only one place I wanted to go, of course. I was dropped off at Nordic Needle where I spent my time gloriously choosing books, a kit and some needlework supplies. I browsed and had a nice visit with Sue Meier. Well, those Hardanger patterns and stitching supplies got me through the next 5 days as it took that long to get a part for the RV. I never dreamed I'd spend half my precious vacation days in a car lot, but thank goodness for Nordic Needle and my stitching.
P.S. The rest of my vacation was great! Hi, My name is Dorothy V. and I reside in TX (near Austin). I have been stitching for almost 30 years. I have tried it all, and I love cross stitch and needlepoint. I also crochet. I love needlework because I love to see things emerge from a piece of fabric and thread. It is our "canvas" just like painters. I love it when people watch and exclaim that "They could never do that!" I tell them that they could if they would just try. I am always trying to interest someone in the arts. Most people don't realize they are an important part of our history. I love to look at different designers, as my desire is to design someday (am attempting to do so now), I own a business and it keeps me quite busy. We have "Ladies Night Out" on Thursday nights. We stitch and have wine and cheese and visit". I am in the process of attempting to put together my own needlework site and eventually my own store. I love needlework because it gives me a sense of accomplishment and it assures me of a legacy I will leave behind for my three children (two daughters and a son) and grandchildren (someday). I know what I do now will leave behind a message to my daughters, that this is important as they are both looking at a career in the clothing design industry and hopefully that they will implement this in their designs. My husband is most encouraging, as he always takes me shopping for my projects and encourages me constantly to seek out my dreams and helps to make them become a reality. I have been most blessed the last 20 years of marriage to this man. Our love grows daily, as does our respect for each other. As I stitch I reflect back on my journey of life, and have concluded that I improve as I age, another birthday coming up on October 1, ( the half century mark ). I will be leaving this earth saying "Just one more stitch Lord". I know that I have many years ahead yet for stitching. I don't really have any favorite designers, they are all good. I love to stitch basic pieces. Mostly cats, I have a cat named "Sammy", and angels, Christian themes and sayings and bright variegated needlepoint geometric pieces. Thanks for allowing me to share what needlework means to me.
Dorothy V.
TX First, let me say now much I enjoy the weekly newsletter. It makes my Monday complete. I have been doing needlework of some sort since I was a teenager (about 100 years!! LOL!). My mother taught me a little embroidery, but most of it I picked up on my own.
Needlework is so soothing to me. When I have had a stressful day, there is something about the rhythm of the needle going in and out of the fabric that relaxes me. I feel I can better cope with life's challenges if I can stitch for at least a little while, whether it is 15 minutes, or a couple of hours.
Stitching is my avocation, and my addiction, and my therapy.
Lorna Hi Roz,
My needlework story starts with knitting when I was 5 and embroidery when I was 7, taught by my mother. In between, my older next door neighbor (she probably was in her 70s) decided to teach me to crochet. She had actual ivory crochet hooks and set out to teach me the basic chain. I chained so tightly that I broke one of her ivory crochet hooks. Needless to say, that was the end of my crochet lessons. My mother did not crochet and to this day, I have never really learned except for that basic chain. Instead, I did virtually nothing with my knitting and embroidery skills until I was in my late 30s or early 40s and found myself 160 miles away from home teaching school in a very small town and living in a trailer. I then decided to make my mother an embroidered tablecloth, which took me a very long time, as my skills were obviously rusty. However, I did get it done and she was very impressed. A few years later, now back in Minnesota and working at the University of Minnesota, my supervisor in a temporary job was teaching Hardanger. I had never heard of that kind of embroidery before and was very interested. I have no idea how we even got on the subject as we were working in a medical department at the time. However, she thought I might be interested in taking her class. I came home, looked through my many craft magazines and found a pattern for a doily. Being strapped for money at the time and knowing her class would cost more than I was comfortable with, I decided to try it on my own. In the meantime, she had recruited four of my coworkers for her class. When her class was done, she and her students (my coworkers) brought their pieces to show me. I had finished mine and brought it also. She was completely shocked that I could have done this on my own, as she was still taking classes to learn new stitches from someone else and couldn't understand how someone could teach themselves how to do this craft. I had never taken a class in any craft and couldn't understand what was so complicated about it all. Needless to say, we never reached a comfort level with each other about this and shortly after that, she married and left the state. I have never heard from her again and wonder what she is doing with her crafts now. My mother, before she died at 101, gave me two of her crewel pieces which hang on the walls in my home and she was very impressed with my Hardanger pieces, the knitting I was doing and the plastic canvas pieces I was making at that time and actually helped me sell some of them to the staff at the nursing home where she lived for 18 years before her death. These are lovely memories of a lifetime of doing things my mother taught me and I still continue to enjoy several of them. I often think of her when I am working on a piece that I think she would like.
Donna L.
MN What stitching has meant to me
This is a scan of a simple bookmark I made for a lady who I met only twice, but who had a profound effect on my life.
I "do" breakfast on Sunday mornings at the nearby VNA Hospice House. One morning I met a lovely client named Ruth who was up in her chair reading a book. Fortunately it was not a super busy morning and we had time to talk a little. We started with books, then needlework and the beauty of her view of the back garden. The next week I brought my just finished ccs piece to be sent to my daughter who is a civilian contractor in Iraq (Guard This Keep by Dragon Dreams) which I had modified using "desert camouflage" colors and a suggestion of an American Flag at the top of the highest tower. I left off the lovely border because my dragon had to be able to fly at any moment. Ruth made all of the appropriate and appreciative noises and we talked for a few minutes longer. I asked her if she was always so cheerful and she said "I can always find something to be happy about every day." I wish that was so for me.
I was inspired to improvise this cheerful little bookmark for her and took it with me the next Sunday morning, but she was already gone. I have kept this little piece where I can see it every morning to remind me to keep my eyes sharp and my mind open to "find something to be happy about every day". Sometimes I forget, but I am getting better at it. I have also shared this scan with my daughter in Iraq and she knows the purpose. In the midst of a war zone (albeit behind a fence) life is very stressful for her and she is grateful for the reminder which she keeps pinned to her bulletin board.
Thanks for letting me share.
Carol D.
FL Roz-
I seldom have time to do more than a small project here and there these days and frequently fall terribly behind in reading my email, except for your newsletters.
I save the recipes and browse the favorite items listed by those whom you profile and envy them the ability to do such lovely work.
I am a very busy mother of 6, 4 of whom are still at home. I also work nights as a private duty nurse with chronically terminally ill children. To while away the hours and keep both hands and mind occupied during quiet moments, I turn to needlework. Often it is crochet as it is easy to put down in a hurry if there is a problem to tend to, but my true passion is counted cross stitch. I was taught by my mother when I was about 8. My girl scout troop was working on some badge and my mom sat with myself and 3 other girls and taught us to do counted cross stitch. I still have my original piece, unfinished and waiting for me, of a doe with 2 fawns in a field of daisies. The French knots for the daisy centers took me hours to learn and are just about the only thing on that project I did finish!
Every now and again I take it out and look at it... and remember the girls that were so long ago my best friends. That piece holds dear memories for me of those friends and a time when my mother took the time to do something special with me.
I have Lupus and have recently lost a lot of the use of my hands and sensation in my fingers, making it very difficult to use a needle and thread, I have several pieces that I want to finish for my family before I am unable to sew at all, and I am teaching my youngest daughter to cross stitch just as I taught my oldest daughter about 20 years ago! I hope that when I can no longer stitch they will still find the time to make memories of their own to share with me.
Needlework has brought me many hours of joy and serenity in a very hectic life and for that I thank people like you, who keep the needlearts alive and accessible.
Dawn
MD What Needle Work means to me
I have long had a love for anything needlework. I helped my late mom quilt a quilt once. I have to say that when needlework really saved my sanity was when my husband has to have open heart surgery. I would sit in the waiting room with my stitching spread out on my lap and I could stitch up a storm. Many people would stop and ask what I was making (a red Christmas quilt square), and the conversation would always be welcome. Then I had to have emergency surgery and as soon I could sit up and hold my needle I was back at my cross-stitching again. When my marriage of 32 years ended suddenly I stitched like there was no tomorrow. I could pick up my project and it gave me so much peace. I think some of the peace is the quiet repetition of the stitches. Of course when I pick up my work I whisper to myself "Lord, it's me again!" Neither the Lord nor my stitching has ever let me down. I have stitched through good times and bad times and I will continue to stitch as long as I can pick up a needle. There is no better therapy than the quiet contemplation as you watch a piece of needle work coming together.
Sherry
IN I've put off writing this because since I spent two months (A20 - J15) in the hospital and subsequent laser eye surgery, my sight has not been the same. My sight may recover and it might not. It is a scary thing to contemplate when needlework means so much to me.
My elegant and aristocratic paternal grandmother made me sit down on her sofa and made me start a daisy, back and French knot red/turquoise stamped stitchery to teach me the art of embroidery. I had no choice but didn't want one, I fell in love. I had always been fascinated by Aunt Jan's crewel, Mimi's needlepoint, and Grammiemom's crochet. I loved color for it's own sake. I happily sat and stitched in her living room each Sunday that Dad picked me up for visitation.
After that, I was off and running, er stitching. I was always the odd man out everywhere, particularly at school. Needlework filled that gap and my creative urgings. It was something else nobody else I knew did.
Mimi, my father's mother's mother, bought me copies of Mary Thomas' book, she was that impressed by my enthusiasm.
As time passed, I added several largely self-taught skills to my repertoire, being very picky about the books I bought. I sat and embroidered in history class, front row, right in front of my teacher. He once screamed at the class for a solid five minutes that I sat up there and "knitted" and took no notes and still got A/B's! Since then it has only gotten worse. Early in my marriage, I informed Bill that many women took cigarettes/hairdos/bingo/going out as their right, therefore my stitchery was much cheaper than divorce or a murder defense lawyer. Since then he has cheerfully bought or generously given me stash money, even keeping an eye out at yard sales, book and second hand stores. Our daughter no sooner gave up her room for college than I filled it with my stash.
When in my hospital bed, I kept sane by knitting. Needlework then, as always, is a great ice breaker. Since I got home, I have stuck with knitting and crochet as it doesn't take detail sight. But I think now I will take a deep breath and pick up my embroidery again. Think good thoughts for me.
Lynda G
OR My life with needlework
I am 79 years old and am now enjoying quilting and back to Hardanger again. I sew garments once in awhile. I am getting back to Nordic Needle via computer and all the great ideas of projects.
I have sewn something since I was 8 and my Aunt turned my sister and I into her scrap drawer and we made doll clothes. I have made baby clothes to bridal dress to men's shirts.
My passion is now quilting and Hardanger. They are my escape from sometimes a hectic life. I am teaching Hardanger in Sons of Norway.
I enjoy all stitchery even if I am just a bystander.
Ruth What needlework means to me....For me, it's a lot of things
It's stress relief It's a way to nurture my creative side and promote self-expression It's an aid to smoking cessation It's a way to relax It makes me feel comfortable It makes me feel productive It's putting something of myself into pieces I make for gifts It's a way to share a little love It's a way to communicate with others who enjoy the same things It's a means to help raise money for my favorite charity.
I enjoy many different techniques, but in order of preference,
Counted Cross Stitch
Crochet
Knitting
Crewel
Needlepoint
Weaving
And I want to learn tatting. Hardanger scares me.
Bob L. My name is Patrick G. and I live in KS. I want to share how much cross stitching has improved my quality of life. I've only begun to stitch in the past year. Before that I did sculptural crochet and knitting. In January, 2006 I had a thalamic stroke. It permanently injured the part of my mid-brain that regulates how I perceive input from my senses. I was diagnosed with Central Pain Syndrome. I can move and speak just fine. The problem is that I have a constant numb and thick feeling on my entire right side. I also have intermittent squeezing and burning sensations on my right side especially my hand, arm and shoulder. I can no longer do the repetitive wrist motions needed to crochet and knit. The pain does not respond to narcotics but I'm taking some anti-seizure meds that help some. My focus is to learn to live with it since it can't be cured.
I love all fiber arts. There is such a variety of colors, textures and projects. I'm right handed so I felt I had no choice but to give up needlework. This resulted in a long period of sadness and depression.
My companion, Michael (he and I have been together 25 years!), was very supportive. He encouraged me to explore other forms of needlework that I might do.
One day we were driving about five minutes from our home and saw a sign above a shop that read - Hearts Desire - Cross Stitch & Framing. We went in and met Debbie Dorsey, the owner and Joyce Holt, one of the needlework instructors. It's the largest cross stitch shop in Kansas.
I had never seen such a place. There were hundreds of examples of finished cross stitching along with so many flosses, fabrics and tools.
I enjoyed the "beginner" samples and marveled at the fine over "one pieces" Joyce had on display. I signed up for the basic cross stitch class and got some supplies. I was clumsy at first but Debbie and Joyce had plenty of smiles, hints, laughter and encouragement.
I've just finished doing an "over two" project on linen and am signed up to take their "over one" class. I've trained my left hand to be the dominate one. I hold the Q-Snap with my right and stitch using the stick and stab method with my left hand. I get so involved with my cross stitch that I can go parts of an hour without being aware of my pain. I've had to take early retirement from my career as a psychiatric RN. I'm the "household engineer" and Michael (he's also an RN) still works. I'm fortunate that I have time each day to settle on our sofa with our three cats and stitch. Once again I am able to make beautiful fiber art creations! Cross stitching is perfect because I can stitch as long as possible or set it down for a while if needed. My current goal is to do a Mystic Stitch "over one pattern" of a close up of a pair of tiger eyes looking right at you.
I firmly believe in supporting my local cross stitch shop. I get most of my supplies there. However, I also love to shop online at Nordic Needle. You all have such a huge variety! I've been able to get many extras to help me with my stitching. My needs vary from day to day.
For example, some days I use the slim telescoping awl. On other days it's easier to grasp the thicker ergonomic awl. I check your site frequently as there's always something new I can use.
I am so grateful for everyone I've encountered along this new path.
Cross stitch has provided me with not only a creative outlet but also much relief of my symptoms. I look forward to years of stitching and shopping at Nordic Needle.
Patrick G.
KS I was in my thirties when I began to stitch. I got a little leaflet in the mail and that was the beginning. I am fifty now and still love to stitch. Stitching has become very important to me, it so relaxing, and I clear my mind of stress and all that happened during the day good or bad. I truly believe I would lose my sanity if I couldn't cross stitch. Recently I lost part of my vision in my left eye and after the laser surgery, my vision still is not great. It has become impossible to see what I am stitching and both eyes become very tired. I can only hope and pray that I can stitch again soon. I still buy every cross stitch magazines that I can find, I may not be able to stitch at the moment but I can read about it for short periods of time. That will help me through this waiting period. I enjoy your newsletters very much. Thank you for letting us readers tell you what needlework means to us.
Cindy
Ontario, Canada I hesitated to write this, because so many readers have sent in truly amazing stories, and mine is nowhere near as interesting! I've stitched seriously since I was about 20, but have known how for as long as I can remember. My mother and grandmother taught me to knit, crochet, and do basic embroidery. I can't have been more than five or six when I first picked up a needle. They were always knitting something, and I always wanted to do whatever they were doing. I was fascinated by their tiny scissors and workbags, and the mugs full of needles, hooks, and other tools next to their favorite chairs. In high school, I taught myself to sew and quilt. But when a friend showed me counted cross stitch, I knew I'd found my hobby! My stash occupies a whole large closet in our baby's room, and I bristle at the idea of making way for him, though I know one day, sigh, I must. He always wants to "help" with my needlework, and though I won't let him, I like that he sees me doing it. Maybe one day, he'll want to do it too.
I meet so few women my age--I'm 33--who do needlework. Usually they tell me that they don't know where I find the time. But I always think of needlework as having the power to maximize time. It's what I do while watching TV or listening to audio books; it fills long waits in doctor's offices or auto mechanics' waiting rooms. I don't know what it would be to do any of those things without keeping my hands busy-- and I don't want to know! It seems to help me concentrate, and I know it calms me.
I'd be a mess of nerves without it. I encourage anyone who admires my work to try it--they don't always know how easy it is!
Nicole R.
MA I'm 46 years old, and have been creating things with yarn, needles, and thread since I was nine. At that time, my mother taught me to crochet, and I made a pink variegated mouse with a little tail. I was simply charmed with my handiwork, and this inspired me to go on to needlepoint, also when I was nine. I actually completed a rather large needlepoint picture of a tabby cat! Too bad I lost these items in the succeeding years.
I've had several deaths in my immediate family over the years, and needlework has always helped to keep me sane during these difficult times. When I'm doing needlework, I feel I'm not only doing something useful and productive, I also feel immediately soothed, as if I can slip into a semi-meditative state as soon as I pick up my supplies and start working.
I've done a lot of thread crochet, and have many fine doilies to show for it. These are extraordinarily sturdy...I've used and washed some of them for over 20 years now, and they still look great! I've also done needle tatting (which I found much easier than shuttle tatting), embroidery, crewel-work, Hardanger, blackwork, beadwork, and lately, a great deal of knitting. For many years I sewed all of my own clothing, even tailored suits, and just loved it!
People say, "You're so creative!" But I think we are ALL creative, it's just a matter of being "bitten" by the creative bug. Once you're bitten, you're creative for life!
Like many needleworkers, I probably own more supplies than I can possibly use in my entire lifetime, yet I decided years ago to not bother feeling guilty about that! So I happily buy myself new items rather frequently! I also like to go to thrift stores and shop on the Internet, where many times I've found excellent-quality linen, yarn, and kits at excellent prices. I have several vintage kits with wool and linen and other fine-quality materials which I'm looking forward to making up.
Every year, I buy myself needlework toys for both my birthday and for Christmas. I think we should all do so, since only we can really know what we want the most! Many years, my own present turns out to be my most-favorite gift of all!
Every year before Christmas, I make gifts for my large number of in-laws, and stress myself out by taking on far too many projects. This year, I've decided to finish whatever I think is the most fun, and simply buy small gifts for people whose needlework I don't complete.
I was just talking with my husband the other night about how I'm really quite obsessed with needlework and its supplies. I told him, as other needleworkers have told their husbands: I could certainly be addicted to something much worse than yarn, thread, fabric, and supplies, so I'm willing to forgive myself this particular addiction.
Let's all forgive ourselves for this little character flaw this year, and treat ourselves to some new toys without the tiniest bit of guilt!
I'm very lucky that this year I started working at a local public library, where I get to run both an adult's and a children's "Needlework Fun" group, and get paid for it! I've been very surprised at the ability of 9-year-olds to sit and knit quietly for hours on end. I never would have guessed I could pass on my obsession so easily.
Next, I'll be teaching the children to crochet, which I think might be easier for them than knitting, though frankly they've learned to knit surprisingly well. So today I'm ordering 15 crochet hooks, on sale, just for the children!
This simple teaching has been wonderfully satisfying for me. One elderly woman in our Adult's group recently lost her son, and took up crochet after a 30-year hiatus. In a couple of months she's crocheted a lap robe for each of her grandchildren, and she is so much happier now than when I first met her. Stitching has clearly made her life much easier and more joyful after her loss, as it has done for me. I just love to see her smile when I show her new patterns!
Most towns have a Library or Community Center filled with adults and children who'd be delighted to learn, or re-learn, to knit, crochet, embroider, needlepoint, etc. So far I've been able to donate virtually all of the yarn and needles to teach everyone to knit... I have a great deal of yarn in my stash!
So, let's all resolve this year to pass on our skills to the next, or even the previous, generations. Sharing is so joyful, and you can pass on the "Creative Bug" to spread joy in so many lives.
Elisabeth T.
A Loyal Customer At the age of 2, I started wearing glasses. At 6, it was discovered that I had congenital cataracts in both eyes. I had 3 operations on my eyes in the next year. After all the surgery my vision could have been severely limited. There was a chance I might not even have color vision. I would have to wear very thick glasses the rest of my life, but thank God I have excellent vision with my glasses. 44 years later, I wear the latest in high tech glasses. I also thank God for 2 grandmothers who had the love and patience to teach me needlework. Grandma Trimble taught me to crochet at the age of 10. I've made many, many Afghans and think of her each time I pick up my crochet hooks and yarn. My maternal grandmother MomMom taught me to do basic embroidery stitches on white percale pillowcases with iron patterns and embroidery floss purchased at the five and dime downtown. I learned to quilt and piece quilts after my parents passed away 9 months apart. My sister in law got me interested in quilting. We went to quilting classes weekly for about a year and I made my first quilt in that class. I'm planning to teach quilting, crochet and embroidery at the small shop a friend from church and I have opened recently. I am an RN with 30 years experience working with dementia patients and needlework is my way of relaxing and unwinding after a busy night. Yes, it is true; the full moon does affect people with dementia. Someday I hope and pray I can come to the Nordic Needle Stitcher's Retreat.
God Bless You All, Vicki P. Hi Roz, Since you asked, I thought I would share my story. I don't have pictures of any finished pieces, but here is my story. I started stitching about 25 years ago. I am now 50. In 1990, I was involved in a hit and run accident. I was forced into the back of a parked truck and ended up putting my forehead through the windshield. About 2 years later, it was discovered that I had ruptured 3 discs in my neck as a result of the accident. I had 2 operations to remove the discs and in 1996, was involved in a rollover accident. In 1997, I had to retire from work because of the pain. Throughout it all, I was able to stitch, crochet, and knit, at least, for short periods of time anyway.
I am still stitching. Some items I have completed are: Van Gogh's Oleander's, the 23rd Psalm, First Corinthians 13 as a wedding gift and 2 of Lorri Birmingham's wedding samplers. Right now I am working Van Gogh's Starry Night, and another LB wedding sampler.
Through all the difficulty, I am so glad I had my stitching to keep my spirits up. I now suffer from Fibromyalgia, which can be very painful, and stitching helps take my mind off the pain.
Karen B.
FL What needlework means to me
I have been doing some type of needlework since I was about 8 years old, and have always had a fascination with people who can make things with their hands. My grandmother taught me to knit simple projects after many years of watching her knit mitts and socks for us for Christmas gifts. The time I spent at her side learning the basics, I will always treasure.
As I grew older, knitting wasn't "cool" so I didn't do any type of needlework until my late teens. I was stranded at my cousin's house during a snowstorm and she showed me how to cross stitch. Needless to say, I was hooked! That was over 20 years ago and I dove in with both eyes open, snapping up kits in cross stitch, crewel (which I still have a love for!), and eventually learning Hardanger. I took up quilting when I met my husband and his grandmother taught me how to hand quilt. I dabbled in that until I got my first sewing machine then, once again, dove into that with both eyes open. I yo-yo back and forth between quilting and needlework but my first love is needlework. I have given many, many gifts of stitched pieces to friends and family. Fortunately, my husband is a woodworker and he makes many of my frames, which saves some money to buy more stash! When he says he wants to buy a woodworking tool or piece of equipment, I don't usually flinch at the price because I know he can use it to make some frames for me! I am a stay-at-home mom and he doesn't usually complain about the money I spend on supplies (boy, did I strike it lucky there!) because he knows that is my hobby and it keeps me busy at home now that my daughter is in school.
I have a seven year old daughter who, someday, I hope will share my love of anything related to needlework. I have tried to teach her simple stitches but she doesn't have the passion for needlework that I have. Maybe in time.... The projects we finish today will be the heirlooms of tomorrow. As in the antique and reproduction samplers we see today, our time, patience and love of this wonderful form of artwork will live on.
I see needlework and quilting as my therapeutic outlet. If I'm stressed, sad, depressed or happy, nothing beats picking up a needle, thread and fabric to help me get over what is bothering me. I have told many people that it helps get your mind off the things that are bothering you and you can lose yourself in your work for a time.
Denise R.
Prince Edward Island Canada I have had a needle of some type in my hands all my life. My mother taught me some sewing and embroidery, and my aunt taught me how to tat when I was 8. Since then I have wandered into cross stitch, Hardanger, bobbin lace, spinning, knitting, crocheting, weaving, kumihimo, redwork, blackwork, doll making and quilting. Sewing recently included my daughter's wedding gown, four bridesmaid dresses, flower girl dresses and a ring bearer's suit. What a joy that project was!
I have had an eventful life; two marriages (one still thriving after 40 years) four children, three grandchildren, a full time career as an engineering geologist, and I recently retired as head of the geotechnical engineering division of a large state transportation agency. There have been many good times, and some pretty bad times too. Through it all, stitching has been a constant joy. It has always been sometime I do just for myself, even if I do give almost all of my finished work away. The time to concentrate on something beautiful, small, challenging and creative has been precious, and sometimes difficult to obtain. It sustains a part of me that is "just me", and not part of my work or family responsibilities. The connection with all the women of the past who stitched because they had to or for pleasure is greatly rewarding to me. There is something meditative, peaceful and spiritually necessary for me in this. I also find that it is wonderful way to connect with people who may be very different from me in other ways. I love to travel, and always seek out the needlework shops wherever I go. I have needlework books and magazines in several languages, and can interpret enough from the diagrams to make them useful.
My career was unusual for a woman at the time, and my work took me into challenging physical situations...cold, wet, steep and rocky hills, where I specialized in landslide and earthquake damage repairs. Most of my time was spent with men, 99.9% of whom were wonderful to work with. However, spending just a few minutes each day or week in my "ladylike" pursuit of stitching kept me connected with both the women in my past and present. Many times for years at a stretch I was the only person I knew who stitched, but books, magazines, and recently online contacts, have been enough to keep me going. I now am a member of local guilds, and many online groups, and I find that the time to be with other textile and needlework lovers, as well as the time to work on my many projects, is one of the best parts of being retired.
Peace and joy
Elizabeth V.
CA What needlework means to me...
It must mean a lot. Sort of like a day without stitching is like a day without sunshine. My first stitching as a child was probably crochet that a neighbor lady taught me. She ultimately went blind from her diabetes, then I used to go and read to her. My crochet work never got past 'beginners' but I did make some slippers and hot pads. When I was in about 8th grade a girlfriend and I learned Huck embroidery and we made towels and gave them to our moms (and I had married sisters so they got some too) for Christmas. I learned sewing in sixth grade and through high school. From then on I made lots of my own clothes and when I married (at 20, in 1955) and then had 3 children I made a lot of their clothes, and some shirts for my husband. Somewhere along the line my mom (who was never a 'sewer') started stitching stamped cross stitch and then crewel. I liked the crewel and made several kits, 2 pillows I still have and some Christmas ornaments, a Christmas stocking for our first grandchild, and a framed Christmas piece. A friend at church taught our pastor's wife and myself how to braid wool rugs and I did make one 3 x 5. Then I crocheted a rug with the big cotton yarn and it was more like 5 x 7. I got into Candle wicking one year on my own (from admiring a pillow our married daughter made us) and made a tree skirt, and a Christmas stocking for our second grandchild. Then that same daughter learned counted cross stitch but lived in Ohio, but we were living in CA. I really loved the looks of it and wanted desperately to learn how. In the meantime I did stamped cross stitch making things for grandchildren mostly. Think it was the next year my 'secret prayer sister' gave me an easy kit, but I didn't know who she was so had no way of asking for help. Soon after that our church had a group get together where we were to form groups of common interests. So I took my kit hoping there would be a group who were interested in Counted Cross stitch. Well there wasn't anyone into that. So I got in a group and learned to make Chrismons. I enjoyed that and still make a few for gifts, but it had nothing to do with my plan. I was disappointed, but not discouraged! I think I got a little stubborn and decided if I could read, I could probably learn. (I sure did that with the Crewel). I made that little kit of a swan in a Christmas wreath and that was in 1986. I've made all the rest of the grandchildren their Christmas stockings and each a sampler. Made 2 quilts, one with Kate Greenaway designs and the other with Beatrix Potter designs. I put the blocks together on the machine but hand quilted around designs and in the joining panels. ( I have done a few small quilts, love the hand quilting part) Things I like to stitch most are samplers, Scandinavian designs (I'm not of that heritage, but maybe in my former life?) and Christmas things. I'm 72, so do the math and you'll see I've stitched about 21 years so this could go on forever. I have a couple of 'hints'. ( I love reading this newsletter but have been lazy not sending any hints etc.) The main one is if you see a pattern you really love, but only comes as a kit (as in my case) want the pattern but don't want it as a kit, buy it anyway. I experienced that and was SO sorry. I was persistent though and through "our readers ask" column in Just Cross Stitch (and that takes a long time) I finally got a reply and bought it from a lady. That was 'Children of the World' Christmas tree skirt, which our family enjoys very much. Another was a pattern I'd seen in a magazine early in my stitching and it was no longer in print. Through the same source I got so many it blew me away. People just sent them to me. I got letters from others who'd seen my request and asked in case I got some would I share them. What I didn't send out, I gave to both our daughters and friends too. It was 'Gnomes'. I only wanted to stitch one on Perforated Paper for a Christmas ornament and I do think he's cute. I've made several for friends. I didn't know there were so many people interested in Gnomes. I'm not, but I do think this one is cute. I gained a cross stitch pen pal from that experience whose friendship I value very much. I've designed several samplers taking a motif here and another from there and made some just to fit a frame I found in a garage sale or thrift store. Made one a year ago for one of our daughter's family using motifs specifically pertaining to their family with the text being Psalm 121 vs. 8. I've made our grandchildren Scandinavian Advent calendars they use every year. I made a Christmas table runner, from the same library book the Advent calendar was in and I could kick myself for never writing that down. I have looked for it over and over and never see it. I'm more careful about that now. Anyway back to the other Hint ...'Carol' in this week's newsletter made me think of this. I'm not left handed, but was thinking, for the illustrations on Hardanger (or anything else) instructions, if you scanned and then clicked on 'mirror image' then printed it out, it would be customized for your way of understanding. I 'mirror' image designs when they would better suit me for a project. Have done it mostly when I choose a motif for a sampler. Or if I want, say, two birds facing each other on a little fingertip towel and the pattern is only one direction. I think that would work. One daughter (we have 2 and they both cross stitch, plus one son) gave me "A Stitch in Time" for a birthday years ago and I have kept this 'journal' with pictures and info on most of my projects. I don't know if that's really a hint or just my humble advice. I enjoy it and maybe my family will too one day.
My husband retired from the Air Force in 1976 (he's from SC, I'm from MO, we've lived both of those places plus NH, Newfoundland, CA, IL, Azores, Thailand, most of our married life was in CA, both northern and southern, and now in MI), so I didn't even start my Cross stitching till much later. We revisited the Azores in 2001 and I bought some fabric and later found Portuguese patterns which I intend to stitch some day. I used the fabric for our Christmas table runner. My husband has done a lot of wood carving and one winter early on in my stitching days, it was too cold for him to work in the shed and he asked 'how do you do that?' I bought him a beginner's kit and he stitched a flamingo and has stitched quite a lot after that. He also has designed, charted and stitched a sampler of motifs indigenous to the place we were wintering in, Yuma, AZ. I helped him with the colors as he is a little color blind. I bought your Beginner's Charted Hardanger Embroidery book a while back and it's another on my 'some day' list. I have done Hemstitching on the table runners, and I did some 'openwork' once on burlap. It was a hanging and I copied it from a piece that was left in the house we bought! Now is that ever crazy.
On that note, I'll hush and let you get back to the work at hand. I know you don't want to write all this, but if you can use any I'll be happy.
Thanks for 'listening',
Phyllis M.
MI For me stitching is a time to relax and unwind. If I go a day without stitching (which doesn't happen often) I feel the itch to stitch in my fingers! Stitching calms my soul, helps me put things into perspective.
I can be having a very stressful time and if I just sit and stitch and focus on my pattern and stitching for even 5 to 10 minutes I feel much better. I don't cook very much or well or even sew, but cross-stitching I can do! I also get a great feeling of accomplishment when I finish something - finish it completely!
Thanks for letting me share. I enjoy your newsletter and reading people's stories.
Nancy D.
OK I started stitching when I was a Brownie - the first project I ever made was a felt envelope for my Mother to use for her stockings. I guess I was about 7 when I made that - and mother kept it in her dresser drawer. I got to see it every so often - and am always amazed that it lasted these last 53 years. I learned how to do simple embroidery stitches when I was in Girl Scouts and then my stitching stopped.
Over the years, I have knitted and crocheted and didn't pick up stitching until I was pregnant with my daughter - almost 30 years ago. That was when a friend gave me a counted cross stitch kit - the temperature in June/July in Puerto Rico where my husband was stationed was always 90+ and I was supposed to be taking it easy and quickly developing "cabin fever".
She had just finished her first cross stitch piece and was having a grand time and so she decided that since I needed something to keep me occupied, she brought me a great little kit--it had a mouse hanging on a rope and it said: "When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on!" I read and re-read the instructions and then took a deep breath and made my first stitch --and have been stitching every since!
I have an eclectic taste in charts - samplers, both modern and reproductions, charts from Mystic Stitch, Lavender & Lace ( my first one was the Fairy Grandmother), Bent Creek, Heart in Hand and La D' Dah are just some of the charts in my stash. The stash has grown from a few kits to tubs of evenweave and linen, DMC, Anchor, and several types of silk threads and Gentle Arts, Weeks Dye Works, Crescent Colors, etc. I will proudly admit to having enough stash to keep me busy till I'm well past 130! I kit up charts with all the needed fibers and the proper cut of fabric and a pack of needles and beads or buttons that are needed. When I retire in another 5 years, I'll be able to stitch to my heart's content with only having to worry about which one is going to be started next. And, what I can't finish will be passed on to my daughter, she has enjoyed stitching since I taught her when she was 11.
But, there is more to my stitching than stash accumulation - it is the one thing that I can do that always brings me peace. A little over 2 years ago, my husband was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer - and it was good that it was a rare form, because it meant that it could be treated.
While he was in surgery, I sat in the waiting room and worked on La D Dah's "Jasmines Song". I was stitching on 28ct linen with silk threads and stitching in hand --one of my favorite methods of stitching. Before I knew it, 7 hours had passed and they were telling me that I could head upstairs and wait in my husband's room - and I had a good sized portion of the design finished. By the time he was released from the hospital 8 days later, Jasmine's Song was finished.
His chemo and radiation therapy started just before Christmas that year and lasted for 37 days of daily treatments. I stitched in the waiting room, and at home while he napped. I stitched till I couldn't keep my eyes open and got up the next morning and stitched some more. You really can't stress over "what if's" when you have to count and stitch and play in the frog pond and stitch some more - otherwise you visit that blasted frog pond way too many times!
I have carried a project with me in my purse for as long as I can remember --sometimes just a little bit of stitching that is turned into a patch for my grandkids' sweatshirts - sometimes it's a Celtic Knot design destined to become part of a pin cushion -when the get the other side stitchedLOL
Stitching has taught me patience, and for someone who really enjoys instant gratification - that's a very good thing. It has taught me perseverance - have you ever counted how many stitches it takes before a Mystic Stitch chart starts to look like something? It has taught me history as I read about the original stitchers of the reproduction sampler charts that I have. It has given me a sense of pride and accomplishment as I hear the comments about a piece I have given as a gift. But, most of all, it is a gift that I give myself each and every time I sit down in my "corner" and pick up a WIP to work on. It is "my time" when the only thing that matters is the fabric in front of me and the chart on the arm of my chair.
I have become more adventurous in my stitching - I no longer hesitate to change fabric count and type of fiber. I recently finished a piece from Blackbird Designs' book "With Needle & Thread called Friendship's Sheltering Vine". The sampler is a one-color sampler and it called for 30ct linen and Gentle Arts thread. But, I had this great piece of 19ct Cork linen and a couple of skeins of ThreadGatherer's Sheep's Silk that were just begging to be used - so that's exactly what I used to create my sampler. And, I am thrilled with the results!
I love that you can stitch without having to invest in the "bell and whistles" - but, there are some things that I can't do without. The first is my floor stand - ordered from the U.K.'s branch of the Daylight company. I just love this floor stand - you can rest your scroll frame or QSnaps on the stand's arms and pull it up close and it will accommodate scroll frames from 12" wide up to ones wider than 30" without a problem. I also have the Daylight Slimline Magnifier with light on the swing arm. I opted for the bottom section so that it can be rolled up close to my chair, or put back in the corner of the room. It has a wonderfully large magnifier that lets you see a good sized area as you're stitching. I can pull it over my lap to stitch in hand, or position it over my floor stand very easily. Those are the two big investments that I wouldn't be without -they make my stitching time very enjoyable.
While I would love to have a LNS to support -there's not one near me at all. So, I receive several newsletters from on-line shops that are also "brick and mortar" business, so I feel like I'm supporting a LNS --it's just "my" LNS is on the internet! I enjoy the Nordic Needle newsletters and the great customer service - and I love reading about other stitchers and getting hints and tips -and of course, the recipes!
Thanks for letting me ramble -
Leslie F.
TX I truly love hearing from all the stitchers. Thank you so much for taking time out of your schedule to do this. I really don't have a long story to tell. I started stitching before my first child was born 22+ years ago and became addicted right away. I truly wished I would have known about this when my parents were dying 24 years ago as this when have been good therapy for me. I do using stitching as therapy as I have a highly stressful job; I work in the criminal justice system so it is not a rewarding job; after hearing some of the stories from the offenders and how they have lived their lives I truly just need to come home at night and stitch a while although it seems like I am thinking of them while stitching. I do teach female offenders how to cross-stitch and the projects they are taught go back to the community. When I say 'go back to the community' I mean we teach victim impact classes and have speakers come and speak who have been a victim of a crime. When these speakers leave we try to give them a gift made by an offender. This is where some of the cross-stitch gifts go. Anyway, enough babbling on my part. I just wanted to thank you again for sharing all the stories from stitchers; I truly enjoy reading them and the recipes-I have tried several of them and love them. I rely a lot on my cross stitch for therapy. Sometimes I visit my local cross-stitch shop (County Friends Cupboard) or take my stitching and stitch on my lunch hour. Like one of your stories mentioned I buy mostly from the local shops to keep them in business but like to buy on line as well because I "love" to get stuff in the mail (another sickness of mine). Keep up the good work-I love reading your newsletters. Thank you so much and have a wonderful holiday. Mary Why I love needlework!
I have been XS'ing for over 20 years, BUT was taught on stamped work when I was about five by my Mom and her Mother. However, being the hard headed German that I am, my Mom could not teach me anything and I didn't stay with it. Then one day, I admired a piece that my sister in law Becky had done and asked her to show me. Well, that took and I have been doing it ever since!
Cross stitching has seen me through a lot, especially with both my parents having heart problems and surgeries and their cancers and ultimate passings. It is my connection to my heritage and fond memories of my mother, her sisters and my grandmother doing some kind of needlework and just enjoying one another's company while working on some project, stitching, quilting, knitting or crocheting. Now, even though I have no sisters by blood, I have MANY sisters who share this love.
Pat B. Hi, I really enjoy the newsletter. I do all sorts of hand work but I love cross-stitching. I enjoy your letter from the needle work guild and I am wondering if you or one of your readers could help me find a guild. I would love to me involved in a guild. I live about 50 miles from Missoula Montana close to Seeley Lake. I would be willing to travel some distance once a month. Maybe 100 miles one way.
Thanks
Linda O. What needlework means to me
It's hard to even put into words what needlework means in my life. I can't even be sure how old I was the first time my parent's neighbor handed me a threaded needle and a scrap of fabric covered in little dots and taught me how to create a picture using nothing but French knots, maybe 4 or 5 at the oldest. It was a couple years later that I was taught to cross stitch by a friend of my mothers. My mom had to have surgery and her friend had taught her to give her something to do while she was in the hospital. I'm pretty sure I was taught to keep my quiet and out of the way during that time, but whatever the reason, cross stitching stuck with me. That was 23 years ago and I am still stitching. Sure, there were some gaps of time where I didn't stitch because it wasn't "cool" (spelled high school) and other times where it just didn't interest me, but now as I'm reaching 30 it amazes me that I've kept this hobby for long. All my friends get excited when they open a present from me and see that it's something I cross stitched for them. For a very long time I only stitched things for other people, mainly because the patterns I found didn't interest me as something I'd want to hang in my own home, but in the past few years I've discovered that there is more to cross stitching than the patterns you find at Wal-Mart or other big discount craft stores. I discovered a store devoted to cross stitch not far from my parents home in Alabama that I haunted for a year or two, and when I moved to Colorado I found other stores local that sell the types of stuff that I want to stitch for myself. I personally haven't ordered anything from Nordic Needle, but I know that my mother ordered all my Christmas presents from you this year. I'm both excited and impatient to see what she's gotten for me as I know it'll be great stuff.
Saxon E. Dear Roz,
I have been receiving your newsletter for some time now, and enjoy so much the stories as to why we stitch. I always mean to write, and simply never seem to find (or make ) the time to do so. However, after reading Victoria's story in the latest newsletter, I had to write.
She expressed so eloquently the way I feel as I stitch also. I learned to sew around age 7 at the knee of my grandmother (Mammaw) during a summer in central Texas. My dad was stationed at Fort Hood, and I came down with scarlet fever - during the summer. This was during the mid 60's, and we did not have air conditioning, so Mammaw took it upon herself to distract me in my misery by teaching me to sew. I embroidered many hankies and dresser scarves that summer, and moved on from there to making baby doll clothes, Barbie clothes and eventually my own clothes; and then those of my children.
Since that time I taught myself to crochet, knit, quilt and cross stitch. Cross stitching and quilting are my hands down favorite, and have saved my sanity more times than I can count. I always have at least 4 or 5 projects going, and currently am working on quilting (by hand) a king size quilt for my husband and me. Most of my projects become gifts for friends and family, although I am beginning to frame and display some. My latest innovation is combining my love of both cross stitch and quilting by "framing" the cross stitch pieces in quilted patchwork.
I, too, spend the golden silence time of my stitching in prayer and contemplation. I have prayed my way through many trying situations - including ending an abusive marriage, going through divorce, raising children as a single mother, and now am able to pray for my wonderful "new" husband and our marriage, our combined children and my acquired grandchildren. My husband "retired" from his second 20 + year career this past February, and has since "returned" to college - so I have found some "new" golden time for stitching and prayer. I have taught my own two daughters (now 23 and 21) to stitch, and they also have found it to be relaxing and a means of centering and focusing on the things of this life that are so important.
Thank you so much for the time, thought and energy put into your newsletters and your online store.
Blessings,
Vicki M.
NE Hello Roz,
My first stitching project began when I was in first grade. I was home from school with strep throat and my Aunt Ann came over to stay with me while my Mom went to a meeting. Aunt Ann brought a kitchen towel with a knife, fork and spoon stamped on it and a whole hank of RED floss. She taught me the beginning outline stitch. It took me years to get the towel finished. You could see the progress and skill gained as the towel was completed. When it was finished I gave it back to Aunt Ann and she had forgotten she gave it to me.
Now at age 70, I sew, knit, embroider, cross stitch, and do Hardanger embroidery. Doris Hi! I can relate to the story from Nicole R. from Leominster, MA. People are always telling me that they don't know where I find the time to do the crafts I do. I tell them that I MAKE the time because cross stitching, needlepoint and knitting are my rest and relaxation. I stitch or knit while watching TV or listening to audio books. I can never just sit and watch TV. I HAVE to have something going in my hands. I stitch or knit in the car (and thank my DH all the time for doing all the driving on long trips!), on a plane or in the airport, doctor's office, work at lunch time, anywhere I can! It's just such a part of me.
My Mom bought me a cross stitch/embroidery kit when I was in my 20's and I stitched it up when I had my first child and stayed home (at 26). I loved it so much that I started looking for other cross stitch kits and my addiction took off from there! About 8 years ago, I decided to try my hand at needlepoint and I now have a canvas stash almost as big as my cross stitch stash (not quite though as I have a MILLION cross stitch charts, books and magazines!). I enjoy both equally. I did some knitting and crocheting years ago, but wasn't that crazy about it. But in the past few years, I have picked up knitting again and am loving it. My knitting stash is going to need it's own room soon! I really enjoy making gifts for family and friends, which I have done many times over the years. I have also done some sewing, especially when my daughter was younger, and ventured into quilting for a time but didn't enjoy either of those as much as the stitching and knitting. I give my Mom credit for the love of crafts as she was always knitting, crocheting or sewing her own clothes. She loves when I show her something I've made. I guess she feels that she's passed the legacy on to me. I have taught my daughter how to stitch and rug hook (which is another craft that I did years ago) and she made me an absolutely beautiful and meaningful cross stitch for my 50th birthday. Two years later, I still look at it every day and read it and get tears in my eyes. She is not as crazy a stitcher as I am, but I hope that I have passed the legacy on to her.
Daryl
NY Hey, Roz,
I've been meaning to send this story for ages, but never seemed to be able to find the time to do so. Anyway, here is my story with you about needlework & a 30 year friendship.
I met my dear friend Laura 30 years ago when we started playing flute together in the 6th grade. We ended up discovering that our birthdays are a week apart. Our friendship has survived having crushes on the same guy in 10th grade & dating the same guy (2 years apart) in college.
Well, 10 years ago, I got a call from my friend. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer at only 31 years of age. Because she had a fast growing tumor, she ended up having to undergo 2 rounds of chemo, one of them high dose chemo, and a stem cell transplant. After the stem cell transplant she had to have someone with her 24 hours a day. I took some vacation time & spent 4 days with her so that her husband could go to work, church & get some other things done.
During part of that time I was with her, she was outpatient at the hospital. Laura is also a cross stitcher. So, we both took projects & worked on them as she was hooked up to the machines. We talked just as hard as we could talk & stitched just as hard as we could stitch. We talked about everything & nothing. The nurses laughed at us because we never even looked at each other. We just kept looking at our projects & talking. Years later Laura remarked that, oddly enough, that was some of the most special times of our friendship. She is still cancer free & is truly my "forever friend." I am so thankful for the gift of stitching that brought us through that difficult time. It gave us something to focus on besides the "Big C."
Thanks for letting me share.
Jana C.
OK Hi Roz
I have been waiting to send in my story because I don't necessarily think it's that extra-ordinary. Then I decided, since my story is so simple, perhaps others out there can relate to it.
My grandmother taught me to stitch when I was five. It was no small feat since I am left handed and tend to do everything backwards.
My grandmother is a master seamstress, and knitter extraordinaire. Unfortunately, I was only able to pick up cross stitch and needlepoint, again, do to the backwards nature of my abilities. Oh, we did try left handed instructions for knitting, but they made to sense to either of us!
I have now been stitching for over 28 years! AND my grandmother is still going strong at almost 90! In fact, she just finished a needle point coin purse.
Like for most of us, stitching is my medication and therapy when times get hard. There is just something so calming about making those little x's - you all know what I mean.
It is a true gift that I have been given.
Cristin
CA Like Mary, I work in the criminal justice system. There are always deadlines to meet, many cases to triage, and phone calls and subpoenas to answer. Most of my stress is self-imposed, but coming home and cross stitching can always take my focus to enjoying my time. I've cross stitched since an art teacher taught me in high school and I love to have a big project to work on, as well as make ornaments for my Mother. I have a bad habit of starting too many projects and probably have enough waiting for me to work on until I'm well into my 90's (though 3 of my aunts lived past 100 (1 just turned 107), so I should have a lot of stitching time :) Well, back to my stitching :) I always enjoy seeing your newsletter. Thank you.
Tanis Hi:
My name is Mary U. and I am from Minnesota. My Mom gave me my first embroidery kit for Christmas when I was in third grade. But before that, my favorite toys were stitching cards and the shoe strings to string them with. Most of my immediate family still have life-time-supplies of my embroidered dish towels and pillow cases.
I remember my Grandmother always having her crochet hook in her hand whenever she had a few spare minutes. We have many crocheted tablecloths that she did while waiting for her youngest son to come home safely from Europe during World War II. I have a couple bedspread-sized granny-square Afghans, one of which was my high school graduation present and is much cherished.
I also have a quilt that I inherited from each of my grandmothers, as well as a cutwork piece. I once signed up to take a class in what I thought was going to be cutwork. It turned out to be a Hardanger class. Before I realized what I was in to, I was hooked.
I don't know if any of my family has considered an intervention for my addiction, but I have done many items over the past about twenty years. I even won the Nordic Needle contest a time or two in the 1980's. They were truly memorable experiences, as well as excuses to visit your wonderful shop. I lament the growing lack of stitchery shops to get my supplies, but always know you are there to support my habit. My parents still live in Blue Earth, MN and I love to visit Ruth Henke's small shop when I'm home to visit. Ruth's patterns tend to be quite advanced and really keep me on my toes!
I usually start with a pattern in mind, then kind of wander away as the mood strikes, so it never turns out just like someone else's or even what I started out to stitch. I've invented some stitches that way. I have done several table cloths, the largest was 60 X 80 and took me about ten years, however I did many other smaller pieces also during that time. I have done several of the table cloths featured in the Burda magazines. I seem to prefer the simple clean patterns over some of today's more complex ones. One of my favorite's things is to stitch the small angels and give them to friends or in Christmas cards. I also can't wait for each year's Hardanger contest winner book, to see what the new patterns are. For the past four years, or so, I have been working on a tablecloth in sage green. I have made up the pattern in a double row of hexagonal designs. I had to stop for about fifteen months, as I completed my Master's degree.
The past year or two, I have also done quite a bit of counted cross stitch. I started one of The Silver Lining's complex iris pictures a few years ago and hope to live long enough to get it finished. They are beautiful, but so complex. I am working on some of the Frank Lloyd Wright stained glass window patterns. I also want to do one of the "flip flop" pictures for summer.
I have always wanted to see Ireland, where some of my Dad's family came from. So, I've signed up to go with a group in April. I can't wait. I used to take my Hardanger and work in airports and on planes. Now I have to take a book and greatly miss being able to stitch. I had some great conversations with people about my stitching, including "Sting" and his family at the old Denver airport. Also on my travel "Bucket List" is to attend one of your stitching retreats.
I'm probably getting a little wordy here, so will stop now. I greatly enjoy reading your weekly newsletter and once in a while you have something I just have to have, so will place an order. Thank you for keeping us all "in stitches"!!! Dear Roz,
I have been a sporadic stitcher for thirty-seven years. I became interested in stitching when I was about ten. My mom painted such beautiful pictures with needle and thread. Her creative side was expressed through crewel and regular embroidery. I wanted to be able to do as beautiful work as she did and even tried to learn to stitch at that time. I ended up with holes everywhere in the fabric where holes were not supposed to be, misshaped fabric and really nasty tangles on the back. For several years I would not stitch because I was so upset with my results.
I was also going blind at the time. Mother really did not encourage me to stitch at that time because I was so near-sighted that I looked over the top of my glasses to attempt to see. I would hold the needle less than and half-inch from my eyes and was also known for jerky movements with my hands. She was honestly afraid that I would jab myself in the eyes and go blinder than I was going.
From 1970 to 1977 I did learn to do quickpoint with a plastic needle, some very basic crocheting and very basic knitting. I also did rug-making with a latch hook. All of these were big enough that I could sort of see what I was doing. I had a real problem with trying to do everything too tightly. I was limited to using plastic implements during that time frame and broke needles, crochet hooks, and knitting needles. The latch hook was heavy metal and survived.
In 1977 I had a cornea transplant and started gradually regaining my sight. Four years after the transplant, I had enough depth perception that I could catch things tossed to me about 50% of time for the first time in my life. I started teaching myself to do counted cross stitch in 1985. My ambition still started out greater than my skill. My first piece was on 18 count navy Aida. I redid the Santa in mauve with a polar bear companion by Leisure Arts on 14 count navy Aida because I just could not get the results I wanted on 18 count navy Aida.
I have done two Thomas Kinkade English cottages and several other English cottages by Cross My Heart. I am a slow stitcher and each one of these cottages has taken a minimum of two years for me to complete. As a result of the cross stitching I have done, I have learned to see better in the outside world because of the detail in the cross stitching. I have also learned to identify colors better. We learned while I was blind in the right eye that my left eye does not see red. That also means I don't see yellows, oranges, rusts and some shades of brown very well either. I did "Santa's Great Book" by Leisure Arts. Virtually all of that is done in shades I don't distinguish clearly. I did it by perseverance and labeling every single color I used. I also stuck the needles back in the labeled bobbin after I finished a few stitches in the particular color.
I recently ordered and received your Opticaid clip-on magnifiers. This is the first time that I have had magnifiers that work for me. All the others that I have tried do not have the right focal distance and are as bad as having no magnification at all. My hint to other stitchers is keep trying magnification products until you find the one that works for you. I also stitch with bright light. I wear sunscreen on my arms to keep from getting burned when I am stitching.
I am still learning and expanding my stitching repertoire. In the last few years, I started doing specialty stitching. I love Thea Dueck's Victoria Sampler. I have her Anniversary Heirloom Sampler that I will be doing two of in the next two years. One will be done in the original colors and the other will be done in Christmas colors for an anniversary in late December. This will be my first attempt at changing the instructions and doing my own version. I also like some of Laura J. Perin's canvas work. I just have not made the time to do it yet.
I really do love the focus and contemplation time stitch work gives me. I am also so glad that I seldom break needles anymore; unless I get them stuck in the carpet. I am so much less uptight, more relaxed and more appreciative of the world around me thanks to needlework and the creative urge. Thank-you for letting me share my story.
Marie H. Hi Roz. How are you? I am 68 years old and very enthusiastic to the World of stitching, I also have no gift of words and write to you such long letters as other readers do, I just want to say that I enjoy, your News letter Immensely, and that I like to do Needlework(Hand painted canvasses, X-Stitch. Hardanger, as in Victoria Sampler from Canada, crochet and other forms of stitching, Needlework has saved my life during my Chemo-Radiation treatments from breast cancer, I stitched and Stitched during that time, and produced, Family Tree Sampler from Victoria Sampler and Poppy Field ( Monet) Designed by Sheila Hudson of England.. and other minor pieces. Now I am a 2 year survivor and doing well, still under treatments to prevent "The Dingy" from coming back (That's the name I gave to the invader.) Again I must say that I enjoy your catalog very much I have ordered in the past and thinking of getting some things in the very next future, here in S. California our Needlework Stores seem to be going out of business!!! I feel lonely with no stores to go and browse!!! but your catalog gives me time to enjoy my imaginary store. Well until later, and keep up the great work you are doing.
Sincerely,
Maria K.
CA Hi Roz,
I love your newsletter and have been meaning to write to you about what needlework means to me. I have been stitching for almost 15 years and look at it as a 'healthy addiction.' When I come home from work and get settled, I start to stitch and feel the trials of the day just fade away. Needlework has been my saving grace in many stressful situations. My best friend died from brain cancer last July. We had known each other since we were two years old, and to see her go through months of painful treatment and then gradually fade, was almost more than I could bear. She lived in Chicago, where we both grew up, and when I went to see her each month, I brought along a stitching project. It helped me get through the waiting at the airport, on the plane and the trip back. It was just about the only comfort I felt then -- when helplessness and sadness dominates your days. In 1996 I had stitched her a piece entitled 'Sisters of the Heart' for her 40th birthday. I now have it in my house and remember the day I gave it to her, and how much I loved making it for her. I am so glad I made it for her and wish I could have had more time to make her even more. I am very grateful I am a stitcher (and a crocheter, too, sometimes), for the comfort it gives and the enrichment it brings to our lives.
Thanks so much.
Geri
VA Hi Roz,
I have been cross stitching, embroidering for 20 plus years. My mother did it and so I know she is the one that inspired me. I find stitching to be the most relaxing thing I can do. I am a stay at home wife and so I have lots of time to stitch. Some days I wake at 2 am, stitch a bit, go back to bed, wake about 8 am and my day begins. Stitching is therapy for me. I can relax and stitch knowing my **best friend** (my needle and thread) will give me peace of mind, calming effects, wonderful memories and gorgeous results. My best friend goes with me every where I go. I keep a bag packed at all times for quick outings with my husband or if a friend calls asking me to run an errand with them my stitching goes too. Actually I never leave home without my bag of stitching. I bought a special bag just for outings and I have it filled with needles, scissors, threads, favorite stitching magazines, project to be worked on, you name it I have it in my little bag. People often laugh at me because when they see me coming I am usually carrying a bright colored bag along with my pocketbook, lol.
Stitching is my **best friend**, it welcomes me back with out questions, demands ,unwanted chatter, and it never ask more of me that I can give. Nothing relaxes me more than to sit in my comfy chair I got at a yard sale for 10.00 ( in mint condition) that sits by my big window, needle in hand, ice tea near by, cat at my feet napping and a good old black and white Bette Davis moving playing. I can stitch for hours upon hours and when I put my needle down for a break I can walk away knowing my **best friend** will be waiting for me when I return. I especially love it when its cold and raining out I wrap up in a twin size electric blanket, grab my needle and thread, cat at my feet, hot mug of cocoa next to me and the rain falling on the roof, I am in my own little heaven.
Have a wonderful Easter ! Happy Stitching !
Sincerely,
Teresa Hi Roz,
First of all, thank you so very much for the newsletters, and your beautiful store.
Needlework has become much more meaningful to me over the last years.
I had been a successful custom designer/dressmaker for 35 years, owning my own business, operating from my very own shop, or from my home.
But several years ago, a series of hardships started, which caused a deepening of my chronic depression, a massive tear in my rotator cuff, and a long- overdue arthritis exam which told me that the sewing days were over. (My hands are affected with erosive osteo- arthritis, and the precision of my couture work is lost.) Other stuff- losses and illnesses in the family-also seem to have clustered in this time too, and it has been tough.
But, along with friends, good medical help, and a rich family life, and beloved NEEDLEWORK, I have trundled along. When I had to close my dressmaking business, I cast around to see how I could fill that terrible gap (you know how your work/creation is a large part of one's identity!). I hit upon knitting design, and got several custom jobs.
But I was too distressed, and have not been able to continue.
So now I am Knitting and doing embroidery and counted cross stitch with great joy.
I still design, or alter commercial designs to my own preferences, but the joy and relaxation of creating lovely work NOT for sale, just because I love it, is very healing.
Thank heaven, too, (thanks to your newsletters and website,) I am engulfed by the new challenges in upgrading my skills!
I love Hardanger, Cross stitch, silk embroidery, crewel work, and needlepoint. I'm not good at them all, but the challenge--along with the knitting design world, --has opened up my life and my retirement.
I'm sorry this has been a long post, but I have never told my story before, and it has made me feel how lucky I am to have "golden hands"
still!
Best wishes,
Anna M. Hi Roz,
I learned to embroider from my Mother. Mom sewed all our clothes and embroidered our pillow cases and smocked our pinafores. She would take us outside spread a large blanket under the cherry tree, and sit and darn or sew--she did a lot of sewing by hand. Her three girls would sit around her and embroider tea towels or pillow cases. I still have the first stamped embroidery piece I ever did. As I grew older, my Sister got me started in needlepoint. My Sister was a whiz at crochet, knitting, and tatting (she taught herself) but when she tried needlepoint and didn't like it, I picked up her project and realized I had found something I was good at. I progressed as far as 12 point Bargello, but, unfortunately, I'm allergic to wool and had to needlepoint with gloves on (those white gloves I wore to church came in handy). One day I came across our old stash of embroidery floss and used a needlepoint canvas and chart to use the floss to make a beautiful Christmas angel (I still have her). I was hooked--no gloves and beautiful pictures! I still didn't know about counted cross stitch--only the stamped cross stitch. One day a new shop opened in a town near me. I passed it several times before stopping in. It was a counted cross stitch shop. The shop owner was very gracious to spend time with a novice and I've never looked back. My first counted cross stitch project was a Precious Moments of the little girl nose-to-nose with a goose with the saying "Make a Joyful Noise." I framed it and gave it to our church organist. Years later she asked me to do a matching piece. She was getting up in years and wanted to give the two pieces to her granddaughter and grandson. I was tickled that she wanted to make sure the pictures would continue in her family. Now counted cross stitch has proven to be a God-send. I have made a wonderful bevy of friends with it. It has helped me though the death of many a four-footed friend. But most of all through the death of my Husband five years ago. With his illness I had put the work down, but with him gone, I had nothing but time on my hands and I re-connected with my old stitching friends. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't stopped in a new shop 35 years ago. Stitching has enriched my life in so many ways, I thank God everyday for my Mom who taught me the value of handwork.
Barbara M. B.
VA Dear Roz,
I feel presumptuous writing about what handwork means to me for I don't feel nearly as accomplished as some of your other correspondents, but since I just love reading what people have written I figure it is time for me to do my part. I am always inspired after reading my Monday newsletter ! I tend to put my needlework last as a "reward" for getting less pleasant things done, but after reading what other people say I feel more justified in giving my needlework priority . When my husband retired and we moved to central Virginia people would ask what I planned to do. I found myself simply wanting some "thinking and meditating" time after having raised 5 kids and been busy volunteering. And of course I had been taught by my mother and grandmother that you never just sit with your hands idle, so "thinking" involved needlework ! My earliest handwork was taught to me in Holland where I started school and it was part of the curriculum. My first grade teacher, Juffrouw Korff, who taught me to crochet an egg cozy, wrote to me over the years until she died. When I moved to this new community I happened to meet a lovely woman who was Dutch and we started talking. I couldn't believe it when the conversation led us to discover that she and I had shared the same first grade teacher, 20 years apart ! What a small world ! In my mind handwork, beloved friends and family all blend together to form the "sampler" that is our lives. Thank you for giving us the forum the share with each other,
sincerely,
Celie M. (my latest interest is in Sashiko, Japanese surface decoration, like quilting ) Dear Roz: I am a "left-hander", and can tell you horror stories about the troubles of being left-handed.
I took a smocking class a few years ago when I lived in Mississippi. The instructor asked, at the beginning of the class, how many of you are left-handed? I was the only one who raised her hand, out of 12 ladies. She said, all you have to do is stand directly in front of me. She sat on a chair, all the ladies gathered around behind and beside, but I stood directly in front. That solved the problem. It was like looking at a left-handed person stitch.
Now, I teach Hardanger, cross stitch and knitting. I sit facing the class. I limit my classes to 5 people because most people are right-handed and it would be too awkward for any more to be in front of me. Any left-handers would stand in back. Problem solved. And in such an easy way.
Diana B.
FL Hi Roz:
This past Christmas, I presented to my 12 year old grandson, his gift which I had made-a 1967 Mustang. He looked at it and gave me a big hug saying, "This is way cool!" No one had ever received such a precious gift.
The piece took me a total of 87 hours and as I stitched, as is my custom, I prayed for any number of people. The time flies by and my work takes on a special meaning as I hear from friends and family about something good that had happened to them and how grateful they are. Maybe, just maybe, prayers had something to do with their good news. So, I guess the reason I cross stitch is because I love doing it and love keeping dear ones in my thoughts and prayers.
I've cross stitched for about 20 years. I also sew (used to teach sewing) and do needlepoint. I've taught one of my granddaughters to cross stitch and love hearing her talk about her project. I sit in my recliner by the window in my bedroom and find great satisfaction in my work. When my husband and I took a train from Sydney to Perth, Australia, I sat in our car and worked on a kangaroo, which I stopped working on when my husband became so ill with ALS. I came across it the other day and will finish it as a tribute to him because he was so fascinated by kangaroos. I have enough projects lined up for the next fifty year, so I better bring this to a close and get back to cross stitch.
Thanks for your newsletter. It's great to learn about others.
LaDonna Needlework has been my passion for about 25 years. I am pretty much self taught with stitch books and a few classes. After I began my career in government budgeting I needed something to unwind and express some creativity, I believe. After working a couple of simple needlepoint pillows in tent stitch, which became really distorted as I worked on them, I decided to try other techniques.
I always have a small project ready to go any time I am expecting to wait and of course, travel. I don't do well with empty time. My sister and I carry projects to each other's homes when visiting and we can talk and stitch as long as we have time. After my first ventures into needlepoint, I learned counted cross stitch. In the 1980's a British woman who stitched for our church taught me basketweave stitch for needlepoint, and I will never forget her. I joined her small guild and worked a bench cushion for the church. It was large and was almost perfectly shaped when I was done stitching, unlike my first pillows that came out looking like crooked diamonds.
I love needlepoint for its relative speed, and for the wonderful wools and silks we have to choose from, but I have completed several counted cross stitch pieces, and a number of band samplers with drawn and pulled thread techniques. I learned to quilt, crochet and knit over the past 3 years. So I have at least 4 projects going at a time, each in a different medium, so I don't get bored.
I work on something almost every day and if I can't I don't feel balanced. I can't do any needlework at my job, so it is something I look forward to that last hour of the day, after dinner, walkng the dogs, and helping my daughter with homework. On the weekends my crafts are my reward for getting the errands, yard work, and housework done. Many of my friends have said over the years "I could never do that" and "It takes so long" and "All that detail would drive me nuts". For me, needlework is my link to sanity and peace, and I cannot imagine life without it. Amy F. Dear Roz - Needlework gives me the three "C's" I have been doing needlework of one kind or another most of my life. I learned simple embroidery on dish towels and handkerchiefs from my Mother, did some crewel and cross stitch when I was a stay at home Mom. When the children begin leaving the nest, my husband encouraged me to find a better hobby then trying to "mother hen" him. I remembered that a friend was teaching a Hardanger class at a local fabric store, and contacted her. The rest is history. I am not a great designer, or a perfect stitcher, however this is what I feel in my heart about the craft.
First of all in a world where I have little control over anything, I have control over that little piece of cloth. My needle will go where I direct it and the result is totally up to me. (have you guessed? I am a control freak!!)
Next needlework gives me connection. Connection to the past, present and future. The past with all the beautiful patterns and things that are to be learned from our grandmothers and great-grandmothers. The present as we can sit and stitch with our friends and discuss so many topics including our needlework, and the future as we teach our own daughters and granddaughters how to stitch. If they are not interested in stitching we can pass along our own work and teach them to value these treasures.
Last I am now retired and still do a good deal of needlework. I find comfort in sitting next to my dear spouse on a cold winter night, still being able to make that needle flow thru the cloth that I can still see to put the needle in the right places, and I know someone will enjoy my efforts.
There you have it the three "C's" control, connection and comfort. That is what Needlework means to me. Thanks for reading this. Joanie G. |
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