When I first started doing cross-stitch
I didn't realized how addictive this hobby would be. The desire to
finish one color to move onto the next, seeing the picture take shape,
it was just wonderful. I truly allowed every spare minute of my day to
be taken up with picking up my Aida and working on it.
Aida
is the name given to the cloth you use for cross-stitch and it comes in
different sizes and counts, obviously depending on what your pattern
requires.
This really is a hobby anyone can do. I had
no instruction from anyone, and picked it up as I went along. Maybe my
early works don’t have the polish of my later works but it’s all trial
and error.
When my MIL brought a beautifully
cross-stitched birth sampler for our little girl I was hooked. I’ve
immediately decided to make something special for my daughter and her
cousin, born just 12 hours apart. Even though lovely Forever Friends
bears are not both girls with just changing the different color of a hat
from green to purple & on the other one to pink I managed to make
both similar yet unique.
I also did some kits in the
meantime and would say for a beginner that should be the first thing to
start with to see how you feel about it. In the kit there is usually a
pattern (if its counted cross stitch) or the pattern itself might be
printed on the fabric (stamped cross stitch), all the required threads, a
needle, the Aida and easy instructions.
Be warned
though, before long you will be picking up patterns when you see them,
have boxes and boxes (and boxes) of threads and enough Aida that you
could run an on-line business selling your spares.
Birth
samplers are the best gifts one can give to their friends and family
and if you can make them in nursery colors and theme your gift will be
looked at and adored for many years to come. It’s a unique handmade
present made with loads of love.
Your works of art can
be framed at the framers, or you can do it yourself once you learn the
technique of lacing. Will talk about the methods soon in one of our next
post.
I often buy threads, Aida, cross-stitch
magazines or cross-stitch patterns even when I have no idea when am I
going to be able to start a new pattern. If you like it, buy it. It
doesn’t take up much room, and I get frustrated when I’m ready to start a
cross-stitch to find I don’t have a pattern to suit my mood, or the
occasion.
Until the next time,
Keep on stitching.
