Cross Stitch - Get Hooked!

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.