Thursday, September 22, 2011

Is Stitching an obsession? (Mystery Give-Away, too!)



"Such a delicate, dainty art - needlework - created with fibers twisted tight, and sharpened , highly polished steel."
Monica Ferris, Unraveled Sleeve, p.76







"Carol", Royal Doulton


Are you a stitcher? Knit? Crochet? Counted Cross Stitch? Crewel? Needlepoint? Latch Hook? Whatever. (Even tatting.) If it involves thread of some sort and a needle of any kind, it's "NEEDLEWORK."

My mother did just about any sort of needlework one can name. Her mother sewed, crocheted and did beautiful embroidery. I wish I still had some of those delicately trimmed pillowcases she made. (I think we used them until they became threadbare.) My other grandmother did needlepoint and knitted. It's in my genes.




I often say I was born with a paintbrush in one hand and a needle in the other. You might say I have a split personality - half painter - half stitcher. (It makes for a busy crafting schedule and a congested workroom!)




"Beat You to It", Royal Doulton

I believe the stitching I love most is counted cross stitch but I tend to run in cycles. For several months, I'll spend every possible moment stitching. I'll turn out 3-4 pieces (none of which I ever want to part with) and then, I'll force myself to put the cloth and DMC threads away for a while. We seem to have a shortage of space these days and nowhere to hang new pieces. I feel like a museum as I occasionally "rotate my exhibits" and change out which items I have hanging.

How about you?
Does your stitching habit outrun your wall space?
On the other hand, how many throw pillows can one house use?

"There seems to be something obsessive about needlework. I don't know it it draws the kind of person inclined to obsess, or if doing the work brings out the obsession. I have customers who seem to suffer withdrawal if they have to stop stitching for a long as a week."
Monica Ferris, Unraveled Sleeve, p. 74
So, what do you think? ARE stitchers just folks with addictive personalities? OR, Can we blame the craft itself for bringing out the all-consuming, compulsive need to stitch?

Is doing needlework a vice?
(Hmmm, maybe we can start a weekly stitch'n'chat called "The Vice Squad!")

MYSTERY GIVE-AWAY

****
Please share your thoughts on this by simply commenting on this post or posting a comment to my FB wall here. There's a surprise needlework gift basket involved! (A basket containing a number of needlework oriented goodies.) I'll do a random drawing of all comments submitted to both sites between today and 9/30/11. **Be sure I can contact you through your comment.


Obviously MARvelous

23 comments:

sanmarnastyle said...

Yes, I think it is an obsession, but a good, relaxing one. I crochet and still do a little hand embroidery. Now, anytime I leave the house for anything, I grab my bag with the current project in it. You never know when you may have to sit and wait. My motto:
Needle crafts..never leave home without one
I have crocheted in traffic jams,it really helps the aggravation of being stuck

AsteropeBC said...

Hi I'm new to your blog - I arrived via aquariann's Autumn Blog Hop.

I currently do the kind of beadwork that involves needle and thread, but there have been times when I was very into embroidery or crochet. It does have an addictive quality. When I am finished with a project, I don't need to keep it. I like to let the project go out to make its own way in the world.

Maša said...

i love the one with a kitten! :) i never tried stitching, i'm afraid to become addicted! :P

Anonymous said...

Hello :-) I'm visiting from Aquariann's blog hop. Your stitch work is beautiful! I've not tried stitching, but I think most of us that create could call what we do an obsession, lol.

Šolanje na domu-Waldorf said...

Hi! I found you on aquariann's Autumn Blog Hop. :) These are really lovely works. I used to needle stich when I was a kid but find it to nerving for me. I get frustrated really easy. :) My mom stil stiches from time to time. She really enjoys it.

Charlotte said...

For me, I know all this is in my blood..I have a box of things my great great grandmother and great grandmother were working on many many years ago..it was a birthday gift from my Mom a year before she passed away...my entire family was into some sort of needle work it seems but I am sure they weren't as obsessed as I am..I have to either spin or knit every day!

Sheryl Hastings said...

I think it's just a nice way to relax. I cross stitched many years ago. Now I'm into hand applique and it's pretty much the same thing.

I think it's actually a good thing. There are a couple of TV shows I like to watch and I feel guilty sitting there staring at the TV. This way, I'm not wasting time!

Ramblin Mama said...

Welcome to those of you from Aquariann's Autumn Blog Hop. I'm working my way around to visit with each of you, too.

Sanmarnastyle - I had a friend who made a "waiting afghan". She crocheted it completely while waiting for her kids in the pick-up line at school!

Charlotte - You've never told us about those goodies form the past! I'd love to hear more about those. What wonderful family heirlooms!

Sher - I'm always working on something when we're watching TV! Can't just sit there.

Sarah K. (The Mama Pirate) said...

What a fun giveaway!

I can cross stitch. That is about all. My grandma embroidered, knitted, crocheted, and made hooked rugs.

I wish I was so talented. I'd love to embroider pillowcases and throw pillows. Once I get the hang of cross stitch really well, I plan to try real embroidery.

Tommye said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tommye said...

Needlework is in my blood. It's definitely addictive and so therapeutic. I usually have the next project kitted up and ready to start when I'm about 2 days away from finishing the current project!

My favs are any counted needlework, especially samplers and hardanger.

http://stitchingandbeading.blogspot.com

Kim said...

Yes, it is an obsession. It is my way of unwinding in the evening. I have knit, crochet, cross stitched for years but recently I've turned to rug hooking.
Kim

Ramblin Mama said...

Sarah, Mary, Tommye and Kim : so glad you've all stopped in and said "Hi." Sarah, you can make some absoultely beautiful pillow cases using cross stitch. some of my favorites from my Grandmother are strictly cross stitched. For everyone who hasn't see Tommye's work, you should check out her site. She is a fantastic stitcher! Kim, I've never hooked a rug, only a pillow top or two. I'm afraid I'd be overwhelmed by the vastness of a rug!

April's Homemaking said...

I love stitching- I prefer embroidery, and love the creative freedom of just embroidering what comes to my mind. I love working with embroidered felt, and I love needle felting. I still would love to work on my crocheting. Stopping by via the Autumn Blog Hop ~April

Cordial Chaos said...

I'm stopping by from the Autumn Blog Hop! I don't stitch or paint, photography is my obsession :) Nice to meet you and check out your blog!

Alexandra Rose said...

I'm not a stitcher myself but I love art. Although it takes a HUGE amount of motivation for me to do it. I guess I'm not a naturalbut once I get started it's hard to stop :-)
Visiting from the hop.
http://beingmama.com/
http://ohsoprettylife.blogspot.com/

carol l mckenna said...

Lovely blog ~ I paint mostly and do some knitting or thanks, namaste, Carol ~ Happy Autumn Hop ^_^ very rarely

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