Cross stitching my way through history

[elizabeth]

Hello , It is a snowy cold evening here in Iowa and as I was preparing to sit in my stitching chair with a steaming cup of java it seemed timely to ask if there are other stitching mamas /papas out there? The range of subject matter available is amazing and if you are into literature and history,well ,need I say more? My need for "me" time and interest is well met by this hobby and I will not speak of the Bronte and Wordsworth pieces I am working on along with a few others. My stitch stash has grown but most will become gifts for my loved ones. Are there other needlework enthusiasts out there?? What crafts/hobbies do you enjoy?

[Daisy]

I'd love to see pictures! I'm teaching my 8yo to cross-stitch but I'm not much for handicrafts. I use to do embroidery but that seems like a lifetime ago (definitely pre-kids).

[PariSarah]

How fun!

It's been awhile since I've really done much with cross stitch. But my favorite historical piece was a souvenir kit I got from the museum of the Bayeux Tapestry. It's this scene (http://www.sjolander.com/viking/museum/bt/Bayeux_Tapestry_Viking_Ship.jpg), just in a pillow-sized square, done with the same needlework stitches in the Tapestry.

I don't know whether I'll ever get to it. But I love looking at the kit and planning to do it someday!

[elizabeth]

Sarah,That piece would be lovely indeed. You have quite a gift for knitting as I recall. I read your blog often and with great interest as I attended Creighton U for both undergrad and law school ,in a previous century...really. That is so scary to consider. I attended law school with Russ Reno's wife . I had just finished my undergrad in philosophy when they came to Omaha so I did not have a chance to take a course from him. I recall the quote from RR that used to be at the top of your blog and have always thought him fascinating. I have done needlepoint for years and recently explored charted berlin work leading to the Bronte sampler in counted cross stitch. I am eager to try crochet as well and plan to do that with dd as she is far more adept than I with visual spatial skills needed to execute the project from a book to these stubborn hands. The Bayeux will find its way into your project list when the time is right.Those two boys are just cute as can be and time moves so quickly. elizabeth

[PariSarah]

Elizabeth--

I can't believe how weird graduate students are--they get excited when they find out somebody knows the wife of some guy who wrote a book in their field. :D

Thanks for such kind words! I hope you'll post a link if you ever put some of your projects up on the 'net. I'd love to see them.

[Colleen]

I cross-stitch primarily because I can't abide just sitting. Winter evenings, I sometimes watch BBC programs from the library, and I have to be doing something with my hands. I actually have no desire to have cross-stitch art hanging on my walls, and I don't give my work to other people unless I know for sure they like that sort of thing. So I have pieces I've completed that I never even do anything with. (Pardon my poor grammar there!) I also have trouble finding pieces I really like so if you can recommend some sources that would be great!

[Kendra]

I knit fervently and cross-stitch occasionally because both are conducive to homeschooling. I have a hard time pulling out the sewing machine or scrapbooking with so many little ones at my feet.

But I can throw knitting into a bag and move on if I have to. Easy to pick up again, too!

[dangermom]

I like to embroider and sew. I do a lot of quilts but at the moment am doing dresses for my girls and my new obsession: bookbags with actual bookcovers sewn in. (Like, retro ancient bookcovers that no one would actually read, but that have neat cover art, that is, ugly but fun cover art.)

I do like to cross stitch but am picky about patterns, and haven't come across a good one in a while. So give me some links to historical or literary patterns, I'd love that! My last cross-stitch project was a while ago, but this was it (http://www.wessexcollection.co.uk/page12.html); the rabbit and millefleurs pillow at the top.

[readwithem]

my dd likes these

http://www.posycollection.com/

[Book Crazy]

These are some of my favorite cross stitch collections

Mirabilia (http://mirabilia.com/crossIndex2.html)

Lavender and Lace (http://www.tiag.com/)

Teresa Wentzler (http://www.twdesignworks.com/Designs/index.html)

These have some really nice patterns. I love to work in linen and could never work in aida again.

Hope these give you some inspiration of what to stitch next

Sarah