The subject of patience has come up recently in several blogs including Anna's Stitch Bitch blog. One of the issues discussed is when non-cross stitchers say things like "I could never cross stitch because I'm too busy" or "I don't have the patience for things like that".
That got me thinking. How am I able to commit weeks or months to a single project and stick with it? Anyone who knows me will tell you that this is almost unheard of. I get great ideas or new hobbies that last a couple of weeks or months and then I get bored and try something else. I have a partially completed model tank and lots of dusty pastel painting supplies to prove this.
What is different about cross stitch? How am I able to wait months to see the picture completed? I am a very busy guy between work and family. It would be very easy to get side-tracked with other commitments.
Part of the reason is... that I don't have to wait for part or all of my piece to be done to get joy out of it. I enjoy every little stitch. The novelty of those little stitches just doesn't wear off. Plus... the picture gets better with every stitch. Hmmm... what else... I love shopping for supplies, starting new projects, reading about cross stitch, talking about cross stitch, teaching my daughter (and anyone else who will listen) about how to cross stitch. I love giving away my cross stitch pieces, working to make better stitches and improve my technique, the list goes on and on.
If no one drags me away from it, I will stitch those little crosses until I go half blind, collapse from exhaustion or faint from lack of food or water. Thankfully my wife waves her hand in front of my eyes every once in a while and breaks the stitching trance that I am in. She usually says something like "Hello! Chris! It's your wife speaking to you... It's 2 am.. time for bed. You have to work tomorrow!"
To be an avid cross stitcher you don't need free time, you don't need patience and you definitely don't need any stitching skills.... All you need is.... to catch the stitching bug!! After that, there is no hope for you ever recovering from this addiction. :-)
Happy Stitching!!!
6 comments:
Its ao true. One of the things I love about cross stitch is the fact, that if you do it one project at a time, you don't need a huge amount of cash to enjoy yourself.
So true I am agree with Monique
Happy stitching xxx
totally agree there Chris!!!
That is exactly how I feel, every stitch is filled with enjoyment and if I could I would do nothing but cross stitch !!!
Donna
http://donnascrossstitch.blogspot.co.uk/
I love what you wrote, Chris, and agree with everything! I stitch every night until I can't keep my eyes open anymore! Someone asked me if I get bored stitching blocks of the same color. I said of course not, every stitch is made with love, and every cross is enjoyable.
I hope those people without time or patience have found a similar passion that can fill their time for them. When I first started stitching (when I was much, much younger) I could stay up til 2am stitching too. Now I have a tempurpedic that calls my name around 10! LOL.
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