There is something soothing about making the same movement over and over again. About counting how many squares across and down you still need to go. About picking the right color thread. About seeing how much left there is to go. About seeing the work start to take shape. And then eventually it turns into a feeling of accomplishment when you see the finished product. What old lady hobby am I talking about?
Well cross stitch of course!
I think I've mentioned before that I love to cross stitch. I started it about a year ago as a way to pass the time. I wasn't even that interested in it. I found a dollar project in a bin at Michael's and I couldn't pass it up.
It came out pretty bad. The little kit I bought didn't have any instructions. Just a picture with the legend of colors to use. I had no idea what I was doing and I didn't know what to do with the outline. It was just a complete and utter mess.
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| I never even finished it. |
Fortunately I had bought more than one kit. For the next one I actually decided to look up some tips and tricks online before starting. This helped A LOT. By the time I was finished you could even tell what it was I was supposed to be making.
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| The back is a whole 'nother story though. |
By the time I finished the little kits I had bought, I was hooked. I bought a hoop and some cheap aida with a big bag of cheap thread in various colors. I started getting patterns from Pinterest, Google, Etsy. It was so much fun to make these little crafts. John even got in on it and would tell me which colors to use and fun accents to put on a project.
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| He'd also help in the naming. |
I loved doing the small, easy projects. Those that could be completed within a few hours. But after doing several of those everyone thought it was time to tackle a bigger project. I decided on a sugar skull pattern I had purchased off of Etsy. When completed it would fit into an 8.5x10 frame. Bigger than anything I had yet tried to do.
It came out great! There were a few spots I had to actually undo my stitches and redo them correctly but I love the finished product. I was going to frame it but the glass from the frame broke and I haven't quite gotten around to it again.
I love cross stitching. Even if the finished ones tend to end up crumpled and dirty hiding underneath books or strewn across tables. It's just a fun hobby, old lady or not.
What are some of your favorite hobbies? Any of you love cross stitching?
I wish I had the patience for something like that!
ReplyDeleteCross stitching is so fun! It's been years but I'd love to get back into it.
ReplyDeleteChloe | Wanderlust in the Midwest
So cute I love this!! I love "old lady" hobbies like this and crocheting though it's been awhile since I have done them... we are pretty much on the go all of the time so right now the biggest hobby I have (time permitting) is reading lol!
ReplyDeleteold lady hobbies are the best! I feel like I get weird looks when I tell people my hobbies but you know, to each their own! I love the look of cross stitching!
ReplyDeleteI can cross stitch but haven't in years. I pretty much can do it all and kind of rotate which I want to be obsessed with at the moment. My mother recently was in hospital for 3 months. I made a lot of sweaters! It's better than sitting there fretting!
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to try cross stitching but I don't know if I should add another hobby to the list. I love to knit and crochet :) Sometimes sew, lol. Depends if I'm in the mood.
ReplyDeleteI sew occasionally. I would love to be able to do it more. My mother crochets and said she'd teach me but I think it's too much. I would love to knit but...I also think it's too much. The things you can make with them though are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI hope your mother is okay. Doing something with your hands is a great way to pass the time. I also go in and out of cycles. I will cross stitch like crazy for weeks or months and then stop.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way! When people see me doing it they ask how my knitting is going. But it's so fun! Plus you can feel productive while you watch an entire season of something on Netflix.
ReplyDeleteMy mom crochets and has offered to teach me but I just ask her to make me things. Ha. Old lady hobbies are the best! And reading because of course it's reading!
ReplyDeleteIt is! I love that you don't have to think about it too much. Just sit, stitch, and voila a pretty picture.
ReplyDeleteI seriously don't have patience for certain things - people, children, the DMV but things that are solitary like reading and cross stitching I can do for HOURS without even realizing it.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to try it. But I LOVE that sugar skull! Great job!
ReplyDeleteThank you! If you ever decide to try it I suggest getting one with instructions or Googling it. Lol.
ReplyDeleteSo true :)
ReplyDeleteAnything to help me feel more productive while I'm binging on Netflix is worth it.... haha
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