If you’re the
only person in
your group of
friends who
cross stitches,
like I am, you
probably get
asked this any
time you whip
out your
portable
project.
Recently, I
showed my
friends a
tutorial I put
together on how
to cross stitch.
They wanted to
know why I loved
it so much, and
what about it I
found so
fulfilling.
Aside from the
satisfaction of
stitching
profanity in the
pinkest,
prettiest
cursive alphabet
I could find,
this is what I
came up with
when I thought
about why I
cross stitch.
1. Me Time
According to WebMD,
we all need
something that
we do just for
ourselves and
just because we
like to do it –
like cross
stitch! Self
care is
important,
especially for
mental health.
Taking an hour
or two out of
your day to
spend on
progressing in
your favorite
hobby can help
you replenish
your vitality so
that you are
better prepared
to handle
tomorrow’s
challenges.
“But, I can
get ‘me
time’ doing
almost
anything.
Why cross
stitch?”
2.
It’s Relaxing
Do we even know
how to relax
anymore? Between
work, family and
other
obligations, it
feels like we’re
always rushing
around.
But sitting down
with a beautiful
cross stitch
pattern, not
having to solve
the world’s
problems or even
answer the
question “What’s
for dinner?” is
such a relief!
A cross
stitch a day
helps melt the
stress away.
“But,
there’s not
enough time
in the day.”
3. You Can Do
Other Stuff, Too
Even though your
hands and eyes
are busy, you
can still
multitask while
stitching.
I mentioned in
the About page,
that I like to
binge watch Star
Trek while
stitching. I’ve
seen every
episode over and
over, and I
don’t have to
watch the screen
too closely. Or
I can put on a
movie or a
podcast (Like
the
Mission Log
podcast
🙂 ) and stitch
as I listen
along.
Other cross
stitchers that
I’ve spoken to
like to get away
from the screens
for a while and
listen to
classical music,
or audio books.
A few said they
listen to their
favorite sports
team play the
latest game.
Some stitch in
the car to pass
the time during
a road trip.
One of the best
things about
cross stitch is,
if you’re doing
a simple
pattern, it
doesn’t require
your undivided
attention. You
can enjoy other
things while
your hands work
their magic.
4. You Can Make
Almost Anything
With Cross
Stitch
It’s not just
for samplers
anymore! Just
this past year I
made 3 baby
bibs, a
Christmas tree
ornament, 3
bookmarks and a
framed picture.
You can cross
stitch patterns
on
baby booties
(Amazon) and on
T-shirts. I’ve
even seen
clear cups (Amazon)
with room inside
for a slip of
fabric. And I
found leather
bracelets and
phone cases
(Amazon) with
holes ready and
waiting for a
creative
stitcher.
Then there’s
plastic canvas.
When I was first
learning, my Mom
and I made an
entire bedroom
set of Barbie
furniture out of
plastic canvas.
I’m talking
about a bed, two
nightstands, a
dresser, even an
armoire with a
dowel in the top
for hanging up
clothes. It was
freaking
adorable, all in
pink with little
purple flowers
added as
accents.
The
possibilities
are endless!
Just let the
creative juices
flow.
5. Handmade is
Special
It’s so easy to
buy a gift card
or a toy –
there’s little
investment of
time or thought.
But when your
friends and
family open your
handmade gift,
they are utterly
fascinated and
flattered!
This is
especially
effective on
future in-laws
who disapprove
of your total
lack of cooking
skills.
When they see
that you have
the skill and
patience to put
together a cross
stitch project,
they are blown
away. A friend’s
Mom didn’t even
believe I
stitched it by
hand until I
showed her
work-in-progress
pictures on my
phone. Before
that, she
thought it was
made by a
machine.
Then she bought
an ugly pattern
at a yard sale
and asked me to
make it. Can’t
win them all, I
guess.
6. Sense of
Accomplishment
There’s a
certain feeling
when you make
something from
nothing with
just a few tools
and your own two
hands. Combined
with that rush
of
accomplishment
when you bury
that last thread
after a year of
making your most
ambitious
project yet.
When you know
you are done
with that ugly
yard sale
pattern, and
your boyfriend’s
Mom will be so
happy, there’s
no greater joy.
( ← Ok, that
last was
sarcasm. But you
get the idea.)
7. Keeps You
Busy
This is
particularly
handy if you’re
on a diet and
you eat when
you’re bored
(guilty!). Or if
you’re trying to
quit smoking and
you don’t know
what to do with
your hands.
Well, NOW you
know what to do!
Next, I’m going
to figure out
how to stitch
while walking on
a treadmill.
Laugh all you
want, I’m gonna
figure this out!