Cross addiction..but it could be worse! (Cross Stitching in general)

Member Name: Blurbubble

Product:	Cross Stitching in general
Date:	14/09/01 (148 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Inexpensive, relaxing,, easy to learn, plenty of resources.

Disadvantages: Addictive!, Larger designs can work out expensive.

I mean there are worse things to be addicted to aren't there? I mean I've written about others before (alcohol etc)!

In this case it is a hobby which has become an addiction offering me fulfilment, enjoyment, relaxation and admiration - now you can't say that for many addictions!

Still confused? I'm talking about cross-stitching - not just the reserve of bored housewives and grannies - I know of a few of us younger folk that love it.

I first become entranced by this hobby about a year ago - stuck at home all day through illness and unable to pursue most of my prior daily activities I was at a loss with what to do with my spare time. I loved knitting but found this awkward due to muscular problems - I needed something easier to handle, light but not too difficult. And so I discovered it - cross-stitching!

I started off by completing very small, basic kits aimed at children which were available for a few pounds from Tescos. Then I began to buy magazines on the subject, started buying larger more complicated kits and was given cross-stich design software as a present. Now I am totally hooked!

It is a relatively inexpensive hobby to take up as a beginner and very easy to learn although more complicated designs obviously demand more experience and expertise. The finished articles can be framed as pictures, made into greetings cards, fridge magnets, clothing decoration - the possibilities are endless and inspiring. Having said that most of my finished projects remain stored in a box as I am always to eager to start the next project without framing ( or whatever) the one I've just completed. However whenever I have someones birthday or an occasion looming I always stitch a special card rather than buy one.

Pre-packed kits can be bought for anything from about £4.00 upwards and generally contain everything you need - material, threads, chart and needle - so no purchase of special materials need be u
ndertaken.

If you get slightly more ambitious - like myself - you can buy magazines and join special clubs which supply the charts for myriad designs and you then select your own fabrics and threads to complete the designs to your taste. This can, sometimes, work out more expensive than buying kits but I often find I am left with a lot of leftover thread from kits which can then be utilised on freelance designs.

Charts can be bought from about £5 upwards, lengths of material (usually Aida count or Evenweave) can be bought from about £3 upwards and threads can only cost about 40-50p per hank - so the total expense can be entirely within your hands depending on what you want to make.

When stitching your piece it is advisable to use an embroidery hoop or frame to keep the fabric taut to obtain an even, undistorted design and allow ease to see what you are stitching - especially on larger designs.

I am completely taken by this hobby as you can probably tell, I find it totally absorbing, relaxing and de-stressing and recommend it to anyone remotely creative!

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