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September/October 2009 Issue

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A note from Elizabeth

I have a confession to make. I don’t feel comfortable stitching either in public or with the non-stitching population. I don’t know why, but I just cannot relax and enjoy stitching when others are watching me. I desperately need to get over this or I’ll have to stop hanging out with nonstitchers, my husband excluded.

I’m pretty sure this uncomfortable feeling comes from being the middle child in my family. As the middle child I spent many of my developing years trying to fly under the radar, avoiding attention.

Now that I’m all grown up, something about stitching in public makes me feel self conscious. Maybe I am being a bit paranoid… but it seems that every time I try to needlepoint in public I become a target for people with a compulsion to make droll comments. How many times have we all heard, “Is that cross stitch?” or “My grandmother used to do needlepoint.” And the one that really gets me, “What a nice little hobby. I would love to do that but my life is too busy, I don’t have time to sit down much less sew!” That last comment always makes me feel like a lazy slob who sits on her keister and stitches instead of saving the world.

I know, I really need to get over this, and I am trying. For example, Jay and I went on our annual bicycle tour last week. The tour involves camping, bicycling, eating, and sitting around campsites with 300 other people who are also on the tour. We have lots and lots of sitting around time, so I thought it would be an opportunity to work on my stitching in public.
Day one: I pull out my stitching. Within five seconds I hear the first comment which, sadly, came from one of my best non-stitching friends. In a surprised voice she said, “You’re not sewing, are you?” That’s all it took. I packed up my stitching and put it away. It did not appear for the rest of the trip.
Despite this, I will stitch in public again, and I’m hoping that you will too. The non-stitching public needs to be educated about needlepoint and I have to get over being self conscious. If more needlepointers come out of the closet, and start stitching in airports, doctor’s offices and even baseball stadiums It won’t be such an oddity and maybe people will stop staring and stop making those annoying comments.

In this issue of Needlepoint Now® you will find several fun projects to pad your stitching nest or work on in public. Shelly Tribby’s “Boo” Kitty should arouse a few comments with its bold colors and funky design. If bold and bright don’t fit your style, try your hand at Ann Winn’s elegant Ode To Poppies needlebook. For fans of geometrics, we have Becky Worsham’s Essence of Candy Corn. In addition, Alice Okon has taken a traditional needlepoint project and dressed it up with DMC’s new Memory Thread.

Speaking of DMC, they have graciously offered a complete set of their new Memory Thread and a Stitch-opoly game for the winner of a drawing to take place at the end of September. To compete for either of these great prizes, all you need to do is send us a postcard with your name, mailing address, email address and telephone number. See page 28 for details.
I’d like to welcome Janet Perry as a new contributor. Janet is one of the leading writers of needlepoint stitch guides. She lives her mission of making needlepoint fast, fun and affordable. Her first article is about picking the correct needlepoint marker for your project.

I have had many requests for more from our Spinster Stitcher, Coni Rich, and you will be happy to know that she is back with an article on “You Know You Are A Stitcher If …” And of course we have our Fool, who seems to be gearing up for the Seminar Season.

Keep the thread in the needle,

Elizabeth

As of July-August 2009 back issues of Needlepoint Now are available at a cost of $7.00 per copy, plus shipping and handling. All preceding back issues are $6.00 per copy, plus shipping and handling.

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