Confessions of a Cross Stitcher

Lorna · Post by **Lorna** » Sun Jun 09, 2013 1:47 pm

I go to bed and before I go to sleep I go through my stash in my mind and get all excited so sometimes I cannot go to sleep. I leave knots in the back of my work,I hat bobinating my floss so I literally have to force myself to do it.I drool over my hand dyed fabrics I have and then feel guilty that I will never be able to do all the charts that I have.

Mel Burnett · Post by **Mel Burnett** » Sun Jun 09, 2013 4:52 pm

I love this post! I'm supposed to be cleaning my house, but instead I'm reading this. Does that count as a confession because it happens a lot!

1. I always take my huge purse to my LNS so I can hide my purchases. Isn't that ridiculous? I guess I get it from my mother. She used to hide new shoe purchases in the trunk of the car...

2. Since I joined this forum a couple of weeks ago, I have purchased so MANY new charts! Minutes ago I bought a Bierstadt Landscape chart from Scarlet Quince. It is my husband's absolute favorite painting, so I had to have it. It will make a perfect Christmas or Birthday present for him one day, but who knows when I'll finish it.

3. I have never made a cross stitch as a gift for someone else other than my husband and kids. I just don't think other people would appreciate the time and effort that goes into it. I honestly don't know that I ever will.

4. I hate to be repetitive, but I also lick my floss, leave my projects in my Qsnaps for months at a time and I could care less about my back. I've never given it a second thought.

Keep the confessions coming everyone! It is so nice to be in such good company!

aussie_stitcher · Post by **aussie_stitcher** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 2:45 pm

Ha, these confessions are great!
Mine:

1. Sometimes I count aloud e.g. 1 stitch space 3 stitches space and people look at me strangely.

2. When I was 14 I got on a plane with a very basic cross stitch bag in my carry on. No scissors, but needles. I just forgot. Scary part? I flew from Canberra to Melbourne with no problems and only realised when they said something getting on the return flight!!!

aussie_stitcher · Post by **aussie_stitcher** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 2:47 pm

Also, I have pulled an all nighter stitching to finish a wedding present.

MaggieM1750 · Post by **MaggieM1750** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 6:26 pm

Re: Confessions of a Cross Stitcher

YouSewShould · Post by **YouSewShould** » Tue Jul 02, 2013 2:34 pm

I always make some small mistake, and just leave it.

I look at other peoples blogs and see that they've carefully drawn out the large squares for the pattern, think I should do the same (to try and prevent said mistakes) but never do, I'm too keen to get stitching.

I hate starting to stitch in the middle of a piece of work, I always just gestimate where the top corner should be based on the size of the pattern and the size of the fabric, it normally works out...

I always stick my needle in the arm of the sofa or a fold in my jeans when I'm sorting out the next threads... really need a pin cushion!

aussie_stitcher · Post by **aussie_stitcher** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 2:51 am

I have a new almost confession: I was working with white thread the other day and went to thread a new piece. I stopped myself from licking the thread just in time; I'd forgotten I had bright pink lip gloss on! That would have been a whoops!

nasreen · Post by **nasreen** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 10:27 pm

Here goes... (cringe)

1. I save every pieces of thread that I cut off, if it is the length of my finger or more it goes into a pile that just keeps building... you never know when you need one tiny piece right?

2. I have stitched into the wee hours of the morning to the point where my eyes are so blurry that I can hardly see.

3. I also just work with my mistakes. If it is not that bad then I will just go with it.

4. I am super obsessive about my hands being clean and wash them all the time when working. I am paranoid about getting my pieces dusty or dirty.

5. I am also very obsessive with storing my thread and have so many containers and storage boxes. I have one for my expensive thread, a separate one for my less expensive thread and a box for threads with no codes and the list gos on.

There you have it, my cross stitch confessions.

thegrindre · Post by **thegrindre** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 11:47 pm

aussie_stitcher wrote:I have a new almost confession: I was working with white thread the other day and went to thread a new piece. I stopped myself from licking the thread just in time; I'd forgotten I had bright pink lip gloss on! That would have been a whoops!

Glad I'll never run into that dilemma.

wtnlvr · Post by **wtnlvr** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 1:09 am

This thread has been fun to read.

I also don't care about the back. I don't make knots so my projects lay flat. My friend wanted to see the back of my project and I really couldn't understand why. Whatever.

I have never done a project from a pattern other than a complete kit. Choosing colors is just too much work to me. There are so many kits out there I have never had an issue. Dimensions are a bear, I will admit and I won't do another.

I have only done one project as a gift, my family coat of arms, for my elderly aunt who was beyond excited to get it. No one else would really appreciate the work I think.

I always use a hoop or a frame. Never eat or drink while stitching and scrub my hands before starting.

Finally, I only stitch an hour at a time and never more than an hour a day. My eyes and my hands can't manage extended sessions.

thegrindre · Post by **thegrindre** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 1:22 am

I have a number 10.
10. When anybody asks to see the back of my cross stitching project(s), I say, no.
I mean it, too. I don't show the backs.

Although, if I lay it down and you come along and look, I don't mind. LOL

Rose · Post by **Rose** » Mon Jul 08, 2013 6:27 am

It is my biggest pet peeve to have some one turn over my work and look at the back. Now I am not a perfectionist about my backs but they are not terrible but still ......why?????why do they think they need to see it. To me it is as if they are looking for something wrong with it........

Amanda G · Post by **Amanda G** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 8:04 am

Carrying thread across the back.....howl!! I had lots of little white stitches to do along a border and it was easier to carry them all the way across than fiddle about with each one. The work is going to be stretched across a canvas so who would ever know apart from me? Oh, and a few of you!

But you won't tell on me will you?

Mrsadm · Post by **Mrsadm** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 2:32 pm

MaggieM1750 wrote:
aussie_stitcher wrote:2. When I was 14 I got on a plane with a very basic cross stitch bag in my carry on. No scissors, but needles. I just forgot. Scary part? I flew from Canberra to Melbourne with no problems and only realised when they said something getting on the return flight!!!
I fly with stitch projects all the time. Last flight was 4 days ago. 2 projects, each with needles tucked into the fabric, and a cheapie pair of scissors. I stitch when killing time at the gate, and on the flight itself. It's amazing how much you can get done when you have no distractions or interruptions. It would drive me bonkers to have 6+ hours with nothing to do and not have a project to work on.

Hi Maggie, I'm so glad you posted this. I have a trip in two weeks and I'm in a panic about taking my small project with me in my carry-on bag. I read at the TSA web site that small scissors are OK but needles, unless for medical reasons, are not. Maybe since they are small, the xray won't pick it up. I'll take a throwaway needle, just in case.

Sorry to hijack this thread, the confessions are fantastic!

MaggieM1750 · Post by **MaggieM1750** » Wed Jul 10, 2013 4:13 pm

Right.. it makes no sense

Come over in this thread Flying with Stitching

L_is_a · Post by **L_is_a** » Wed Aug 14, 2013 10:51 pm

What a fantastic thread this is, just reading through the comments has made me giggle!

I try to keep the back tidy but always fail miserably.

I have stitched some projects for other people but generally keep my stitch for me.

My finished pieces (that I keep) aren't framed, they are stored in a folder out of reach of everyone.

In the past month I've bought enough kits to last me a lifetime, I will never do they all.

I once lost a needle on my bed ... I wasn't flavour of the month when someone sat on it (oooops!). Of course I denied all knowledge of losing it.

X

stitch addicted · Post by **stitch addicted** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 5:22 pm

Love this!!!

If I by a pattern book I make my own kit, with everything I need. then I put it in this huge tote bag with a flat bottom in my closet. There are 10 kits waiting for me.

If I know there is a mistake I also go back and find it.

The back- I could care less.

I visit a local cross stitch store at least once a week.

I only work on one thing at a time.

I have been stitching for so long that my collection of DMC thread is now in a tote. But I rarley have the right color.

Wow I feel better

perftangel · Post by **perftangel** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 5:45 pm

My turn!

I don't care about the back, though over the years I've gotten vastly more neat and tidy.

I hate kits. I want to pick my own everything, so even if I really like it I won't buy it because then I'd have to buy more fabric and everything so it's like double buying. I have one kit at home that's like 90% finished but I have no desire to go and finish it because I hate kits. Yeah, that's sad.

I like bobbinating skeins. And I love how they all look in a rainbow on a ring for each project.

Organizing is my favorite thing in the world! I might not be neat and tidy but gosh darn it I love totes and boxes and cubes! I love the bobbin caddies all neat and tidy looking.

I'm super lazy, so I rarely really "finish" anything. I'll leave out the beading, or backstitching or something, because I don't feel like doing it. OR it'll take me 5 times as long to do those minor things as it took me to cross stitch the entire piece.

Also, I've never kept a design I've finished. I'm always giving them away... mostly to my mom, she's the only one who I know will appreciate all the hard work.

dawn0621 · Post by **dawn0621** » Fri Aug 16, 2013 4:04 pm

For whatever reason I'm always picking out things to stitch for other people. Even my doctor who has helped me so much. My aunt tells me every year how much her friends love and comment on the christmas project I did for her awhile back. Of course, my mom loves everything I do. lol

LastingAllure · Post by **LastingAllure** » Fri Aug 16, 2013 11:56 pm

I love beads and sparkles and have never used thread heaven once in my whole stitching life, I don't find it difficult working with Krienik and I use long lengths. I just love love LOVE sparkles hehehe...