So, cross-stitch. You know, I’ve gotta say, I know there’s a hip embroidery movement afoot. Which is cool. Jenny Hart and all that. It’s fun that the world is expanding, making crafts more accessible for people from different perspectives, generations…
But all that said, I’m a pretty big fan of the traditional stuff. Maybe it’s because I grew up with an elaborate cross-stitch sampler made by my great-grandmother hanging on the living room wall. Or because my grandmother later made me my very own little personalized sampler. I don’t know. I just know that, while I could probably get a kick out of just the right updated pattern, I’m mostly drawn to the old school stuff.
Which is why it was awesome to come across old cross-stitch pattern books from the ’80s at a local sewing shop. Here’s the one I chose as my first cross-stitch project (um, okay, technically my second cross-stitch project if you don’t count the horribly botched handtowel experiment of the early ’90s…which I’m not):
I switched up the colors a little. Here’s what I have so far:
The Pennsylvania Dutch in me likes that it’s got a little Distelfink thing going on, and the birdwatcher in me likes it, too.
Here’s what the pattern looks like:
I should say that I don’t actually know what I’m doing. I just began. In fact, it wasn’t until last night that I realized the booklet has basic instructions for cross-stitch on its inside cover, but they confused me. Possibly, because I am not actually following directions, this whole thing will fall apart, but I hope not. It’s too fun to see it go to waste.
I’m not sure what I’ll do with it when it’s finished, but I can’t wait to finish it up, soak it in some water, and give it a good blocking. Frame it? Make a pillow? A special bag? Hmm…
I’ll let you know.
