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Another stitcher named Melissa (great name! ) who blogs at Musings From a Three Bedroom Ranch recently posted some questions on her blog asking why we stitch. After reading over her thoughts, I realized I’d never really given much thought to WHY I actually stitch. It’s just something I’ve pretty much always done since I learned to stitch when I was around eight years old. After giving it some thought, here are my responses to the questions she posed:

1. Why do you stitch?

It’s cheaper than therapy. No, actually, I’m being serious even though I followed it with a wink. Stitching is a massive stress reliever for me, so it helps keep me sane and from developing ulcers.

2. On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being least important and 10 being most important what is your cross stitch passion level?

It definitely varies with me. Right now I seem to be a good roll with my stitching, so I would say I’m around an eight or nine. Currently, it’s rare for me to go more than a day or two without stitching. There have been other times in the past though where I’ve gone a couple of weeks (or more) without stitching. There are some times I just lose my stitching mojo and have to take a break from it. During those times, I tend to do a lot more reading which is another passion of mine.

3. If you’re only option for cross stitch supplies and patterns happened to be the major chain craft stores would you just walk away from the little X? Kiss it goodbye?

Given the amount of stash I have, it would take YEARS before I would have to actually purchase something from a chain craft store. If I were stuck with only a chain craft store for purchases, I doubt that would be enough to make me walk away from the craft. Thankfully, even places like Michaels and Joann are at least starting to carry evenweave fabrics. Admittedly, it’s not as high quality of fabric as I’m used to stitching on, but it’s still better than Aida.

4. Also are you so passionate about cross stitch that if indeed your only option was the major chain craft stores, would that inspire you to create your own cross stitch pieces because you have to stitch and you’ve stitched your way through the whole of Dimensions catalog–because you must stitch and the thought of life without a relationship with the little X leaves you feeling empty?

I’m not sure how much designing for cross stitch I would do as I’m not very artistic when it comes to drawing and the like. I would probably resort to restitching pieces I’ve done in the past first. If I were to try designing something, it would be more likely that I would do it for canvas projects rather than linen. I very much enjoy stitching geometric designs on canvas, so I could see potentially giving that a try before trying to design something for cross stitch.

5. Finally what do the cross stitch magazines on the market offer you? Do they relate to you as a cross stitcher? Do you look at them and think to yourself, who do they think buys this magazine? I guess what I’m asking, when you see the current cross stitch magazines do they make you feel like they know their readers or do you find it’s more of the same? What could they do to be ambassadors for the art of cross stitch other than putting a sampler on the cover with “F-U” on it? What are we missing on a PR level that could change the opinion of cross stitch itself?

I have given up most of my subscriptions to cross stitch magazines other than Just Cross Stitch and the digital magazine The Gift of Stitching. Even though I’m not inspired by most of the designs in Just Cross Stitch, I keep it because I do really enjoy both the Christmas & Halloween ornament issues which are included in the subscription. The Gift of Stitching is definitely my preferred subscription right now though. There is usually at least one design that I find appealing enough to want to stitch in every issue. I can’t say that for most stitching magazines, hence having given most of them up.

In the past, I have also subscribed to The Cross Stitcher, Stoney Creek, Cross Stitch & Country Crafts (waaaaaay back in the day and long since defunct), and Sampler & Needlework Quarterly. I just found with most of them that the designs were either very repetitive in style or just not something that I would ever stitch. I also found that, for me, there wasn’t enough variety in featured designers. It seemed most of the magazine had a handful of designers whose work they used, and they didn’t stray from them.

I have recently purchases some issues of Cross Stitch & Needlework, but only after flipping through it to see if there is anything that interests me. I do like that they seem to frequently feature designs from Nora Corbett/Mirabilia. I’m still reserving judgment as to whether or not I will eventually subscribe to it, but I do find that I see more designs in it that appeal to me than I do in other magazines.

What would I like to see in a cross stitch magazine? More variety! As I mentioned, most of the magazines seem to duplicate designers and design styles far too much for my tastes. I would also like to see more of a mix of difficulty level. While it’s great to offer some easier designs to help bring new stitchers into the fold, it would be nice to also be some more advanced designs for those of us who have been stitching for years and want a challenge.

6. And finally, finally, do you do other crafts and if so what are they and why do they pull you away from cross stitch?

For me, my main other “craft”** would be needlepoint/counted canvas. I don’t generally think of it as being another craft, per se, but it isn’t cross stitch either. It definitely fulfills all the same needs/desires for me as outlined in question #1.

I do have other crafts that I know how to do, but don’t really do them that often anymore. This would include making handmade greeting cards, knitting, crocheting, spinning, weaving, and beading. The main reason I don’t do them any longer is simply a space issue. I live in a fairly small apartment, so I simply don’t have the room to store all the supplies like I did when I lived in a 3-bedroom house.

** I don’t really consider needlepoint/counted canvas or cross stitch as a craft, but more a form of fiber art. For me, crafting involves things like glue, craft sticks, felt, glitter, etc.

Until next time …