When I am immersed in counted cross stitch or any kind of counted thread work, I often find myself saying, “Just one more stitch.”
I’ll take out the trash / go for a walk / start dinner …as soon as I take one more stitch!
What is it about this hobby that makes us all (because I know I am not alone in this) want to finish the strand we’re working on? And then we re-thread the needle so we’ll be ready for the next bit with absolutely no intention of taking one more stitch but the next thing we know, we’re still stitching?
Please tell me I am not the only one who does this!
For me, the near-obsession also includes the design stage. Designing cross stitch is very similar to stitching cross stitch. I put a symbol / color for every cross stitch in each square of my graph just as you put a cross stitch in every Aida square or make a cross stitch over every two-by-two linen threads. I even have to “rip out” (erase) stitches when I don’t like the way they look or change my mind or think of a better way to do something. And when I get in that creative groove, I forget to eat and lose all track of time. I seem to want to add “just one more stitch.”
And so that brings us to this website. Initially, I mainly used it for blog posts and freebie charts. Then I added the information about the upcoming Stitchers’ Escapes Cruises, and other classes and retreats where I will be teaching counted cross stitch and other counted thread techniques, like pulled and drawn thread work, and needlepoint projects.
I have been designing and teaching cross stitch and needlework since 1981. So far, it’s been a wonderful and fulfilling way to spend my time. Thanks for joining me here! Now, I’m going to take just one more stitch!
