In my hoop A Belgian reader shares her work
Stéphanie Mattheus lives in Belgium, where cross stitching has increased in popularity over the last decade. So much so that stitching in public can quickly become a crafty meet-up…
Cross stitch has been a favourite hobby for 15 years for Stéphanie Ma heus. Based in Belgium, she always has several projects on the go…
Stéphanie began her cross stitch journey quite by accident, “It started over years ago, when I noticed a pre y li le kit of a Se er dog in a National Trust shop, based on a painting from Petworth,” she says. “It’s now framed in my bedroom and doesn’t look half bad, but I still dread to look at the back – it’s all kno ed and bumpy! Fortunately, I quickly learned how to stitch more neatly.”
STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
After Stéphanie had finished her first big project
(a Flower Fairy alphabet sampler, which was a gift from her parents), she was both happy with the result and sad that it was finished. Luckily, as she browsed through the magazine rack in a British store, a Christmas issue of CrossStitcher caught her eye, “I realised the felt baubles on the cover would look perfect on our hearth and I could not wait to begin. I’ve been reading CrossStitcher ever since, and discovered to my surprise they sell it at my local newsagent’s. The pictures always look so a ractive I want to start stitching straight away!”
The amount of stitching Stepanie has completed from CrossStitcher has been substantial, “So far, I’ve made pillows, cards, baubles, frames, miniatures… and whenever there’s sewing involved, my projects turn into a moment of bonding between me and my grandmother. She’s been teaching me how to use a sewing machine, and helped me finish my owl case (issue 262) and ‘Aim for the stars’ whale pillow (issue 270).”
Her favourite projects? “I have a thing for projects that bring a smile to people’s faces, so I have lots of hoops with colourful, positive messages. In addition, I always try to have a few small patches for different occasions ready in my craft cabinet, in case I need to quickly personalise a card or gift. At the moment, I’m working on a poppy brooch (issue 246), which I’m hoping to wear to church in November. I’m also in the middle of a miniature firescreen by Janet Granger, and starting on a phone case for my mother (But shhh! That’s meant to be a secret!).”
These days the pandemic has meant cross stitch has become not just a pleasure but a welcome break from the trials of working from home. “As a teacher in adult education, I’ve had to spend an insane amount of time online, for teaching, grading, feedback…” she explains. “While it’s great that I can still reach my students and offer them support (some were stuck in a foreign country, and many miss the social contact), it can be extremely tiring. I also miss seeing my colleagues in person, as Zoom meetings just aren’t the same. Cross stitching has not only helped me to unwind, but it helps to coax me away from the screen.”
WE’LL MEET AGAIN
In more usual times Belgium has plenty to offer stitchers, “It seems cross stitch has become much more popular here in the past decade, and as a result, lots of new shops have popped up.” Stéphanie even has a special place she likes to stitch, “It’s the farmhouse by the old mill, which are both run as a café and bakery. The first time I was a li le shy to take my stitching out in public, but it turned out lots of the regulars are crafters too. Whenever we met each other, we ended up sharing tips and talking about our latest projects. I really miss going there and hope we can go back and see each other soon.”
Whenever we met each other, we ended up sharing tips and talking about our latest projects