Designer Q&A
Q. When did you begin cross stitching?
A. I am of the generation when stamped cross stitch was the thing to do. So probably I did an iron-on motif onto a pillowcase. Q. How did you learn to cross stitch?
A. I am self-taught, and I have the feeling that you can never stop learning. I love to learn different stitching techniques and “tricks” that make stitching more enjoyable. For instance, when I learned the “loop method” to anchor your first stitch, I thought I’d been given a gift! Additionally, when I went to a Needlework Market, I would take classes from the experts to learn new techniques. Q. How did you learn to design?
A. I had a cross-stitch shop for 18 years. When we would kit up a design for a customer, we would sometimes suggest a different fabric or fiber, or add a charm to help that customer make the design unique for her. Eventually, when I began changing this area or adding that stitch, I figured, “I could do this.” That is why it doesn’t bother me when someone changes a color or thread on a design of mine; I’ve always encouraged stitchers to think outside the box. The Stitch Police are not coming after you! Q. Who or what inspires you?
A. I never go looking for inspiration; it just appears. Sometimes it’s a saying, a color, a season or even the need for a retreat theme. My mom was a huge inspiration. She never stitched, but she taught me, by example, to look at things differently. She was awesome at creating crafty projects. She would see a dried-up tumbleweed and envision a snowman. Then, she would set about stacking, painting and “dressing” that tumbleweed. Voilà! A snowman was in our front yard, no snow in sight! I don’t consciously try “thinking outside the box,” but when it happens I say, “Thanks, Mom!”
Q. Where is the weirdest place you have designed?
A. I confess to being in a restroom and looking at the tile patterns on the floor and “seeing” a pattern of kloster blocks. Knowing that my senior blonde person may not remember that pattern, I dug my phone out of my purse and took a picture. So, next time you hear a click in the stall next to you, it just might be me! Q. Are you a morning, midday or nighttime designer?
A. I’m definitely a morning designer/ stitcher. I know when I push myself to stitch late into the night, unsewing is definitely in my near future! Q. What multitasking do you engage in while stitching?
A. My pit bull, Junior, would tell you it is getting up and down, repeatedly, to let him in and out and in again. I love music, so the radio is usually on, or I may play a favorite movie like Dirty Dancing, Phantom of the Opera or Chicago. I can sing along and know the dialogue, etc., without looking up from my stitching. Lately, I have used Audible to listen to books; when I don’t have reading time, what could be better than stitching and “reading” at the same time? Oh, I know! Add chocolate to the mix and have a supply of wet wipes on hand! Q. What do you do when you aren’t designing or stitching?
A. I enjoy gardening—the colors, the flowers. Also, after I closed my shop, I wanted some way to keep my core group of sister-stitchers together, so we meet twice a month to stitch (bead, crochet, knit, etc.) and fellowship. I also host two retreats a year. It’s like getting my mini-shop back on! I also love to travel and enjoy looking for old samplers. On a trip to London once, I visited the Victoria and Albert Museum, and headed straight for the needlework floor. Oh my goodness!
There were aisles and aisles of samplers preserved in pull-out cases. Heaven on a vacation! Q. Who have you met who is the most unlikely cross stitcher?
A. A biker-dude walked into my shop one day. My sister, Libby, and I just knew he probably wanted us to machine-embroider something on a vest. What else would he be wanting? Our first impression of Jack was totally wrong. What do you know, he wanted to learn how to cross stitch! After choosing a very ambitious animal design, we kitted it up and began to teach Jack how to stitch. He would come in and sit with us during stitch-ins. The ladies loved him! And he was a darned good stitcher!
Q. If you were trying to convince someone to take up cross stitching, what would you say?
A. A lot of folks say, “I wish I had time to stitch.” I would say the time you take to stitch, whether it be half an hour a day or twice a week, is so rewarding. To look at symbols on a graph and create a work of art on your fabric—there is just something special about that.
Whenever you stitch, whatever you stitch, you are creating needle art, so find the time and you won’t be sorry. Besides, think of the friends you’ll make—there’s none better!