Cross-Stitching and Stabby Mediations

Is the innate ugliness of the darkest side of man's nature to consume with gusto the frustration and struggles of the worst moments of an experience we call ‘being human’? Is no one allowed to be human anymore, with all the shortcomings and best of intentions? Or have the post-modern monstrosities that possessed the audacity to be named art to the detriment of the expansion of mental and emotional development, damned our connections with the world and our peers? Who gains when the screens demand the attention of the idle minds, only to feed us drivel and visual garbage, from those who seek to add to the problem from behind a camera? When do we put down the phones and connect with one another, truly? Have we been purloined of decency and sensibilities? Are we more beast than man, reared to be savages, bereft of wit, and reveling in human misery? In this modern world, it is our only sanctuary from the noise found in the place where sky meets the ground and the hallowed sound of the wind whispering through the tree hallmarked by the ambient chirping of birds.

Aside from my weekly reflections, it's time to present the project I've been working on while pondering these questions. Cross-stitch as a hobby requires the patience of a saint, the dedication to be still for hours, and the perseverance to stab cloth with a needle or multiple needles while being seated long enough to finish several movies. With the amount of focus I have had called upon to find the holes in the starched fabric, I should have procured myself a magnifying glass. The lifelines for learning this art were: needles, threads, hoops, needle minders, bobbins, and beeswax. Patterns are not always necessary, but beneficial when learning a new skill. The records of cross-stitch patterns follow the invention of the printing press, and I am thankful that patterns are widely available in the age of the internet. After surfing the bane of most men (my husband counted among them), Pinterest, I found quite a few patterns on the application for personal use.

The pattern book I started working from did not mention the comparison of needle gauge to the Aida cross count, but I found the chart in another pattern book. I used a Kindle subscription, as frustrating as it is to watch a corporation continue to double dip in multiple industries, I have no qualms about making use of a practical subscription when available.

Of course, with the usual fashion of my learning process, I forwent any suggestions to learn by trial and error. Not particularly helpful were some old needles from 20 years ago gifted to a bright-eyed nine-year-old from her grandmother, who taught her about crochet and garment construction.  The needles were no longer in the case they came in and were found in a pin cushion. I started with the mystery gauge needles and the 14-count Aida cloth, and the holes appeared to fuse shut. I would say that knowing the gauge of the needles in comparison to the Aida fabric is nearly sage advice. Found in the pattern book, Inna Perga’s Halloween Cross-Stitch Patterns: 20 Projects, the chart goes as follows:

o   14 count Aida for No. 24 needles.

o   16 count Aida for No. 24-26 needles.

o   18 count Aida for No. 26 needles.

o   20 count Aida for 26-28 needles.

The other pattern book that was used was Lindsay Swearingen’s Creepy Cross-stitch; the patterns were adorable. The author was rather insightful about Aida fabric and the weave structures of cloth.

The methods I learned during this saga were English, Dutch, and Parking methods. Each one was useful in its own way. A needle minder is a must for the parking method, which is often used in conjunction with the English method. The Dutch method was particularly suitable for threading rows of the same color.

 Working on a larger hoop versus the finished size of the design was advantageous and reminiscent of the wisdom for choosing the largest sketch book that is comfortable to carry. I will say that having to readjust the hoop after running out of space is loathsome. Among other useful notions, a needle minder and beeswax are not necessary as cross-stitching can be completed without them. Bobbins for storing threads I found were convenient. While fairly inexpensive to acquire, bobbins can be made with household objects in a pinch. Any small and round or flat object that can hold a thread with tension will work. Work, as one creator says in their video, "is easier with the right tools". In my research, the search engine dug up several methods from throughout time and around the world. A cross-stitch project utilizing different methods each season would be an interesting endeavor. I may attempt to use cross-stitch as a means to patch some of my nightgowns.

Always temper your steel in a world that seeks to dull the edge,

M. E. Sui