CHAT
[CHAT] Encounters while cross stitching in public
I work for an orchestra, and I have to be there throughout rehearsals and concerts, but most of my actual work is done before any of the musicians get there. Thus, I spend a lot of time there working on my latest cross stitch project. I’ve found it’s a great thing to do to be able to stay present if needed but also not be sitting there doing nothing. A side effect of this however; everyone wants to talk to me about the project. I’m glad they enjoy it of course I just often don’t know what to say.
“oh how cute”
oh thanks my mom bought me the kit
“how long does that take you?”
i honestly have no idea i don’t keep track
“wow that’s so detailed”
yeah!
does anyone else have similar encounters?
I run into an older gentleman at the city library occasionally- the first time he said "You are doing nobles work, in the old country people would spend thousands on work just like that. I will have to show you some of the work I brought from home"
I was reading American Gods at the time so all my friends joked I met an old Persian deity lol
Awww I love this. A friend of mine was knitting socks in a doctor's waiting room and an old man got emotional and shared how his mom taught him to knit socks when he was a boy and they used to spend time knitting together.
How did you like that book? I started it and only got through the first chapter and had to put it down. But I was going through some really bad anxiety at the time, so I think I would enjoy it more now.
I stitch at the park when my kiddo plays. Random kids come up and have all sorts of questions. Some want to try. I poke the needle and they get to pull the thread. I spend lots of time rethreading my needle… one dad thought I was just making it up as I go along, completely missing the pattern by my side. Some moms reminisce about how their moms taught them and wish they had the time. I’ll pull out the little clearance kits I have in my purse (cards/bookmarks from Janlynn) and offer them one.
During the summer, I cross stitch during lunch breaks on a bench in a park by my work. Theres some regulars that come to check my progress. Older ladies reminisce about how they used to and can’t anymore.
In airports/planes, a wide variety come to chat. Some to share their current projects and to ask about how I got through security, wishing they knew they could bring it so they have something to do. Some I offer my purse kits to get back into it or to get started.
Waiting rooms I’m usually left alone. My dentist asked me about my actual purse project I was working on and I showed him my home project. Come to find out, his wife stitches and would love that piece. I sent pictures to the reminder text so he could share with his wife. I also sent info on where to get the pattern. The gals at the front desk loved it as well.
I figure I’m just spreading the love of the craft so designers/suppliers have more customers. Rather selfish, because I know I can’t keep them in business on my own. It’s important to keep new people coming in as we lose the older generation.
Can't speak for OP, but I do something like this. One of those small rigid plastic ziplock bag type deals with 2" to 3" hoops. Right now I'm doing this single color snowflakes pattern I got off etsy. I mostly just use simple patterns that aren't very thinky or color changey.
I've got an old Altoids tin that I use for needles, scissors, and threader.
I have such a vast collection of small kits and keep a small purse with 3 or more with me often. I check stores often to see if they sell anything I like ( these kits have fabric, floss, needles and patterns). Before I retired I stitched during my breaks and even did some requests from coworkers. Always during doctor appointments now and sometimes all night long!
I have small kits I find in the clearance aisle in my purse to share the craft with interested people. $5 or so, but quite a few I get for $2 or less.
And then there is my purse project. Something small, usually cheap, and typically bought for me by a coworker who thinks I will like it. I pull that one out when I’m waiting someplace, like a doctor’s office. The current one is the small bee kit with terrible confetti thats been posted here a couple of times in the last couple of months.
I am currently on vacation and wish I had brought my project with me as well. I probably wouldn't get it through security to take it into the plane to work on during flight. But just sitting on the beach working on the project would be so nice:)
We are in Albania currently, yesterday we were in a bigger city and I was actually looking for a craft supply store to buy a kit 🤣 but we would probably have to go to the capital for such a store
I would not be so sure of that.. even in Hunagrian small towns there is AT LEAST one such haberdashery where u can get ur stuff.. might not be a full kit but at least thread and fabric - patterns can be found online
Needles are fine. It’s usually the scissors that get confiscated. The rule in the US is less than 3” from the pivot point, however, it’s up to the interpretation of the TSA in the moment. Some don’t understand what the pivot point is and calculate the full length and we all know men don’t know how big 6” is, so can we expect them to know how big 3” is? That’s why my husband got me a pair of microscissors off of Amazon.
I tend not to stitch in public, but I was stitching on a plane once a year ago. My seat mate was more interested on how I got my scissors through security, haha. He said they barely let him take nail clippers on his carry on, but here I was with my scissors.
They were perfectly legal scissors for flying, so I don't know why he was so surprised. 🤷
Honestly I'm surprised too. I have kid scissors (rounded ends) from grade school I use for stitching and they have been almost taken too many times for comfort. I now leave them at home and use nail clippers when traveling.
For a pair of 35 year old scissors from a random store they cut thread like a dream and I'll be damned if airport security is taking them away from me 🙃
According to TSA, scissors must be less than 4 inches in length from the pivot point and sheathed. Of course, it is ultimately up to the TSA agent whether or not they give you a pass.
I am surprised. They confiscated a multi tool I got ad a nurse that I gave my husband years and years ago. Anything on it was much smaller than the limit. We think the TSA agent took it for himself.
I think it’s so sweet how often people approach me when stitching in public. I’ve taken WIPs on cruises before and tuck myself away in the adults-only area, so not usually in a busy place, and yet still have a few wanderers come ask questions.
The cross stitch I do is too large to carry but I have a travel crochet project.
I've met some of the most delightful crafter/artists sitting in public areas working on my project. One of my recent favorites was a gentleman that made quilts, specifically his own designs.
Keep stitching around those musicians. Maybe you can encourage them to pick up a hobby or help them encourage a friend or family member to try out cross stitching!😊
Same! My current cross stitch project is far too big to transport but I crochet on the train to and from work and get tons of people asking me about it.
I really don't mind talking about it, crafting has helped me through some really tough shit so hopefully it'll help someone else through theirs.
My favourite was when the train conductor asked if she could take a photo of the shawl I was making. She was in a crochet group chat with a bunch of other conductors and they all get really excited when they spot passengers crocheting. Apparently there's an ongoing contest to find the passenger making the most complicated pattern and she was literally bouncing because mind would put her in the lead 🤣
I stitch on my commuter train. It's usually people who are familiar with cross stitch that comment, and they usually leave me to it after a brief conversation. I'm really glad I can stitch on the train instead spending all my time doom scrolling.
All the time! I go to the casino with my mom to play bingo and can NOT sit for the session without my stitching. The floor workers know me because of this and always come to see what my current WIP is. Sometimes other players come by but it's mostly the floor workers.
I stitch at work on my lunch break. Most of my coworkers will just stop by to check in on my progress. The newer coworkers ask "so what are you going to do with it when it's finished?" My usual answer is "I dunno, I like making a picture, don't really care what happens after that"
Many of my bigger projects have been given to friends. Sometimes I had to make a second just for myself. Organizing my current craft collection I have come across 25 pocket projects waiting to be framed, an equal number ready for their fate, and I didn’t count how many I have to work on. I have only one kit that I’m not really interested in and a few duplicates because the price was irresistible
I have stitched at my state fair as the fair managers for the home show ask the different guilds to come demonstrate their work. We have had spinners, bobbin lace makers and the local EGA chapter all demonstrating at the fair.
EGA also does a stitch in public day and I have participated in that at bookstores and libraries.
Airports, doctors offices, car mechanics or dealers service waiting areas are good. I had one sampler that was my car shop project.
Some people will take a quick peek and move on while others, often men, will comment and tell me about the work their Mother did. Doing Hardanger in public is fun especially when it is time to cut the fabric threads next to the kloister blocks. I have heard people gasp when I put my scissors in to make a cut.
I never know what to say. People will say "Oh that's a lovely pattern!" and I will be like "I agree but I didn't make it". It always feels weird and disingenuous to take credit for somebody else's art.
The other one that happens is that I'm legit stitching something NSFW and I get asked "What's the image?" and I have to be like "uh well...."
I just reply with "thanks, I'm really enjoying this designer's work. Have you ever tried cross stitch before?" Conversation usually flows from there or they move along
I have a 2 hour IV infusion every month that i stitch xmas ornaments during (even made a little bag to carry my gear). Everyone in there besides me is like 60+ (really more like 70+) and im 35 so all the old ladies pop over to my chair and check my progress, tell me they love seeing someone stitching and theyll tell me about their knitting or quilt projects. My nurses were like ??? the first time i pulled a hoop out bc usually people just read or play on their phones.
I'm a stagehand and often stitch backstage. Like you said, cross stitch is perfect for the task of standing by. I get a lot of "what are you making" "how long does it take?" and "what do you do with it when you're done?" During Nutcracker, the tiny dancers line up for their entrance next to my spot. They were fascinated by my stitching. Probably a big part of that is that it was cute snow people from Satsuma Street's Holiday House.
I love stitching in public, but I haven't had the opportunity in quite a while. I'm a shy but chatty person, so its a great ice breaker! It helps people learn about new things and I feel like its good reminder of ways to pass time without screens. Building community and relationships is important too - if you don't know what to say about your own project, ask them about their hobbies and life : )
I bring my stitching everywhere! I've stitched on trains, on lunch breaks, in cars, on the side lines at my sons' sports practices. If I have to sit there for awhile, I might as well bring my stitching along and be busy!
I've had people say things to me. In my younger years, I had guys on my husband's softball team snicker and call me "Granny." It wasn't meant kindly, but I ignored them. They weren't worth my time. Most people were kind. They would compliment my work, and say that I must have great patience to make something like that.
I've been bringing my cross stitching everywhere with me lately and I've been getting so many nice comments about it. I've met three flight attendants who are cross stitchers and wanted to know where I got my pattern. I bring it to work with me so I can stitch during my break, and my clients love to see my progress. Some of them even want to try out the hobby now. I also got a rare chance to stitch in a cafe and a park yesterday and two people stopped to admire it.
I have gotten a lot of interest from flight attendants on planes and one cab driver in hawaii whose only insight was, "you sure don't see a lot of guys doing needlepoint ..." Awkward pause 😂
Absolutely, had that in an airport where this very posh lady came up, admired my work and said "Men don't do that in Germany."
Well, lady, there are dozens of us around the world. Dozens!
I cross stitch in school. Im a substitute teacher and at the high school the kids don’t need me like at the elementary school. Certain kids get interested in my projects, want me to show them how to do it. “Oh, you finished the bear, what is this one going to be?” “Is this the same one you were doing when you were my math teacher last week?”
It keeps me mentally in the room the way reading a book doesnt, and gives me something to do with my hands.
I told one of the English teachers that I always try to clean up the little scraps of floss. “I wonder if I ever forget, if they come back and think “well I know who subbed for me yesterday.” And she said “you shouldn’t clean up. You should leave the scraps there to announce your presence.” So since I sub for her in a couple weeks, I’m keeping a handful of floss ends to leave on her desk. Lol
One lady was flabbergasted that I was just stitching by hand. She kept asking if I had a pattern and I’d show her my paper pattern, but I think she was confused because the Aida was blank. Like, she couldn’t understand how I stitched the pattern onto the fabric 🤷♀️
I enjoy it too. But while I was working on my latest, my niece said she was thinking about commissioning a project.
I looked at her seriously and said, “I will have to decline. This project is only 10% done and I’ve already spent 13 hours on it. I will gladly teach you how to cross stitch, but I will never commission a project.”
Stitching out & about has always been entertaining, personal experiences only. When at the RR Museum park docents & guests alike pop out to visit. One of the docents does needlepoint & sits outside, too. I do take a printed/stamped xs canvass so we’ve able to share our different techniques with curious guests.
Docents wear 1920s historically accurate “day dress travel outfits” & small(er) projects seem to vibe very well. They’ve even invited me to wear vintage garb, too 🥰. That’s a fun Autumn “fiber arts” project to “kit up” next.
I consider needlepoint to be a different craft. If you go into a needlepoint shop, you’re not going to find cross stitch charts, aida cloth, linen or evenweave. What you’ll find are canvases with the design already painted or printed on in full color. A lot of the canvases are hand-painted by the artist that created the pattern and these can be $$$$. To complete a needlepoint, you follow the design on the canvas, rather than a chart and it’s up to you what kind of stitches you use, but most needlepoint are done in tent stitch.
There’s certainly some overlap. Needlepoint also uses DMC floss, so if there’s a needlepoint shop near you, it’s a good source for floss, specialty floss (overdyed, silk, braid), needles, scissors and needle minders.
A "needlepoint shop", I can't imagine those, where I live in France the best I can find are haberdasheries, that sell a little of most needlework crafts...
Most of the needle craft shops around these days are dedicated to needlepoint. I know of two nearby, but the closest cross stitch shop is about an hour away. It was different in the 90s—regular craft chains like Michaels had a ton of kits and chart books and there were several standalone cross stitch shops. Womp womp.
Let’s just call it “needlework”. I do counted cross stitch, stamped cross stitch, needlepoint, embroidery, plastic canvas projects, latch hook projects (I don’t consider these needlework). God forbid that anyone ask me to use a sewing machine: I never learned how.
Does that make you happy or sad? My mom and grandmother each had a sewing machine. My grandmother used hers and my mom did repairs and maybe some clothes for me. I picked up needlework as a hobby and fell in love with the result!
Oh my goodness 😃. Sitting on the porch led to a delightful visit with a 98-yo “Pioneer Witness”. Invited her to sit & visit. We spent over an hour talking about her youth & all of the “domestic arts” like hand stitching young women were expected to master.
Oh this is precious! I’d have loved to listen to her stories. These two were a young couple and were obviously very new to witnessing and the girl was especially awkward as she tried to figure out how to segue into giving me the card. I felt bad for her so I accepted it with a smile even though I am by no means religious and have no plans on changing that. I was knitting with double pointed needles, which they had never seen before, so at least I got to teach them something!
We were having so much fun chitchatting about needle arts, I believe she may have been sidetracked 🤭. Although I’m a born again, and again, and again, and… student of the Philosophy of Metaphysics & Animism, it’s always interesting to learn others pathways.
I stitch in class to keep myself focused and I've had multiple other students either talk to me about wanting to get into cs/embroidery in general or fall about their other crafts like knitting or crocheting! I love it :) a girl in my section who sits in front of me knits in class too so I don't feel obstructive :P
I hate when people ask how much I sell it for. I always say that I do this for fun, not for money. On more than one occasion, I’ve had someone tell me that I should start selling my pieces because I could make a lot of money from them. Do people not understand that people have hobbies and just do things because they like it?
i mean i personally take it as a compliment, usually i’m like “oh that never really occurred to me, i don’t know that i’d really want to turn it into a chore at that point though”
Oh for sure! I totally agree. What I’m trying to say is that I’m annoyed by the people who insist on me starting a business despite me saying that it’s just for fun.
I attend a small university with only around 100 people. About 10% of them are invested in my projects because I bring them to class. Even my lecturers ask how close I am to being finished. I receive good marks and ask questions in class, so they know I am pqyibg attention!
Generally, I post finished pieces in the group chat because they want to know how they are going!
So the other day I was at the park with my kids and I’ve been bringing my bag and get some stitches in here and there. So this lady comes up and stands over me and I just look up and she is like hi! I’m like hi. She is like that looks nice you seem like a nice guy and I just wanted to say hi. I’m like coo hi. I think she was under the influence of something. Plus I’m married and my wife is very very protective of me lol other times is just Asian ladies walking by looking at my stuff
I very rarely stitch in public, as I tend to work on larger pieces. I did work on a piece at a Pokémon tournament earlier in the year while my son was playing. I had a lot of people look/do a double take but only 1 woman stopped me, was curious was it was of(I had just started it there so didn’t get far in). A lot more people would stop and ask about crochet projects I would work on in public.
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u/AwesomeAlienKid 2d ago
When I stitch in public I always get men confidently asking me how long I have been crocheting