Tuesday Thankful

It’s only 10 days until Thanksgiving – yikes! I have a tendency to take my blessings for granted – probably I’m not unusual in that – so every day between now and Thanksgiving, I plan to post about one thing that I’m thankful for. Want to join me?

The obvious thing to start with is stitching. I’m very thankful for my stitching. It’s provided me countless hours of pleasure, and I hope that the work of my hands has sometimes provided enjoyment to others. Stitching is my release from the pressures of the day; when I pick it up, my focus moves from whatever crap I’ve had to deal with (or am still dealing with) to the rhythm of the needle and thread moving through the fabric and I begin to relax as I see the design grow. I like starting with the various pieces – fabric, fibers, tools – and watching the finished product come together. There’s something satisfying about that. And if I’m not in the mood to actually stitch, I can always play in my stash and kit up projects and make mental stitching to-do lists. I’ve found that to be pretty good therapy as well.

Stitching has also been the basis for finding new friends and acquaintances, people who know what I’m talking about when I mention GAST or queen stitches, who understand that sometimes you just have to spend $30 on a chart (not often, mind you, but sometimes) and who cringe just like I do when someone wants to touch their stitching. Stitching friends are the ones who know why you clench your teeth and bite your tongue when someone looks at your framed reproduction sampler, stitched on 40 count linen with silk fibers, and says “Wow, that’s pretty, I’ll bet if you wanted to sell it you could get fifty or sixty dollars for it.”

I’ve been doing some form of needlework for about as long as I can remember. I’m thankful for my mother and grandmothers who shared their love of the art with my sister and me. I hope we can pass it to future generations.