So I Stopped

I know many people who are into needlework and sewing. I've tried my hand at most of it, but it's not something I do much of these days.

I did some sewing in my teens and twenties because I wanted more clothes than I could afford to buy. There was a point where it became more cost effective to buy them than to make them and so I stopped.

I wanted to learn to knit when I was in my early 20s. Someone gave me a book. It looked easy enough. But there must have been a flaw in the directions because instead of having a scarf, I had a trapezoid. My neighbor told me I'd dropped a stitch every time I tried to turn. I was successful at changing colors and making a stripe, but I couldn't manage a rectangle. So I stopped.

I learned to crochet when I was little. I had two aunts who excelled at it. But let me be clear - all I learned to crochet was a chain. Not particularly useful or decorative. And by the time I was in my teens I didn't even remember how to do that. When I was in my 20s my mother took up crocheting and was making afghans for everyone. (I still have one or two of them.) I wanted to be able to make them, too. She tried to teach me a basic stitch she used, but it turned out about the same as knitting - I was dropping stitches and heading in the direction of a trapezoid. Then one day she called to tell me that she'd learned a new stitch - "and it's so simple, even you can do it!" It didn't help my self esteem when it turned out that I couldn't actually do it. So I stopped.

 I also did a bit of needlepoint years ago when I was trying to stop smoking. It kept my hands busy. There are three pieces I did that are framed and hanging on a wall in my home. I have one more that I did (over 20 years ago, mind you) that I have not yet had framed. I was thinking of making it into a pillow because I recognize that there is a limit to the number of framed needlepoint pieces one should have in one's house. I had enough. So I stopped.

I decided to do embroidery instead. I'd learned basic embroidery as a child so it wasn't really a problem. I knew I couldn't do counted cross-stitch so I tried stamped cross stitch. You still have to count it and I lose count. I may never finish that piece. Next, I started a set of pillowcases that are just regular embroidery and they still aren't finished. In the box of things that I inherited from my mother there was a very ambitious piece to embroider - looks like a bedspread. She started it and didn't get very far. So far I haven't added anything to it. I hope one of my granddaughters is learning embroidery. I haven't technically stopped - I just haven't picked it up in several years.

I also started a quilt when my first husband and I split up about 45 years ago, I cut up a bunch of fabric scraps into 2-inch pieces and then started sewing them by hand. It kept me occupied for a while. I have a large diamond shape made out of those 2-inch pieces. I haven't picked that up in decades.

I actually completed a latch-hook rug. They make great wall hangings but not very good rugs. I never made another one because no one needs more than one latch hook piece hanging in their home. The one I made had a sailboat design in earth tones. The last time it  was used was when I had a lake house on Lake Texoma some 25 or more years ago. I still have it though, just in case.

Weaving and tatting are not even on the radar. Looks like needlework is not destined to be my hobby. But we'll see how things progress with the lock down..