Sun, Sea, Sand, and ... Stitching!
31881
Home & Family > Hobbies
May 19, 2007
Geordiejohnny
Sun, Sea, Sand, and ... Stitching!
Going away on holiday can be a great opportunity to indulge yourself in your favourite pastime... cross stitching, of course! There's the prospect of lots of time to spend on what you want to do, without those guilty feelings that arise when you're stitching at home -- when you know that the garden needs weeding, or that the kitchen cupboards could do with a clean. No! On holiday your time is mostly your own. So which cross stitch projects should you consider taking? And how much stitching should you take? Let's think about what's essential to take, first of all. You'll need your basics: chart, threads, fabric, needles, needle-threader, scissors, magnifier, a few spares... the list can go on, until your stitching paraphernalia fills a large suitcase. I personally have found that the best projects to take on holiday are small ones -- cards for example. (No, not Christmas cards. You probably won't feel in the mood for stitching Christmas robins or snow scenes when you're on a sunny beach, and besides, your family will conclude that you have finally flipped.) Despite your best plans, it's unlikely that you'll suddenly be inspired to complete one of those UFO's (UnFinished Objects) that has been gathering dust under a table for ages. Two years ago, I took a half-stitched Millennium celebration sampler, started in 1999, to Mexico. Yes, you've guessed it ~ it never left its bag. I'd recommend a number of cards, packed in kit form, so that all you need is easily accessible. If you do use manufactured card kits, remember that it's not necessary to take the cardboard-part of the project. You may as well leave that part of the kit at home -- it could easily get crushed being transported around - and you can always do the card mounting when you return home. Place your kits in a zip-locked clear plastic folder so that you don't have to spend too much time rummaging around to find things. The plastic folder will keep out any sand, unexpected rain or melted ice cream that could spoil your stitching. Now for the serious bit. Scissors and needles can be dangerous, as you know. Not only that, but if you're travelling by plane and fancy a bit of stitching during the flight, it must be remembered that some airline companies will not allow you to board the plane with scissors in your hand luggage. There's a good way around this. You can buy a thread cutter, available from most good needlecrafts shops. This hangs round your neck like a pendant. A cheaper way to cut thread is to use a dental floss container. It has a small blade for cutting floss, and works well with sewing threads too. Now for those needles... do consider buying a needle container -- don't just use the original paper wrapping. Keep your needles in a customised cylindrical box and not only will you always have needles ready to use, but you can relax in the knowledge that no one will sit on them and hurt themselves. As for small pairs of scissors, a scissor-keep is a good option for transporting them. If you don't have one, then plunge the sharp points of your scissors firmly into a cork, and carry them that way. Never take your favourite scissors on a family holiday. They'll end up being used by everyone for all sorts of functions, believe me. So now you're packed and ready to go on holiday. Have a wonderful time, and let us know what stitching projects you attempted and even completed on your holiday. Your stitching project could be a valuable memento of the great time you had. Happy holidays!
John Wigham has been a professional author and editor for 20 years and is a co-founder of Patterns Patch an online cross stitch club dedicated to counted cross stitch. The website has a small team of writers who are devoted to our cross stitch club and enjoy writing about their hobby.
send email to Geordiejohnny
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links owned by this user
Have you ever searched for ages and not found that particular pattern you've been dreaming about doing? Instead of getting frustrated and giving up, why not try creating your own cross stitch designs?
Category:
Going away on holiday can be a great opportunity to indulge yourself in your favourite pastime... cross stitching, of course! But which cross stitch projects should you consider taking?
Category:
For more than a year British ships had blockaded Boston and British troops had occupied the hungry city. British armies were coming down the Hudson and a British war fleet with troopships was nearing New York harbor. Who could stop the invader...
Category:
If you haven't tried cross stitching on plastic canvas, you should. With plastic canvas, you can create unique cross stitch projects that you can't create with fabric. For instance, because the plastic is firm, you can even create stunning three-dimension
Category:
Looking through some stitching catalogues recently, I came across a wealth of fantasy dragon designs. There was a great deal of choice of creatures and designs, and they all looked attractive and impressive...
Category:
I can read. I can count. I can thread a needle... so why did everything suddenly go wrong with a counted cross stitch project I started last year? I began enthusiastically enough. I had planned to stitch...
Category:
The idea of basket weaving as a form of therapy, traditionally used for patients with mental illness is often laughed at. But in a way, there is wisdom in the use of crafts for having a calming effect...
Category:
Other links at Home & Family > Hobbies
Have you ever enjoyed hunting deer with dogs? Did you enjoy the hunting sport? But some time it is not possible to always spot the deer especially in the Southern states.
Category:
Are you still out there buying CD's at your local record store ? Disgruntled that you must endure heavy traffic and ever growing mall crowds only to find out the store is out of stock for the CD or album you wanted to purchase ?
Category:
Diamonds are one of the stones that god inspired Aaron from the Jewish history to implant on the breastplate of the high priest. It represents the month of April and planet Venus and it is very commonly known as the King of gemstones.
Category:
You have loved the radio controlled cars since you were a child. Or may be you liked the RC car you bought for your son and now you are he only one playing with it? No matter what your case is, one thing is true RC cars can be fun. Moreover this can turn
Category:
There are many ways to make a blanket, but nothing is quite so special and can mean as much as learning how to quilt.
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68285
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
