AIBU to show you my new hobby?

[IShitGlitter]

I have been wanting to start cross stitch for ages so bought a kit and really didn’t like it much so have started messing around with hand embroidery. I am loving it!!! Am like an old lady at heart it’s Saturday night and am stitching away... here’s my first finished thing yes it’s not perfect but I like it.

Yes, far too outing op! 😉
I love freehand embroidery, reminds me of being a kid and mum teaching me. I love the old fashioned printed linen things. I get them on eBay and shake them up with funky colours. Also like doing embroidered tote bags. I’ve just ordered some I love JKR transfers to do for Christmas.

It's gorgeous and you would definitely have a market, should you wish to start selling them.

Also, totally agree with @YellowNotRed about your user name. That would be very popular on the craft-selling sites. Thanks for sharing

I’ve got in to cross stitch! I’ve spent tonight cross stitching and catching up on Gardener’s World.

I am 34.

Yours looks great, OP.

Well done, it's lovely

Love your stitching - glad your enjoying it ☺

I've spent my Saturday night crocheting!

I'm like an old lady with my embroidery and my allotment. I'm 37!

That's lovely, OP and I'm so glad it's making you happy

I like to knit and crochet. Just thinking about it makes me smile. And the sense of achievement is wonderful, even when I make something far from perfect.

And these are not old lady pursuits. All old ladies who craft were once young ladies who crafted. But the old ladies know more stuff.

I love cross stitching. I first took it up years ago as a way to deter myself from self harming. It was something to occupy my mind and seeing the final piece come together inspired me to do more. I'm not fantastic at all the different stitches and much prefer while stitch only but I'll give them all ago. Just wish I could get the hang of crocheting now

Beautiful work OP.
I crochet and cross stitch (mainly i also dabble in other crafty pursuits but like PPs said I can't say what as it would be far too outing )
I'm very good at starting projects, but not so good at finishing them.

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

You might enjoy blackwork embroidery too. It is just single stitches, nothing difficult or fancy, but gives a lovely effect.

This is a project I am working on - a block a week (and it’s provided free by the lovely designer).

Well I've out a new project! Absolutely love this - thank you for sharing @SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius

*got

You’re very welcome, @Netflixandfreeze!

Love it! I always wish I could get into something ‘crafty’ but I’m rubbish at fiddly stuff. I bet it passes the time amazingly.

Wow thanks for all the encouraging comments! Loving all the pictures of others work it looks amazing hopefully I can get that good eventually. I need to get some wooden hoops to display them in am not keen on plastic ones. I have already got my next project or three planned 🤣

Those are such gorgeous designs, @IShitGlitter!

@ClinkyMonkey

That's lovely, OP and I'm so glad it's making you happy

I like to knit and crochet. Just thinking about it makes me smile. And the sense of achievement is wonderful, even when I make something far from perfect.

And these are not old lady pursuits. All old ladies who craft were once young ladies who crafted. But the old ladies know more stuff.

Absolutely! Considering how popular hand embroidery and knitting is with younger people, you'd think we could get away from the old lady comments. I was running a knitting group in my early twenties! There's nothing wrong with enjoying these hobbies. And last I looked, Gardener's World hadn't implemented an age requirement for watching.

I'm not embarrassed for enjoying hand embroidery, knitting, or gardening. I enjoy it, that's enough for me. Keep going OP.

I feel I should add that it irks me that these hobbies are seen as only for old ladies, because when men take up these hobbies, they only ever get praise for it. It's another way to deride and mock traditionally female pursuits when a woman does them. We should be bloody proud of our skills!

Damn straight, @tofuschnitzel!

I find it therapeutic too. I'm actually going to look for Christmas cushion cover designs now

Wow it's so interesting to see so many of you find this therapeutic to your anxiety. I also struggle with anxiety, and it's particularly bad at the moment. I've done a little cross stitch and embroidery but not for years. I'm going to give it a go and see if it helps me too!
Would anyone like to share links to beautiful kits or patterns they've found?

I just went to my local fabric shop and bought some dmc threads hand sewing needles and a linen fabric and had a hoop from a cross stitch set and looked on YouTube at the basics and went from there I just draw straight onto the fabric for designs but am still practicing the basics....

Here’s one from today and the start of a unicorn face.