Getting into cross stitch

[VickityBoo]

Which up until Christmas I always rather guiltily considered an 'older persons' hobby. I know I know I'm sorry and I take it all back.

I have a beautiful sewing machine and enjoy making things anyway, home things and child's clothing for dd. I received a stitching book for Christmas and having done one project twice I'm now rather hooked! Even purchased a couple of cross stitch magazines the other day!

Not really advertising the fact though, because I'm ashamed to say I'm a tad worried about being called old or mumsie! I'm really not very old!

Is it an older person thing? Should I just be stitchy and proud? ;)

I've cross stitched since I was about 15 and spent many restful evenings at uni sat in my room listening to john peel and stitching, so not an old persons hobby. I also knit and this year I have 3 unfinished knitting & 2 unfinished cross stitches to finish!!

Life's too short to worry about things like that - if you enjoy it, enjoy it! I certainly do.

One of my favourite sites, and one where I should basically should redirect my salary at the start of the month to save time, is Sew and So - lots of different styles from nauseating kittens to very modern, I personally like some of the blackwork patterns (not that this is cross-stitch), the Japanese style ones and the traditional samplers, I am doing this one at the moment.

Have fun!

I started cross stitch in my late teens...if I remember correctly. I've got a huge(ish) unfinished project I started just after finishing uni. I should dig it out (not quite sure where it is now!) and finish it. But it's on a back burner as I have some other big projects to complete as soon as!

I started when I went to university, my housemate taught me :). I went through phases but last year I had a serious back injury and spent months sat, unable to walk. I bought a stand to hold a stitching frame and I could sit and stitch without putting any strain on my back. It kept me sane!! I like to keep my hands and my mind busy even when I'm watching television and cross stitch is perfect for that. I do sometimes feel like an old lady too but as others have said, I enjoy it so I don't care!

I have moved on while I have been doing it so much and have done lots of projects with beads and sequins and I'm currently working on a couple of blackwork projects :).

I work in a very 'manly', action packed job (when my back lets me :)) and they all know what I do and none of them ever question my hobby as being too old for me!!

Thanks everyone! To know some of you started so young makes me feel better!

I felt the oldest while taking my project to bed, an early night whilst my other half watch rubbish tv downstairs. To make it worse I had it in a circular frame - it kind of added to the effect lol.

Hope you took up a nice cup of ovaltine . Have done plenty of cross stitch in my time-mostly in my teens. Stopped in my twenties to take up drinking and staying up late, now mostly knitting! I bet when I'm actually old I'll revert to the staying up late and drinking!

I started to sew at 5. Mrs Rogers used to have sewing on a Friday afternoon.

Now at 42 i'm still doing them. Have started this one.

I've been cross-stitching for 6 years. To date I have mainly made cards, and one or two bigger projects. I'm currently working on this - the purple/turquoise one. Stops me snacking whilst I watch TV is my hands are busy.

My friend does beautiful cross stitch pieces, and frames them elegantly. They are VERY sweary. He has a real talent!

Sorry for the late reply! I didn't have an ovaltine with my bedtime cross stitch but I did have a nice hot cuppa!

Now I've selected three things to make, a valentines card, a house warming card and a mothers day card. Nice small things!