Desperately need a hobby!

[babyt2020]

I used to love dot painting but now with a 7 month old I'd really like a hobby where I can still keep an eye on my little boy, I tried crochet and reeeally couldn't do it, mum tried to teach me! I'm going to try cross stitch, does anyone do it and is it difficult? I'd love to see pictures!

I've ordered a fox pixrure for my little boys woodland themed bedroom, really hoping I take to it as I'd love to do cushions and hopefully mandalas

Cross stitch is pretty much an absolute doddle on the kits. A bit tougher on actual fabrics because you've not got the dotty grid thing to help you keep everything aligned.

A bit tougher on actual fabrics because you've not got the dotty grid thing to help you keep everything aligned. You should have a look at Waste Canvas. You put it on top of your fabric, cross stitch over it, then pull it out a thread at a time. Super easy to use.

I’ve had a go at absolutely loads of hobbies. Some stick, others I can’t get on with (hate crochet with a passion). Cross stitch is pretty easy and is something I come back to. You’ve just got to be careful to count your stitches and make sure they’re all going in the same direction (so all of your / would be facing the same way as would your , not ///\\/).

When I started, I found it helped to photocopy the pattern and then mark the stitches off with a highlighter until I was used to it. There are 3 or 4 monthly cross stitch magazines on the market and there’s normally a free kit with at least one of them (Aida, threads & needle)which is good to get you started. The skeins of thread are made up of six strands and you use two strands at a time to stitch with. DMC and Anchor are good makes of thread.

I think my direction to go the same way makes no sense! What I mean is, if you have to do five crosses, you’d do ///// from left to right, then go back over them \\\ from right to left. It looks much neater than ////.

@WineInTheWillows

Cross stitch is pretty much an absolute doddle on the kits. A bit tougher on actual fabrics because you've not got the dotty grid thing to help you keep everything aligned.

There’s a difference between counted cross stitch and printed cross stitch.

Counted you work from a chart on a blank fabric. Printed the design is, well, printed on the fabric.

I find both quite easy. I’ve recently been taken with blackwork though (there is colour, it’s not just black). I like Peppermint Purple for modern designs.

I've never done printed, it's always blank fabric, but the fabric has a grid of holes in it that are evenly spaced apart and easy to see. Doing it on a blank cushion cover with a closer weave would be harder, is what I mean.

You should have a look at Waste Canvas. You put it on top of your fabric, cross stitch over it, then pull it out a thread at a time. Super easy to use.

Great tip, thanks.

@WineInTheWillows

I've never done printed, it's always blank fabric, but the fabric has a grid of holes in it that are evenly spaced apart and easy to see. Doing it on a blank cushion cover with a closer weave would be harder, is what I mean.

The block fabric is Aida. The other is evenweave, so linen, lugana, jobelan etc

Sorry, I misunderstood.

Cross stitch is great and very easy particularly if you start with simple more cartoony designs and kits with large blocks of colour. Gets more complicated if you're going for full coverage realistic designs with 50+ colours.
You could also try embroidery I actually find it easier to do while keeping an eye on something else as you're not focused on the pattern. The DMC website has loads of beginners patterns for free and some of them can look quite impressive for only a few stitches

You can get small counted cross stitch kits which would make a little insert for e.g. a greetings card. Or bookmarks are also quite quick and easy to do. You don't need any extra kit, just hold them steady in your hand and stitch away. I started with those and now I've moved on to a larger kit which is going to be lovely when finished but there is so much subtle shading with multiple shades of one colour it is much more complicated and I've had to buy more accessories such as a frame and a decent craft light.