Gakked from Donna: Stitching question and conversation starter

Posted by 1961girl@gmail.com on August 20, 2009, 3:53 pm

Over on Donna's blog, she has been talking about an article in the
most recent EGA magazine. Near the end, she said this:

"Lastly, a question.

How old when you when you started stitching? I think a majority of us
tell of some experience in our youth that made us familiar with it
when we were older. Do we do a terrible job in the needlework industry
attracting teens and twenty-somethings? Yup. But I don't think there's
a magical answer for that."

There's several responses - and here's mine - I hope we get a
conversation started about it here!

Great question and conversation! I started when I was young, probably
10 or so, mostly self taught but I think I did learn basics in Girl
Scouts and from my mother. I've done it on and off all my life -
often long periods off, but seriously back into it for about 10 years
now.

I tried to teach my GS troop when I had one. Was succesful with a
very few of them. Kids these days aren't exposed to much sewing of
any kind and get frustrated with it easily. Artsy kids are more
likely to take to it than athletically inclined ones - and there is a
lot of pressure to be more sports oriented these days.

Sara - I think the othr company you were looking for was Sublime
Stitching.

How to reach young people? Fun, quick INEXPENSIVE small stuff. At
Wal-Mart, Target (*THAT* would probably get attention), maybe some
boutique-y places. (Urban Threads or Pimp Stitch should look into
this.) It should include EVERYTHING - needle, fiber, hoop,
instructions. Those crewel kits from the 70s were perfect examples
(sans hoop).

BTW - I don't think Lizzie Kate talks to the younger crowd that much -
too soccer mom and predictable. While I know a lot of people like her
stuff, I think it's boring and predictable.

Sorry so long - but it's an interesting topic!

linda

Posted by Nancy on August 20, 2009, 7:35 pm

:
show/hide quoted text

I was 10 and in Girl Scouts. We did a sampler on
gingham. It's around here somewhere,
I think I next picked up latch hook/
punch hole with a rug. Very simple on burlap
with solid colors and an initial in the middle of
three panels. Did some crewel in college,
we had a January term/one class with lots of
free time. Picked up counted cross stitch in
my twenties. Didn't do much when I was in
CA. Spent much more time outside. Picked
it back up about 4 years ago. Now with the SAL
I'm getting into needlepoint and counted canvas
work.

Nancy

Posted by Keith Barber on August 20, 2009, 9:48 pm

ad05-9013d49dc2de@k30g2000yqf.googlegroups.com:

show/hide quoted text

My parents started teaching me various crafts when I was very young, my
mother taught me to embroider, and to sew, my father taught me to knit and
to crochet.

I spent a lot of time in my teens doing needlepoint, then when I was 20 my
sister gave me a counted cross-stitch kit. now I do mostly cross-stitch
with some Black-work, in the fall a friend is going to teach me to do
Hardanger.

Keith Barber
anerien@comcast.net

Posted by Cheryl Isaak on August 21, 2009, 6:57 am

I can't remember not knowing how to knit - so I suspect quite young. I must
have been 6 or so when I learned how to embroider on pillow cases. Taught
myself to crochet around the age of 10. First crewel project (wool rather
than cotton) was about age 12 or so. Cross stitch was much later; maybe age
20 or so.

Cheryl

Posted by Lucille on August 21, 2009, 8:24 am

show/hide quoted text

I came from a family of people who knew how to knit, sew, crochet and even a
great aunt who was an haute couturier high fashion designer in the 20's.
She died very young and I never knew her, but the pictures I have of her
wearing stunning suits trimmed with ermine fur, high heeled button shoes and
holding a long cigarette holder make me so sad for that loss.

I don't ever remember not knowing how to sew and do cross stitch and some
form of needlework and I do remember that my mother taught me how to knit
when I had the measles at about 8. I think I learned to crochet around then
as well. I even remember that the first thing I made was a brown/pink
striped skirt for a doll.

Lucille

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