So, I'm actually going to share my 2 recent stitch in public adventures.
As we're in the peak of hockey season, DH has been skating quite a bit. So, a couple of weeks ago I went with him as he reffed "Friday Night High School Hockey." Which has become amazingly crowded, raucous - particularly with football over. Decided to sit upstairs (in the enclosed loft/lobby), watch the game and stitch. Suddenly as game time approaches - filled with the
15-18 yr old crowd. Which made me happy not to be 15 again. I'm at a table, by window near one end - angled looking at game & stitching on a small canvas with a halloween ornament. Being overrun by kids. Rink manager comes up, yells at some boys who have smashed into the rink Christmas tree, and broken some ornaments. It settles down - reminding me of any high school playground, lounge, parking lot, etc. After a couple of minutes some boys cruise to give a look, nod, cruise on. Then a boy - likely 14 or so comes over, pulls up a chair and asks, politely, "What are you doing?" Give him the brief explanation - he things the glittery stuff & glow in the dark thread are cool, and likes the overdyed silk. Shakes my hand, thanks me & goes to report to his cluster. Then, a few minutes later a little crew of 16 yr old girls come over, all in a little cluster. And they say "are you knitting - and what is it - it looks cool?" I nicely say thanks, and then explain that it's needlepoint, not knitting. We then discuss the 2 needles, ball of yarn knitting, 1 hook, crochet, and then needlepoint, cross-stitch. I encourage them to give it a try - and they move on.A week later, DH is skating in some invitational old guy grudge match...in Reston - and there's a public skate on the other side, then little kids hockey (it's New Years Day). I'm sitting up in the "vendateria" overlooking the very cold downstairs olympic size rink. This time a bunch of guys come over looking at the game - I explain what's up. This time I'm working on my Flyways canvas - which is biggish & very colorful & almost done. But, I have a frameweight, portable light, lots of stuff out. After a while I spy a table with 4 little girls, 2 women, and lots of looks coming my way. Time goes by & suddenly there are 4 young girls chattering "hi, you do really pretty knitting" & "you knit good" . Sigh. Again with the knitting. These girls were so adorable - I thanked them, then explained it's called Needlepoint, and that when you see people with those long sticks & yarn that's knitting - something to that effect. Then I look again - and say - "are you girls all twins?" Yup, 2 sets of identical twins, 7 years old "almost 8". And they tell me "we're from China. We were in the same orphanage."
Can you believe this - amazing. On the stiching side, they hung out for quite a while, I let them touch some of the silk scrap overdye, and the heftier weight twist. They really wanted to watch, and all checked out my frameweight (which is a hefty Cardinal.). It was adorable. After about 15 min one of the mom's came to get them, and apologize - unneceesary. I was able to tell them about some local youth programs, etc.
On the personal side - one pair (the lesser chatty, but quite nice) are from Cleveland, the others - very chatty, do lots of activities - from here - and evidently I'll see them at the local rink as they do "figure skating, horseback riding, gymnastics & music lessons." The mom with them was actually their aunt. Who will help get them signed up for some youth stitching this summer. Turns out that indeed these girls were all adopted from the same orphanage in China, they're 4 months apart, and the mom from Cleveland met the one from DC thru some discussion group of folks adopting. And since the girls knew each other as toddlers, decided to make the effort to meet once back in the states, so they do this a few times a year. How cool is that. These girls were so adorable, polite & it amazed me that there was no issue at all about were they were from, and being happy to be American. They spontaneously said to me "We're from China - but we're American." and then "we knew each other when we were babies so we're friends now."
But, hey - the things that happen when you stitch in public. And at least the adults with these 4 - who had to be dragged away - are going to get them some beginner stitching lessons or the like.
Still, what's with the knitting ?????
Ellice