Stitching in Public - On Topic

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

Reply to
Ellice K.
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After FORTY years together, DH STILL refers to **any** sort of needlework as my "knitting"!!!!! I didn't even learn to knit until about 2 years ago and still with the knitting! I'm with you, what's with non stitchers virtually ALWAYS calling any sort of needlework "knitting"????? CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary /\__/\

Reply to
Tia Mary
*snip, snip*

Nice stories.

It's all knitting. That's all I ever hear, too.

Donna in Virginia

Reply to
Donna

I agree!

I wonder if it's because knitting is more "in" right now, although that doesn't explain TM's DH calling it knitting for so many years! Maybe that was the "in" thing back when he first learned about it?

Joan

Reply to
NDJoan

It's probably something more "historical". Knitting has been a

*necessary* activity -- sort of like a survival thing -- and stuff like socks, especially, have been knit since forever. Just about any other form of needlework is decorative so not a "survival" thing. I know that generations ago, men and boys learned to knit -- my Dad told stories about his Dad having learned as a young boy. Women have been *knitting* socks and mittens (very necessary items for basic survival in cold weather) for eons and the term has likely just become synonymous to the general public for any sort of needlework. Ask anyone, they are familiar with the word KNIT but likely not any other word related to needlework.
Reply to
Tia Mary

I think "knitting" is almost a generic term, rather like people who call every tissue "kleenex". I, too, take some sort of stitching with me quite a few places. I used to carry a bag of actual knitting everywhere with me, an made quite a few sweaters during lunch hours at work. And I tatted handkerchief edgings and collars and fancy snowflake ornaments while watching the office at church when the secretary was on vacation. These days it is quilting, usually piecing or quilting small pieces. And I have found that doing so almost always draws a few people to see what I am doing or just to chat a bit. And no matter what, all people who don't personally do tatting or crochet or quilting or embroidery, etc. ALWAYS begin by calling it "knitting". At least they are curious!

Reply to
Mary

I think with some folks it's more a purposeful not wanting to acknowledge or notice the difference. Knitting is very recognizable, and more in, so to speak. I think if I'd been doing XS, or crewel, something smaller on a little frame/hoop people maybe would've called it embroidery. But, the canvas work is bulkier in the stretcher bars, etc. But who knows. I was just happy to have kids come and inquire - even better - seem interested.

Just to quibble a little - sewing, hand needlework was also a necessity for gazillions of years. The decorative art part maybe more of the luxury, entertainment that ladies did to distinguish themselves - but the average woman had to be able to not just knit socks/stockings/sweaters, but also sew together garments.

Men have been doing sewing for equally long - hence the long tradition of male tailors. And in the seafaring trades the men did fabulous needlework - for hundreds of years. It's the more recent times - the 20th century - when that fell off. This past year I've been to 2 exhibits in which the needlework stitched by men was either the most beautiful, fantastic piece IMHO, or close to it.

Oh, well - I think it's the lack of attention to things - the instant info - that is part of not getting the full story, and hence translates down the line into "knitting" being the word for all these things.

Well, I'm now going to crawl back into my hibernation (got DH's winter cold & am doing whatever to be sure it doesn't escalate - as am in the midst of round 2 of the new therapy, and if I'm sick/sore throat, etc - they'll withhold treatment - so got a week to kick this....)

Ellice

Reply to
Ellice K.

Good luck avoiding it. Everybody who wasn't sick right before Christmas is sick now, with round two of the same crud. It got me...I've been home two days and feeling pretty miserable. Got a lot of stitching done, though...but I'm getting tired of sitting!

Hope you steer clear!!

sue

Reply to
Susan Hartman

You're a good friend, my dear! Sorry to hear you all had to suffer thru. DH was sick for a week, then well, sort of, then a few days bad again. Now he's fine, but I think I'm almost thru. But, I've been pretty nauseated for about a week, and that's getting tiring. You'd think I'd lose weight, but, no. So, I'm just eating cold/flu tabs, some anti-nausea RX stuff, and drinking tea. I see the hematologist on Monday, so the sore throat & fever better be gone by then. I did a little stitching, but found that looking at anything with concentration - combined with the headache/stomach thing was not a good combination - so I've watched a lot of tv - some pretty good stuff on PBS, a lot of Jane Austen ;^) I figured there must be something going on, as the dog keeps coming to check on me - so my chemistry must be off.

Of course, at first I thought the stomach thing was part of side effect from disgusting drug infusion, but now figure it's from the cold. Ah, well. Could always be worse. Just don't want to miss a treatment as they're stil working it up to therapeutic level, doing the titration so to speak, and in the meantime I've stopped my injections, so....

Tonight - out for a bit to meet DH at his haircut appt, then we went to the local little Italian place - with an amazing coupon. Northern VA magazine is now doing it's own version of groupons - wonder if Baltimore mag is? Anyhow - cost $9 for $20 Fri-Sat, $25 Sun -Thurs. Food is good, and they actually do very good pizza - plus tonight was free salad with entrée (instead of the 99 cent nominal). And enough left of one dish for DH to have lunch tomorrow - though we did spend $4 more (and left good tip in their jar). It's an order at the register then go sit place, they actually gave us table service -and the very sweet teen working the register was so enthusiastic she came over to us after and introduced herself, saying it was her 1st day today. Too cute. A more upscale Italian place went in to the main town center strip (by the movies, & wine store) so I think this little place - which is in the strip with the grocery, more errandy kind of shops - did the coupons to get people in - you have to dine in when you use them. But, anyhow - I couldn't eat much but at least I didn't have to cook. And now I'm checking mail, and going back to bed - DH is packing his bag to go ref Men's B league hockey - woo hoo.

Maybe I'll try stitching something while I'm lazing in bed - or maybe not. Would likely mean lots of frogs visiting.

Ellice

Reply to
Ellice K.

On 1/12/2012 9:25 PM, Ellice K. wrote: I did a little stitching, but found that looking at

Sorry to hear you've been under the weather, too. The mention of Jane Austen made me think to give a shout out to the new PD James novel, Death at Pemberly. Uses JA's characters and her gentle style in a way few could pull off.

The B'more Sun is doing something similar - a daily deal by email. I just signed up a couple of days ago; so far nothing in my area, geographically or financially. But eventually something will turn up.

sue

Reply to
Susan Hartman

Thanks. It's getting better. But, the book sounds like a perfect idea. I'm a PD James fan, so I'll look for this. I have read/followed the Carrie Bebris books which are all mysteries based after Pride & Prejudice chronologically, but set as take-offs from each of the novels in that so-to-speak series. I think there are 4 so far, and they've been good reads, not overly complicated in the mystery sense, but well written, in keeping with the Austen tone - at least IMHO.

Hope you'll get something soon. We've learned to be discriminating with these things. Were surprised to see that when we turned in the Specialicious coupon, the cashier had a print out of names/numbers for each of the coupons. Which should help them with their marketing, or the like.

Well, enough of my late night rambling. Sue, hope you're over the winter cold uck thing, as well.

Ellice

Reply to
Ellice K.

Not so much with these types of coupons. They have a serial number, and the merchant has to either scan the bar code, or enter the number to get a validation from the coupon source - like Groupon, OpenTable, or similar. It's really about the marketing.

Ellice

Reply to
Ellice K.

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