Which came first, the stitch or the art?

[Nicola]

Hi Everyone,

I am really interested to hear how people got started in needlwork. It seems that there are two groups, some who are interested in art and design and come to embroidery/needlework as a medium of expression, and others who were captured by the stitching itself. Which one are you?

Personally, I was 7 when my teacher gave us all some Aida and stranded cotton and taught us how to do cross and running stitch. I went home and Mum showed me her embroidery books and soon I was doing couching, chains and my favourite - sheaf stitch. I never looked back, soon I was creating my own designs and learning new techniques.

So, how about you?

[Jenny]

Lorelei, I love my Jacqueline Enthoven book ! I first found this book in my local library (over 25 years ago) when I was doing a correspondence course in creative embroidery. We had to use "fly" stitch, and as I had never heard of it I went hunting. I kept renewing this book, taking back & re-borrowing for over 7 months. When I went to borrow it again it was not on the shelf, that's when I bought my own copy. Very well loved & stating to fall to pieces from being so well used.

[Lorelei Terry Halley]

Jenny
I've made 2 separate samplers from her book, one in 1965 when I first got the book, and another about 1975. I do occasionally find stitches she doesn't describe, but she's got it all covered. I bought my own when I started paying overdue fines.

[Aida Costa]

This is a fascinating question. A little of both, for me. I was introduced to crochet and basic embroidery as a child and I enjoyed it, sort of. I knew there were real possibilities, but what were they?? My mom and grandma were 'dabblers', so none of us really took textiles seriously as a creative outlet. I got tired real fast of making plain white doilies.

I've always loved art and art history. However, I never considered myself an artist until I discovered quilting. I became obsessed with fabric and colour!! And textures! Then I started knitting lace. And crazy quilting! Oh my! The fabrics, yarns and embellishments we have available now are just as versatile as paints and pastels.

What I *really* love about textiles and needlework is that it's clean. Sounds weird, but I love that my hands stay clean and dry, unlike painting, for example.

So I love the creative aspect, but I also enjoy the 'zen' experience when I stitch.

[Jane]

I definately fall into the sitching first category, I was completly captivated by Japanese embroidery when I saw it for the first time. Until then I had no interest or ideas to develop into my own ideas although I'd done embroidery on and off over the years.

It seems that I have discovered my medium and also my artistic side - as my embroidery skills have progressed over the last few years I've started to develop my own designs and am looking forward to a whole new journey.

I get the 'zen' aspect as well, my stitching is always better when I'm 'in the zone'.

Jane

[Nola Roberts]

I was an embroiderer when it was call fancy work then became a painter. after having to go back to work full tome I took up stitching again and then thought I could combine them both and have done many pieces with painted backgrounds and stitching for texture. I love it

[Wendy Hope-Falkner]

With me it was the stitching. Then I found I could make my own designs by stencilling onto canvas with acrylic art paints and I was away -- I could stitch whatever I liked! But it is the wonderfully relaxing rhythm of stitching that really got me in the beginning and that was taught to me by my mother. Reading the contributions to this discussion, mothers and grandmothers have probably passed on a love of needlework to most of us and we must make sure we do the same. I have tried but my two boys so far have been unimpressed.

[Sadie Cantle]

Hi Nicola
You ask how people got into needlework mine was through my mum she did wonderful work smocking on all my dresses when i was small and her embroidery was beautiful so delicate and fine she also did knitting and dress making i remember her teaching me how to do darning and and all the things that are not done today
I still have a table cloth that she worked on it must be forty years old she also made my daughters dresses and shoes bags for school i think they still have them
luv sadiex

[Judy B]

Sadie,
There for awhile I thought you were talking about me and my Mum! All my dresses were smocked until after I started school and a sisiter arrived, and my only bought jumper was my last one for high school.