What is more annoying????

[Cecilia]

I had a friend once say that she couldn't think of anything more boring when I told her I enjoy cross stitch. Needless to say, I don't talk about my stitching or show her any of my stuff now. Don't see her very much anyway.

[Raven]

Ohh I love stitching at the doctor's office where I can get lots of interesting looks and comments. (I just give a dirty look or smile depending on the comment)

1: My grandmother does that!
2: WOW you are very patient! (You should see me at 3AM with a baby whose been crying for 12 hours straight!)
3: Aren't you too young for that?
4: What is that needlepoint?
5: People still do that?!?!?
6: I used to do that, but it bored me to tears (or some other really boring statement)
etc. etc.

The only ones that really tick me off are when someone sits down beside me and asks how to do it. I show them how and let them do a few stitches and a relative comes over "Leave that lady alone!" and drags them away.

I remember this one time at the doctor's office there was this little girl, about 3 I think (maybe 4 I forget). She has Downs Syndrome and was there with her grandparents, who have custody. She was fascinated by what I was doing. So she stopped trying to run around or scream and stood in front of me watching the needle go up and down. I let her pull the needle for each stitch and she was so happy! Her grandparents, instead of just pulling her away asked me politely if she was bothering me. I told them she wasn't and that I was enjoying her enthusiasm, which I was. It made my day. So from them until she was called back, her and I sat and stitched. It was great! She also left with about 2 bobbins of my floss. LOL

HUGS
Raven

[Rose]

What a great story Raven. You must have made that families day.

[kazzi29]

oh wow raven what a lovely story!

[Mabel Figworthy]

Not about stitching, but related -- I once took my crochet to the big car fair where we have a stall, to have something to do when things were slow (which fortunately they aren't often ). A man came up to the stall and said "well, I'd never thought I'd see anyone knitting here!"

Last week I had to have a blood test and as the wait was likely to be a long one I got out my handbag project which was the rose I did for mum. A lady who came and sat next to me asked me about it and I said it was for my Mum in Holland, and because of her accent I asked her if she was Dutch too, which she was -- we found that I had taught a girl in the street where she used to live in The Hague, and we talked about the war as she was Jewish and had to go into hiding, and my grandfather had been taken by the Germans for a few months, so we swapped stories and talked about The Hague and Dutch delicacies and so on -- time just flew by! And all because of my stitching

[Lessa54]

In general I only get appreciative comments. Hubby does say that he could never do it but that doesn't really bother me as I know that he's saying it out of a real appreciation of my stitching rather than anything inane. My FIL stitches too, so my in-laws all understand how long it can take. My FIL and I tease each other about whether we've finished a project yet

Most people on the train just ignore it though I did have one lady say that she thought it was lovely. Never had anyone as nice as Raven's story though. The funniest was probably our best man who came round for a meal and saw my stitching and asked which bits I'd done (erm - the stitched bits..... )

[burgundyice]

Oh I've had the "you must be really patient to be able to do that" comment lots of times - I think I'm going to take Agi's advice & explain it's only because of stitching I have patience for the others areas in life! I am in reality very impatient!
Also the comments from work colleagues about my Queen of Hearts last year - ranging from "you should frame it & give it your mum for Christmas" to "you should frame it & sell it"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why do they feel the need that I should rid myself of it as soon as it's finished???!!! Not that I don't want to get people nice presents, I just don't give away stitching, it's MINE, all MINE!!!

Louise

[Raven]

It was a wonderful couple of hours waiting for my appointment. The girl was so sweet and so interested. The grandparents couldn't believe how quietly she was sitting and how long it held her attention. So I told them that maybe they should get those sewing cards for her, or some plastic canvas and think yarn with a plastic needle and let her stitch to her heart's content. I told them they could get it all at Michael's or Hobby Lobby fairly cheaply. I am hoping they did that for her because she really did enjoy it. She was so proud of herself every time she pulled the needle to finish the stitch. She was just a sweetheart and so darn cute!

Louise I don't blame you one bit for wanting to keep your stitching to yourself. THe comments about "you should sell the finished pieces" get to me because copyrighted designs can't be used to sell finished pieces but besides that, no one would pay the amount that would fairly match the time and effort put into a piece, specially an HAED!

Lessa, that is really great that you have a family member that also stitches!

Mabel what a wonderful story! I love how stitching (I am including knitting and crochet as stitching here) can open up doors to meeting wonderful people and having great conversations. What a small world to run into someone who lived on the street where your student lived. What a great way to pass the time in a doctor's office waiting room! Thank you for sharing that story.

HUGS
Raven

[Beachdragon]

I don't get many negative comments, actually, Usually it's the "Oh I don't have patience for that", usually said with admiration or "Oh gosh that's so advanced and I'm just a beginner I could never do that." I always remind people that everyone was a beginner at some point.

When I was 20 I had a boyfriend who used to tell me, "It just kills me, you are too young to waste away doing cross stitch." Which I was quite insulted by that and it didn't make me stop stitching. My mother started embroidering as a young teenager. By the age of 15 her needlework was so complex and accurate you really had a hard time figuring out which was the front and which was the back of the work. (I have these pieces too.) I learned the love of needlework from my mother (and she taught me how too.) So yeah, telling me I'm wasting away doing a craft that generations of my family has done is pretty insulting and these days if anyone ever told me that (I'm 44) I'd give them what for!

I also do chainmaille and detailed jewelry. I was selling at a show once and the most common question was "You did all this?" Yes. Every link. I guess that kind of detail work is hard for people to believe. I even had one person tell me, "Wow, I guess you wouldn't need any therapy since you have this to concentrate on!"

A bit of a backhanded compliment, I don't think he meant anything by that and it made me laugh, .

[stitchenaddict]

The most annoying comment that I get is....what are you going to do with it when you're done? What does it matter!?

I have extreme anxiety problems and this is something that I've found will help with it. No matter where I am or what I'm doing, I always stitch at night before bed. It is unbelievable how relaxing it is.

[vanessanjf]

I hate the comments about how Cross stitch is for old grannies. I am only 29 and I know there are lots of other younger people on this forum. It is for all ages!
I think some of my friends think you should be down the pub getting drunk and partying but it just doesn't interest me. I got that out of my system when I was younger.

[Lisa2758]

I hate the comments about stitching being for old ladies too. I've always knitted, crocheted, machine knitted, sewed and stitched. When I re-started cross-stitching a couple of years ago, some of my then colleagues made disparaging comments about it. They laughed about it being old-ladyish but I don't care. I would sit in the break room at work with my MP3 player blasting out heavy rock music and stitch for as long as I could. If I could stay at home all day stitching, then I would gladly do so.

What annoys me are the comments made by my ex-husband who seems to think that all my aches and pains emanate from stitching: "You want to stop doing that"; "No wonder you've got headaches" etc. Maybe I've got headaches because of your nagging!

[Kute Kitty]

One Christmas I did a pair of keyrings for my brother and his girlfriend. His girlfriend didn't manage to make it over (she couldn't get a passport in time) but he did and, natually, opened his keyring. His friend's first question, "Is that crochet?" I spent the next 10 minutes explaining the differences between crochet and cross stitch. He'll never make that mistake again.

[Fljotsdale]

I think I must be really lucky. I don't get silly comments at all. Just admiring ones, like 'Gosh! You did that!?' in an admiring tone. I suppose I could be offended that they sound so amazed - as though they didn't think I could be so clever, but I don't offend easily - I just lap up the praise!
The best comment I had recently was from my son, aged 40, currently living with me. He doesn't usually say anything about my stitching, and I don't mention it to him, but a few days ago when I pointed out a bit I was particularly proud of in my The Storyteller by Wentzler, he gave me a little grin and said, yes, he'd noticed, and was waiting to see it finished. From my son, that's high praise!

[Leslie]

You ladies are lucky about your comments!

I always get the the really hurtful ones about being a sissy or only girls do that.

A few people have said to me that they wouldn't have the patience to do it, but I just tell them that you have to break it down into little bits and do noe bit at a time.

As for the bloke saying you won't need therapy by doing that, he must have been in some sort of therapy to made the connection Ha Ha.

When you tell people that it is really relaxing when you stitch and the time just flies by, they usually never believe me, but that is their loss.

[Catwoman]

The worst comment I ever had was when a friend came to lunch and my husband pointed out my cross stitch pictures. She said very tartly 'I can't stand cross stitch pictures'!! Needless to say she has not been invited since.

[purgatory]

there are some lovely stories here, and some a lot less so!

thankfully I haven't really had many negative comments about my stitching, people tend not to notice the pictures I have hanging around the place and when they do they tend to be nicely surprised that I made them

I have also given many away as gifts as I think they make lovely gifts and of course it shows that you took some time over it rather than just bought a voucher (ironically I love getting vouchers for places I like because I'm tricky to buy for!!!) and my mum has several of my art pieces at her house though there are people I wouldn't give them to because they wouldn't appreciate them, which is fine each to their own

but frankly I enjoy it and so does everyone here and that should be good enough for everybody else!

[nettie]

ironically I love getting vouchers for places I like because I'm tricky to buy for

Me too!

I have had the disparaging 'Oh I couldn't do that I don't know how you do it where do you find the patience' I explain my eating disorder that this provides excellent therapy for and they bugger off and leave me alone!

I have also had some very lovely comments too those are the ones I remember. My mum stitched a sampler for my best friend when he got married but couldn't go to the wedding. His wife's response was the best one. They opened the presents at the reception and the very first thing she did as soon as she saw it was to look for me to make sure I knew how much she loved it!

[Ceitidh]

I kind of gave up giving cross stitch gifts to people, apart from one or two after the comment 'Oh is this yet another home made job'

I have since went into selfish mode and am stitching for me and my house.

[kell]

You ladies are lucky about your comments!

I always get the the really hurtful ones about being a sissy or only girls do that.

I've never met a stitching guy (although I now know a few online) and I am constantly in awe of their talent and, yes, their bravery in overcoming the "sissy" stigma which is totally unwarranted! I know a guy now who does cross stitch, hardanger and lace-making - and he designs his own projects too!

The worst comment I ever had wasn't a comment at all. I stitched a wedding sampler for a couple to whom I am very close, but hadn't seen in a while. I wrapped it to give to them on their wedding day as a gift. They never even acknowledged it. That was far more hurtful than anything they could have said, to be honest. Not even a "thanks" from them, so I have no idea if they even opened it or if it got left behind at the hotel or whatever as I haven't had the heart to mention it to them.