Parveen Singh

Patricia comes home after a hard day's work and doesn't want to sleep before dinner. No, she prefers to do something relaxing and de-stressing, but also something that she enjoys. So, why not do cross stitch, she reasons? A love for the stitch that she inherited during childhood from her mother, another avid cross stitcher, today she is known for her art. And of course that's what it really is.

In fact, if you visit her home or the homes of fellow cross stitchers, you will find their walls dotted with framed pictures of people as in Sharon's case, or places, as Roshan has of Bodnant Gardens, which she had visited in Wales, and geometrical patterns.

These walls become not just testimony to their love for the stitch which is now a hobby or even a business, but it is also proof of their long hours of diligent work. Often, when visitors come, they wander all over the house admiring the various works of art as they would in a museum. Unknowingly, their houses become a showcase of their efforts and help as subtle advertisements.

In recent times, these exquisite, lovingly stitched masterpieces have begun being seen as quick handmade gifts, which everyone loves to own. The joy of seeing so much happiness on one's face at receiving a cross stitch gift of linen or embroidered clothes has to be seen to be believed.

But money aside, for many of them, this is perhaps the most absorbing hobby as it is creative. As they move from stitch to stitch, they create a motif which is part of a large pattern. So, in a sense, they take great pleasure in bringing a sometimes dull or sometimes static paper pattern to life by infusing it with love, imagination, a change of color and a creative twist.

But basically, Roshan does it because it helps her make something out of nothing, and she loves doing it and often says that "it's such an easy stitch that anyone can do it." In fact Dianne was so bored of her sedentary job in which she only took orders from her boss that she soon reached a stage where she wanted to throw up her job for something that she could create with her hands. That's when she began by making bookmarks and takes great pleasure in being creative and being the only one in the family to make hand made crafts.

Happiness isn't the only emotion that inspires creating cross stitch patterns. Often, when some women stitchers hit emotional problems and crying won't help, they find it therapeutic to pick up their needles and thread and make a pretty cross stitch pattern. It helps them think of the road ahead and how to face their challenges while they stitch away, proving that cross stitch can be a great emotional salve. So, cross stitch becomes a companion for all seasons for people who have experienced its effects in moments of happiness. 

You perhaps have not heard of anyone going on holiday with their needlework kit and cross stitch patterns? But I have and sometimes, Perveen does just that. And why not? It's portable and one does find some time even on a holiday to do a few stitches at least.

The great thing about cross stitch is that it can be done as a solitary pursuit or can be done in company ~ it's that flexible, as Behroze will tell you. Between chatting with her neighbor, cooking and doing household chores, she always finds time to embroider saris and dresses to order. Needless to say, at the end of a productive day of embroidery, she sleeps very well, unlike some other fellow embroiderers who have a problem of insomnia.

So, what do they do? Why, being creative anyway, they do cross stitch embroidery until they are tired enough to fall asleep. Now, is that creative or is it therapeutic? You tell me…