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Connie's Cross-Stitch Blog

By Connie G. Barwick, About.com Guide to Cross-Stitch since 2006

Cross Stitch Poll - Do You Stitch Outdoors?

Monday May 12, 2008
I spent some time sitting on the porch stitching this week. It was nice and cool, the cows were frisking in the pasture, the squirrel was raiding the bird feeder, and the birds were singing. The project I was working on wasn't too involved and I really enjoyed my experience. Usually when I stitch outside, I worry about the project getting dirty, but the fabric I was using was gray so I wasn't too concerned this time.

Do you stitch outdoors? Vote in the poll and let us know. Use the comments section below (before you vote) to let us know about your outdoor stitching experiences - good and bad.

Stain removal tips:

Comments

May 12, 2008 at 2:46 pm
(1) Melnaie says:

I worry that the thread will blow away! But when I do stitch outside or in the car when my husband is driving, it is so much easier to tell the thread colors apart. I’m terrible with shades but the natural light seems to help a bit with those really close ones.

May 14, 2008 at 11:12 am
(2) Kay L. McBee says:

I now have a swing on my back porch that makes stitching outdoors S-O-O-O nice. I agree that daylight for color differentiation is even better than the ‘daylight’ bulbs inside. I stitch for 16 “glorious days” at our AZ Renaissance Faire as my character’s vocation. THAT is where stitchery can get dirty! Peasants only have dirt! But Oxiclean hasn’t failed me yet; a soak, swish and smooth – back to new or better than new.

May 14, 2008 at 11:48 am
(3) Janet Robertson says:

I have a chair on my front porch with a quilt on it to wrap up in and i stitch out there all the time. I have one project that lives out there under the quilt so i just have to pick it up. Dirty? Doesn’t matter. It’s washable.

May 14, 2008 at 12:15 pm
(4) Mary Lucretia says:

I haven’t done much outdoor stitching recently, but when my children were at home I remember stitching a Noah’s Ark sampler at swim meets. I also enjoyed stitching at outdoor concerts while it was still daylight. I don’t suppose this counts, but I did a lot of stitching in the car!

May 14, 2008 at 1:13 pm
(5) Kim Swix says:

I will stitch in the car while watching soccer practices. If it is nice and the wind isn’t too bad, I’ll set up my chair and do it outside. I love the natural light for color differentiation, however, I need peepers and I go cross eyed if I try to put sunglasses over them.

May 14, 2008 at 1:36 pm
(6) C.Moore says:

I do stitch outdoors in the beautiful weather. I make sure the table,etc are clean and free of dust before beginning. I do it for the same reason Connie does, the wonderful outdoor ambiance. The light is great, and its almost like a meditation. Slows you down so you can smell the roses. Its like a mini brain vacation.

May 14, 2008 at 1:51 pm
(7) J. Shearer says:

Unless it is raining or windy I love stitching outdoors. Not only for the nature but the light is great, well usually. Sometimes it is cloudy but even then. It is so much easier to see the colors and stitching area in the sunlight.

May 14, 2008 at 3:03 pm
(8) Arlene Harris says:

I live in Florida where the sun shines most of the time and I either sit by the pool or on my lanni(patio). It is great stitching in the sunlight. You really see the true colors of the threads and how they blend together.

May 14, 2008 at 4:12 pm
(9) Rita C. Altman says:

Generally, if I stich outside I will have started the section with half stitches of the color. Then it is easy to complete the stitches without worrying about separating strands of floss. The floss will have been separated.This works well also if you plan to stitch riding in a car or on a plane.

May 14, 2008 at 5:41 pm
(10) Nick Greene says:

I’m afraid I don’t stitch any more. Too many other things to occupy my time. Perhaps I’ll be able to start again in a few years when I retire.

I never have stitched outside, though. When I traveled a lot more than I do now, I used to stitch on the plane. However, I couldn’t do that now with the tightened security.

May 15, 2008 at 10:26 am
(11) Tina Barnes says:

Yes, I stitch outside. I have 3 sons that play outside to keep an eye on them plus to get my stitching done is why I started doing it outside. I also bring my stitching anywhere that I have to wait 30 minutes or more, like Doctors office etc. If it’s to windy , I’ll put it up for later.

May 17, 2008 at 8:34 am
(12) Linda Fowles says:

I love stitching outdoors. My workplace is right on the ocean; during lunch breaks I sit on a bench and enjoy the fresh air and passersby.

If it’s not quite warm enough, I go out to my car and stitch there. Since DBF likes to drive when we go somewhere, that leave ms free to work on my stitching.

I keep a simpler project aside for carrying with me and leave my “nightmare” project set up on a floor frame at home. I’ve accumulated enough tools to keep each supplied with its own tote, magnetic chart board needles, hoop, highlighter and scissors.

May 21, 2008 at 7:14 pm
(13) Mary says:

I stitch out on the back porch whenever I work on navy blue aida cloth. It makes it easier to see and to distinquish floss colors.

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