Remember when Rosie Grier let every one know that he did needlepoint? I know, I am dating myself. Okay, I am 40+ and this was back in the 70's. What I remember is that he didn't care who knew. Of course, he was a big man and probably few people would have been willing to call him out for being a "stitching sissy." He even wrote a book Rosie Grier's Needlepoint for Men which is still available through Amazon.
My dad didn't do needlepoint, but he did other crafts. He didn't exactly advertise it, but he too was a big guy and though he was as sweet as can be, he could look pretty intimidating when he wanted.
If Rosie had been taking up a needlecraft in the 80's, I am sure he would have tried Cross Stitch too. And, I know that there are a lot of guys who stitch whether they are open about it or not. We have several guys who post in the About.com Cross Stitch Forum. And one of them has a great blog about his stitching (and other things in his life) called The Static Quo. He has some neat projects, including a Yoda design he generated using a pattern-maker.
Like I said, I know there are lots of guys who stitch out there - Especially older gentlemen who take up the needle after retirement. If you know a guy who stitches, be sure to let him know about this site and invite him to join us in the Forum. If he is sensitive about his stitching status, we can keep a secret (we have one forum member who let's everyone think she stitched her hubby's projects because he doesn't want his co-workers to know he is a stitcher). And, if the guy you know has a blog, let me know by emailing me at crossstitch.guide@about.com so I can check it out and share it with everyone else.
My dad didn't do needlepoint, but he did other crafts. He didn't exactly advertise it, but he too was a big guy and though he was as sweet as can be, he could look pretty intimidating when he wanted.
If Rosie had been taking up a needlecraft in the 80's, I am sure he would have tried Cross Stitch too. And, I know that there are a lot of guys who stitch whether they are open about it or not. We have several guys who post in the About.com Cross Stitch Forum. And one of them has a great blog about his stitching (and other things in his life) called The Static Quo. He has some neat projects, including a Yoda design he generated using a pattern-maker.
Like I said, I know there are lots of guys who stitch out there - Especially older gentlemen who take up the needle after retirement. If you know a guy who stitches, be sure to let him know about this site and invite him to join us in the Forum. If he is sensitive about his stitching status, we can keep a secret (we have one forum member who let's everyone think she stitched her hubby's projects because he doesn't want his co-workers to know he is a stitcher). And, if the guy you know has a blog, let me know by emailing me at crossstitch.guide@about.com so I can check it out and share it with everyone else.
Comments
Our Pastor and his wife go to Florida for a week or two every winter.Sitting by the pool, one reads and the other cross stitches. Can you guess which one? Right! He has done some beautiful work and gave two of them to our church. Because they were specific subjects, he had to have them personally graphed; they turned out great! He also showed us a picture of a Persian cat that he stitched for a friend. You felt you could reach out and pet the pretty kitty. PS-His sermons aren’t too bad, either.)
I go in to my kids’ school every year to help teach knitting. I’ve been so pleased and impressed that more boys are signing up than girls. Maybe in the next generation it will become ok for boys to be crafty.
I intend to teach my nephew to stitch when he gets a bit older. He loves my stitching and is always excited when I make him something new. He is very artistic – when he is not doing karate and digging in the dirt! I will definitely have to stress the importance of washing his hands before he picks up the needle!
Yes my wonderful brother taught me to cross stich and to do needlepoint.
I about dropped my teeth one day when the dental technician (a man) commented about the weather, “It’s just too hot to quilt. I don’t know what I’m going to do.” He had his hands in my mouth at the moment, cleaning my teeth. After spitting, I said, “You make quilts? So do I.” Then it dawned on me, who had made all the beautiful quilts displayed in that office. Yes, he makes all the beautiful quilts and quilts quickly, too. He actually was concerned about getting behind if he couldn’t hand quilt during the summer because of the heat! A very organized quilter, too. Works a little on one quilt, making squares or special elements, then goes on to another quilt. When the dental technician club needed a fund-raiser, he offered to make them a quilt! BUT, when I encouraged him to enter a regional quilt show, he said no. He just likes making them. Very interesting …
Yes I do, many!
I will have to admit to having an unusual hobby, medieval reinactor; among other things we make our own costumes, from Roman times to Tudors, which helps that I would know several men who sew and stitch.
Two come to my mind right away; of both can out sew me (in clothing) by far, and both do very good needle work of many sorts, from simple embroidery to detailed work such as Blackwork, and bead work. Beyond them I know several more that sew simple items and add the embellishment to most their clothing. I feel the need to point out that these men are defiantly not the pansy types some may envision, in fact one or two are some of the manliest men I have been around, sword fighting is a very big part of our activities.
It is so cool to hear all these stories. I especially loved hearing about the sword-fighting stitchers!
P.S. — The stitching dental technician also rides a motorcycle to work!
Hello, I’m a nurse in southern IN. searching for a simple pattern of Yoda to put on a baby bib for one of our Dr. who is having his third child which is finally a boy. He loves Star Wars and I thought it would be a fun gift. Any help would be appreiated…..
I was raised around all kinds of needlearts. My grandmother and mother quilted all the time. This translated into needlepoint for me. Or knitting. Or crocheting. I’ve never tried to hide the fact that I LOVE to do these things. I can tell my kids sometimes get embarrassed, but I explain to them that it is part of who I am. My wife of 30 years has ALWAYS been supportive.