It is a truism in the knitting business that sales go down in the summer. That’s because the thought of stitching with hot, scratchy wool or having the weight of a sweater or afghan in your lap is very discouraging.
But often when it’s hot, or stormy (Like it was last weekend in many places), doing needlepoint is something soothing and comforting.
So you pick up your stitching and then you put it down again because something about it isn’t right.
In honor of this lovely holiday here’s a round-up of ideas for beat the heat needlepoint.
Stitch with cool threads. Some fibers just feel cooler than others. Probably the best for feeling cool is linen. Even in cloth linen feels cool, and linen thread feels that way too (There’s a reason why linen is so popular). If linen thread isn’t your thing, stitch with cotton. Both these fibers are cooler to the touch than wool or silk.
Stitch something small. While mot of us won’t have pieces the size of afghans on our laps, stitched needlepoint is heavy, if you work in hand, or cumbersome, if you work on a frame. Smaller pieces won’t weigh too much and the almost instant gratification is wonderful.
Stitch something in cool colors. Color has temperature, red, orange and yellow are warm colors, while blur, green, and violet are cool colors. Being around cool colors will make you feel cooler. PIck pieces that are predominantly cool colors or sandy neutrals.
Stitch something summery. What does summer mean to you? Watermelon, the beach, flip flops, lighthouses, children playing? Whatever it might be look for canvases in your stash that reflect that. We look at our stitching all the time as we work. If you are like me, you also think and let your mind wander as you stitch as well. Looking at something that makes you feel cooler, more relaxed, or summery will help you beat the heat just a little.
Stitching is a mental vacation. Stitching relaxes you, it frees your mind by occupying part of it with a repetitive, but not boring, task. Take advantage of this when the heat or the storms get to be too much and go stitch. Let your needlepoint take you to a happy, peaceful, and cool place. Even five minutes will help.
Drink something cool when stitching. Remember that ice tea is reviving and that by staying cool inside, you help overcome the heat outside. Don’t neglect to keep a drink nearby. Put down the stitching and drink something cool from time to time.
Enjoy your holiday by taking some time to stitch something cool.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
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