...a crafty childhood pastime of mine -- working on a crewel embroidery kit -- is how I spent part of my Christmas holiday. My mother bought me my first kit which involved stitching a poodle when I was still a pre-teen and I remember being so proud of myself when I finally finished it; my grandmother made it into cushion which took center stage on a chair she also slipcovered for my bedroom. (I wish I still had both the cushion and the chair!) I guess seeing how much I enjoyed the kit, my mother indulged me with another kit, this time a bit more complicated: a landscape of a field with an apple tree in full glory, all very 70s (1974, in fact!) as the linen fabric included in the kit was in one of the favourite colors of that era... yup, harvest gold! I also completed this kit and my mother framed it and hung it in our very harvest goldy kitchen... While I didn't hold on to my apple tree masterpiece, I recently stumbled upon someone else's unframed finished one at a local thrift shop which I quickly snatched up all for the shamefully low price of $1.99; all those hours spent over a hoop valued at $1.99... what can I say... a true labor of love! I have taken some photos of my $1.99 treasure to show you... and, no, it isn't mine because the back is way to neat!
So, coming back to my Christmas holiday... We spent part of it at our lake house where I dug up a box I had stashed away which was full of crafty things to do on rainy days or, simply, when the mood is right. Now, over the years, because I'm such a natural-born collector and unabashedly sentimental, whenever I've come across a vintage crewel kit (more than likely, unopened) with a design that appeals to me at a thrift shop, I've purchased it, often at such ridiculously low prices (the yarn in the kit is usually worth so much more than the asking price!). Last summer, I brought part of my collection of thrifted kits to the cottage and, as I looked into my crafty box over the holidays, I unearthed a charming one depicting a basket full of lilacs which looked like one I might even be able to finish in the somewhat near future... So, I pulled it out of its sealed bag (something so satisfying about pulling it out after it being in a bag for nearly 40 years!), stuck it in a hoop, remembered how to make a daisy stitch, and went right for one of those scrumptious lilac flowers...
As my needle moved from stitch to stich, I think I recaptured the feeling of total enjoyment I had as a kid when I use to work on my little kits. What is it about these kits that I so enjoy?... I don't know, perhaps it's because I find them relaxing and so rewarding; everything is totally laid out for you, no decisions to make as far as which yarn or stitch to use, just like a paint by number, and with every stitch you make, a lovely little design reveals itself to you, bit by bit. Not that I don't like the creative process -- I love it and crave it! -- but sometimes it's simply nice to turn your brain on automatic, especially during the Christmas break after all the frenzy leading up to it!...
My dedication to my crewel work while at the cottage (we won't call it an obsession... at least, not yet!) piqued my 10-year-old Nico's interest (I sometimes think that, of all my children, she's my mini-me when it comes to all the crafty stuff) who asked me if she could try her hand at stitching some of it; I gladly showed her the daisy stitch, and off she went adding little lilac clusters all over (who doesn't like to daisy stitch?!)... How fun!
I brought my lilacs back with me to Vancouver, and while I don't have so much time to work on them here, I hope to still be able to finish my little crewel project by April, which is, of course, lilac season as well as Nico's birthday month; I'd love to be able to make it into a cushion and gift it to her for her birthday... Whether I manage to or not, it is still so much fun to work on a kit that was designed and stuck in a bag since, oddly enough, 1974 just like my apple tree kit!
Have you ever tried your hand at one of these crewel kits? (You can find a good selection of them on Ebay, although they are definitely pricier than those I've come across at thrift shops...) Whether you've been crafting or not, I do hope you've had a lovely Christmas holiday and feel refreshed and ready to start a new year. I certainly do, and will be listing a batch of pillowcases in my shop as soon as I get my sewing machine back from being repaired (sniff, sniff)... should be soon though... Talk to you soon!
I really enjoyed your trip down memory lane. Your embroidery looks really pretty.
Posted by: linnyjcreations | January 10, 2013 at 06:24 PM
Such a pretty work. I'm from Brazil and we embroid just about everything and anything... I love the work, how it looks but have never been able to really do any. I love to crochet and knit. Maybe I'll just give it a try this year... Something new to challenge myself to :) what a fun thought ! Thanks for the inspiration. :)
Posted by: Taciana Simmons | January 10, 2013 at 11:00 PM
Oh this was such a trip down memory lane for me too! I've still got my first needlecraft piece that Mum gave me years and years ago! It wasn't as detailed as the two lovely ones you have here, which definitely make me tempted to have a look on ebay as you suggest.
Posted by: Tara | January 10, 2013 at 11:48 PM
Well I haven't done one of those kits since childhood, which is more years than I like to remember! But you have piqued my interest, and though due to health issues recently my crafting is limited to small items in short bursts now and then, this is something I think I will revisit too. Thank you, and Happy New Year.
Posted by: Maggie | January 11, 2013 at 12:20 AM
I too love to collect thrift store crewel and embroidery kits! But, unlike you, mine never get done :P Great job finishing some beautiful projects :)
Posted by: Savanah | January 11, 2013 at 06:09 AM
Yes, I worked those kits by the hour back in the seventies.I had pillows and framed pictures all over the house done in that lovely crewel work. I got very tired of it and gave it all away when I redecorated. Your mention of it makes me wish I had kept a bit.
I guess there's always more kits to do.
Annie
Posted by: Annie | January 12, 2013 at 05:35 AM
Fabulous work. I did a bit of crewel work when I was a young girl. Haven't done any since but seeing your gorgeous pics has got me thinking of taking it up, even for one project :)
Posted by: moleymakes | January 13, 2013 at 01:39 PM
Je n'ai aucune idée de la traduction de Crewel (cruel?) mais vivement la prochaine journée Neige pour essayer!! Beata, tu devrais vraiment écrire tes mémoires, j'ai adoré la façon dont tu as décris tes mémoires d'enfance!! Est-ce que je peux m'inscrire au prochain atelier Crewel vendredi à l'école? :-)
Posted by: Christelle | January 13, 2013 at 08:07 PM
Hello from your newest follower, I've been silently admiring your handcrafts for some time and think it's about time I actually commented. I simply adore your work.
Posted by: Leanne M | January 13, 2013 at 08:43 PM
Beautiful! What a lovely way to bond to your little "mini-me". I have wonderful memories of my aunt in Germany teaching me crocheting. Your work is BEAUTIFUL :)
Posted by: Love To Crochet | January 14, 2013 at 04:03 PM
how lovely!!!! :-)
Posted by: Scarlet-Sometimes | January 19, 2013 at 09:47 AM
I love this, it looks so pretty!
Posted by: found and sewn | January 21, 2013 at 12:32 AM
I too learned to stitch with these kinds of crewel embroidery kits in the mid-70s as a pre-teen so loved everything about this post. They gave me a life-long love of anything involving a needle and thread. I wish crewel would come back, in an updated form; so many fun and beautiful stitches. Thanks for bringing back some wonderful memories!
Posted by: Ede | February 02, 2013 at 08:32 AM