Needlework and knitting were more then just hobbies in colonial days. It was a necessary craft that put clothing on backs and kept the household together. It was also a charming way to pass the time. The women of the house would sit and knit or embroider or mend while one of them read a book or they all talked. It's hard to imagine how important handiwork was to our forefathers, but we can all experience the contemplative joy of working on a piece of knitting or needlepoint. I was joined by Debbie Stoller, author of Stitch and Bitch, the best selling craft book, for a bit of kibitzing about crafting. She and I each talked about our particular passions - hers of course is knitting, while mine is needlepoint. She showed us a few of her projects, including a beautiful skull and cross bones sweater (knitted with the intarsia method), a darling phone cozy with a cute little piggy head on it and a lovely little knit bikini, while I showed off my latest canvas depicting Russian figures. Hobbies like this are easy to take up, and delightful because you periodically have something to show for them when you finish projects. If you'd like to explore the possibilities of knitting or needlepoint here are a few sites to discover:

Debbie's book has inspired knitting groups across America and around the world. What's fun about these groups is that you gather with other people who enjoy knitting at cafes and coffee shops and sit, knit and chat. It's a wonderful way to make new friends, and especially good if you're new to a city.

Also for knitting:

The Knitting Garden

Knitty.com

I guess I'm a little bit ahead of the curve with needlepoint. Unlike knitting it seems that most of the kits and patterns commercially available are somewhat ordinary. I've found that some of the best resources for ideas are vintage needlepoint books, which can be found in used bookstores, thrift shops and online auction sites. This site is the one notable exception to the rule, in that it contains some examples of vintage needlepoint creations:

Needlepoint Gallery

Here are a few sites where you can find out about the craft of needlepoint and buy some of the raw materials needed:

Needlepoint.org

Needlepoint.com

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