If one takes silk shading classes at the Royal School of Needlework (now located at Hampton Court) one still uses the Kensington Stitch as a painterly way to depict flowers and figures in silk. The popularity of the split stitch in silk shading was revived by turn of the century designers (Walter Crane, William Morris, May Morris, Grace Christie, et al.) who looked to the past for their aesthetic guidance. They pinched it from the Opus Anglicanum of medieval England. (see Syon Cope, Jesse Cope, etc.) The biggest push of this happening was in Victorian times when we developed the term Assisi work, Richileau work, etc.

Then in the 50s/60s when we developed the term blackwork and in America when the term needlepoint was used for canvas work rather than for needlemade lace. When one considers all of the languages stitchers use, one needs to have descriptions of the technique to gain a common ground. I was unaware that Kensington stitch was also used as a name for split outline. Margaret Jenelle-Hyde did an article in “Piecework” about the term Kensington being applied to several different stitches.

I was just trying to think of things that would bring up the mood. I was wondering how much time some of us find for stitching. I have a friend over in England who can stitch even the hardest MLI designs in what seems like no time to me. She asked me if I’d like to be in a group where we each stitch something, and then send it to another person in the group and they stitch some of it (is that what’s called a Round Robin?). I told her I stitch so much slower than she does, she’d be waiting on me forever!!! I think I manage about two hours a day during the week, and maybe three or four on the weekends. The rest of the time I do housework and think about stitching!

I tend to stitch first thing in the morning while I’m still on that first cup of coffe. I also stich while watching/listening to the t.v. or am just plain bored with doing everything else I also tend to stitch in spurts.This latest spurt has lasted about 4 months. The longest I’ve gone without stitching anything is about a month. This usually happens when I’ve just completed a complicated piece, or can’t make up my mind what USO to do. Once I decide, I’m off and running (I mean stitching). Tied in with these 2 threads-If I’m in the middle of a spurt when I literally have to force myself not to stitch, I will use stitching time to reward myself for doing less pleasant tasks ( a variation of first we work, then we play, from my kids early school days).

I think the question would have to be: When don’t  you stitch? I stitch whenever I’m not on the computer, or doing housework (ha or going for a bike ride with my daughter, or teaching a piano lesson. I used to stitch at work when no one was looking. I stitch whenever I can. I wish I could stitch in the car, but motion sickness prevails. I have been lurking for awhile and I finally decided to venture out by responding to this question. I like to do counted cross stitch at home while in the living room while the tv is going. It helps me not to snack after dinner which is an added bonus. Prior to the internet explosion I used to stitch at work. My favorite time to stitch though is on the train. I spend about an hour one way on the train so I can get a lot done.

I love watching peoples expression and actions when they see me stitching and the quality of work I do. Being a man and doing cross stitching does not fit the normal stereotype of a stitcher but when you add in the fact that I am 6’5″ and about 290 lbs it makes watching their reactions that much better. I started stitching more or less on a dare from some of the ladies that rode the train. Once I started I found out how much I love it. My latest completed project was a set of kitchen towels and pot holders for my wife. The pot holders were tough to do with the pocket on the pot holder and my frying pan sized hand trying to squeeze into it. I did a teddy bear sitting in a heart with a diagonal design with a heart in the center. Really looks nice.