h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was beginning to think I was the only one interested in embroidery, or for that matter, any of the "old fashioned crafts. I learned to embroider at my Nanny's knee, and now take delight in the tea cloths and other items she and my mother stitched. I still do some myself, but I am taking it in directions past generations in my family didn't go - to modern covers for my furniture, in more up-to-date designs, some I've worked out myself. I embroidered kitchen curtains for my new house about 15 years ago and my mother thought I'd lost my mind!

As for knitting and crochet, I do them as well. Everyone admires my hand-knit sweaters, and some of them are very simple patterns. One, however, took 6 months to complete. In crochet, I work old, old patterns, some dating back to the 1920's or earlier. I fell heir to old pattern books, and they are the delight of my life! I did do one modern thing with it though - crochetted scrunchies - sold like hot cakes at craft sales!!

I was wondering if there were any other knitters or crocheters out there. For such a large site, I figured there had to be! I'm crocheting curtains for my living room, using an openwork filet pattern of roses that I found in a book. I guess that makes me crazy too.

Fillet roses - your curtains will be wonderful. I worked roses in a border for a coffee table cover. They turn out beautifully. My grandmother loved fillet, and my Mom hated doing it. I have all Grandma's patterns, and I just love fillet. Its like drawing - watching the design come up as you go along.

Yes, I love filet too. As a matter of fact, it's the only type of needlework my S.O. likes to watch me do. I was making a little muschroom table runner and he kept asking, "Are they mushrooms yet?"

My very creative family seem to like to watch my patterns come up, too. My husband especially keeps checking on the pattern to see if he can make it out yet.

I'm a textile designer and my career grew out of a love for embroidery, knitting, dressmaking that my Mum instilled in us from a very young age. I am now enjoying passing these skills on to my four daughters!!