To borrow phrasing from “The Golden Girls’” Sophia Petrillo, picture it: Warwick, New York. Late ’80s. Middle schooler me with my aggressively hair-sprayed ocean wave of bangs, oversized cable-knit sweater, and loud plaid Skidz pants (tucked into white scrunched-down socks, of course). Where was this obviously popular youngster headed to after school, you ask? Cross stitch club. Yep, cross stitch club. With that and my commitment to the stamp club, how was I not drowning in social invitations?
Jokes aside (mostly), I’ve always been drawn to making things by hand. My dear Aunt Ruth was an avid cross stitcher and sewer, and I loved spending time with her and making gifts for
my family and friends. What better way to say “I love you” than spending oodles of hours working on something that reflects a loved one’s interests? During the pandemic, I picked the counted cross stitch habit back up, but my momentum working on projects has slowed lately. Enter Poppypointe to the rescue.—Kristie Smeltzer
What
Open stitch night at Poppypointe.
Why
Crafty activities can be fun to enjoy with like-minded folks.
How It Went
I stitched. I peopled. Fun was had!
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I rolled into the local needlepoint store, Poppypointe, for its open stitch night, but I received a warm welcome. After being introduced to the six or seven stitchers present, I settled in with my jellyfish pattern and a thus far unstitched square of 16-count Aida fabric stretched taut in my embroidery hoop. The possibilities felt endless. No mistakes had been made yet, but that time would soon come to an end, as it always did.
Within my first three minutes, I spotted two needles on the floor. Occupational hazard, of course, but make sure you don’t roll into stitch night without shoes. Conversation drifted between people’s summer vacations, visits to similar stores while traveling, and projects that designers were working on ahead of “market.” I realized I’d stepped into a whole different world. From what I could surmise, there are several seasonal needlepoint markets where avid stitchers find new projects and supplies. Vendors participate to showcase new designs and peddle their wares. Folks also have opportunities to participate in classes and other gatherings. It’s like cross stitch club, but with needlepoint, and on a much grander scale.
The group vibe felt happily low-key, with folks leaving early and dropping in later during the two-hour open stitch time. Everyone else worked on needlepoint projects on painted canvases, and I quickly became envious. While I counted and recounted the number of stitches I had to do, others followed the patterns printed on their canvases with ease as they participated in conversation. They may have made a convert of me to needlepoint because I absolutely want to try using a painted canvas now. Imagine it: I could have a good shot at stitching accurately and enjoying a glass of wine at the same time! (In my experience, mixing vino with counted cross stitch results in regret the next time I pick up that project to find my inevitable mistakes.)
During that evening, I did lose count a few times, but the company was lovely and totally worth it. Poppypointe felt very much like a third place, to use American sociologist Ray Oldenburg’s coinage, meaning a place where folks choose to gather and connect with others. It was nice to share time with kindred stitchers who also know the value of investing time in making something beautiful by hand for ourselves and others. I’ll definitely be back.