Coping with disability

I began learning needlecraft at school. It was a subject thought to be of primary importance back then. To start our education we were all given a piece of red gingham material and asked to transform it into a cross stitched apron. It haunted our class for a whole school year and thoroughly put me off cross stitch. However, once past that exercise we progressed to other aspects of sewing. By the end of my school days I had become reasonably proficient at dressmaking.

In later years the needle skills enabled me to make our daughter's wedding dress (see dress picture in the craft pages). It took blood, sweat and tears to create it but it looked impressive on the big day. I couldn't make it now because I needed to lay it out on the floor and be able to crawl around. That's something I can't do anymore.

A road accident in 1991 led to a dramatic change in lifestyle. I had been a working girl, a housewife and mother up until then. I had many immobile and painful hours of time to reflect on the aftermath the of the event and the restrictions that it had permanently placed upon me.

One day, while watching TV, an advertisement caught my interest. It was for a new needlework magazine that was being sold with a free cross stitch kit. I managed to ignore the voice in my head that was chanting, "Remember the red gingham!!" and resolved to buy it. It just shows how desperate I had become to find an interest.

I arrived home from town the next day with the magazine and kit. By the time I had completed the tiny two inch square pot-pourie sachet I was hooked on cross stitch.

From there on, each picture I attempted was more complex than the last. I am now proficient enough to pass on the skills and have been able to offer help and encouragement to three ladies in a day centre I attend. They have suffered strokes but have, nonetheless, managed to create some pleasing pictures.

I was really pleased when CROSS STITCH COLLECTION MAGAZINE published a letter I wrote on the subject along with a photograph of me with my needlework. It was made the star feature of the readers input pages and won me a prize of some valuable threads.

This therapeutic hobby is becoming increasingly popular with women and men from all walks of life. The kits cover many subjects ranging from landscapes to motor bikes.

I now spend quite a bit of time on different crafts. In July 1999 I was pleased to pass 'year one/part one' of a City & Guilds course called, 'Preparing Working Designs', which involves passing an examination in various needle and other crafts. However, I always tend to return to my first love of cross stitch.