Stitching Without the Frills

This blog is meant to help dudes get started with cross-stitching as a way to improve mental health.  Here are just a few benefits associated with cross-stitching:

Stab something 1,000 times or more

Improved hand-eye coordination and dexterity

Increased focus

Stay out of trouble by keeping your hands busy

Thus far a lot of cross-stitching has been crap that belongs on grandma’s wall, and it’s rare that you find a pattern or design that a dude can hang up.  I got sick and tired of only finding flowers and Bible verses at the store, fuck that noise.  Let’s stitch explosions and shit like that.  

If you want to stitch flowers and Bible verses, that’s cool too.

I, The Stitching Dude (Clint), am in training to be a psychologist.  In my time working with other guys, something I’ve noticed is that many men simply don’t have an outlet for restlessness or frustration.  Guys who are trying to quit smoking find they suddenly don’t have anything to do with their hands.  Others cause trouble out of boredom, or might not have the means to do large-scale craft projects.  Stitching is something that can be done cheaply and in small spaces, and for most people can be done safely.  Some guys who might not like standard therapeutic techniques such as mindfulness or meditation might find cross-stitch relaxing instead, as it doesn’t require too much mental energy.  

I don’t claim to be an expert in cross-stitch or embroidery, just someone who enjoys it as a hobby.  On the blog I will share tips and techniques that I’ve picked up along with way, what I’m working on, and various stitch-related posts.  

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