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Getting to Know the Stitching Community: Karyn (aka Ma Teakettle)

I’m pleased to welcome Karyn as a contributor here at Stitching the Night Away and to get to know her a little bit better here in this stitcher profile interview. You might recognize Karyn from her blog The Teakettle Corner.

You’ll also find Karyn on Twitter and Facebook as bzctmom.

All right, let’s get to the stitching Q&A goodness…

What’s your favorite type of cross stitch project to work on?

Samplers

Do you have a favorite designer?

I have so many favorites, too many to chose “one for all time,” but if I have one designer that is always in my WIP basket, it has to be The Prairie Schooler. I love the old fashioned simplicity of Pam’s designs combined with her spot on color schemes.

I can totally relate to having too many favorites!

How big is your cross stitching stash?

Well, let’s just say it’s big enough to take up a bit of space in my room, but not so big that it takes up the whole room. I have been working on whittling it down a bit, but it just seems to grow right back, funny how that happens.

I trimmed back my stash not too long ago also, and somehow ended up with twice as many patterns. It’s a total mystery how that happens LOL

How long have you been stitching?

I have been stitching for 43 years…yep, that’s a long time! LOL How did you learn? My Mom taught me to cross stitch when I was 6 (I just gave away my age…oops), and I still have my first couple of finishes. Mom taught my sister and I many types of needle arts that we both still use today, though cross stitch is still my one passion.

Do you have any “in real life friends” to share your stitching with in person, or maybe a local stitch-n-bitch with a local stitch group?

Nope, I have yet to find anyone in my area who does any needle work other than knitting or crochet. I love to read about the many stitching groups out there who meet at each other’s houses or their LNS, I am jealous of you all 🙂

What project finish are you most proud of?

It would have to be “My Sewing Sampler” by Blue Ribbon Designs, as it took me months to finish and many of the embellishments that I used were from the drawers of my Grandma’s old Singer sewing machine.
BRD My Sewing Sampler

Bonus question: Add anything you’d like to share here about stitching!

I just love stitching, and I find that my soul is fed with each pull of the needle. There is so much enjoyment in discovering a chart and choosing the floss and fabric to go with it, and then the anticipation that goes along with making that very first stitch. I don’t know which part I love more, the creativity that I feel while I stitch or the pure beauty that blooms before my eyes as the different colors of floss blend, one after the other. I just love how it only takes a few stitches for that feeling of instant gratification and sense of accomplishment to come through, and then I am right back to my 6 year old self, in Mom’s sewing room, watching magic being created right before my eyes. Brilliant!

Yes, I am a stitching nerd…and proud of it! 🙂

I love that, “stitching nerd,” I think I need to work that into a little design or quote somehow!

Karyn, thank you for sharing your stitching and experiences with us here today. We look forward to having you as a contributing author here at Stitching the Night Away.

Everyone, be sure to stop by The Teakettle Corner or send a tweet to @bzctmom and say hello to Karyn this weekend.

Happy Stitching!

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Filed Under: Stitching Community

About Loretta

Passionate stitcher. Mom of four amazing young men. Wife to a comic book geek who makes me smile every day. Transcriptionist by trade. Gluten-free by necessity. Writer at heart. Seeker of knowledge and reader of novels. Dreamer of big colorful creative dreams.

Comments

  1. Caffeinated Joe says

    January 6, 2013 at 8:43 am

    Great interview! She seems like such a fun person! If we are here, are we all stitching nerds? We need a catchier name tho. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Grace horton says

    January 6, 2013 at 1:42 pm

    Very nice interview. I enjoy visiting her blog.

    Reply
  3. Vicki says

    January 6, 2013 at 2:13 pm

    I wouldn’t mind at all being called a stitching nerd…lol

    Reply
  4. Mike Stewart says

    January 6, 2013 at 4:50 pm

    Well, I’ve been called alot of things, but “Stitching Nerd” is a first. I’ll echo the other ladies, very nice interview and she does sound like a pretty cool person.

    Reply
  5. Joy says

    January 7, 2013 at 8:13 am

    Ma is on of he nicest people ever. So glad to have met her in the blogging community!

    Reply

Comments are always welcome and appreciated....Cancel reply

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Didn't like how crochet practice was looking, frog Didn't like how crochet practice was looking, frogged it all out, now I have a big yarn ball to start over again ...
The annual list of stitchalongs is ready on the we The annual list of stitchalongs is ready on the website https://www.stitchingthenightaway.com/big-list-cross-stitch-sals-2025/ 

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