When I want to be making something, but don’t have the energy for complicated projects like quilts or sweaters, I embroider. I break out the floss and start stitching. Sometimes even my improvised ornament designs are too much work. That’s when I grab the cross-stitch fabric (aka aida cloth) and make it up as I go.
In the past I’ve taken designs from a book to build a grid of borders. Lately, I’ve made my designs up entirely. I shoot for symmetry, because even a hot mess can look pretty good as long as it has an underlying structure.
I find these projects are especially good to work on when I can’t sleep, or when I’m trying to stay upright until it’s time to go to bed. I try not to nap when I’m struggling with insomnia because that gets me even further off schedule, but staying out of bed when I’m exhausted can be challenging. I treat myself to stitching because I enjoy it, and if I’m making up the pattern as I go, there are no mistakes.
What do you do when you can’t sleep?
