C's father does needlepoint. Yes. His father. When he found out he was going to be a grandfather, he decided that he would make a Christmas stocking for each of them. For his first grandchild, he picked out a design on an 18 point canvas, R's on the left. He quickly realized that, from then on, any other stockings couldn't be done on such a fine scale or he'd be a blind grandpa. A smart decision, I'd say, as R is only 5 and he now has 6 grandchildren, with 2 more expected before next Christmas! We've been keeping him very busy! E's stocking, on the right, is still very detailed, but maybe a 12 point. (I messed around with Microsoft Paint, tampering with the real lettering of the names at the top.) At any rate, he does incredibly intricate and beautiful work and these are truly family treasures.
Our other stockings pale by comparison, a wooly grey pair in mismatched sizes found at the thrift store for C and I, and the others that I made several years ago from thrifted woolen shirts and pants and that we use for holiday guests (3 this year). Holiday artwork and advent calendars are "hung with care" on the bulletin board.
I'd better get off to bed so Santa can come and fill these stockings up...
