Men embroider too!
Fine and painstaking needlework brings women a pleasure that men cannot understand β I would strongly argue with these lines by Nathaniel Hawthorne!
In some countries, complex needlework is the exclusive domain of men. A striking example of this is Spanish gold embroidery. In Spain, it has historically been the case that men are responsible for embroidering church vestments, and this skill is often passed down from father to son, forming entire embroidery dynasties.
Embroidery is very similar to meditation: the rhythmic movement of the needle, the rustle of the thread, focusing on the right color or number of stitches. That is why stern samurai would pass their free hours between training sessions doing embroidery. And not just any kind, but three-stitch satin stitch β one of the most difficult to execute!
Those who have read Dumas surely remember that Cardinal Richelieu was a passionate fan not only of openwork embroidery but also of the finest lace. At his suggestion, the best lace makers and embroiderers from Florence were invited to France; it was they who taught the French women the secrets of the craft.
Modern men, having watched their wives embroider, are also picking up the needle... And they can no longer tear themselves away from such an infectious activity (in the last photo, David Beckham is embroidering a doll dress for his daughter Harper. Isn't that just sweet!)
A former classmate of mine does bead embroidery :love:
His wife opened one bead kit, started it, and gave up - he finished it for her. That's how he got hooked ))