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Cross stitching is often thought of as being a solitary pastime, perhaps sitting alone while everyone else is out having a great time. But this is not so! This delightful craft can be the ticket to make many new cross stitch friends and have lots of fun -- and yes, complete those cross stitch projects too.

When you first start your quest, stop by your local craft store. They may have a cross stitch club that meets there or know of one in the area. If they currently don't have a club that meets at the store, ask about starting one. Even if the store isn't interested, don't get discouraged. You can still form your own cross stitch club.

If you decide to start a cross stitch club, take some time to work up a plan before you jump in. Some things you'll want to consider will be where will the club meet, will you have enough chairs and proper lighting, and will the members be able to park nearby? In addition, you may want to consider if you'll serve refreshments and, if so, who will supply them. Oh, and don't forget to pick a meeting time that will work for most of the members. You want to make it possible for everyone to come to the meetings.

You'll also have to think about the subscription rate, the aims of the club and any specific rules for members. It may be a good idea to discuss initial plans with your first members so that your club can be fine-tuned to meet most people's needs. Don't forget that cross stitch uses your hands and your eyes -- so you can chat and listen at the same time.

After thinking through what's involved, you may feel like the process of starting a club is a bit more than you're willing to handle. In that case, you can try something a little more low-key. Simply ask a few of the people you know who like to cross stitch to come to your house for a fun stitching-party. If you have friends who don't know how to cross stitch, you can teach them. You may find that your informal gathering soon turns into a regular club meeting.

Of course, you can find cross stitch friends in other places close to home.

The most obvious way to cast the net of friendship is to seek out penpals. There are many stitching websites that have a penpal section, and many popular magazines contain find-a-penpal pages. This is wonderful way of making cross stitch friends from all over the world, and you may have the opportunity of exchanging small projects if you so wish. It's often helpful to discuss your stitching projects -- you can motivate each other to finish those tricky pieces you've been putting off.

The internet has many penpal sites too, although in my view, it's worthwhile taking time to ensure that the site you're engaging with is a good one. Never add your postal address or telephone number to their database. Your email address will suffice for the first exchanges with a new friend, and you can give her or him more contact details when you are sure that the person is genuine. You may prefer to have an e-pal, as opposed to a snail mail friend.

Many people prefer to chat with their penpal using email rather than snail mail. When you email, you tend to get a quicker response. This makes it simpler to keep in touch. Also, some people don't like writing letters, although they do enjoy writing emails. If, however, you and your penpal enjoy writing letters, then you'll be in for a treat sometimes when you visit your mailbox. In addition to letters, you and your penpal also can exchange little gifts for added fun.

There are a number of e-groups on the internet that combine email and snail mail to promote friendship and cross stitch worldwide. One such group is run by Yahoo, called XStitchpals. Members exchange cross stitched cards every month, with a different theme for each month. They also chat on a forum, support each other with stitching and non-stitching issues and may email each other individually if they wish. The friendships developed are very real, despite the fact that the members live so far from each other. This may well be the way forward for stitching friendship.

So what are you waiting for? There are lots of new cross stitch friends out there if you spend a little time looking for them... and hey! Why not look a little closer to where you are right HERE, right NOW -- go join the forums at Patterns Patch private cross stitch club.