Getting straight to the point is this Ewha gem’s business

“It’s men who come into the shop these days,” says Choi Mi-kyung, the owner of Hwangsil Sipjasu, a cross-stitch shop near Ewha Womans University.
A few days ago, a soldier on leave visited Ms. Choi’s shop and bought a bunch of materials for the men in his platoon. “He said they stitch and chat at the military base in their free time,” she says.
Some men stitch for the fun of it, and some make gifts for their girlfriends.
Womens’ reactions fall into two categories, Ms. Choi says. The first group is impressed by their lover’s efforts (“It’s so sweet,” they say.). The other group wants to break it off with their beau (They can’t stand the thought of him sitting around doing needle point.).
Practically everything in this shop is cute and sweet. “Many customers start cross-stitching after looking around our shop,” Ms. Choi says. It seems that you can decorate almost anything with cross-stitching ― bibs, cushions, clocks, tissue cases, trays, frames, bags, key holders, the list goes on.
And the cost is reasonable. A spool of thread costs 450 won (about 40 cents). Cloth starts at 3,500 won. A cushion to adorn with your favorite design costs around 15,000 won.
Hundreds of design patterns in black and white are free for the taking at the shop, and new color patterns cost 2,000 won. And, it’s possible to download patterns from the Internet to save money.
The shop sells ready-made products as well as the threads, cloth, and needles. They also take custom orders. Yu Jeong-sook, the shop manager, spends most of her time stitching orders for customers. But why not do it yourself? “It’s easy to learn,” Ms. Yu says.
Well, unless you’re all thumbs, like me.

Hwangsil Sipjasu
Theme: Cross-stitch shop
Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Location: 56-37 Daehyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu. Near Ewha Womans University Station, subway line No. 2
Telephone: (02) 364-3808
Parking: None

by Park Sung-ha