Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Three For Thirty :: Days Thirteen & Fourteen... in a tangle

A photograph.
Some movement... walk, a swim, stretching, playing, yoga.
And sewing.
Every day, for thirty days.

Something about the sewing challenge compels me to try new things, like making teeny quilting stitches, and making tiny doll clothes. Now, I am trying out new embroidery stitches, like the feathered stitch I added to some quilt squares, and these funny little curly stitches I am figuring out... elongated French knots. Speaking of knots, no matter how experienced I feel as someone who sews, and no matter how careful I try to be, I make tangles, snarls, and nasty little knots.

My sewing experience has not prevented my thread from doing this, but it has helped me become rather expert at undoing this. The key is to stop as soon as there is even a hint of trouble, and then be patient and methodical, taking the best care possible not to pull any thread that tightens the tangle. It's nice to know I can undo some doozies, but gah is it frustrating, especially when nothing but cutting it out can help.

If I can save myself from having to remedy a cut thread, it's a huge relief.

My other tangle is an aesthetic~design tangle. You see, I have no idea what to do with these little curly, weirdo flowers I am making. I just stuck one on the damask-like print, then tried another, and another. Too much effort to pull out, and yet they have no rhyme, no reason, no plan. I've added even more since this picture was taken, and then I made blue French knot flower thingys... and yeah, totally random.

I'm not looking for permission or absolution... I'm just suggesting, to myself:

Hey, self, if you wonder why your work looks slapped together, if you wish your embroidery looked thoughtfully composed, might I suggest composing it thoughtfully? Woman, come up with a plan. Think ahead. Follow a pattern you admire. Please, consider the piece as a whole. Just saying.

Oh! Hold on a sec, self. One more note: Take Tami's wise advice about the seam binding, and finish that Picnic Quilt, this year!

4 comments:

Mrs. Monkeyboy said...

I love random embroidery! It's always a sweet surprise. Keep with the making. You make beautiful things, don't be so hard on your making and yourself. I have lurked here for over a year and what you do is so lovely.
XXOO

Miriam said...

Knots are my downfall too, only in my case it happens when I'm doing something really elementary like sewing on a button. I have never done any embroidery, never mind invented a squiggly flower stitch, so as far as I'm concerned you're a genius!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Mrs Monkeyboy... thank you. What a nice comment. You have boosted my confidence. I added a lot more flowers, and today I bought floss colors to go with the fabrics... just a little forethought that I think will serve me well. No more lurking... come out and play!

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Embroidery isn't so far removed from sewing buttons. Honest.
There's just more colors, and a willingness to sew, and sew, and sew.
You ladies do my confidence a world of good... thank you so much!