Satin & Jewels
Sometimes stitching takes gumption. Like when you don't really know if it's possible to finish in time. When false starts equal hours and hours and hours of "invisible progress" just finding out what doesn't work. Or even when your victorious finish is muddled by the late realization that you did it the hard way. Hm....at least my students won't have to.
Yes, this week my stitching took Buckets of gumption.
I'm relieved to find at the end that I've made something I can be proud of. Because it's not like that's guaranteed to happen.
Even so there are definitely parts I'm planning to redo now that I've fully conquered the satin stitch. How perfect do I want it to be?
May I present to you the next layer of the Handstitched class quilt?
I've dubbed this ring of embroidery Satin & Jewels because she feels a bit like a crown for the Dogwood Blossom center. Satin & Jewels is what we'll be making during the "Advanced Embroidery" week of Handstitched class. There will be two other stand-alone embroidery projects that week, since every week the class includes detailed tutorials for 3 projects total (2 stand-alone and 1 installment in the Handstitched quilt).
Handstitching is not meant to be rushed, and when you take the class, I don't believe it will be especially since you'll have 2 weeks to complete each week of lessons. But it was rushed this week for me due to those false starts and my self-imposed deadline. This work became a sort of constant companion. Thank goodness I enjoyed the companionship of several flesh and blood friends too. That's the nice thing about handwork; it absolutely lends itself to chatting away the night!
A friend who read last week's Handstitched class description was under the impression that the class isn't for beginners. I declare that it is! I'll be starting at the beginning: what needle to use, how to tie a knot, what are the different threads and how to use them, and there will be tutorials for every single stitch we use, right down to the very easiest. I've already started making those video tutorials for the Premium and Camp class versions. I think we'll have little videos for every stitch, since that's really the best way to learn them. And, you know, by and large the stitches are totally easy. It's more a matter of understanding when to use what. And that comes with experience, actually using them for Actual Projects... which makes a class like this more valuable than a stitch encyclopedia or whatnot.
So, I just wanted to clear the air on that, in case any of you were wondering too. I know lots of people in real life who admire what I do (the quilting and such), but don't know where to start. For some people, starting with a needle and thread in hand is just light-years more comfortable than starting behind a humming sewing machine. I totally get that - that quick-moving machine used to intimidate me too. If you don't sew at all, you obviously won't be able to take advantage of all of the projects right away, but there will be a project each week of lessons that can be completed without the sewing machine. These are projects that I know experienced sewists will enjoy as well, but I've made sure they exist as a bridge for you that brand new. If you take the premium or camp versions you'll have the eBook of Handstitched class to keep, so you can take advantage of the machine-finished projects just as soon as you're ready!
Sound good? As always, let me know if you have any questions about Handstitched class (after reading the class description). And now I'm looking forward to machine sewing a skirt this weekend. You all have a good one!
Yes, this week my stitching took Buckets of gumption.
I'm relieved to find at the end that I've made something I can be proud of. Because it's not like that's guaranteed to happen.
Even so there are definitely parts I'm planning to redo now that I've fully conquered the satin stitch. How perfect do I want it to be?
May I present to you the next layer of the Handstitched class quilt?
I've dubbed this ring of embroidery Satin & Jewels because she feels a bit like a crown for the Dogwood Blossom center. Satin & Jewels is what we'll be making during the "Advanced Embroidery" week of Handstitched class. There will be two other stand-alone embroidery projects that week, since every week the class includes detailed tutorials for 3 projects total (2 stand-alone and 1 installment in the Handstitched quilt).
Handstitching is not meant to be rushed, and when you take the class, I don't believe it will be especially since you'll have 2 weeks to complete each week of lessons. But it was rushed this week for me due to those false starts and my self-imposed deadline. This work became a sort of constant companion. Thank goodness I enjoyed the companionship of several flesh and blood friends too. That's the nice thing about handwork; it absolutely lends itself to chatting away the night!
A friend who read last week's Handstitched class description was under the impression that the class isn't for beginners. I declare that it is! I'll be starting at the beginning: what needle to use, how to tie a knot, what are the different threads and how to use them, and there will be tutorials for every single stitch we use, right down to the very easiest. I've already started making those video tutorials for the Premium and Camp class versions. I think we'll have little videos for every stitch, since that's really the best way to learn them. And, you know, by and large the stitches are totally easy. It's more a matter of understanding when to use what. And that comes with experience, actually using them for Actual Projects... which makes a class like this more valuable than a stitch encyclopedia or whatnot.
So, I just wanted to clear the air on that, in case any of you were wondering too. I know lots of people in real life who admire what I do (the quilting and such), but don't know where to start. For some people, starting with a needle and thread in hand is just light-years more comfortable than starting behind a humming sewing machine. I totally get that - that quick-moving machine used to intimidate me too. If you don't sew at all, you obviously won't be able to take advantage of all of the projects right away, but there will be a project each week of lessons that can be completed without the sewing machine. These are projects that I know experienced sewists will enjoy as well, but I've made sure they exist as a bridge for you that brand new. If you take the premium or camp versions you'll have the eBook of Handstitched class to keep, so you can take advantage of the machine-finished projects just as soon as you're ready!
Sound good? As always, let me know if you have any questions about Handstitched class (after reading the class description). And now I'm looking forward to machine sewing a skirt this weekend. You all have a good one!