“Is that fun Grandma?” Rachel asked.
“Yes.” I replied.
“Then why don’t you look happy?”
“I’m concentrating.”
“Can I help you?”
“No. It’s only for one person.”
And so it went as I tried to accomplish something on my needlework while babysitting for my grand-daughter.
I thought about this conversation and realized stitching is not that much fun all the time. It is fun finding a pattern, selecting the threads that will go into the project, and taking the first stitch. All of that is exciting and it’s what makes me start another piece after struggling for weeks to finish the last one.
It’s been said by some ancient person who doesn’t own a car that, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” I always think of that when I start a new project. A needlepoint picture of a million stitches starts with the first stitch. And after that the work becomes tedious and time consuming—one stitch at a time—until it’s almost complete. At that point I become like a run away train. Just a few more stitches consume my thoughts into the wee small hours of the night until the last stitch is taken.
“A stitch in time saves nine.” This is a quote I often remember after making an error because I’m impatient. “When all else fails consult the instructions,” is another quote that plaques me as I’m feverishly trying to complete a project.
When I get in a hurry is the critical time when those world shaking problems come up–like when I discover that I’m off by one stitch. I did not see that coming. Now what do I do? Should I take out two rows of stitches or keep going and pretend I did it on purpose, you know the American Indian tradition of making a mistake so the art work isn’t perfect. I fall back on that one a lot. Or do I get creative?
When all else fails—embellish. A well placed bead can hide a multitude of imperfect stitches.
Working on a project isn’t as time consuming as the perks that go with it like dropping my needle in plush carpet. Getting down on hands and knees isn’t half the challenge of getting back up when I find my needle. I consider it a creative way to burn calories. A lot of people pay good money to go to the gym all I have to do is drop my needle a half dozen times for the same benefit.
Knots always happen when I have one more stitch left on the thread, or my husband is standing at the door waiting for me to join him on an exciting trip to the grocery store.
Working with a piece of thread that is fraying before my eyes can cause nightmares. “Don’t break, don’t break,” I say while trying to glide it through the fabric while causing it the least amount of stress possible. The “Ahhh” effect happens when it can be finished off without the terrifying snap that signals, pulling out stitches, working the thread into the project and threading the needle once again.
Another perk, I say facetiously, is when my piece is almost finished I suddenly discover the color I need is all gone. I dig through the waste basket to see if there is a strand big enough to complete the task. Now in panic mode I dial the local thread shop (which has probably closed since I purchased the original colors). The trek from store to store results in miles of driving and the willingness to pay anything for the precious matching color which I buy in bulk just to make sure I never run out it. Can you say FUN?
One of the happiest places in the world can cause a stitcher the most anxiety. While demonstrating at the fair with a number of samples displayed on a table my heart skips a beat when a happy go lucky fair-goer—not a stitcher–admires my work with a cup of coffee in their hand.
At our annual Spring Fair a child with cotton candy in one hand reached for my work with the other, “Pretty.” She said.
Pulling the work back I asked if she could read. She nodded, and I pointed to a sign. I could read her lips as she read, “Please do not touch.” She jumped back and scurried away. Who knows where Mom and Dad were. I felt like the Grinch that stole Christmas but nothing is more discouraging than removing a stain from an unfinished project. It took me a while to figure out a simple remedy would be to put the samples at the back of the table where little ones can’t reach. Adults are another issue. I am now an older and wiser stitcher.
While all these things hinder the work in progress I swear to never do another piece. It’s time to hang up my needle and threads. Maybe I should retire and do the dishes, the vacuuming, or weeding the garden. On second thought I don’t think so.
If I quit doing needlework I’d have to admit that I use handwork as an excuse to watch television. Or do I watch television to have an excuse to do handwork? It’s as confusing as the chicken and the egg.
I’ve decided the best thing for me will be to continue what I’ve been doing and not ask too many questions. All the trials and tribulations of doing needlework is forgotten on the last stitch because everything is right with the world, the birds are singing, the sun is shining and I am smiling. That’s the fun part.
Those who admire my needlework often ask, “Is it hard to do this?”
My reply is always the same, “No, anyone can do it if you take it one stitch at a time.”
When all is said and done and I have a beautiful piece of artwork hanging on my wall I am totally satisfied that my time was well spent.
Now it’s time to start a new project.
About Midge
Midge DeSart is the author of “Maintaining Balance In A Stress-Filled
World,” and essays in five other books. Two more essays will be
published in April in “Cup of Comfort for Mother’s and Daughters” and
“Love Is A Verb” by Gary Chapman. In addition to being an author Midge
is a quilter, stitcher and Bead Embellishment Artist and teacher. She
has dozens of blue ribbons from the Western Washington State Fair for her
needlework.
