Not everything I make turns out the way I want it to. I don’t know if this is because I am constantly making things without planning ahead, or if it’s just a natural part of the creative process, but my holiday ornament project just reminded me that sometimes things don’t work.
When I find a new embroidery stitch, I only test it out if it looks difficult. Most of the time I’m too impatient to do a sample. More complicated stitches get added to my sampler, partly so I remember therm, and partly for the practice. Ideally, practice keeps you from making mistakes when it matters.
Ideally.
When I saw buttonhole bars (which must have been called picot stitch by someone, only now I can’t find that video), I got excited. They added dimension with a traditional feel, and were a simple modification of a stitch I already knew.
Despite my confidence that I could do it, I was a good girl. I practiced the stitch on my test sampler. Five whole times. That seemed like enough.
When I added buttonhole bars to a heart-shaped ornament in progress, however, it did not go well. Some of the stitches look okay and some of them really don’t. The more I did, the worse things got. What had seemed simple was suddenly confusing and I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong.
In the end, I abandoned this ornament. I considered ripping the bars out, but that would damage the felt. Besides, I don’t like the rest of it either. Why put in the effort trying to save something I don’t like?
This little embroidery mess reminded me that not everything is easy. Some things take practice, and not just five stitches worth.
I don’t like all the ornaments I’ve made, but that’s okay. Every time I make a mistake I learn something new.
Like practice makes presentable.
Do you take the time to practice new skills before “doing the thing?”
