Do you ever find yourself, mid-embroidery-project, facing a problem that you knew you should have addressed much sooner?
Well, that’s where I’ve been lately with the Mission Rose. There is a problem with it. And, like many problems that we run into on needlework projects, just the mere thought of the problem and how to rectify it was slowing me down.
But, just like with many problems we face in life, if we avoid it, it just gets bigger! Before you know it, you’ve got a proverbial Mountain where there should just be a wee Mole Hill. And most of that mountain is built in our minds, more than in reality. That is certainly the case with this problem on the Mission Rose.
The problem needs addressing. I can’t fudge it and make do. I needs must correct it, in order to move on with confidence in a decent outcome.
And so… here’s the problem, and my solution.
It’s a corner problem. A month or so ago, I was talking to a friend on the phone who follows Needle ‘n Thread, and she asked if I had “stitched myself into a corner.” And indeed, I have.
The problem may not be readily apparent. See where the felt ends? In that corner, the felt ends exactly on the design line. Good, right?
Well, no, actually.
At the end of the felt, gold threads have to be plunged. And in plunging the thread and working an edge around the gold, each frame piece will encroach upon the corner. And the corner will become off-set and much smaller.
The fact that I’d already begun the goldwork on the outer frame did not help elevate my mood as I pondered this whole situation.
Finally, though, I decided there was nothing for it. The felt had to be trimmed.
First thing I did was go through and cut the tacking threads at the end of each felt bar around the frame.
Then, using a small pair of sharp scissors, I folded the felt upwards and trimmed off a tiny cut just along the edge. I didn’t need to trim much – just a tiny bit.
Here, you can see one corner with the trimming accomplished.
I’m a bad trimmer. I treat trimming the same way my dad does. My mom learned a long time ago to never let him near a hedge or a bush with a pair of clippers, if she wanted anything left!
I kept wanting to trim a little more, to “even it up.” But I held back!
Once the trimming was done, I went back and tacked those ends of the felt back down.
Now, I’ll have room to plunge threads and also to outline the frame with another heavier thread, just like I did with this part of the inner goldwork frame.
Aha! I bet you weren’t expecting to see this!
Initially, neither was I!
My original plan for the corners involved small round garnet (red) beads with a pearl center for the flowers. The beads would sit up high enough to work with the thicker heavier gold thread frame, and they would provide a kind of decorative inset to the corners.
The beads I had in mind don’t work. I’ve looked high and low for a deep red garnet bead that doesn’t have a purple tint to it, but with no luck.
So decided to try something different. I decided I’d appliqué some deep red silk (to match the rose) into the corners, and work the flowers a different way.
But alas! The only red silk I could find looked orange on the piece. It just didn’t work.
So I opted for red silk thread – the same thread I used predominantly in the rose – and I’m filling the corners with long and short stitch in that color, to give a nice red silk background.
Why not satin stitch? you might wonder. Satin stitch is beautiful. And the space is not all that large, so it seems like it would be a good choice. But I’m going to be sewing something on top of the stitches, and it’s very easy for satin stitches to separate and show the ground fabric. That will be less likely to occur with the long and short stitch filling, which is much more dense and compact.
And so, here I am, handling the corners before I intended to.
The felt problem is situated.
And I’m moving forward again.
See? It wasn’t that big of a problem. It took me about five minutes to rectify it. But I troubled over it and avoided the Mission Rose for almost two weeks because of it!
The lesson I learned (again! this has certainly happened before!): If I tackle my stitching problems head on, once I realize they’re there, I’ll see how minor they really are, and I’ll move forward much faster.
And now, onward!
If you’d like to read the backstory and follow along with the Mission Rose project from start to finish, you’ll find all the articles relating to the project in the Mission Rose Project Index.
I’m glad I am not the only one. 2 weekends ago I made big progress on a small embroidery I was doing, but couldn’t make my satin stitch lie flat with stranded cotton. This last weekend I finally cut it out (all 4 layers and redid it with purl cotton. Much better, but I am still not happy and avoided it since Saturday. Since it has to be done by THIS weekend. I better discover a solution fast!!
Mm, I totally agree with you: Once you get on and starting working on a solution, instead of getting stymied by the problem, it often eases its way out clear before us. Only things that are avoided get bigger and bigger. A problem faced gets smaller and smaller.=)
Keep up the good work!
Dear Mary
You’ve certainly Surprised us, I wasn’t expecting the long & short stitch in the corners! It’s a shame about the beads it sounded lovely with the garnet and pearl beads, but it’s difficult obtaining the right colour beads to match the thread. But the deep read colour thread looks equally good and I’m glad your moving forward to continue with the project, I can’t wait to see further progress.
Regards Anita Simmance
Mary – I know all about problems and how I fret and fret for weeks. Then, once I start trying things and working with it, it either comes together quickly OR not at all. If the not at all scenario is in play, I put it aside and fret and fret some more while I work on other things. Then voila! It works. There are a few times I’m completely stumped – especially when designing but it languishes somewhere in the back of the mind and I find myself picking up pieces if not fixing the entire problem eventually!
You have to like the process as much as the result!
Judy
Mary, I love, love, love your blog. I am a faithful daily reader. The photos are so good and clear. The tectonic is feels like you are talking to me personally. These lessons are immensely helpful. Thank you so much for being in my daily life.
I am glad you have found your solution. In fact perhaps the most important thing I have learned from you in the past few months is that sometimes undoing some work is the only way forward. I have put aside many pieces of work to avoid doing just that in the past but you have made me realise that I just need to undo it and start over. I’ve been doing this recently and my work has been much more satisfying, so thank you, Mary.
Mary,
Two Weeks. Two Weeks! I understand completely the guilt trip one travels when a project is abandoned. Isn’t it the worst when someone brings up the project? In their minds their striking conversation, in your mind a million embroidery needles have just stabbed indelible holes in your conscience: “IT’S FINE! THE PROJECT IS GOING FINE!”
Happy to see you’ve crossed the mountain that was really a molehill. And who knows? Perhaps your Plan B will be that much more awesome, it’s looking lovely so far.
Happy Sewing,
Maureen Sewsplendid
I too know this frustration and more to the point I know the double frustration of trying to fix the problem, rather than undoing what is wrong and starting again.
Now on the subject of the garnet beads – I may have some if you are interested. Please let me know exactly what you want and I will check my supplies.
Hi, Christina! Thanks for the offer! I’ve decided to take a different route – I’ll be working something on top of the red silk corners. Fingers crossed, that is. Haven’t quite tested them yet, but I think it will work! 🙂 if it doesn’t, it just be another two-steps-forward-one-step-back situation. I’m getting used to those! – MC
I’ve been there! Except in my case its usually a stupid mistake that comes about due to exhaustion (its soooo hard to convince myself to put the needle DOWN!) And then one bad choice leads to a mess. And I understand what you mean about facing it head on, but I tend to get so mad at myself that if I try to fix the error right away I muss the whole thing up. In fact, recently on a hardanger piece I found a mistake (thankfully before cutting!) Picked it out, made the EXACT SAME mistake, picked it out AGAIN, made the same mistake a third time . . . and went to.bed. I’ve been known to put aside projects for weeks in order to let the frustration subside, thankfully I always go back!
Great to read that it’s not just me. And a brilliant tip – aspect that needs to be considered. Thanks.
Mary My English is too poor to express my “émerveillement” in front of the master piece of art you’ve accomplished !
Congratulations ! BRAVO !!!