The Art of Needle and Thread

I love needlework!  When I was in my mid 20’s, I had my aunt teach me how to do counted cross stitch.  I also like piecing material together for quilts or projects.  Plus, I took a wool felt class with my mother years ago and fell in love with that too.  These give me plenty to do in the long winter months.

There’s just something about a needle pulling thread, whether by hand or by machine.  The rhythmic in and out, pulling the thread tight enough to be smooth, but not too much to pucker your piece.

I don’t consider myself good at these, but adequate.  Cutting and sewing the pieces all alike, I find that many end up not looking exactly like the others.  I just smile and say, “Well, that’s my spin on it”.  My crafts definitely look homemade, even if I’d rather they looked a little more         polished.

I did some paper piecing for a sewing class instructor once.  She showed me how to do it and showed me her piece.  It looked almost like a computer had put it together.  Very straight and no nonsense.  When I gave her the ones that she gave me to do, she looked at them and said, “Well, I can use these to show how this technique can also look homemade”.  Enough said.

But, over time, I’ve seen the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh, Picasso and the like, and realize that my humble work suits me just fine.  Art is in the eye of the beholder.  My eyes would like to see more symmetry in my quilting, but when I’m off this planet, and having a blast in Heaven, my family will have my creations that I poured my love into.  And hopefully, the misshapes and crooked lines will give them one more smile when they look at it and remember me.