Scratching a Needlework Project at the Halfway Point!
I knew it. I knew this would happen! But I can't help it, and I think it's Much Better this way. I've gotten to the half-way point on a project, and, after much serious contemplation, I have made the decision to scrap it and start over!
You probably know how it is: you've set out on a needlework venture, excited to get going and see how the project works out, but unfortunately unhappy with your materials, or color choices, or threads.... Something is Not Quite Right, but you're determined to get going on the project, because you're excited about it!
And you know what happens, don't you? You stitch with slight misgivings, never Quite Comfortable with the project, but still pushing to a point where you can at least see it - that point where you know, for sure, that you were right and no matter how much optimism to try to pour into it, you aren't going to like it, and it just isn't going to work! You realize, at that point, that it isn't worth putting in the time and effort on the other half of the project.
I arrived at that point this weekend with the baby booties. I pushed to finish one booty, so I could sew it up and see for myself.
In fact, I didn't even "finish" the bootie. I just quickly stitched the seams (and did a rather poor job on the easing around the toe) so I could see it put together. On the turned-down sides, I did not do the buttonholing to finish the edges, and I didn't put the eyelets in for the little cord and bow.
I like the concept of the embroidery (though perhaps I'd modify the abundance).
I like the shape of the shoe. In fact, I can safely say I love the shape of the shoe - I think it's cute, and it looks so darling on Adele's foot.
I like the accents - the eyelets and the buttonholing on the edge.
But I just can't stomach the color problem.
Or the overkill. If I had stuck with straight pink, I'd be in Baby-Bootie-Maker's Heaven right now. But oh good golly, Miss Molly. The mismatched color, the polka dots, all the embroidery - on something barely 2.5 inches long? No, no. It won't do. It suffers from OMSS. Overabundant, Mismatched Sugar Shock.
But in concept, it's a sweet little bootie. So I'm going to start completely over and fulfill my Bootie-Making-Dreams before Adele decides to sprout farther.
This is what I've learned:
1. If I'm going to line it, I'm going to line it after I've done the embroidery, and in either the same color or a very subtle color, with no print on it, that I can easily match to available thread colors.
2. I'll use a larger awl for piercing the front eyelets.
3. Floche is perfect for embroidering on flannel like this. I like it a lot.
4. Before stitching the shoe up on the machine, baste the toe ease, then set the stitch length on the machine for very small stitches, and pivot every few stitches to get a smooth curve on the toe. In any case, take time with the sewing part!
Please understand I'm not crying over this!!! I'm glad I got to this point so I could see it, so I would know whether or not I wanted to put effort into the second bootie, or just start over. I'll just start afresh! And I'm a lot happier about that!
When you're in a similar situation (do you ever find yourself in such stitching situations?), how do you handle it? At what point do you scrap it? Or do you never scrap it, persevering to the end? Any pointers you want to share on this?
Happy Monday!
You probably know how it is: you've set out on a needlework venture, excited to get going and see how the project works out, but unfortunately unhappy with your materials, or color choices, or threads.... Something is Not Quite Right, but you're determined to get going on the project, because you're excited about it!
And you know what happens, don't you? You stitch with slight misgivings, never Quite Comfortable with the project, but still pushing to a point where you can at least see it - that point where you know, for sure, that you were right and no matter how much optimism to try to pour into it, you aren't going to like it, and it just isn't going to work! You realize, at that point, that it isn't worth putting in the time and effort on the other half of the project.
I arrived at that point this weekend with the baby booties. I pushed to finish one booty, so I could sew it up and see for myself.
In fact, I didn't even "finish" the bootie. I just quickly stitched the seams (and did a rather poor job on the easing around the toe) so I could see it put together. On the turned-down sides, I did not do the buttonholing to finish the edges, and I didn't put the eyelets in for the little cord and bow.
I like the concept of the embroidery (though perhaps I'd modify the abundance).
I like the shape of the shoe. In fact, I can safely say I love the shape of the shoe - I think it's cute, and it looks so darling on Adele's foot.
I like the accents - the eyelets and the buttonholing on the edge.
But I just can't stomach the color problem.
Or the overkill. If I had stuck with straight pink, I'd be in Baby-Bootie-Maker's Heaven right now. But oh good golly, Miss Molly. The mismatched color, the polka dots, all the embroidery - on something barely 2.5 inches long? No, no. It won't do. It suffers from OMSS. Overabundant, Mismatched Sugar Shock.
But in concept, it's a sweet little bootie. So I'm going to start completely over and fulfill my Bootie-Making-Dreams before Adele decides to sprout farther.
This is what I've learned:
1. If I'm going to line it, I'm going to line it after I've done the embroidery, and in either the same color or a very subtle color, with no print on it, that I can easily match to available thread colors.
2. I'll use a larger awl for piercing the front eyelets.
3. Floche is perfect for embroidering on flannel like this. I like it a lot.
4. Before stitching the shoe up on the machine, baste the toe ease, then set the stitch length on the machine for very small stitches, and pivot every few stitches to get a smooth curve on the toe. In any case, take time with the sewing part!
Please understand I'm not crying over this!!! I'm glad I got to this point so I could see it, so I would know whether or not I wanted to put effort into the second bootie, or just start over. I'll just start afresh! And I'm a lot happier about that!
When you're in a similar situation (do you ever find yourself in such stitching situations?), how do you handle it? At what point do you scrap it? Or do you never scrap it, persevering to the end? Any pointers you want to share on this?
Happy Monday!
Labels: baby booties, Hand embroidery stitches, needlework pictures, pictures
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Posted By: Mary Corbet on Monday, October 06, 2008
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