Stories with
Jessica Savage gives you new ways to think big, with some tips for tackling those larger projects…
Stitch People
Hullo! Haveyoufound‘The PerfectPattern’, theonethatis beggingtobestitchedand framedandhungonyourwall? Exceptthatitfeelslikeit’soutofyour reach– it’shuge, ithassomanycolours, it’sdetailed… wheredoyouevenstart?
WhenIstartedstitchingIwasyoung andnaïve; Idoveinheadfirstwithout worryingwhatmybackslookedlikeor ifIwasdoingit‘right’. Ijustmadecrosses onmyfabricandenjoyedthe experience. I’dtakeonhugepatterns becauseitneveroccurredtomethatI shouldn’t. Istillapproachstitchingin thesameenthusiasticandnaïveway.
So, allowmetosharemythree goldentipsforstarting(and finishing!) overwhelmingpatterns:
1: Find your naivety…
Whenchildrenarelearning somethingnew– walking, talking, or ridingabike– theyletthejoyofthe momentcarrythemforward. They makemistakes, theyfail, andthey keeptryingwithouteverconsidering thatthey’renotcapable. Youwere capablethenandyou’reabsolutely capablenow! Justkeepmoving forward, howeverslowly.
2: Block it out…
Blockoutyourpatterninto smaller, easilydigestiblesections. Blockoutasinglecolourtousefor thisstitchingsitting. Blockoutatime eachnightorweektoworksolelyon thispattern. Optingtoworkon sectionsorsingleaspectsofapattern turnsaninsurmountabletaskinto doablebite-sizedchunks. Beforeyou knowit, you’vefinishedthepattern!
3: Remember, keep it fun…
Whysoserious? Forgetwhatthe backlookslike, forgetwhichwayyour stitchesaregoing. Iflargerpieces worryyou, useyourfirstoneaspractice tofindyourfeet; you’llonlydevelop methodsforapproachinglargepatterns ifyouattemptlargepatterns. But rememberyoudon’thavetodoit. Putit downforamonth(orayear, oradecade) andcomebacktoit. Sellorgiftthechart. Don’tstitchanythingthatdoesn’tmake youhappy.
Nowtrygivingacomplicated orlargepatternago! Youmayjust surpriseyourself. Happystitching! Jess