red thread stitching practise
A few weekends ago, for no particular reason, I picked up some white linen and red stitching thread (sewing machine weight). And I started stitching.
Actually, the reason was that I wanted something to do during our Stitch Circle Community zoom call. I like seeing everyone’s hands working while we’re talking. It’s a beautiful thing to gather together and do our creative work - generally for us it’s stitching or hand sewing. Seeing hands moving up into screen, people re-thread needles, snipping thread. It’s lovely for my heart.
I had planned for the idea of this being a daily practice for me. I keep wanting to have a stitching practice that I dedicate to each day. Practise and practice. Both of them - noun and verb.
But I found that as I was sitting and doing I didn’t want to stop when I got to the edge of the spaces I’d drawn out. And some days I missed doing it, so I had to ‘catch up’. And I know from experience that the pressure I put on myself with having to catch up on a daily stitch project becomes too much.
And then I end up giving up.
So, instead it’s simply a piece that I’m working on. Some days I’ve done one small section. Some days I’ve done quite a few. Whatever happens during the time I’m working on it. Some days I’ve done none at all. It’s an indication of the day, really. Today, Sunday, I spent quite a while on it. Working, while sipping my coffee and having a lovely morning with my family.
Yesterday and Friday I did none, as I was getting out the door for a day at the studio. Packing school lunch and making sure I was ready too. I am very out of practise of getting ready everyday for a whole day out, as it’s not something I’ve done in a long long time.
This piece will keep going until it’s full. Which possibly won’t be too far away. I have a few days in the studio this coming week, so think I won’t get a chance to work on it on those days. But the days I don’t leave the house are good for a short while of stitching before my official work day begins. Once it’s finished I’m thinking I’ll frame it, but ideally I’d like to make some more and work them into something.
I like the idea of seeing where it evolves. When I put too many restrictions then I feel bound tight to it and don’t have the freedom finish the work.
I’m using simple running stitch, though I add a few backstitches in every so often if I feel like it’s getting pulled too much. Or sometimes backstitch fills the space a bit better. Knots are evolving occasionally, and tangles in the thread, loops and loose threads. This is mainly because I’m using a fine thread (sewing machine thickness), and I’m cutting it quite long. I’m going with these messy accidents, and allowing them as they come. Not forcing them, but not untangling them.
While I’m here writing a blog post, I thought I’d share me wearing my new glasses - I can finally see things in the distance, and birds no longer look like blobs on a tree branch. The moon looks sharp and clear, not a wobbly but very pretty smudge. And this little moment in our little studio. A cushion I sewed out of the finest floral silk linen.
