It’s fun for me to watch Addie learn new things. She was so excited about her diamond painted unicorn. While it wasn’t hard for her, I think she was thrilled with her accomplishment. Sometimes we’ll be talking and I’ll explain something and I’ll see the lightbulb and she says “Oh!” and she’ll often repeat it back in her words.
I’m glad we’re never too old to learn. I think that’s why I love trying new recipes – making new things. It seems that even when I make recipes that I remember loving from years back, they don’t seem as good as I remember them. New recipes rarely disappoint but I know what we like and can often tell from the ingredients/steps whether it’s something that will work for us.
Yesterday as I was cross stitching and trying to do all the green stitches as I came to them (lines, leaves, flowers) and kept getting frustrated, once I decided to do just the lines first, and go back and stitch the leaves and flowers, even though it meant more stops and starts, it was a much more relaxing stitch. That’s when I realized that trying to do all of one color in an area doesn’t always work best for me. There may come a time when I’m more experienced and it’s easier for me to go off on those angles and then back to the straight stitching but for now, it’s easier and more enjoyable to stitch all the lines first.
Also, I love starting with the pin stitch but never felt proficient with ending with a pin stitch unless I was covering a lot of stitches and could make the pin stitch, then stitch over it and hide it. Yesterday something clicked and I’m loving my ending pin stitch.
See that bottom right corner stitch? That’s where I did the pin stitch and it’s hardly noticeable that it’s different. I only use one strand of floss. With two strands, it would probably be too bulky but I try to avoid using two strands. I’m happy with it!
Maybe I’ll learn something fun today! 🙂
Stephani in N. TX says
When I was an avid XS’r years ago, I often got in an area where I wanted to stitch several colors at once. I would park one color off toward the margin by just pulling that thread up from the bottom and off the top, to be rel-loaded when I finished my 2nd or 3rd color in the area Fewer thread cuts, fewer knots and more thread on the back to finish colors off by burying underneath. I’m thinking I might have to PU XS again. I’m a sampler person and the Linen and Threads SAL’s are calling me.
Judy Laquidara says
I’ve tried the parking and didn’t enjoy it but I can see the advantage and maybe I need to practice more before I give up on it. There are some fun SALs out there. It would be nice to have you in the cross stitching tribe! 🙂
Pat/SC says
It is always a good day to learn something new. Maybe Addie could try some stamped cross stitch or plastic mesh stitching. Big holes and no counting. My high school special needs kids loved the plastic canvas kits that were marked. Easier to hold , even my big “boys “ tried it. We had a picture of Rosie Greer knitting on the wall( in uniform ).
Judy Laquidara says
I have thought about that but until the diamond painting, she didn’t like to mess with small things (needles) but the diamond painting used a little tool and she was fine with that. She was chomping at the bit to get started on the Yoda diamond painting and she hardly worked on it at all so maybe it was a one shot deal but if I could find something she loves like a unicorn, she might enjoy the stamped cross stitch. It’s worth a try. Thanks!
Danielle says
I am trying to become a focused “process” knitter. What happens to me is I get bored with larger projects – and squirrel!! – I see something else new and bright and shiny, and abandon the larger one. SO now I am concentrating on enjoying the process and to take my time and finish. And I am finding I am starting to actually enjoy this!
Judy Laquidara says
I think you’re right. It’s a learned behavior and I’ve not learned that behavior! In July I worked on several projects til they were finished and I enjoyed that. Good luck with it.
Nelle Coursey says
I am of the opinion that you are never too old to learn anything and you should learn something new every day. Or try to do something new. Don’t ever say I can’t until you have tried. You may surprise yourself!