Stitch a long - when and how?
I have been reading all the back posts on this - I like the idea of people being able to stitch along on what ever they want - so I have started this discussion
I think people should be able to pick it up and put it down. As with all the challenges for many the issue is always time. Rather than have it framed as a challenge we could frame it as a stitch along.
Now how do we want to run it? The simple answer is that someone proposes stitches and the group stitches them but I am wondering if we can embrace a more collaborative way of doing things as Marci suggested.
Marci suggested that the group could simply propose stitches. Marcies idea of people proposing different stitches is good as it means the group can decide and do what they want to do. How we would organise it is a creative problem solving exercise. Should we have a list?
At least at the start work out a list 6 -10 stitches ahead so people could propose a stitch?
On another note proposing to do stitch "families" at least at the start is a good idea as that gets everyone covering all the basics before moving on to some of the complex stitcheries.
The teacher in me wants to point out that people do need skills in the basic stitches before jumping in to the complex stitches and I am quite happy to work my way through them again as there is always something new learn about them- but some people may not feel that way. I guess I like "a good solid foundation" and I know we have some new hands in the group who would like this.
On the other hand we need to keep the more experienced stitchers happy too - we do like discovering a stitch that challenges our skills and we don't want to bore them silly with too many basics. If we ran a list the experienced stitchers could skip the basics if they looked at a stitch and had a "Oh not again!" reaction
Perhaps we can devise a system where members can suggest a stitch to be added to list and then people are free to either work it and share their outcome or not work it depending on skill level, interest, and time (lets face it life often gets in the way)
The key thing is sharing what is done. This sharing is the absolute key to success as it stimulates interest in everyone in the group - there is nothing like a heap if eye candy to slurp up over morning coffee - seeing what is done is very inspiring. I suggest we have a flickr group for it - that way all our delights are all in one spot! (Honestly I am an eye candy pig)
My big question is when we should start it? Currently I am flat out here as everyone can see it is a hive of activity and for all that you see happening on stichin fingers there is much messaging and emails behind the scene. This morning I opened my email to 37 messages that relate to stitchin fingers (that is just stitching fingers - not email related to my blog, the stitch dictionary or work!) if each email answer takes between 3-10 minutes to write - do the math and you can see that is a good couple of hours on email alone. Some require complex answers others a quick line but as with the start of anything there is a lot of questions and activity. It will settle down (probably in about 6 weeks as the community was only started 2 weeks ago - well I hope so!)
If I was going to run it I would be thinking in terms of starting July may be even later if this place keeps cooking! If I did this it would mean people in this group have moved off the boil by then - but if the group wants to run with the idea and start a list of stitches to work I am happy to play catch up when things settle a bit and I have time for stitching!
On a personal level I would like to have time to explore the stitches. If we work off a list some will work faster than others but it does mean people can move along at their rate. Someone will always be up ahead and others behind but that does not matter as we are all walking the same path and its not a race. Working a t different levels and speeds means we get to see what people are doing and keeps the group dynamic in a guilt free (I am not keeping up) way
So I need feed back - Oh and can anyone come up with a snazzy name - I am brain dead on that!
I think people should be able to pick it up and put it down. As with all the challenges for many the issue is always time. Rather than have it framed as a challenge we could frame it as a stitch along.
Now how do we want to run it? The simple answer is that someone proposes stitches and the group stitches them but I am wondering if we can embrace a more collaborative way of doing things as Marci suggested.
Marci suggested that the group could simply propose stitches. Marcies idea of people proposing different stitches is good as it means the group can decide and do what they want to do. How we would organise it is a creative problem solving exercise. Should we have a list?
At least at the start work out a list 6 -10 stitches ahead so people could propose a stitch?
On another note proposing to do stitch "families" at least at the start is a good idea as that gets everyone covering all the basics before moving on to some of the complex stitcheries.
The teacher in me wants to point out that people do need skills in the basic stitches before jumping in to the complex stitches and I am quite happy to work my way through them again as there is always something new learn about them- but some people may not feel that way. I guess I like "a good solid foundation" and I know we have some new hands in the group who would like this.
On the other hand we need to keep the more experienced stitchers happy too - we do like discovering a stitch that challenges our skills and we don't want to bore them silly with too many basics. If we ran a list the experienced stitchers could skip the basics if they looked at a stitch and had a "Oh not again!" reaction
Perhaps we can devise a system where members can suggest a stitch to be added to list and then people are free to either work it and share their outcome or not work it depending on skill level, interest, and time (lets face it life often gets in the way)
The key thing is sharing what is done. This sharing is the absolute key to success as it stimulates interest in everyone in the group - there is nothing like a heap if eye candy to slurp up over morning coffee - seeing what is done is very inspiring. I suggest we have a flickr group for it - that way all our delights are all in one spot! (Honestly I am an eye candy pig)
My big question is when we should start it? Currently I am flat out here as everyone can see it is a hive of activity and for all that you see happening on stichin fingers there is much messaging and emails behind the scene. This morning I opened my email to 37 messages that relate to stitchin fingers (that is just stitching fingers - not email related to my blog, the stitch dictionary or work!) if each email answer takes between 3-10 minutes to write - do the math and you can see that is a good couple of hours on email alone. Some require complex answers others a quick line but as with the start of anything there is a lot of questions and activity. It will settle down (probably in about 6 weeks as the community was only started 2 weeks ago - well I hope so!)
If I was going to run it I would be thinking in terms of starting July may be even later if this place keeps cooking! If I did this it would mean people in this group have moved off the boil by then - but if the group wants to run with the idea and start a list of stitches to work I am happy to play catch up when things settle a bit and I have time for stitching!
On a personal level I would like to have time to explore the stitches. If we work off a list some will work faster than others but it does mean people can move along at their rate. Someone will always be up ahead and others behind but that does not matter as we are all walking the same path and its not a race. Working a t different levels and speeds means we get to see what people are doing and keeps the group dynamic in a guilt free (I am not keeping up) way
So I need feed back - Oh and can anyone come up with a snazzy name - I am brain dead on that!
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Jane B on -
Hi Sharon, Your "baby" is definitely experiencing growing pains. I joined into the the Hand Embroidery group with the desire to learn how to stitch better. Of course practice does wonders but sometimes I feel that I'm not even doing the basic stitches correctly. I think I suffer from a form of ambidexterity and wonder at times if I'm even stitching in the right direction. I'm thinking that if I was working a stitch correctly, it would not feel so forced or cumbersome in my hand.
Now I don't mean to make more work for anyone but could there be 2 stitch alongs. One novice, one advanced. Could everyone find a comfortable niche that way???
Hmmmm, a name??? Switch a Stitch or Boss the Floss? He-he I'm no good at names either.
J
-
Permalink Reply by MargB on -
Sharon this group has certainly expanded exponentially. Did you imagine the enthusiasm for it before you started?
Regarding a stitch-along I would like to start with stitch families. And be able to progress from there. I keep referring back to my PLOS notes but reinforcement is always great.
I can see some problems for the moderator with a free for all stitch suggestion scheme. But no doubt that can be organised with some forethought and a few rules.
July would be great for me Sharon Or even later as i want to do your visual journal course and will be scratching for time until that is over.
The only other thought is that if you are wanting to start before the course is over the list/order of stitches might be released early and I could do some in advance of the course start date.
I am not sure I will be able to explore many variations - just practise the basic stitches (and probably not all of them as I am quite slow to catch on) - but I gather that would be fine from whaat you are saying.
I really am keen to participate because I think it would be a great incentive - the monthly TIF challenge keeps me on my toes and I am sure I would not be producing these pieces (and doing the embroidery) if you weren't offering the challenge. As you say eye candy can be very inspiring and encouraging.
Namewise I am a blank -"stitch a stitch-along" - like I said - blank.
. Can you see me dancing a happy dance? Or rather hear me two states away? I have been doing bullion and NOT needing to unpick for the first time. Now I have to decide when I have enough on my TIF - always a problem. sorry that is all off topic , sort of. Definitely stitch related, though.
-
Permalink Reply by Carol-Anne on -
Hi Sharon, A July start (or later) is good for me, I have some things I'd like to finish up first. I'm not really following the list idea. Are you suggesting that we all contribute to a list, stitches that we would like included and thenindividually we pick whichever stitch we fancy and stitch-along with other who choose the same stitch? Or is the idea that we all work on the same stitch for a period of time? Can you set up voting in Ning?
Jane, personally I would prefer not to have two groups going. We will all be a novice at a certain stitch or variation. Also, the more experienced stitchers will learn just as much from the novice stitchers as the other way around. Sometimes when you are very familiar with a stitch or technique it is difficult to see it with fresh eyes, seeing what someone does with a stitch they have never tried before can be very inspiring.
I'll let you know if I have any inspired thoughts regarding a name.
CA
-
Permalink Reply by Lisa on -
I am looking forward to this stitch along. I need to learn and practice stitches too, and I can never practice the basic ones too much! :o) I think stitching them as stitch families, and seeing different variations would be good. And having a list would allow me to plan a design with them. July would be a good start time for me too.
No thoughts on a snazzy name. But I will be happy to do whatever I can to help! :o)
-
Permalink Reply by Marci on -
I've been in classes and groups with beginners and experienced stitchers. Sometimes I learn more from the beginners. Since they don't know what they are "supposed" to do, they may come up with more inventive stitches/piecing/embellishments.
July would be fine for starting, or even August (I'm retiring August 1). But, I wonder if we need to get started while we have some initial enthusiasm? Will we lose interest, start other projects and get too busy for the stitch-a-long? People will see how much fun we are having and join in after we get started.
Right now I don't know what form my stitching will take? I have a couple CQ projects that could use some attention. However, I have been admiring the samplers. Maybe it will be some of each.
-
Permalink Reply by sharonb on
-
To answer everyones questions I thought I would do a little quoting so we don't get lost
"Sharon this group has certainly expanded exponentially. Did you imagine the enthusiasm for it before you started?" I had an idea it might grow over time I actually thought maybe over a period of 6-12 months but nothing like the explosion that is happening
I saw there was a need for a space online that acted like a hub for various activities. I don't think people realise just how big and active the online stitching community is. Unfortunately often we are huddled in corners - quilters talking to quilters, doll makers talking to doll makers , embroiderers talking to embroiderers but I think many skills overlap and we can talk to one another! So I thought a hub type space like this where we can see peoples interests etc we can get an idea of the community out there.
Jane I think dividing the group into two is not a good idea as it means the beginners don't have the experienced hands to draw on also even though I have been teaching for years (like 20) I don't think I have had a class where a beginner has not surprised me with their fresh eye (I love teaching children for this reason)Both groups can gain with cross fertilisation - in fact I feel cross fertilisation is important in all areas of textiles
So lets keep it flexible and open but one stitch a long
It seems July - or late July is good for people - does anyone want to float a date?
How long are we going to spend on each stitch? I think after my experience with TAST a week was actually a little short. It sounds enough but life easily gets in the way and you only need a few interruptions to routine and you are on a treadmill. I would like to avoid that.
It also depends if we are going to explore single stitches or varieties as compared to a family of stitches. I can see a standard stitch say something like fly stitch or oyster stitch taking a 2 weeks to explore well while others such a herring bone taking 6 weeks because there is do much you do with it! I know it sounds long but I am just thinking about TAST and how it felt to rush things through on a weekly basis. I suppose we could always vary it
Ok shall we start with the stitch families (as you can see we have 6 months of stitching here easily!) eg:
Buttonhole
Chain
Herringbone
Creten,
Chevron
Straight stitches (a huge area here if we include canvas stitches which I would not mind doing )
Knotted stitches (I think should be broken up and done separately as many are tricky)
Do we include varieties or should we introduce varieties separately
eg Chain stitch has dozens of varieties it would stimulating to focus on chain and chain stitch varieties for 6 weeks but I think Chain stitch alone would get a bit tedious.
What do people think?
Throw some names of stitches out folks and I will shape them into a list and tentatively put a time frame against each stitch - then I can put it to the group - we can shape it change it etc if the need be some might not agree with me as to the amount of time it take to explore a particular stitch - fine we can change it. It will be for a while just a draft list. I would like to say that it might be wise to give ourselves plenty of room to move time wise as we all have busy lives.
I have thought about a name - since there is no rules as to what the stitching is done on and since the idea is to learn, explore and for those with experience push the stitches and we will have embroiderers of all levels from all around the globe, across age groups. I think you can see that individuality, variety and diversity is the key so I thought perhaps "Do it Your Way - stitch along" Anybody got something snappier (I am not good at naming stuff like this)
-
Permalink Reply by MargB on
-
Sharon - I will work through your message backwards (just to confuse) - that name looks good to me.
That looks like a year's work -I like the list. I like the order.
Timewise - a week would definitely be much too short for me but I am happy to go along and do what I can in the time you decide.
Outline stitches where would that heading stand? I can nearly answer that - anywhere. I am thinking about things like Portuguese stem stitch, coral etc _ I need to get the courage to stop using only stem stitch for my outlines. Sometimes comfort zones are difficult to breach. (Memo to me - Maybe lateral thinking is called for!) Love the idea of playing more with all those chain stitches.
One group is definitely appealing - the inspiration and stimulation that more experienced stitchers can offer someone like me would be marvellous.
Ooh - I am looking forward to this taking off. End of July appeals most.
-
Permalink Reply by Jane B on
-
Hi Sharon, After reading Carol Annes comment and yours , I think you're absolutely right about a singular group. I appreciate both of you recognizing my hesitancy though and was relieved to hear that my "novice" may not be a handicap after all. Thanks, I needed to hear that!
July sounds great and any stitch to start with is well with me.
-
Permalink Reply by Carol-Anne on
-
Hi Jane, glad to hear you feel comfortable with one group, the support and encouragement with give each other is all part of the experience. It is important not to view this in a competitive way, it is an opportunity for growth and development but most importantly to enjoy yourself.
CA
-
Permalink Reply by cinzia on -
I would love daisy stitch somewhere in this as mine always look like strangled snakes or jumbo after a feast... what is the trick to it!
-
Permalink Reply by Marci on
-
If you mean the arrangemnt of the stitches -- you might try doing the stitches on the 12:00, 3:00, 6:00 and 9:00 points of the clock. You could start with a circle or oval. Then you fill in the spaces between those points with more lazy daisies.
-
Permalink Reply by Thelma Bradshaw on -
I like the idea of having a list, and having more time to work on the different stitches. You get to thinking oh I can do a stitch a week but if you really want to play with the different variations of what you can do with that stitch a week isn't long enough at all. Could you add bullion stitch on this list,,,I keep procastinating on learning to do the bullion...and maybe the overcast stitch..so many beautiful flowers can be made with these stitches.
As far as a name,,,I am not good with coming up with names.
© 2009 Created by sharonb on Ning. Create Your Own Social Network
