Why I Don't Stitch in Class

It's because I screw up.

Apparently I can't stitch and pay attention to the teacher at the same time without either miscounting or missing some vital instruction that will make or break the project.

I also cannot measure and cut accurately when there are other people around. Actually, there are times when I cannot measure and cut accurately when there is no one besides me around, but at home I have Mylar and Skirtex and interfacing and comic board in my stash so I can replace whatever I mess up.

So . . . when I take a class I take lots of notes and lots of pictures and the rest of the time I sit in my corner and try to be quiet.

That's what I did at the last trip to Salty Yarns.

BDE and I trooped up the Eastern Shore for three classes with Jackie du Plessis, and this is what we took:

 This is an amazing sewing bag inspired by the 17th century sampler that belongs to Crystal, who also comes to a lot of Jackie's classes. (We're trying to talk Jackie into reproducing the entire sampler because it is to die for.)

And I lied. I did stitch in class. I started a little bit to prove I could remember how to do a stitch that isn't a Queen stitch. I could do a Smyrna cross.

I am not exaggerating to say that I have been waiting for this since before Covid--at least six years. It was supposed to be a class at Christmas in Williamsburg, then Covid hit and that event was cancelled. And finally, it is in my hot little hands.

BDE is already working on this one. The band sampler that fits in the little drawer is a perfect thing to stitch during meetings or while watching TV or just before bedtime, and she is zooming right along. And, yes, it was in my pile of 18 projects and I may get back to it very soon.

And this is where I took loads and loads of notes and pictures and otherwise stayed in my corner and out of trouble. Jackie showed us how to put all the interior structure together and wanted us do it. There were people in class who stayed up to the wee hours to get theirs done.

I knew better. When I messed up trying to stitch a very simple motif that makes one of the handles--or, as BDE said when she looked at my mistake, "You're hosed."--I knew I had reached my limit.

So what am I working on today?

A different Jackie project for a class that I'm auditing at Sassy Jack's in May. I want to get to a certain point before the class so I can put it together after the class. 

It occurred to me that maybe I should just take a year to do all my Jackie projects. Maybe I should take two years.

So many stitches . . . so much fun . . . good thing I'm retired!