Heroine Skillz: Embroidery

Hyacinth stabbed her needle into the fabric with perhaps a touch more vigor than was necessary, then looked down at her handiwork with a bit of a snarl. She was an abysmal needlewoman. She’d never had the patience or the eye for detail that it required, but she always kept an embroidery hoop going in the drawing room. One never knew when one would need it to provide an acceptable distraction from conversation.

            –It’s In His Kiss, Julia Quinn

Embroidery seemed like a nice, relaxing heroine-esque activity to pursue, at least while it’s still too cold to learn side-saddle. I thought it would be easy. I was wrong! WRONG!

All my "ingredients" before I begin.

Thus far, my attempt at embroidery has been marked by a series of disasters and some personal revelations. For example, I have confirmed that I am the sort of person who rushes headlong into a project, skipping small boring (but essential) steps in order to get to the fun part. I then find myself in some horrible fix, but too far to turn back. Yet I am determined to carry on in spite of the following disasters:

Disaster #1: I began as one does these days: by ordering a kit from the internet with everything I would need to make a nice little sampler. It didn’t come with a hoop, though. Where does one by an embroidery hoop in Manhattan? I have no idea. I’ll do without one!

Disaster #2 The instructions lost me at “iron the fabric” which is step number one. I do not, as a rule, iron. I moved onto the next dilemma.

Disaster #3 The pattern was on a sheet of paper, not the fabric I was to embroider. I had hoped for some “stitch by number” situation. My solution: trace the patter onto the fabric. My advice: tape down the paper first, and then tape the fabric on top so they stay in place. I did not do this. Mine shifted. My tracings are horrible. But they’ll have to do.

Making progress every day!

Disaster #4 Threading the needle. This takes ages, especially with the six-strand embroidery thread. Finally, success! Then I read the instructions and see that I’m only to use two strands. Sigh. Try again. Knots ensue. Note to self: read instructions first.

Four disasters, at least, at not a stitch has been made! But I am lured by the promise of a relaxing activity (thank you for the encouragement facebook friends!).

But finally, I am seated on the couch with a threaded needle and an outline to trace. I even have a cup of tea by my side (which I did not spill, thank you very much!). I realize that my pencil lines will probably show through the stitches. I wish I had an embroidery hoop. I definitely should have ironed the fabric. But still, the act of stitching is rather peaceful.

Have you tried embroidery? Would you like to? 

Any advice for the newbies?