Choosing Excellence

My mother didn't believe in being idle during summer vacation. In my 10th summer, I learned to embroider sitting next to her on a squeaky glider on our screened in porch. In those days, you would buy printed pillowcases or table runners and cover the printing with your stitches. I wasn't very good. My crosses weren't even and my French knots were, well, knots of thread. I embroidered pillowcases to give my aunts for Christmas. Even though they weren't particularly good, I'm sure my aunts loved them. I know I would love and cherish hand embroidered anything from one of my nieces.

I endured needlework that summer so I could do other, more fun things like bike riding and roller skating. I didn't pick up an embroidery needle again until my early 30's when a friend introduced me to counted cross stitch. I loved it. Now my crosses were even and perfect. I also learned to make a proper French knot. Counted cross stitch was in its infancy at this point. Charts and evenweave fabric were hard to find. I had to shop at a needlepoint store and adapt needlepoint charts to cross stitch. I was a self-taught home sewer, and I was used to paying $2-$4 a yard for fabric. I assumed cross stitch fabric would be the same. Imagine my surprize when the clerk told me it was $14 per yard. I was a stay-at-home mom and we didn't have much in our discretionary spending account. I was very careful with that fabric. I think I used every square inch of it.

Then a friend introduced me to Embroiders' Guild of America (EGA). I found my people. They took hand embroidery very seriously. One of the goals of the group is to foster hand work and make sure the skills are handed down, so the techniques do not get lost.

I arrived at my first meeting with my Walmart bag with cheap needles, thread, a rusty hoop and huge scissors. All the supplies were from a discount store or my mother's stash. I didn't know better. I was trying to create beautiful pieces with inferior tools. I looked around and everyone had cute baskets, boxes or beautiful bags filled with quality supplies. I was so embarrassed I hid the bag on my lap and took out each item only as I needed it. I could have or should have asked someone. My friend who invited me or the local needlework store owner would have gladly guided a newbie like me.

I soon discovered if I had the proper tools, my work looked so much better. If I paid a little more for my fabric my piece didn't look like a dishrag when it was finished. If my needles were gold plated they slide right through the fabric with ease. If my thread was top quality and I picked the colors the designer suggested, my project was pleasing. And especially if my scissors were the best and the correct size, my work would show it.

One of the first major projects I attempted with my EGA chapter was a group course. We met and worked on the same project together. This design had five different types of counted thread embroidery. Two of those, drawn thread and Hardanger, required stitching then cutting some threads of the base fabric. It also required tiny sharp scissors. I remember gulping at the price of those little scissors, but I knew by then, that my orange handled dressmaking shears just wouldn't work for this design.

The day came to cut the fabric. I had spent many hours stitching the piece. Now I had to cut it? What if I hadn't stitched correctly and it all fell apart when I snipped the threads? What if I cut the wrong threads? I sat with my little scissors poised over the fabric. I couldn't cut it. I just couldn't. Luckily, the founder of the chapter was sitting next to me. She noticed my hesitation. She patted my arm and said, "Kitty, you have to cut. If you don't you will never know how beautiful your design will be." That's all it took. A kind and observant friend gave me the courage to make that first cut. I cut and it didn't fall apart. I could then cut the rest and yes, the design is beautiful.

I have learned many things from EGA and its members. I am a much better stitcher and I have learned types of needlework I didn't even know existed. I learned quality supplies make all the difference. If I am spending my time on a project, if I hope my children will cherish what I make, then it is worth the money to buy the best. I learned to be shepherded by those who know more than me. I also learned to shepherd those who come behind me. I learned sharing of time, talent and even tools make life so much sweeter. But the best? It is the friends I have gathered along the way. I am now in my fourth EGA group. Each time we move I find a new group of friends. We already have something in common even before introductions. We know what it takes to complete a project. We know the struggles to learn a new technique and can cheer for each other when the stitch is perfected. We also share life over needle and thread.

My tiny, expensive scissors? I still have them, 40 years later. They are still sharp. They are still precious. My orange handled dressmaker shears? These I passed down to my daughter when she started sewing. I taught her well, only use the best.

"Buy the best and you'll only cry once." Miles Redd, interior designer