Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Proper tools for the job

As anyone who does any kind of needlework can tell you, in order to maintain your gauge (a consistent stitch size that impacts the final size of a piece of work) you have to maintain a consistent tension (tightness) on your work - with the stitches being made, the stitches that are already a part of your work, and with the string you are yet to take up. The looping, pulling through, and dropping of stitches (etc) are also important techniques to master, but properly holding on to your project, needles and everything else involved as you work, is also one of the most basic lessons to learn. Some technique you gain with training, experience, and constant practice. There is also a wonderful variety of tools available for just about any type of needle craft that you fancy. I prefer to use a lap-mounted assistant to ensure proper yarn tension:

(photo by Honor)

5 comments:

Simple Answer said...

LOL!

Diane Mandy said...

That's quite a help you've got there!

srsr said...

I gotta get a Ramses, cuz KC refuses to be a tool. BTW, George loves his/grill pan and wanted me to pass the message on to you. And I love the results; we had grilled salmon last night. Mmmmmm

Tobi said...

I think you should craft a frock for your assistant. How cute would that be?

Connie said...

Hi Susan, Glad you both are enjoying the grill pan - we love ours too :-)

and Tobi - I, and no doubt my 5yo daughter, would love to see Ramses in a frock... experience with even a collar tells me he would just fall to the ground and lay still, as if trapped with a great weight, until we removed it... he's a die-hard nudist.