A Hand Embroidery Debate: Convenience or Originality?

re: A Hand Embroidery Debate: Convenience or Originality?

carolmcdermott — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:08:29 GMT

There can be a lot of snobbery about the use of kits or other peoples designs in embroidery and other areas of textile work. I do design some of my own work but also sew a lot of cross stitch kits and sometimes feel a bit guilty about not doing more of my own designs; but after giving this matter some consideration over a number of years I have come to the following conclusions;

1. I can draw to some extent, but most of the kits I stitch are much better drawn than I could achieve. By making up a kit I get a product I enjoy looking at much more than the second rate effect I would achieve if I had tried to draw a design of my own.

2.In choosing a particular kit over others that are available I am exercising a degree of artistic choice. Believe me, for every design I would consider sewing there are thousands that I wouldn't give a thank you for!

3.Do we look down on people who buy works of art rather than painting their own pictures? The principle is the same as far as I can see.

4. As other respondents have pointed out the designers of kits of any sort are doing it to make money and rely on people buying and presumably making them up and if they are good I think they deserve encouragement.

5.Many of the historical textiles that are revered today were not original works of art. Designs were taken from books, magazines, copied from generation to generation, or from teachers or even drawn on to fabric by professional designers, but are still admired.

I think there is plenty of room for both approaches and we should respect other peoples choice.

Carol McDermott, Ireland

re: A Hand Embroidery Debate: Convenience or Originality?

Jay19 — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:51:24 GMT

I have done 32 needlepoint Christmas stocking...kits...and yet I consider myself a fiber artist. The stockings were for grandkids, nieces, nephews, etc. But when I do my own wall hangings, etc. in quilting/painting, beading, I use only my own designs...I have not tried to design an embroidery/needle point pattern so I guess I am like the majority of the responses...a time for all of it.

re: A Hand Embroidery Debate: Convenience or Originality?

Annette Andersen — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:37:48 GMT

Annette Andersen Denmark

I like to find small things packed to sew (that are already designed) and change them to be mine.. BUT

I also enjoy making my own designs inspired from nature or waste eks old beercans I find at the streets. I have found inspiration in the lines that comes when it has been driven over and laid on the street during a winter. I frame my work in siverframes and my friens get these small artwork

love your work have a nice holidayseason Annette

re: A Hand Embroidery Debate: Convenience or Originality?

lovequilting2 — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:44:40 GMT

If I hadn't had a pillowcase with a pattern on it I probably would never had tried to hand embroidery. I have never tried to do it by machine because I like hand work. But to me it is all in what the person is comfortable with. I am not very creative, I like to see what the finished product will look like so when I piece a quilt. I am more apt to buy a kit than try and figure out the colors to use.

re: A Hand Embroidery Debate: Convenience or Originality?

Monika Kinner — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 22:50:24 GMT

For me, I would call one a craft, and the other art. That's the only difference. Both are legitimate, but fundamentally different areas of creativity.

re: A Hand Embroidery Debate: Convenience or Originality?

anne_d — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:27:24 GMT

I do both, depending on what I want. I'm not very good at drawing freehand, so sometimes I adapt a design to my needs.

re: A Hand Embroidery Debate: Convenience or Originality?

kellial@msn.com — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 22:06:27 GMT

I see nothing wrong with using patterns especially if I am trying a new technique. This gives me the opportunity to try something new without the stress of putting a lot of effort into drafting a pattern and later finding out it won't work out. Once I figure out how to do the technique it is a lot faster and easier to draft my own pattern.

re: A Hand Embroidery Debate: Convenience or Originality?

glamourgirl — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:30:36 GMT

I have enjoyed all of the comments on this topic that have been posted so far.

I have been exposed to sewing an crafting most of my life. There have been lapses where life gets in the way, but it always seems to creep back into my life. I have been slowly getting back into quilting and some needlework over the past couple of years after an almost 10 yr break. Kind of like falling off a bike lol.

I believe that the patterns and kits that are out there serve to help us get to where we long to be. Kits take the planning out of starting a new project so that we can try something new, or get something done quickly. I always find that patterns inspire me! I might start with something but end up changing it somewhat somewhere along the way. For me, I find that my creative outlet is the finishing of a quilting project - coming up with the freemotion designs that I want to help make the pattern 'pop'. That is my challenge.

So whatever path you choose, run headlong into your project and have a blast!!

re: A Hand Embroidery Debate: Convenience or Originality?

Sally Ann W — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:50:15 GMT

I enjoy patterns and have worked off many many patterns. (This would include everything from knitting, quilting and most anything that uses a needle) That said, I now rarely follow one. Often I have started with a pattern, organized my thoughts and supplies and modify the project to fit my dream, space, or materials. I do get teased that I don't follow patterns ( and recipes ) But I like being teased.

re: A Hand Embroidery Debate: Convenience or Originality?

sleather — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:54:52 GMT

There should always be an opportunity for people to try their hand at embroidery. Kits allow anyone, beginner to advance, to enjoy the creativity of needle arts. Some may say that kits deter creativity, but just the act of sewing is a creative endeavor. Bravo to anyone who makes the attempt and enjoys the passion of sewing.

re: A Hand Embroidery Debate: Convenience or Originality?

lcordova — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:54:23 GMT

When I learn a new technique, I often will buy a kit to help teach myself the basics. After that, I prefer to design my own work. I do garner ideas from looking at other designers' work, but always try to encorporate it into a new design of my own. My need to create makes me bore easily with mass produced kits.

re: A Hand Embroidery Debate: Convenience or Originality?

Marilyn DawnT — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:26:18 GMT

I use the time that I am not working on that 'big' project to try out new stitches. It is easier than trying to figure out what all those abbreviations mean while in the middle of a project that asks for something unfamiliar. I have gathered old magazines, and pamphlets from the 40's on, and can usually find new ideas for originality when the application part begins. The advent of the internet has helped tremendously when figuring out how to wrap the thread around the needle, and when!

re: A Hand Embroidery Debate: Convenience or Originality?

ohiostar2 — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 02:02:27 GMT

I have done hand embroidery , hand quilting, hand applique ,hand garment sewing, and hand beading...and now that I am "older" and I love a good machine. I still get to do the thinking and the skill work, just get to save what's left of my hands for other things like touching people I love, gardening and other artistic persuits.

re: A Hand Embroidery Debate: Convenience or Originality?

viceldor — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 01:01:26 GMT

I hardly ever follow a pattern with my fibre work, although I look at patterns for inspiration. However I believe this debate will always be with us. At the present there is the debate about whether those who create patterns for quilts, or paintings using photos and projecting/tracing from them are true artists, but I believe it is better to be creative than to worry about what people think about your process. there's always going to be debate about new processes. The point is, new processes and creativity will always go hand in hand. I will always choose creativity.

re: A Hand Embroidery Debate: Convenience or Originality?

hiharper — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:56:12 GMT

WOW!!! Love the debate!

People seem to favour patterns / kits for learning, high-stress periods, as a means to help keep the craft alive... I would add that spending the time to do handiwork is a gift to yourself (and to the recipient if it is a present).

I think using your own designs / colours / embellishments, if successful, moves the work more toward art on the art to craft specturm. If "unsuccessful" (which is difficult to define), it may have provided great learning, or demonstrate that you have different tastesfron others, you get to decide!!!

I think both are valid and important in lives that are all too dominated by electronics, commuting and mass production.

I am all in favour of personal production of useful or beautiful items, no matter the source of inspiration.