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06.19.2008 :: 169. Don't be crewel to a heart that's true (lyrics bent to my purpose)
I'm really enjoying the crewel. I guess I'm a crewel person (funny when said aloud or at least phonetically in your head)
I've even shed blood for it. See the tiny spot in the upper right around the 1:00 position that looks like a speck of dirt? Yeah. Blood from a pin prick. (can I say that on the blog?) The reason I mention that is not to BRAG but to tell you what my crewel teacher told me. If you accidentally spill blood onto a crewel project, dot saliva onto your finger and dab the blood until gone. Apparently your own saliva will remove your own blood. But if your friend has a pin prick blood stain, your saliva will not work. The working rule here is: Your blood, your saliva. Who knew?
We now know.
And? I apparently am in love with a chain stitch leaf.
It's a big day around here, I tell ya!
Posted by Sandy on 06.19.2008 AT 06:07 PM
Comments
"I dont want no other love,
Baby its just you I'm thinking of." Or something?
I've been on a cross stitch and quilting bender for the past week or so. I feel you. :D
Posted by: Stacey (aka Fiber Pusher) on 06.20.2008 AT 10:12 AM
What a fabulously interesting tip!!! The human body is an amazing thing, innit?
Love your crewel work. Work is cruel. Crewel is not. Heh.
Posted by: norma on 06.20.2008 AT 10:03 AM
You do seriously good crewel... heh. Really, your stitches are very well done.
Posted by: marianne on 06.20.2008 AT 09:48 AM
Hrmph! I guess I'm not a real needle arts worker/seamstress. I didn't know the saliva thing. The hydrogen peroxide thing I did know, use it all the time.
Posted by: Teresa C on 06.20.2008 AT 08:21 AM
Starting with leaves is like knitting sleeves: you plug on because you are so eager to do the "main" part.
Nice work!
Posted by: Barbara-Kay on 06.20.2008 AT 07:30 AM
I will refrain from questioning how Joan uses "ironing" and "wonderful" in the same breath.
Beautiful, Sandy! I did not know the blood trick, and I started embroidering when I was just a pup. Did a lot of cross stitch back in the day, and went around with my fingertips looking like pincushions!
Posted by: Nora on 06.20.2008 AT 07:11 AM
Like the blood rule. Kind of seems like nature's own safety rule. Interesting. Love the crewel work (and now I'll be humming that tune all day!)
Posted by: Jennifer on 06.20.2008 AT 06:26 AM
That is a trick every long time embroiderer knows. Of course you can always put a little flower over that spot to cover it up, too.
Posted by: mahgene on 06.19.2008 AT 06:55 PM
I knew! I spent years doing cross stitch.
I love your needlework.
♥
Posted by: Cookie on 06.19.2008 AT 06:49 PM
I like crewel work, too--the variety and texture of stitches ... Love that!
And, um, you DO know that you're supposed to stick the needle in the FABRIC, not your finger, right?
Posted by: --Deb on 06.19.2008 AT 06:17 PM
As a dressmaker, I knew that about the blood. If it's someone else's blood, dab it with a qtip that has been dipped in hydrogen peroxide.
I love your crewel work, it makes me think of my grandmother who taught me crewel and knitting and ironing and many wonderful things.
Posted by: joan on 06.19.2008 AT 06:14 PM
I love your crewel work...just beautiful. I have taken a knitting break too. I have been working on tea towel using some blue work embroidery. I have not embroidered since I was a king. I am having a ball.
Posted by: Maureen on 06.20.2008 AT 03:55 PM