One Way?
07 September 2005 22:01 round robins, exchanges, & gifts, sbqAs you may remember, during the last round of one of the round robins I am in I was surprised when I saw that the person had not consistently stitched one way or the other throughout her robin. She started stitching one way (that way being opposite of how I normally stitch), but somewhere in the middle of her stitching she changed the way that her stitching went. Therefore when I stitched my square on that robin I came to the conclusion it didn’t matter which way I stitched, so I just stitched the way that I normally do.
However, a couple of weeks ago I got a message from another person in this same robin complaining about a certain request that I made of the other stitchers concerning my robin: Namely, I requested that all of the participants stitch “my” way (/// and then \\\) on my piece. Her complaint was that it is impossible for a stitcher to change the way that she stitches. Therefore, I had no right to ask a person that naturally stitched \\\ and then /// to “go against her nature” and require them to stitch “my” way.
For now I will ignore the fact that the tone of this message was much cattier than the way that I have explained it here. (Though I will say that it did piss me off!) Personally, I didn’t think that I had made an unreasonable request. This piece will hang in my home and I didn’t think it was too much to ask that everyone stitch the same way; that way being “my” way.
It has been necessary for me to change the way that I stitch from /// then \\\ to \\\ then /// before and I was able to do it. Granted, it did feel awkward at first, but the point is that I could do it: I just had to consciously remember to do it when I picked up my needle. It was no big deal.
However, it did get me to wondering, and so I present to you this week’s Stitching Blogger’s Question! And that is:
Which way do you stitch (/// and then \\\ or \\\ and then ///)? Can you (or if you haven’t done it before, do you think you could) change the way that you stitch temporarily if it is asked of you?
07 September 2005 at 22:07
I got that same request for the RR I’m in. I found it tricky, but it’s not an unreasonable request ! Off to answer it in my blog
07 September 2005 at 22:24
Posted. I think you are absolutely in the right, Renée. I hope this is the last RR you participate in with these people.
07 September 2005 at 22:33
I normally stitch /// first. When I worked on a piece for a friend who stitches \\\ first, I turned the piece 1/4 turn and stitched my way. All the stitches went the same way when I was done. This friend had trouble working on a piece sideways and was unable to do much work on mine. (She also makes each stitch from top to bottom, whereas I stitch bottom to top, but that’s a different issue.) I will often turn a pattern upside down, especially when working with variegated threads, so that I can stitch each row from left to right. It takes a little more concentration to do it this way, but it’s worth the ease of not having to think about the actual stitching motion.
07 September 2005 at 22:43
I have posted to my blog the SBQ….
07 September 2005 at 22:52
I’ve answered in my blog
And I really think you have the right to request everyone to stitch “your way” - as you said, the project will be hanging on YOUR wall and you should be happy with it. Ask them to turn the project sideways and stitch their own way and the result will be the same…
08 September 2005 at 00:03
Wow. Am I really the first one this week? Cool. Well, mine’s done.
08 September 2005 at 00:59
I agree with you Renee - if it is to hang in your home and belongs to you, go ahead and ask - and it was not polite for someone to send you a catty note about it. I ran into similar problems about 8 years ago when I was in round robins too - argh.
My answer is posted in my blog too.
08 September 2005 at 01:11
Renee, I don’t think it is at unreasonable to ask for a piece to be stitched a certain way. It is your piece so it should be done as you have requested. I hope it comes back the way you wanted.
08 September 2005 at 05:44
I don’t usually answer these but I have this week! See my blog for supportive comments!
08 September 2005 at 07:32
Posted and answered! Thanks! Great question for me.
08 September 2005 at 09:06
I answered! And I answered all the past questions…
08 September 2005 at 13:37
I have been in MANY RRs and you always stitch in the direction of the owner of the RR. It is not unresionable and that person should have abided by your rules. I have had to change my direction for others and have had no problem with it. I also stitch ///// then \\\\\\
08 September 2005 at 14:18
Answered. I think it was totally unreasonable of her to answer that way. I thought it was a valid request, and actually was sorry I hadn’t thought to put that in the letter I sent off with my RR. Crabby people! That would have pissed me off,too. Luckily, you and I stitch in the same direction, so I’m not going to have any trouble.
08 September 2005 at 14:43
Mine’s up too!
08 September 2005 at 15:54
Answered. I stitch /// \\\, but would be willing to stitch otherwise if a designer or RR owner asked me to.
08 September 2005 at 16:42
did it !
I think it’s normal to adapt and stitch the way you’re asked in a RR. I mean, you already have to stitch only in a certain zone, and keep the fabric extra clean and all different things…
and if you can’t change the order of stitches, how can you learn new stitches and such? this is ridiculous…
08 September 2005 at 17:19
I’m behind on my SBQ’s… *blush*
I stitch like you do… ///// then \\\\ . And no, you weren’t unreasonable to request that the stitching be done that way. If it’s a RR piece and everyone’s adding their own parts, the stitches STILL have to be clean so that the piece doesn’t look mis-matched on the wall.
I’d definitely not do another RR with that woman.
08 September 2005 at 17:52
Mine is up. Happy Stiching in whatever direction you stitch
08 September 2005 at 18:33
It’s “impossible” to change? Give me a freakin’ break. Sorry, but people who feel that way shouldn’t be participating in Round Robins until they are a little more mature stitchers.
08 September 2005 at 19:00
mine’s up
08 September 2005 at 19:45
My answer is posted. I agree with everyone that it was not an unreasonable request.
08 September 2005 at 21:22
Mines up. Maybe you need to find a different RR group because others that I have been in mandate that you stitch the way the owner asks…
09 September 2005 at 14:02
Mine is up
Very supportive group of stitchers we have here. I’m sure no one want to ruffle up our feathers after reading thru all the posts.
09 September 2005 at 16:15
Back from the Scillies, I’ve answered this question.
09 September 2005 at 17:01
Answered. I definitely agree that your request was a reasonable one…I just realized that my blogged answer might sound a bit “snippy”, and I didn’t intend it to!
09 September 2005 at 20:00
Mine is up!
14 September 2005 at 01:23
I’d never even given the way I stitch a second thought!!!
But then I’m a pretty slow cross stitcher, and more of a knitter. :o)
I usually seem to go \\\ first and /// second..
I love to see your work, btw… it’s beautiful.