Comments on: Band Sampler: Running Stitch

By: Mal

Mal — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:33:06 +0000

@sharonb: I think this exact truth is what has been driving me to more and more handwork recently. I want to feel more of a connection with my work and to get away from uniformity and machinery. All around us is uniform! From the clothes we wear to the strange, unnatural little carrots we eat. It’s very unsettling, when I take a step back for perspective.

By: sharonb

sharonb — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:19:57 +0000

I think in an age of mechanical perfection and uniformity part of the appeal of hand made items and stitching is that is it imperfect – its human and has a personality like a trace of the person. I like that!

By: Mal

Mal — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:40:40 +0000

@Miss Behave: I think that for some of us, this is a lifelong effort! Other people seem to be able to let go and be messy without giving themselves permission. Others need constant mantras and reminders — not that I would know…

By: Miss Behave

Miss Behave — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:44:08 +0000

Oh yeah I’m having a hard time with the imperfections in my projects, but I’m getting better with letting go I think. It’s not that much about that you can see that it’s handmade but rather the picture I had in mind and how it really turned out.

By: Mal

Mal — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:39:09 +0000

@V: Yeah I definitely find quilting a larger piece to be really difficult and I often make a mess of it. Oh well! If you want perfect, go to a store! (And buy something made by machine or, you know, child laborers!)

By: Mal

Mal — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:38:29 +0000

@Sarah: I’ve heard that too about artisans from various cultures leaving “imperfections” in their goods to prove they were handmade. (Martha Stewart: Take note!) Another example of it is the Navajo tribe, whose rugmakers weave a colored thread from the interior design to the edge. I’d love to hear more of these examples, if anyone has one!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:57:17 +0000

This is lovely! I sometimes have a hard time with imperfections, but I’m learning that everything we make inevitably has them! I heard once that Amish women purposefully put a little imperfection somewhere in their quilts so to show/admit that they themselves are not perfect. Not sure if that is just a rumor, but I think it is a wise way to think about oneself!

By: V

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:12:52 +0000

hi! couldn’t respond to your comment so i found you…
Do i have a hard time leaving my imperfections in my work? NOPE.
That’s how you’ll know if it’s been made by me. I thought about having someone
else long-arm my quilts, because I don’t have a lot of patience when it comes to my machine quilting. I’m sloppy, messy, and sometimes take my time to do a better job. That’s what comes with a quilt from me. And that’s the way, uh-hu, uh-huh I like it! uh -huh!