- Learning the (good) hard way

The sun was shining again today, so I didn't mind that it took a while to get to where I was happy with this cover for the lullaby book. By the way, if you want to know when to use "a while" versus "awhile," the Snarky Grammar Guide has a great "Try this" trick.

                                         

Anyway, in spite of the effective instruction that Jude Hill provides in her Spirit Cloth classes (which I highly recommend even, or especially, for experienced stitchers), I still insist on learning things the hard way: by trial and error. So as I went along, trying to get to a final version of Close your eyes that I actually liked, I found myself remembering some tried and true sayings ... which led to the following notes to self.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. And next time, don't use such a lightweight fabric over a sturdy twill ...

Measure twice, cut once rather than assuming that five 5" strips in each direction will give you a 5" square ... 

The third time's the charm, but it's best to hedge your bets, so practice, practice, practice ...

which includes using monochromatic pictures before you stitch to envision alternatives ...

A stitch in time saves nine, so baste thoroughly ... 

Dot every i and cross every t, but it's definitely better not to split back stitches that meet at a common point ...

                                                              

And one last thought: when using variegated thread, a second strand of a solid color moderates the effect. I learned that one the hard way, too.