THE EASIEST NEEDLEWORK TO LEARN

[Jana...@aol.com]

What is the easiest sort of needlework to learn?
Is it knitting? Crochet? Embroidery? Tatting? What?

Thanks to anyone who answers

[Kay Lancaster]

On Wed, 18 Jun 2014 14:10:43 -0700 (PDT), Jana...@aol.com <Jana...@aol.com> wrote:
> What is the easiest sort of needlework to learn?
> Is it knitting? Crochet? Embroidery? Tatting? What?

I started out doing embroidery at 3 or 4; machine sewing at 5; knitting at 8;
still can't make anything much of crochet or tatting but lumpy strings.

Kay

I suspect for adults, needlepoint or cross stitch might be the easiest to start
with.

[Nellie]

I agree, needlepoint and cross stitch are easy. Straight knitting is easy also, following a pattern takes some learning and practice.


Nellie

[Karen C]

Kay Lancaster wrote:

> still can't make anything much of crochet or tatting but lumpy strings.
>

It depends on the teacher -- I've had people try to teach me things that
I couldn't grasp, and the next person who tried took a different
approach and it clicked. The RIGHT teacher would be able to tell you
what you're doing wrong that all you get are "lumpy strings".

I'll agree that needlepoint or counted cross-stitch are probably
simplest to learn. Tatting would probably be the most complex --
there's only the one type of knot involved, but flipping the knot to the
other thread can be problematic (until you find the right teacher).


--

Karen C - California
Editor/Proofreader/Translator www.IntlProofingConsortium.com

Finished 6/11/14 -- needlepoint Christmas Lights ornament

WIP: Stitchers Days of Christmas
http://www.crossstitchjoy.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=3865
Nativity from "Countdown to Christmas" book, Oriental Kimono (Janlynn),
MLI The Teacher (gift to the library), Bethany Angel (Marbek)
Retrieved from UFO pile: Marbek's Snow Angel, MLI Farmers Market

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Myths, with research cites: http://www.aacfs.org/images/pdfs/myths.pdf

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[mirjam]

On Thursday, June 19, 2014 12:10:43 AM UTC+3, Jana...@aol.com wrote:
plain sewing than embroidering
mirjam

[Joy Beeson]

On Wed, 18 Jun 2014 14:10:43 -0700 (PDT), Jana...@aol.com wrote:

> What is the easiest sort of needlework to learn?
> Is it knitting? Crochet? Embroidery? Tatting? What?

The favorite art of the best teacher is the easiest to learn.

That said, my favorite art is dressmaking, and I've had some success
teaching embroidery. But I'm a certified lousy teacher.

When I had access to children, I'd have them poke needles into soft
cloth, then running-stitch with bonded-nylon thread around a printed
circle that surrounded their artwork, and use it to gather the fabric
over a cardboard disk. Because of the limited time (and because I
don't trust strange children with hot or sharp objects) I'd press and
trim the excess fabric, then they would write their names and the date
on paper circles and paste them on the back. (The main thing I was
trying to teach is that sewing is fun. I took Sharpies for children
whose parents held them on their laps.)

I'm due next Saturday to teach shirt-button replacement. Whether I'll
be swamped or in dire need of something to do, nobody ventures to
predict. I suppose I'd better make sure I remember how to sew on a
button before then; I've been using hooks and snaps for the last
fifteen years.

--
Joy Beeson
joy beeson at comcast dot net

[Joan Erickson]

I would tend to agree with Kay. Making xs (xes? What's the plural of
x?) or slanted lines is pretty easy. There is a lot more coordination
involved in the rest, especially tatting (although I've only done needle
tatting, which I find very similar to crochet).

Who are you trying to teach?

--
Joan

See my pictures here: http://ndjoan.shutterfly.com/pictures

If worries can cure your sickness, prolong your life, or replace
happiness, then go ahead and worry! If they can't, why worry?

Enjoy every moment of your life...there is no second chance.

Unknown

[Jana...@aol.com]

I'm not trying to teach but considering trying to learn.

[Kay Lancaster]

On Fri, 27 Jun 2014 03:24:32 -0700 (PDT), Jana...@aol.com <Jana...@aol.com> wrote:
>
> I'm not trying to teach but considering trying to learn.

Basic cross stitch is going to be the cheapest to learn (the yarns and
canvases used for needlepoint are generally much
more expensive). But you can pick up a piece of Aida cloth (which looks
like this:
<https://www.fabric.com/buy/el-272/60-wide-aida-cloth-natural?&cm_mmc=Google-_-Products-_-Products%20Listings-_-Ads&CAWELAID=172000510000028007&CAGPSPN=pla&catargetid=172000510000043626&cadevice=c&gclid=CL38tJHbm78CFURqfgodeAsAnQ>
(and comes in smaller pieces, too), a pack of "tapestry needles" (about $2),
and a small embroidery hoop for another $2-4 (6" is a good size for most
women's hands), and a couple of skeins of something like DMC embroidery
floss for under $2 and get started.

The holes in the aida cloth make it easy to make nice even stitches on, and when
you're well practiced, you can switch to cross stitching on different fabrics,
or you can start learning some new embroidery stitches and work over into surface
embroidery.

Everyone who embroiders (and cross stitch is a form of embroidery) tends to
develop their own ways of working and what they're comfortable with. I mostly
work without hoops, and usually do many different forms of stitches, not just
cross stitch (here's a quilt square I did for a friend:
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/21784677 ) We all develop our own
styles and preferences, and that, to me, is one of the great things about
embroidery as a hobby.

Kay

[Joan Erickson]

On 6/28/2014 4:42 AM, Kay Lancaster wrote:
> On Fri, 27 Jun 2014 03:24:32 -0700 (PDT), Jana...@aol.com <Jana...@aol.com> wrote:
>>
>> I'm not trying to teach but considering trying to learn.
>
> Basic cross stitch is going to be the cheapest to learn (the yarns and
> canvases used for needlepoint are generally much
> more expensive).

>snip<

Yeah, what Kay said! And remember to keep posting here, especially if
you have questions/problems. We mostly have lots of experience with
most types of needlework and are great at enabling! :)

[Jana...@aol.com]

Thanks to all of you for your input. It looks like embroidery is the best choice for a beginner like me.

[tween...@mypacks.net]

Crochet was easy for me to learn. At least it's an easy ripout.

I never could knit well - lumpy-bumpy.
Embroidery can be tough to master.
Tatting I never tried.
I love needlepoint, but my fingers say it's time to quit.

[Joan Erickson]

On 7/28/2014 4:03 PM, tween...@mypacks.net wrote:

> Crochet was easy for me to learn. At least it's an easy ripout.

I knit very similarly to crochet, IOW, I "pick" the yarn, rather than
"throw" it. Knitting rips out just as easily...you don't want to know
how I know! Lol!!

> I never could knit well - lumpy-bumpy.
> Embroidery can be tough to master.

And even tougher to rip out!

> Tatting I never tried.
I haven't learned to shuttle tat (although I'd love to...there are some
beautiful shuttles I'm coveting!) but learned needle tatting a few years
back at a CATS show. I found it very similar in motion to crochet.

My problem with tatting is...what do you do with the stuff you tat? The
one thing I did tat was some insects to applique on Cheryl's hugs quilt
a few years back. I'm not into frilly edgings or doilies. Hmmm...
we're remodeling our living room so maybe some tatted arm/headrests for
the couch? I'll have to keep that in mind. We're getting a
wine-colored couch.

[Karen C]

Joan Erickson wrote:
>
> My problem with tatting is...what do you do with the stuff you tat?

One of the elderly ladies at church made notecards -- she tatted
flowers, glued them to a blank card, and then drew stems, leaves, and a
bit of grass.

You can make larger tatted items and frame them.

I also edge my embroidered pillowcases with tatting.

[Kay Lancaster]

On Tue, 29 Jul 2014 17:46:38 -0700, Karen C <KMC...@aol.com> wrote:
> Joan Erickson wrote:
>>
>> My problem with tatting is...what do you do with the stuff you tat?
>
> One of the elderly ladies at church made notecards -- she tatted
> flowers, glued them to a blank card, and then drew stems, leaves, and a
> bit of grass.
>
> You can make larger tatted items and frame them.
>
> I also edge my embroidered pillowcases with tatting.

Tatted snowflakes make good ornaments... just starch them stiffly.