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Frogging
"Rip It Rip It"
Stitch Fixer |
Many of you are probably familiar with the term "Frogging" - that's what a lot of needleworkers call removing stitches because they say "rip it, rip it" and sound like a frog! I've also heard the terms, "Stitching Backwards", "Unstitching", "Ripping", and "Going the Wrong Way". This is one of the few evils of stitching - there are just a few others which shall remain nameless for today. These are the things that make you want to curse and remind yourself, "I love to stitch"!
Unfortunately for me, I seem to have done more than my fair share of frogging lately for one reason and another. I thought I'd share some tools of the trade which I was glad to have in my stitching basket to help me in my frogging efforts. Long gone are the days of my youth when I would just hand my screwups and my knotted thread to my mom and ask her to "just fix it". She must have wanted to encourage my stitching efforts because she did it for me until I moved 3000 miles away to college - I was then forced to learn to fix my own mistakes. I still hate having to take things out but I do have a few more tools now!
The most important thing is my little pair of Gingher scissors - the ones that are especially for Hardanger and will clip one linen thread at a time. They are the best for clipping the stitches without getting the fabric. These scissors are a tad smaller than the 4" embroidery scissors from Gingher (the ones with the pretty handles). True, they're a tad more expensive too but every true needlewoman should own a pair (or two or three or more...). Then there's the Stitch Blade, Stitch Fixer, and Judy's Boo Boo Stick - all are available in the e-store under the Needlework Tools. I've used them all these past few weeks. Most of the time they are stored in my stitching basket, lonely and forlorn but oh, how happy I am when I need them that they are so patiently waiting for me. Maybe now that I've written about them, they will go back to their quietness and stay out of my hands!
If you have a unique way of frogging, feel free to email me with your comments and I'll share them with everyone in next week's Tuesday Tidbits - it's always great to share our secrets!
