Do you work diligently on one piece or work until it’s fully completed before starting something new?
Or, do you like to work on multiple pieces at one time?
Honestly, I can see the benefits of both methods of working. Let me explain.
Focus is a necessary tool. Without it what would we achieve?
And focusing on just one piece of work has the benefit of complete and utter concentration. It is the centre of our attention and the focal point of our desired outcomes.
But, what happens if you work on say two or three pieces at one time? What happens then?
Well, for me, the benefits of working this way are manifold, not that I’ve done it often, but if you’re organized and working to a theme, it could be a great way to innovate as you work.
I’ve often found as I work with my current theme, Coral, that new ideas come as I stitch.
I may sit down with an outcome in mind, and find that it changes as I stitch. And if it works, it works, and I continue to move forward.
That then means I have a different base to build upon, each time I take up my needle and thread – and that can create exciting new work.
But then, I’m the sort of person who isn’t at all worried about wasting time going down rabbit holes, i.e., making mistakes, because I know that’s how I can keep pushing those boundaries and keep bringing new ideas to the table.
So, with that in mind, I believe it’s also valuable to have your working pieces highly visible so that as you’re working, you’re eyes can keep assessing them – and little by little, a plan or way forward makes itself clear.
Now, I’m talking about working organically, that is, embroidery that has no formally drawn design.
And I even surprise myself here, because, with my machine work, I like to have every line, every minute detail, drawn out first – but with my hand embroidery, especially for Coral, I favour working organically.
And it usually starts with large motifs or groupings of dimensional elements, that I build on, stitch around, and keep adding to until it tells me that’s enough.
Then I like to emulate that in other areas across the surface, linking them through repetition.
So, working in multiples makes complete sense for this style of stitching.
Work on one, with another in front of you. Add to the other while contemplating the first.
Basically, I’m using energy created as I stitch to contemplate, evaluate and calculate my next move on each piece.
It’s a chessboard of stitch inspiration, and it’s so productive.
So how do you like to work? On just one or many?
All views and opinions expressed are my own, except where acknowledged information is included from other sources.