URGH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many of you know that I haven't been needlepointing since childhood. I did not learn how to stitch on the knees of my mother or a great aunt.  I am self taught and with that comes the phenomenon of calling stitches by my own made-up names, using "thingies" quite a bit and learning what "should" and "shouldn't" be done when I realize, on my own, what makes a difference on the piece I am designing.  Sometimes I come to the same conclusion as those who have written the "Golden Needlepoint Rule Book" and sometimes I come to the conclusion that the rule book is not always right or always relevant.  ("Golden Needlepoint Rule Book"- just made that up).

This morning I made a decision that I want to share with you all.  I have been told by various experts opposing thruths about STRAND and PLY.  I won't get into the discussion!  I'm just going to give you my FINAL decision.  For me, for Orna Willis, this is the way it's gonna be:

First of all, the terminology: a “ply” is part of a “strand” – the plies twist together to make the strand. So when you look at your regular DMC stranded cotton that you buy locally (the green floss above), you will have 6 “strands” that you separate to use. Each one of those strands is relatively small, and it is made up of two “plies” that are twisted together to form the thread that you embroider with. “Non-divisible” means that you normally don’t separate the thread into strands to use it, so perle cotton, for example, comes straight off the skien as it is, you cut the length you want, and start stitching with it.

This is taken from Mary Corbet's Needle N' Thread, which I love and find very informative.  I think she does a wonderful job of explaining and presenting different aspects of needle and thread.  Thank you Mary!

and that's a wrap!  :-)

You want to know what's important?  This is...

 

Nina, Nomi and Baby Bubah, oh and way back there, Reid and Esther