Friday 31 March 2017

Friday Homework for Lesson 16: Puncetto Valsesiano Stitch

Teacher:   It's Friday, so hand in your homework!
Student:   Yes, Miss.
Teacher:   Hm, what's this then?
Student:   Hm, I don't know. It's supposed to be Puncetto Valsesiano Stitch.
Teacher:   Hm. Remind me, what was the set homework?
Student:   Pay attention to the tension, the twist and leave enough room in each knot to insert the needle on the return journey.
Stitch something high and lacy, 
and in the style of free form, 
and on plain cloth.
Teacher:   Well, have you paid attention to the tension and the twist?
Student:    Well, Miss, I have tried to. I certainly rolled the needle and sometimes let the needle and thread dangle to untwist itself, just as I was taught in the lesson.
Teacher:    Did you leave enough room in each knot to insert the needle?
Student:    Well, Miss. I tried to, and I hope you don't mind me saying this, but I think your instruction was wrong.
Teacher:    My instruction was WRONG???!!!
Students:  Yes, I am sure you meant 'leave enough room BETWEEN the knots'
Teacher:    Oh! So that is how you explain the unevenness of these stitches?
Student:    It WAS difficult to see where to insert the needle. It might also be due to poor lighting and my poor eyesight.
Teacher:   Hm, so in your opinion this stitch needs a good source of light and a magnifying glass.
Student:    ... or a microscope.
Teacher:   What's that? Speak up!
Students:  Well, it WAS difficult to see.
Teacher:    OK. Now did you stitch something high and lacy?
Student:    I stitched some areas high, like this white 'object'. I did not stitch any lace, but I made some holes, and look on the right, this is almost a face.

Teacher:   Hm. Well, I can see that you have stitched on plain fabric and in the style of free form.
Student:   This stitch reminds me of stump work and I think it could be used for a knitted stumpwork sweater, a muffler, even a funky hairstyle or a disastrous perm....
Teacher:   Hm, I'd say you need much more practice before you have mastered needle lace making. However, these 'objects' would make an interesting piece of modern free form embroidery or indeed a stump work portrait, and as the stitch was to be used as a 3D embroidery stitch, I'll accept it.
Student:   So I don't have to do my homework again?
Teacher:  No, you don't need to, but should you find the time, I'd be happy to see you use this stitch again in a creative way.

14 comments:

Tanya said...

You are so funny!

Queeniepatch said...

Ha, ha! Play acting is fun, isn't it?

carorose said...

I don't agree with that teacher. I think that the use of creativity is far more important than technical correctness. You can achieve correctness with practise, anyone can do that. Creativity is special.

Queeniepatch said...

I agree. I don't know how to deal with the strict teacher. Should I change schools?

margaret said...

I so enjoyed your chat with the teacher!

Queeniepatch said...

Chat or interrogation? My teacher is strict, isn't she?

Pamela said...

She is! Ha ha.

Queeniepatch said...

I will have to apply for the job of principal and keep that teacher in check!

Julie Fukuda said...

Are you sure you aren't having an attack of the caterpillars?

Queeniepatch said...

I think the colour is wrong!

carorose said...

Perhaps. It is really a bit useless arguing with someone so set in their ways but then again you could just keep to your own vision.

Queeniepatch said...

The awkward thing is that I want to be a bit strict with myself, practicing to get better, honing my skills, it is all the influence of living in Japan I guess. On the other hand I have this enormous need to CREATE. If I could to both, follow the teacher's (and my own) demand for precision and at the same time create something new and unique, then it would be just perfect. The question is how?

Annet said...

You 'both' made me laugh!

Queeniepatch said...

Good, and your comment makes me smile!