You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

Part of what makes learning a new skill so frustrating is that sometimes, the information given is either incomplete or inaccurate. And if you don’t know what questions to ask—because why would you? you’re new to this—you bob along thinking that you’ve been told what you need to know.

[I once took a class at a quilt store (not local to me) where the instructor specified “needles” on the supply list. The class was a hand embroidery class. There are probably half a dozen different kinds of hand embroidery needles—sharps, milliners, chenille, etc.—in different sizes. I asked an employee at the store which needles I should get and she said, “The teacher will tell you in class.” The teacher did not, in fact, tell us in class. And why put that on a supply list to get ahead of class if you’re going to tell students in class? Given the choice, I would rather provide a kit of needed supplies to students when I teach. That cuts down frustration for everyone.]

I got an embroidery machine and everything I’ve seen—from the documentation to online projects—indicated that I should use an embroidery needle. The machine came with embroidery needles. The first two projects I did specified to use an embroidery needle. (Do you see where I am going with this?) I dutifully used an embroidery needle, but I wasn’t happy with the sounds I was hearing from the machine. I probably have keener ears than most when it comes to machines. I know when my machine needs oil, needs a new needle, or is about to run out of bobbin thread. What I was hearing sounded like a dull needle punching fabric.

Embroidery needles have a slightly rounded point, although it is not as rounded as a ball point or jersey needle. That makes sense, because a lot of embroidery is done on knit fabrics. Some of the stabilizers are also non-woven substrates. However, I was not embroidering on knit fabrics. I was embroidering on quilting cotton. Out of curiosity, I changed to a Microtex needle, which has a very sharp point. Hmmm. The stitch quality was better and the dull punching sound went away.

I taught a class yesterday, so while I was at the store, I asked Marianne for some advice. She had lots of it, most of which I have not yet heard. And some of it conflicted with what I have been hearing and seeing online, but she does beautiful machine embroidery. I am inclined to follow her lead. She said that yes, sometimes she uses Microtex needles. Have I seen Microtex needles recommended for embroidery? No, I have not.

[I even saw an embroidery needle recommended in an online tutorial for embroidering on waxed canvas. That makes zero sense to me—that seems to be the perfect place to use a Microtex needle.]

I came home with this:

Bernina puts out several of these books on various topics. They are comprehensive guides containing a ton of information. I like that much of the information is presented in table form, which saves me from having to hunt though several paragraphs to find what I need.

I may be in a position, eventually, to have to teach this stuff in class. The machine settings are easy—I can figure out how to edit designs, use pinpoint placement, etc. What is harder to get a handle on is the information that comes with experience, such as what stabilizers or combination of stabilizers will give the best result. I don’t mind practicing, but having a place to start is helpful.

Writing documentation, patterns, and guides is not easy. The person doing the writing often assumes or takes for granted a certain level of knowledge or expertise. As Jean Lampe. my TKGA mentor, used to tell me, “Try writing directions, without using any illustrations or photos, on how to tie your shoes.” I don’t allows follow my own rules—someone asked me in a beginning serger class what a looper was and I realized that I was guilty, in that moment, of using terminology without defining it—but as much as I can, I try to put myself in the shoes of someone encountering a new skill for the first time. I ask a lot of questions at the beginning of my classes because I need to know where students are in their journeys.

/sermon

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We are T-minus five days until Kaffe Fassett’s lecture on Monday evening. My Kaffe tops are ready. Sammie, one of the store staff, made Kaffe fabric hair scrunchies for all of us. (My hair is long enough to put in a ponytail, albeit a small one.) I will be helping with the setup for the lecture. Can you tell I am excited? 🤩🤩🤩