Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Sewing while impaired -- Plan B


Thanks to a kick in the pants from my astute reader Shannon, I have decided to make more pyramids and call them "homes" for the gallery show in two months.  The first one is almost stitched together, and the second one is on its way. 


I realized while making the first pyramid that my poor vision, being in the interim stage after my cataract operation but before my second one and most important, before I get new glasses to make the final corrections, is giving me a hard time.  I have no depth perception, since at any given moment I am only seeing through one good eye and one bad one, so tasks like threading needles are hard.  And I am not seeing well in close-up, so the very careful placement of hand stitching is just not happening.

So here's my plan -- while I'm not seeing well I'm going to do machine stitching.  Do you really need to see to go back and forth, over and over and over until you have fully covered the surface?  When in doubt, stitch back and forth some more.

I will wait till I get my new eye and then my new glasses to stitch the pyramids together.  At that time I will also be able to detect whether any spots need more machine stitching.  For the one that's almost stitched together, I will put everything on hold -- the threaded needles will stay where they are until I can return and see what I'm doing. 

I would like to make four or five new pyramids for the show.  I don't know whether the one I have almost finished is good enough -- will have to be able to see to make the final determination.  So I don't know how many more I need to make.  But for now, put the opera on the radio and stitch and stitch and stitch.  Wish me luck!


6 comments:

  1. My experience with cataract surgery was that things didn't really settle down for almost a year.

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  2. So sorry your eyes are giving you trouble! I'm glad the pyramid suggestion was helpful. I really like this direction- the little door or window makes them feel homier than just the plain pyramids, but feels less cutesy than the full houses. Good luck with the eyes!

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  3. Thank you for sharing this. You encourage us to create, no matter what.

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  4. I wonder if maybe you might think about yurts. That would be a technical challenge to make your pyramid type structures roundish--with flaps for doors. Then there are the traditional tipis--but maybe that would be appropriating imagery...so sorry about your poor eyeballs--but glad relief is scheduled.

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  5. I know just how you are feeling! I’d like to enter the 3D but I am so frustrated that the 2 eyes are not working together. The second eye sees better that the first. But I have been given the all clear, they are both healed. So tomorrow to the opticians for the eye test. Maybe next week I will have glasses! I have been using poundshop glasses for sewing and reading. And even for reading instructions on packets for cooking.
    I hope the next stages aren’t too frustrating for you.

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