To touch or not to touch
. . . that is the question!
How do you feel when someone touches your Needlepoint?
One of my best teachers advised that we don't touch our Needlepoint
or let others touch it. The reason is that the oils from our
fingers get absorbed by the threads, especially the silks.
I take great care to make sure that my threads are laid as
smoothly as I can and my beads are carefully placed. Other
stitchers surely would understand and not want to disturb
this art. On the other hand, if someone asks if they can touch,
I respect that they will be most careful and I agree. Their
touching usually is a light finger tap, just to satisfy that
urge.
Children can always touch. I can't resist the caring and interest
shown by children as they wonder about the feel of the threads,
beads, sparkle. My grandchildren have permission to touch
and their touch is a blessing to my stitching. Their touch
is so gentle! Once given permission, they don't seem interested
in touching again.
I would expect Quilters to be 'touchers'. However, when one
views a Quilt show, we are given gloves to wear to use for
touching. Gloria, who works in a Needlepoint shop, had to
remove her lovely display piece because customers all touched
and her piece was at risk. On the other hand, Kandy, owner
of Alex-Paras NeedleArts, invites people to touch.
I know that as I'm stitching, I'm touching my piece all the
time. My hands are clean, free of hand lotion and I'm placing
embellishments, not disturbing the work.
The obvious solution is to cover the work with glass. Many
stitchers resist the glass because they want to see the stitches
easily. For my part, glass would prevent me from exhibiting
my work.
Please Touch with your Eyes only!
Rosalyn Cherry-Soleil
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