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A lot of newbies find reading/using patterns confusing.
(ETA now that I'm not on my cell ::)) To be honest...not just newbies. I find myself reading and re-reading instructions and staring at the pattern trying to make sense of it...then walk away and come back later... :o
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I love the catch-stitch, too. It's also a great (and accurate for some periods) technique for finishing seam allowances--I tacked down *miles* of them on an 18th c. quilted petticoat I made this summer. For whatever reason, though, it's one of those ones I have to relearn every time I sit down to do it--which is pretty often, considering--and it's one I can *never* figure out how to do in embroidery! And a closed herringbone? Egads...
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There must be something in the air at the moment; there's been a slew of discussions on beginners and basic sewing skills on Pattern Review right now, too. Laura, I know you do a lot of different types of sewing--are you thinking general sewing knowledge, historical techniques, whatever strikes your fancy?
That cross-stitch hem would have come in really handy a few weeks ago! The hem to a suit coat sleeve that I needed to alter back to its original length was done in that stitch, and I just couldn't figure out how to get the flow of it. I ended up doing a blind stitch super carefully to get it to look right on the outside.
Great idea to get this up and going!