Those of you who read my website regularly know me fairly well – you know that I try to be honest in my approach to my work and in everything I write about on Needle ‘n Thread. Sometimes, I am too frank, and sometimes, I obviously write without thinking things through completely. And this gets me and other people in trouble. I’d like to clarify a situation and offer an apology.

The other day, when I wrote again about the design transfer on the Floral Glove Needlecase project, my intention was to troubleshoot what I thought was a wonky design transfer. With every project I stitch, I approach it as a learning opportunity, and I troubleshoot anything that strikes me as troublesome and work my own way through it. I saw the transfer question as a “teaching moment,” the opportunity to troubleshoot a transfer problem, something that is not uncommon in the embroidery world. Unfortunately, this particular teaching moment didn’t come across right.

I should have been more careful, because the reputation of the designer and her business were involved, and I did not consider that people would view my post as “trashing” her reputation, which is apparently how it has been taken by some. This was thoughtless and inconsiderate of me. I came across as being critical of the project and class, causing real anger in others and risking damaging the reputation of another.

First, I would like to clarify any misconceptions about the Floral Glove course itself. The content is excellent, and the more I progress through the piece, the more I appreciate it. The materials are of the best quality – the linen, the silk, the gold – all of it. The instruction is thorough. The history portion of the course is enlightening, and it’s filled with photos of things that many of us will never have the opportunity to see in real life. For all of this, the course is unique, and the product of the course will be a beautiful floral glove needlecase, if I can do justice to the piece.

Second, I’d like to clear up the question of the transfer that I criticized. In response to the article, Tricia Wilson-Nguyen explained via e-mail to the class that the die-cut insert for the glove is off-set, and so the design is, too, on purpose, that this will work out when the finishing is done, and that the design itself is loosely drawn, on purpose, to imitate historical pieces.

I sincerely apologize to Tricia at Thistle Threads, and also to the person who does her design transfers and kit packing, who was only doing what she was supposed to be doing.