Bold or fine?

I have really enjoyed the two Pergamano shows on Hochanda today.  I always enjoy them but today's shows were right up my street.  I have to emphasise that everything I write in this blog is my personal opinions and thoughts.  Everyone is entitled and right to make their own decisions.  We are all different and should be.

A PTC using a grid design from Josie Davidson, but done with a fine grid

It is no secret that although I love dabbling in lots of different crafts, my favourite is probably parchment work.  I am no expert but I have been doing it for many years.  It was a no brainer to join in the Groovi journey, and even more obvious that I needed to find someone from whom to learn the finer points of the craft.  I was fortunate enough that Linda Williams put Lynne Bishop and me in touch with a lovely traditional tutor, Pat White.  She soon took us in hand and started to tidy up our faults and stretch our knowledge.

Because the multi-needle tools are fine (thinner and closer together), I never really did much with the bold tools.  In fact, I never use the two needle and four need bold tools.  The single needle bold tool is an important part of my kit, but rarely used for its original purpose.  I use it to make the holes to insert the tiny Clarity brands and remove glue that has dried in the nozzles, and other non-parchment things.  It is often seriously misused.

I can cut picots with holes made with the bold tools, but I am never satisfied with the results, whereas those created with the fine needle tools are, for me, much better.  One very good reason is the increasing cost of postage.  We now have to pay extra for 8x8 and 7x7 inch cards, so it makes sense to reduce our designs to smaller sizes, unless they are hand delivered. 

Because of the fine multi needle tools, I could never see the point of mixing in the bold tools.  That just did not make sense to me.

I do have a bit of a reputation of changing designs set for a workshop, and one of my regular changes is to convert bold grids to fine grids.  Yes, it takes longer but I enjoy doing it and it gives me satisfaction.  No argument for me.  I am fortunate in going to classes where the tutors know me and are happy for me to interpret things differently.

One argument for the bold tools is it is easier to see what you are doing, especially if you have eyesight problems.  I have developing cataracts which are causing me some problems these days, not least with the need to replace my two pairs of glasses very frequently.  I do make sure that I take my parchment work to every eye test to ensure that I get the best prescription for that work.

Two years ago, I was so frustrated and thought I was going to have to give up all gridwork.  I tried different types of expensive and cheap magnifier and lights, but nothing seemed to work for me.  Even bold grid work was impossible.  Then I picked up one of the many head torches we had scattered round, management only used for taking two black dogs out late at night on unlit caravan fields.  I had a sudden flash of "Clarity", and tried it with a bit of gridwork. 

It was a revelation, a real game-changer.  I could see everything I needed.  I now have two head torches, rechargeable from the mains or from a power pack.  Each one will usually last for a full day at a workshop.  They are not cheap but they allow me to continue the hobby I love.  My make of choice sits comfortably, not too heavy, can be angled to spotlight exactly where you are looking.  The intensity of the light can be adjusted so that it is comfortable for any environment.  I do get the Mickey taken about my appearance, but I don't care if it allows me to carry on.

Photo taken by Barbara Gray at a Leyburn workshop.

You can laugh all you like but I can continue with fine work like this one.  This is a traditional design, traced in the old way, and then each butterfly divided into sections for different designs of grids.  A bit fiddly, but with proper prescription glasses and a really good head torch, I can see it all clearly, even with cataracts.

I did a couple of Christmas cards using one of Tina Cox's designs

, then while I was looking through the Clarity member's sale, I realised it had been turned into a Groovi plate.
https://claritystamp.com/collections/groovi-1/products/tinas-embroidery-christmas-trees-br-a5-square-groovi-plate

Here's a challenge for you.  Draw out two outlines of this tree from Tina,  divide it up in sections and create different grids in each section.  Do one tree with the bold grid and the other with the fine grid.  Then show the results, good or bad, on Facebook, and decide whether you are a bold or fine person or a mixture of the two.

The question in the title was asking how you prefer to work, with the bold grid and tools or the fine ones.  I am curious to know how everyone else feels.  There is no right or wrong answer.  As I said, we are all different and we must choose our own way.