Two Inches Away From Insanity

Last night I pulled out the crate of stitching stuff for Christian's class in order to cut the squares down to a smaller size.  They were so large that the kids were sewing the extra fabric that hung outside of their emroidery hoops into the backs of their pieces.  Of course, this meant taking out multiple stitches in order to free the fabric and then they would have to redo what had been done and undone.  I thought if I made the squares a little smaller that the corners wouldn't be so inclined to get caught in the needles' paths. 

First of all, why did I wait until last night to start doing this? 

Second of all, why did I wait until last night to start doing this?

I honestly thought it would be a simple thing to do.  I just needed to take two inches off each side of each square.  It sounds easy, doesn't it?  I put my measuring template down on my fabric cutting board.  (Aren't you impressed that I even have those things?  Well, you shouldn't be!  I got them about four years ago when I began making a quilt for Michaela...and the unmade quilt still sits in a basket looking pretty for all that it's worth, a sad, sweet little pile of fabric that will one day be a lovely quilt for my grown daughter's children, maybe...)  Not for any amount of money or chocolate, in those first few minutes, could I get it translated from my head to my hands what I was needing to do.  In other words, I knew what I needed to do, but I couldn't think straight to do it.  It was the weirdest thing...as if all of my Math knowledge decided to go on strike and I couldn't coax it to come back and do its duty.  Not like I have a whole ton of Math knowledge, but I know that when I have 12 1/2 inch squares and I want to cut off two inches that I would be left with 10 1/2 inch squares. 

I would put marks on the fabric in order to draw the lines which I would use to cut off the excess fabric; then I would make the line go across instead of down, or down instead of across.  I would try to put the measuring template so that I could see where the 10 1/2 inches were going to be, but then I couldn't really tell and it didn't seem right.  I was so frustrated by my own lack of skills I wanted to cry.

But I didn't!  I persevered!  And all of sudden, it clicked.  And then I was a cutting machine. 

I got into a groove and once that happened it went quickly.  I also began to look at their stitching closely, and it brought me such joy to think about them stitching on this cross.  It was such a sweet thought, that they were working on something so diligently and that it would serve as a reminder of the Lord's great love for them.  I felt humbled and happy to be helping them with this project.  

A friend that I hadn't talked to in a long time called while I was cutting, and talking to her helped the time fly.  Before I knew it, all thirteen squares were cut, back in their hoops, and sealed in the bags once again.

This morning I toted all of the stuff to class and the kids got to work right away.  They all seemed very enthusiastic.  And they were doing a great job.  The time went by quickly there as well, and soon the stitching was all put away again. 

When I first signed up for this task I was so apprehensive.  I was worried about getting the stuff ready, about teaching them how to sew, about being in the classroom with a bunch of first-graders and all of their germs.  Now I find myself thinking that it will be over much too soon.

Comments

[Mindee@ourfrontdoor]

I love hearing about this project. For what it's worth, I couldn't have done that math to save my life!

[J.R.]

Christina,
You are such a great writer. I can't wait to read your book...one day. Seriously. Miss you.