Nicely Finished Crafts

I was never one to worry much about hiding ends in my work. It didn’t matter whether it was knitting, crochet, embroidery, or hand hemming. Until about twenty years ago (the first 48 years of my life), I just didn’t see the necessity. I have grown very careful about this since then. I’m not sure what turned my attitude around, about proper finishing.

It might have been a craft fair that Jane and I worked in Southern CA, around 1985 or 1986. A local mall, a rather large one, had a promotion. They displayed a few dozen booths in the central walking area. They were reasonably priced, so we decided to give it a try. It was to last the weekend.

After the first day, it was obvious that some items were more in demand than others. The biggest seller, the most successful, was a woman selling her handmade baby quilts. Grandparents and parents were gobbling them up, sometimes buying several at a time. Selling them at up to $50, this gal was pulling in the money. Almost every other crafter there stopped
at that booth to check out the quality of the quilts, to get ideas for their own future shows.

What we noticed immediately, as crafters, was that they looked good if viewed quickly and from the front. On the back, there were long threads that needed to be clipped or tied-and-clipped, badly. We knew those who bought would see this when they got home. It annoyed us that sloppy work was so richly rewarded, but it also showed me that quality was important. I had no doubt that if this lady displayed, locally, in the future, any former customers would either not purchase, or worse, would tell anyone in earshot that the quality was bad.

Please, Lord, help me to do the best I can with what you have given me.