Originally posted 2010-03-12 07:00:20. Republished by Blog Post Promoter What is a jar of mayonnaise doing on a needlepoint blog? It’s there to remind you that soft and smooth hands are essential to good needlework. If your hands aren’t smooth many threads will catch and some, such a Trebizond or Silk Serica, can become so snagged they are unusable. Carrying around a small tube of lotion in your project bag is a great way to go, but what if you don’t have some? The solution is as close as your nearest deli or your kitchen. To smooth your hands you need a package of mayo and a packet of sugar. Begin by putting the mayo on your hands and smoothing it around. Sprinkle the sugar in your palms and rub it into the mayo and rub them all over your hands, including around the cuticles where there is usually rough skin. Now wash your hands with soap and water. The mayonnaise softens the hands, while the granular sugar exfoliates and gets rid of the rough stuff. It’s an outstanding method and really works. But you may also want to go the tried and true route of using lotion. If you [...] Related posts: Yoga for Your Hands Keeping Records The Joys and Problems of Stitching from Stash Stitching the Inexpensive Kit Stitching with Delicate Threads

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