Are You a Needlepoint Ghost?

uPDATED aUGUST 18, 2023.
You may find these words when you read about classes “Ghosts permitted.” If you are like many of us, you may be wondering what a ‘ghost’ is.

“Ghosts” in the context of classes means people taking classes we are not physically present in the classroom when the class is in-person and not online.

Many guilds have long had a policy that they will send a project to students who miss the meeting. Those folks are ghosts. Some guild chapters have many members who are remote and never attend meetings.

With the rise of online guild chapters, such as CyberPointers, and online classes, remote participants of classes have become common.

These people are called ghosts.

If you are taking a class remotely, you will be mailed the complete class kit to stitch the project on your own. What you will not have is all the extra help you get in an on-line class.

Although the possibility for live video, remote participation, and videotaped explanations exists, it hasn’t really become adopted in the needlepoint world.

Sometimes you will also see specifically that ghosts are not permitted. This can be for many reasons: perhaps the techniques need to be shown, perhaps the designer or other contracting party requests it, or perhaps feedback from the live class is needed. If ghosts are not permitted, do not ask to participate in the class; instead, ask if the class materials are available to online customers.

Ghost stitching makes so many more chances to learn needlepoint available to us.