a coined variation of
stick to one's own last, meaning to keep to that
field,
work, etc., in which one is competent or skilled. To
stick to one's own last comes from an ancient story of a shoemaker criticizing a
work by a Greek painter, stating that the
shoe in the
picture was incorrectly portrayed. Upon correction of the
shoe the shoemaker pointed out an
error in the leg, upon which the painter replied, "Shoemaker, do not go above your last."