WIPocalypse Check-In - December 31, 2023

 

This month's discussion topic is: "Recap your accomplishments for the year! (Your finishes, your final before/after photos, etc)." 2023 Finishes (not FFO): Below are my  three finishes for 2023.  On the top is "Happiness is Handmade" by Durene Jones for Lakeside Needlecraft, finished August 21, 2023. In the center is the Halloween 2023 SAL from Stitchonomy, finished October 23, 2023. On the bottom is the Charity SAL from The Steady Thread, finished December 22, 2023. All were 2023 starts... Started in 2023 but not finished: Below are photos of projects started in 2023 but not yet finished. Both are Fox & Rabbit designs. On the top is The 2023 free SAL "Royal Garden". I fell so far behind on the border that I gave up on it and stated stitching the interior motifs. In Threadworx 0148 "Woodland Green",  two over two on 32 ct Lugana "pale green". I have 4.5 installments of interior motifs and then the borders to finish. On the bottom is "Temperature 2023", a pattern issue from Fox & Rabbit. I stitched the low temperature for the day in the left half of each heart, and the high temperature on the right. I sourced the temperatures from a web site https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/@5147978/historic for my ZIP as we do not have a reliable temperature indicator out here in the boonies. Stitched with DMC, two over two (one over two for the DMC 310 hangers). All dates are stitched excepting December 31, 2023. I am planing on adding a "key" chart of the temperature ranges of each color as well... Below are photos where work was not completed before being set aside... First is my long-term blackwork sampler by Elisabeth Almond "Save the Stitches". The last I touched this was March 28, 2022: Next are two projects essentially finished except for beading: On the top is a Christmas Banner SAL from Stitchonomy, which lacks attachment of a charm and a few beads. Photo taken January 29, 2023. On the bottom is "Hope and Strength" from Glendale Place, which lacks LOTS of beading. Photo taken December 21, 2022: Then there is a Stitchonomy SAL for 2023 called "Kingdoms of Life". I got deep into adjusting colors and just faded away with the third installment. I have the color conversions written down but never got back to stitching on this: Next up is "Kogin" from Lakeside Needlecrafts. This one really blocked me - I had issues with counting and frogged several times (you can make out reside from some of the frogged stitches if you look to he right of the three finished chevrons...) before giving up. This photo was taken January 28, 2022 (pathetic, I know)... And finally, my traveling needlepoint piece. scarcely touched because we really haven't traveled much this year. Photo taken February 24, 2023: GOALS for 2024: I probably should add a "yet to start" category because I have the patterns and the fabric and the floss but... this category is too big to count. I truly have been a "need all the patterns" person up to now but am trying my best to hold off on new purchases. We shall see how this works out! Watch for my goals for 2024 post on January 7...

WIPocalypse 2023 Check-In - November 26, 2023

 

This month's discussion topic is: "What is your favorite way to finish ornaments and/or smalls?" I haven't stitched or "finished" any ornaments or smalls in a LONG time --- MOST of what I stitch is medium to large and intended for a frame or some sort of hanging banner.  However, when I DID make ornaments, I usually went the way of flat-folds or pillows.  ~~~~~WIPs~~~~~ What I stitched on in November: I decoded that I wasn't making a lot of progress in rotational stitching where I alternating projects daily. Instead, I decided to settle on a project week, more or less. I don't know if this resulted in more progress but it made me feel a little more positive about my stitching. 1. Fox & Rabbit's Patreon "Temperature Chart" for the year 2023. Stitched on 28 ct. "Star Sapphire" Gobelin (although it looks more pale green than "sapphire" to me) using DMC floss. I'm stitching the day's low on the left side of the hearts and the high on the right side. All temperatures are based on the recorded highs and lows from an online "past weather" temperature chart for near-by Bowling Green, Ohio (we don't have a reliable outdoor temperature thermometer for our home so I'm assuming same ZIP code, similar temperature, although that isn't totally accurate). I am pretty much keeping up with the days, waiting until I have at least five days of temperatures charted to stitch each session. I spend the rest of the time on the border and the hangers. The picture below shows temperatures through November 20 and the border finally stitched out... 2. Fox & Rabbit Mystery SAL for 2023, "Royal Gardens". Stitching on 32ct Lugana "pale green" (this isn't an accurate color in this photo) using Threadworx Overdyed Floss 1048 "Woodland Green".  I have finished the January installment (sans border outlines and two areas of backstitching) with two major stitching errors that I will have to fudge around (because I didn't notice them until several rows of stitching and was NOT going to frog weeks worth of work to "fix" ).  I have started on the borders, parts of which were in the January,  March, and June pattern releases. Since I have so much of the pattern in hand (through November with the final December installment due this coming week), I am setting the borders on each side and then trying to finish the stitching in the center of the pattern, from left to right, top to bottom. I hope that this approach will result in better progress and allow me to account for the stitching error in installment one. As a result, I have the majority of the April installment (on the right) and about one third of the February installment (on the left) complete. That medallion on the left is giving me major headaches and I was frogging more than stitching last night, but I think I've got it sussed out now... Fingers crossed! 3. A Charity SAL from A Steady Thread.  Stitched on 28-ct even weave, antique white, using Sulky 12 wt threads. ​Don't ask me why but I really liked the look of this one and so I started a new piece! AAARGH! ​All blackwork, but I decided to play with color here. I have done parts of the wreath so that I can place the ornaments, and done the stitching on three of the four ornaments released so far. This is a bear to stitch because the fabric I chose is a very tightly woven 28-count even-weave and I'm having a terrible time counting! So there is a lot of fudging going on here and I sure hope that the ends of the wreath connect at the bottom! 4. Stitchonomy SAL for 2023 "Kingdom's of Life". All I have finished so far (the frame, the bacteria and the plants) were shown in previous posts. I am  doing some color editing on two installments before I proceed. No progress this month. ~~~~~ A COMPLETION!~~~~~ I finished the Stitchonomy Halloween 2023 SAL!  Stitched in DMC (two strands) on the kit 14-ct AIDA (a sort of brownish olive green), with charms from the kit added. All it needs now is to be hemmed and hung as a banner... Need to search my stash to see if I have a suitable hanger... ~~~~~ To sum up my November stitchery progress:  I have made no progress on my long-term WIPS (Elizabeth Almond's "Save the Stitches", Glendon Place's "Hope & Strength" which needs beads, Stitchonomy's 2022 "Christmas Banner" which needs beads) I made significant progress on "2023 Temperature" and some progress on "Royal Garden, with Fox & Rabbit pieces I completed The Stitchonomy Halloween SAL I start4ed a Christmas SAL I may have one more completion in 2023, with another piece close to completion as well,  assuming the holidays don't put a hitch in my stitching plans.  Keeping my stitching fingers limber --- and crossed!

WIPocalypse 2023 Check-In, October 29, 2023

 This month's discussion topic is:

"How do you begin planning for the next year with your stitching? Tell us your process."

Laughing out loud here because I don't "plan" my stitching. I buy on whim, I star on what feels right at the time, and I stitch - on rotation is there is more than one piece in progress (and there usually is). When a piece is finished, I may select a replacement (which may be a new start or it may be a return to a languishing WIP) for that slot in the rotation or I may alter the rotation to reflect the number of pieces in progress. That's it. It's all on a whim!

~~~~~WIPs~~~~~

What I stitched on in October:

1. Fox & Rabbit's Patreon "Temperature Chart" for the year 2023. Stitched on 28 ct. "Star Sapphire" Gobelin (although it looks more pale green than "sapphire" to me) using DMC floss. I'm stitching the day's low on the left side of the hearts and the high on the right side. All temperatures are based on the recorded highs and lows from an online "past weather" temperature chart for near-by Bowling Green, Ohio (we don't have a reliable outdoor temperature thermometer for our home so I'm assuming same ZIP code, similar temperature, although that isn't totally accurate). I am pretty much keeping up with the days, waiting until I have at least five days of temperatures charted to stitch each session. I spend the rest of the time on the border and the hangers. The picture below shows temperatures through October 26, sans hangers for the last few days...

2. Fox & Rabbit Mystery SAL for 2023, "Royal Gardens". Stitching on 32ct Lugana "pale green" (this isn't an accurate color in this photo) using Threadworx Overdyed Floss 1048 "Woodland Green". (I am still considering adding a gold thread to any crowns that appear in the "garden"). I have finished the January installment (sans border outlines and two areas of backstitching) with two major stitching errors that I have to fudge around (because I didn't notice them until several rows of stitching and was NOT going to frog weeks worth of work to "fix" ). 

I have started on the borders, parts of which were in the January, February, March, and May pattern releases. Since I have so much of the pattern in hand (through October, with November due this coming week), I am setting the borders on each side and then trying to finish the stitching in the center of the pattern, from left to right, top to bottom. I hope that this approach will result in better progress.

3. Stitchonomy SAL for 2023 "Kingdom's of Life". All I have finished so far (the frame, the bacteria and the plants) were shown in previous posts. I am  doing some color editing on two installments before I proceed. No progress this month.

4. Stitchonomy Halloween 2023 SAL. I am a member of the Pattern Club and have received and stitched the patterns for all installments so far but, until participants not in the Pattern Club have received their patterns (one week later), I cannot show my progress of any parts they have yet to receive, and so I am not yet counting this as a completed project. Therefore, all I can reveal is the frame: stitched in DMC 310 (two strands) on the kit 14-ct AIDA (a sort of brownish olive green), and the piece up to and including part 29:

~~~~~

That sums up my October stitchery progress.

For the first time in a LONG time (maybe ever), I have multiple WIPS languishing unfinished: Elizabeth Almond's "Save the Stitches", Glendon Place's "Hope & Strength" which needs beads, Stitchonomy's 2022 "Christmas Banner" which needs beads, and Stitchonomy's "Kingdom's of Life" which needs editing (Fox & Rabbit's "Royal Gardens" and "2023 Temperature" are the only two pieces currently in my rotation.).  Adding to this "horror", there are at least two Christmas SALs coming up, one which I have already signed up for and one which is due as soon as the Halloween SAL is completed.  

WIPocalypse 2023 Check-In September 25, 2023 (a day late)

 

This month's discussion topic is: "Are you a seasonal stitcher? If so, which seasons do you find yourself more productive or less productive?" Off hand, I'd say: "No, I'm not a 'seasonal' stitcher." if, by what you man as seasonal do I stitch more in winter than summer, etc. I stitch nearly every week of the year on whatever WIPs and new projects I have on hand. If, on the other hand, you mean do I stitch on "seasonal" projects, yes --- in th past four or five years, I've been hooked on Halloween and Christmas SALs which are, strangely enough, stitched in those holiday times (seasons?) of the year. How's that for avoiding a question? ~~~~~WIPs~~~~~ What I stitched on in September: 1. Fox & Rabbit's Patreon "Temperature Chart" for the year 2023. Stitched on 28 ct. "Star Sapphire" Gobelin (although it looks more pale green than "sapphire" to me) using DMC floss. I'm stitching the day's low on the left side of the hearts and the high on the right side. All temperatures are based on the recorded highs and lows from an online "past weather" temperature chart for near-by Bowling Green, Ohio (we don't have a reliable outdoor temperature thermometer for our home so I'm assuming same ZIP code, similar temperature, although that isn't totally accurate). I am pretty much keeping up with the days, waiting until I have at least five days of temperatures charted to stitch each session. I spend the rest of the time on the border and the hangers. The picture below shows temperatures through September, 12, although I do have the data on hand for September 13 - 24: 2. Fox & Rabbit Mystery SAL for 2023, "Royal Gardens". Stitching on 32ct Lugana "pale green" (this isn't an accurate color in this photo) using Threadworx Overdyed Floss 1048 "Woodland Green"   I am pleased with the slight variation in the green thread (this is a vary dark green with slight lighter green variations which can't be seen in the photographs, but which lends a slightly "weathered" look to the stitching), so I've decided to not mess with additional colors (although I have been considering adding a gold thread to any crowns that apperr in the "garden"). I have finished the January installment (sans border outlines and two areas of backstitching) with two major stitching errors that I have to fudge around (because I didn't notice them until several rows of stitching and was NOT going to frog weeks worth of work to "fix" ).  I have started on the borders, parts of which were in the January, February, March, and May pattern releases. Since I have so much of the pattern in hand (through September, with October due this coming week), I am planning on setting the borders on each side and then trying to finish the stitching in the center of the pattern, from left to right, top to bottom. I hope that this approach will result in better progress. 3. Stitchonomy SAL for 2023 "Kingdom's of Life". All I have finished so far (the frame, the bacteria and the plants) were shown in previous posts. I want to do some color editing on two installments before I proceed. No progress this month. ​4. Stitchonomy Halloween 2023 SAL. I am a member of the Pattern Club and have received patterns for five installments so far but, until participants not in the Pattern Club have received their patterns (one week later), I cannot show my progress of any parts they have yet to receive. Therefore, all I can reveal is the frame: stitched in DMC 310 (two strands) on the kit 14-ct AIDA (a sort of brownish olive green): One stitching error here which I discovered as I was rounding the corner to the bottom row... that row is one stitch taller than all the others. I will have to adjust/fudge because I'm not frogging that whole thing! ~~~~~ That sums up my September stitchery progress. Unlike in my August report, progress was not interfered with by craft-space reorganization (This reorganization has expanded from paper crafting areas - now reasonably complete - into the stitching/quilting areas of my craft space and is certain to be an ongoing issue: my floss storage is a disaster!), but by the beginning of the Stitchonomy Halloween SAL! In the past week, I have diverted all of my rotation to keeping up with the daily installments which, although only about 1 inch square, are detailed, use a lot of colors and take up at least 1.5 hours of stitching each night. For the first time in a LONG time (maybe ever), I have multiple WIPS languishing unfinished: Elizabeth Almond's "Save the Stitches", Glendon Place's "Hope & Strength" which needs beads, Stitchonomy's 2022 "Christmas Banner" which needs beads, Stitchonomy's "Kingdom's of Life" which needs editing, Fox & Rabbit's "Royal Gardens", and Fox & Rabbit's "2023 Temperature"!). Adding to this "horror", there are at least two Christmas SALs coming up: one which I have already signed up for and one which is due as soon as the Halloween SAL is completed.  How did I get so far behind?

WIPocalypse 2023 Check-In - August 27., 2023

 

This month's discussion topic is: "What is your comfort zone regarding the number of projects to have kitted and in progress at any one time?" Right now, I have three pieces in progress. I'm not counting two mostly finished pieces which require extensive beading. Since June of this year, I had four pieces going at once, rotating daily but that was getting to me as they were all SALs and I was/am behind in all of them. I was having real issues in actually stitching any of the four! So in the last week, I have reverted to working on each piece three days in a row. That meant I actually finished one piece and am caught up on another. Three projects at once is my absolute max, but, of late, I am thinking two would be much more comfortable. ~~~~~WIPs~~~~~ What I stitched on in August: 1. Fox & Rabbit's Patreon "Temperature Chart" for the year 2023. Stitched on 28 ct. "Star Sapphire" Gobelin (although it looks more pale green than "sapphire" to me) using DMC floss. I'm stitching the day's low on the left side of the hearts and the high on the right side. All temperatures are based on the recorded highs and lows from an online "past weather" temperature chart for near-by Bowling Green, Ohio (we don't have a reliable outdoor temperature thermometer for our home so I'm assuming same ZIP code, similar temperature, although that isn't totally accurate). I am pretty much keeping up with the days, waiting until I have roughly five days of temperatures charted to stitch each session. I spend the rest of the time on the border and the hangers. (the picture below shows temperatures, sans hangers, through August 24): 2. Fox & Rabbit Mystery SAL for 2023, "Royal Gardens". Stitching on 32ct Lugana "pale green" (this isn't an accurate color in this photo) using Threadworx Overdyed Floss 1048 "Woodland Green" throughout.  I am pleased with the slight variation in the green thread so I've decided to not mess with additional colors. I have finished the January installment (sans border outlines and two areas of backstitching) with two major stitching errors that I will have to fudge around (because I didn't notice them until several rows of stitching and was NOT going to frog weeks wort of work to "fix" ).  I have started on the borders, part of which were in the January pattern and part in the March pattern. Since I have so  much of the pattern in hand (February through August, with September due this coming week) , I am planning on setting the borders on each side and then trying to finished the stitching in the center of the pattern, from left to right, top to bottom. I hope that this approach will result in better progress. 3. Stitchonomy SAL for 2023 "Kingdom's of Life". I'm a member of the pattern club so I receive installments "early" and can't post progress on any installment until the general stitching community gets their installments. I am significantly behind on this one because I am editing colors on the fly and that slows me down a lot. All I have finished so far (the frame, the bacteria and the plants) are shown below. I have all the installments in hand now and I want to do some editing on two before I proceed. No progress this month. ~~~~~ !!!!! A Completion !!!!! Lakeside Needlecraft "Happiness is Handmade" SAL, designed by Durene Jones. Stitched with the recommended DMC floss on a wide (very slippery) Aida band.  I need to find a hanger for this and decide how to FFO the back. ~~~~~Incoming~~~~~ There is a Stitchonomy Halloween SAL coming soon. I have purchased the kit and I expect it to arrive any week now. I hope to complete the current Stitchonomy SAL ("Kingdoms of Life") before its arrival so that I can be more productive in the future weeks! ~~~~~ That sums up my August stitchery progress. As in my July report, progress was interfered with by craft-space (it's not really a room. but half a basement space) reorganization.  This reorganization has expanded from paper crafting areas into the stitching/quilting areas of my craft space and is certain to be an ongoing issue (my floss storage is a disaster!) As usual, I say I hope to do better in future but we shall see...