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...

WIPocalypse 2023 Check-In - July 30, 2023

 

This month's discussion topic is:

"Which are your favorite and least favorite fabrics to stitch on?"

Favorite is easy - Lugana or Jobelin in either 28 or 32 counts. I tend toward neutrals and white but if a color works with a pattern, I will go with it.

Least favorite - AIDA when it's got slippery polyester threads woven in and loosely woven, slub-filled linens. Least favorite color, regardless pf fabric is black...

~~~~~WIPs~~~~~
What I stitched on in July:

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 through July 15:

2.  Lakeside Needlecraft "Happiness is Handmade" SAL, designed by Durene Jones. Stitched with the recommended DMC floss on a wide (very slippery) Aida band. Installments one through 8 are complete, installment 9 is nearly so - although not without MAJOR "personalizations" (and I am still contemplating some backstitching), installment 10 is in progress, and installment 11 has been issued. 

3. 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 the February through July pattern installments in hand, while August is due any day now!. I'm really not enjoying the stitching as much as I usually do on a Fox & Rabbit sampler because of this, and find motivation to keep this one going in my rotation a chore.

4. 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 (their 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.

~~~~~
That sums up my July stitchery progress. As in my June report, progress was interfered with by craft-space (it's not really a room. but half a basement space) reorganization.  

As usual, I say I hope to do better in future but we shall see...

WIPocalypse 2023 Check-In - June 25, 2023

 

This month's discussion topic is: "Half-year recap:  How are you doing with your goals so far this year?" In January, here is what I said my goals would be for 2023: a 2023 temperature chart from Fox & Rabbit, which was kitted up and ready to go at the first of the year   the 2023 Mystery SAL "Royal Garden" by Fox & Rabbit  Two additional projects were put in the queue for this year: Lakeside Needlecraft "Happiness is Handmade" SAL, designed by Durene Jones. Stitchonomy SAL "Kingdoms of Life" Progress on all four of these projects are reported on in this check-in. Four projects designated as "in the queue" in January have not been started.  They are: a cooperative venture between Nancy Wahler ("Faithwurks") and Sue Hillis Designs called "A Stitcher's Shadowbox and Smalls" (as per usual, I ordered two by mistake! Oh well---) and I have the kit(s) in hand. two SALs by Cliffside Stitches. One is a variation on medieval Egyptian blackwork and the other is a set of cross-stitched tiles based on variety of motifs that are reminiscent of traditional folk designs from around the world. I have not started either although I have ordered the floss for the blackwork piece and have collected the weekly installments a blackwork SAL by Clare Bradshaw of The Steady Thread - weekly installments of two versions. I have collected the installments but have not decided on which version, if any I would stitch. I think it was also "understood" that certain unfinished pieces would at least be worked on: ​A long term WIP, almost a UFO: Elizabeth Almond's "Save the Stitches" sampler. Started back in February of 2014! It is currently about 60% complete, but so far, this year, it hasn't been touched  Traveling Needlepoint: Not having travelled since the pandemic, I had not been motivated to stitch on "Butterfly on Scroll" by Dimensions since travel became untenable ih February 2020. There was small progress in March. A WIP in progress - "Hope & Strength" by Glendon Pace. Purchased in 2020 and started in March, 2021,  the stitching is finally complete. It STILL awaits the attachment of 1988 beads! AAACK!  A Lakeside Needlecraft SAL, "Kogin", designed by Elizabeth Almond. I began in February 2022 and it hasn't been touched since. A Mystery SAL in progress - "Christmas Banner" by Stitchonomy. Started in mid-December 2022 and finished except for beads and charms. ​So... How am I doing? I guess one step forward and one step backward! I'm stitching. I'm making progress on some pieces but not on others. Basically, I'm not stitching on what I had thought I would be stitching on at the beginning of the year. ~~~~~WIPs~~~~~ What I stitched on in June: 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 through June 20, but I think I made an error in the last two hearts and may have to restitch): 2.  Lakeside Needlecraft "Happiness is Handmade" SAL, designed by Durene Jones. Stitched with the recommended DMC floss on a wide (very slippery) Aida band. Installments one through six are complete although not without "personalizations" (and I am contemplating some backstitching), installment seven is in progress, and installments eight and nine have been issued. (Don't seem to be able to catch up on this one...)  3. 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 am more than half of the way through the January installment (still two flowers to go!) and have the February, March, April, May and June pattern installments (plus the borders) in hand, with July hard on the heels of the others! I would be faster if the frog didn't keep visiting - and if this floral piece were not so "stitch-heavy". I'm really not enjoying the stitching as much as I usually do on a Fox & Rabbit sampler because of this, and find motivation to keep this one going in my rotation a chore. 4. 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. Therefore, all I have to share this month is the frame, stitched in a dark grey DMC on a natural 14-count Aida. I have installment one in hand now... ~~~~~planned projects~~~~~ There are new patterns collected and at least one kit ordered, but whether or not they actually get started in 2023 is in question.  ~~~~~ ​ That sums up my June stitchery progress. As in my May report, progress was interfered with by craft-space (it's not really a room. but half a basement space) reorganization. ​ As usual, I say I hope to do better but we shall see...