WIPocalypse 2022 Check-In - June 26, 2022

 

The topic for this month's discussion is: "How are you doing with your goals so far this year?" There were some finishes: Stitchonomy "Christmas SAL 2021", started December 2021, finished January 2022 Lakeside Needlecraft free "Christmas SAL", started in December 2021, finished January 2022 ​Stitchonomy SAL, "Spring 2022", started April 22, finished May 2022 There were two long-term WIPs held over from years previous: "Hope & Strength" by Glenwood Place, started in 2021 and still in progress (see below) The Elizabeth Almond "Save the Stitches" blackwork sampler, started in 2014 and still in progress And there have been two new starts in 2022 and in progress currently (see below): Lakeside Needlecraft SAL "Crystallized" which started January 2 Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Magazine SAL, "Home Sweet Home", started with the February 2022 issue of the magazine And one new 2022 start, currently stalled: A Lakeside Needlecraft SAL, "Kogin", designed by Elizabeth Almond, started in January 2022 The following were things I thought might be possible new starts in 2022, and, as of January 1, 2022, the following charts/kits had been either purchased or downloaded: A botanical blackwork SAL by Steady Thread, not yet kitted up. Installments once a week for a year.  The Fox & Rabbit freebie SAL “ Changing Seasons “, installments monthly.  a World of Cross Stitch chart by Jenny Van De Wiele called "Miniature Marvels”, kitted up by Lakeside Needlecraft Three needlepoint kits by Needle Delights Original, designed by Kathy Rees: "Tahiti", "Bora Bora" and "Tropical Seas" Two Bothy Threads kits, based on art by Jessica Hogarth: "Love Paris" and "Love London" Two Artecy kits, designs by Tereena Clarke: "London Abstract" and "London Bus"  Four Bothy Threads kits from the art of Sally Swannell: The New England Homes series: "Spring", "Winter", "Fall", and "Summer" One kit from Charting Creations, from the art of Robert Finale: "Palace" Sadly, I have to admit that I continued to purchase charts/kits and have acquired a HUGE number of downloaded charts (many being blackwork SALs and tributes to Ukraine) in my Apple Books pdf file in 2022, way too many to list here. And none of these acquisitions have been started! I have also joined a fabric of the month club and two threads of the month clubs at Lakeside Needlecraft so fabric and floss have started to accumulate in piles on my cutting table (I'm running out of storage space!) So, while I have been plugging away, making progress on some of my 2022 goals as stated back in January, I have to admit, my 'buying all the things" that catch my eye means I have actually backslid in any organization progress I had made previously. ~~~~~Long-term WIPS~~~~~ When I checked in last month, I had only one long-term WIP in my project bag: The Elizabeth Almond "Save the Stitches" blackwork sampler, which is roughly 60% complete  and block #77 had been completed as of last month. No progress this month, however... ~~~~~Travelling Needlepoint~~~~~ ​Not having travelled since the pandemic, I have not been motivated to stitch on "Butterfly on Scroll" by Dimensions since February 2020.  No progress to report. However, there will be a road trip in mid-July to eastern Ohio for a Daylily conference (and I now have a travel light!) so I may actually make some progress on this piece, stitching in the hotel while my husband is doing his daylily "thing". ~~~~~Kits started in 2021~~~~~ There is one kit I started in 2021 that is still unfinished: "Hope & Strength" by Glenwood Place, stitched on Jade Lugana using the recommended Dinky Dye threads.  In May, I had competed some work on the border, stitching the pink and purple stars in the lower border. This portion of the border has now “turned the corner” and work has started on the "white" filler/background to the stars: ~~~~~ SALs started in 2022 ~~~~~ 1. Lakeside Needlecraft SAL "Crystallized" which started January 2, exclusively designed by Oxana Polyakova, with monthly installments. Stitched on 36-ct white even-weave with DMC floss. Installment one - "Larimar", installment two - "Malachite", installment three -“Amber",  installment four - "Obsidian", installment five - "Jasper”, installment five - “Quartz”, AND installment six - “Tiger’s Eye”  are complete. installment 7 - "Agate" ran into an issue with a counting error which I can't pinpoint (there are no clear reference lines and/or overlap zones between the multiple pages in this piece and, for me, this leads to massive issues with counting can connecting up borders) and this counting error has meant that I need to do a lot of redesign on the fly. Therefore, it is only in progress: Here is where the piece is right now... This puts me WAY behind since the 9th installment - "Amethyst" - has already been uploaded and the 10th is due out on July 10... 2. A Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Magazine SAL, designed by Nancy Wahler, which started with the February 2022 issue of the magazine (I get it digitally as well as hard copy); further installments in future magazine issues through the end of 2022.  Stitched on Wichelt oatmeal evenweave using Anchor and Weeks Dye Works threads, and Kreinik braids. The fourth installment consists of two houses: a Beach House and a Tudor Cottage. The Beach House is complete; threads have been sorted for the Tudor Cottage. Here is where the piece is right now... The fifth installment will be two more houses, not due until the October issue of the magazine, so I still am keep on schedule with this SAL. 3. A Lakeside Needlecraft SAL, "Kogin", designed by Elizabeth Almond. I began after four installments had been issued. The entire pattern is now in hand. I had issues - and the frog was a frequent visitor. It has been put away until I can deal with my obvious inablility to follow a pattern here! A Stitchonomy pattern designed to be a companion to the "Spring 2022" SAL and the "Winter 2021" SAL is scheduled for release this month while an Autumn one has been announced for August/September (these will not be SALs). I have ordered the charm and trim kit for the summer pattern. A 2022 Halloween SAL pattern "Cabinet of Curiosities" has been announced for the fall and sign-ups are now available... So, in summary, this month I made progress on one WIP and two SALs... I also am spending this weekend watching another virtual card making series of six video and live-stream classes (Someday, I'll get around to actually MAKING some of the cards taught in these classes!)! ​ Wishing for an honorable peace... both at home and abroad.

WIPocalypse 2022 Check-In - May 29, 2022

 

Comments   The topic for this month's discussion is: "Retreats and seminars – have you ever been to any stitching events? If so, tell us about them!" ​ I have attended one scrapbooking crop (I do not scrapbook) and three quilting retreats (where I “worked” on piecing together in-progress crazy quilts - three quits the are STILL unfinished!). I have attended three in-person paper crafting events where I did learn a lot of technique, acquired a lot of swag (shopping at paper crafting events is de rigueur!) and completed roughly 6 to 8 projects per event; and a number of online virtual classes (in the past two “covid years", these have been too numerous to count) where I have completed almost no projects. The paper crafting projects are documented on my blog "Carol Stamps" which I have pretty much neglected since December 2021. Would a weekend needlepoint class while I was a graduate student (in the late 1960’s) count? I made two small square pieces at that class and learned a little about needlepoint design. I think I still have those small pieces somewhere but can't swear to it! Nothing since then, however, although I have often wished I lived close to some of the retreats I have seen advertised (The Silver Needle’s retreats in Oklahoma and the Williamsburg Retreats) but the cost of travel and housing, to say nothing of the retreats themselves, was (and is still) prohibitive, considering the odds of actually accomplishing anything (other than spending money on stash I probably do not need!) at them.  You see, lighting and magnification are issues for me and carrying all that gear along would be a real hassle.  I function much better at in-person "classes", because there seems to be a greater incentive for me to keep up with the instructor (if paper crafting classes are any indication). However, the lighting and magnification issues still apply. Besides, my experiences at quilting retreats indicate to me that very little actual stitching would take place — I am too easily distracted by others! ~~~~~Long-term WIPS~~~~~ When I checked in last month, I had only one long-term WIP in my project bag: The Elizabeth Almond "Save the Stitches" blackwork sampler, which is roughly 60% complete which hadn’t been touched since March check-in. Block #77 is now complete: ~~~~~Kits started in 2021~~~~~ There is one kit I started in 2021 that is still unfinished: "Hope & Strength" by Glenwood Place, stitched on Jade Lugana using the recommended Dinky Dye threads. This also languished, untouched in April. In May, I did some more work on the border, stitching the pink and purple stars in the lower border. This border has  now “turned the corner” and markers for the top border are in place: ~~~~~ SALs started in 2022 ~~~~~ 1. Lakeside Needlecraft SAL "Crystallized" which started January 2, exclusively designed by Oxana Polyakova, with monthly installments. Stitched on 36-ct white even-weave with DMC floss. Installment one - "Larimar", installment two - "Malachite", installment three -“Amber",  installment four - "Obsidian", installment five - "Jasper”, installment five - “Quartz”, AND installment six - “Tiger’s Eye”  are complete. The "Quartz" and "Tiger's Eye" are shown below... This is the piece, so far... There is lettering in the chart but I have decided that I do not want to add it. Installment eight is due out May 29. 2. A Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Magazine SAL, designed by Nancy Wahler, which started with the February 2022 issue of the magazine (I get it digitally as well as hard copy); further installments come in future magazine issues through the end of 2022.  Stitched on Wichelt oatmeal evenweave using Anchor and Weeks Dye Works threads, and Kreinik braids. Installment 3 consists of an A-frame and a Classic Craftsman. I have completed both the A-Frame and the Craftsman): Here is the piece, so far... The next pair of houses is due in the August issue of the magazine. 3. A Lakeside Needlecraft SAL, "Kogin", designed by Elizabeth Almond. I began after four installments had been issued. The entire pattern is now in hand. I had issues - and the frog was a frequent visitor. It has been put away until I can deal with my obvious inablility to follow a pattern here! 4. A Stitchonomy SAL, "Spring 2022", started April 22 and installments came out every other day. It was being stitched on pale pink 14-ct Aida using DMC threads and is meant to be a "partner" to the Stitchonomy Winter 2021 SAL.  ​I have stitched 13 of the 15 bands and/or alternatives (the other two bands were omitted because I lacked room for them on my fabric). I added black seed beads to the yes of the birds and the hatching chicks. The charms were part pf the kit. I have received a bell pull hanger and intend to finish this, and the companion Winter SAL from 2020-21, as soon as I get up the ambition! So, in summary, this month I made progress on two WIPs and two SALs... I also spent last weekend watching another virtual card making series of five classes (Someday, I'll get around to actually MAKING some of the cards taught in these classes!)!  Wishing for an honorable peace...

WIPocalypse 2022 Check-In - April 24, 2022

 The topic for this month's discussion is:

"What is your favorite store (either online or brick and mortar) to purchase your supplies?"

This is a hard one because I don't use just one store. And the ones I do use are all online (we don't have any local needlework shops anywhere near around where I live). I like to buy floss from Stoney Creek. I tend to buy fabric from 1-2-3 Stitch and from ABC Stitch Therapy. Recently, I am in two monthly thread clubs and a monthly fabric club at Lakeside Needlecraft, and I have purchased charts (from designers otherwise not readily available in the US)  from them as well . Another source of charts (and occasionally kits0 for me is the designer of my primary addiction, Michael Powell.  In the past, I have purchased kits from The Silver Needle and I love that they will custom cut fabric for you, even if you place the order by phone (the ladies there are so very knowledgeable about all things needlework!)! And when I lived in Northern California (back in the late 1900's, as an online acquaintance says), I was totally enamored of Needle in a Haystack (another place where knowledge rules!). finally, I subscribe to magazines,  mainly for drooling but also occasionally for charts (Just Cross Stitch Magazine and The World of Cross-stitching).

And then there is my stash - an accumulation over the past several decades of miscellaneous charts, kits, threads, fabrics and embellishments!

~~~~~Long-term WIPS~~~~~

When I checked in last month, I had only one long-term WIP in my project bag: The Elizabeth Almond "Save the Stitches" blackwork sampler, which is roughly 60% complete. I didn't touch it this month...


~~~~~Kits started in 2021~~~~~
There is one kit I started in 2021 that is still unfinished: "Hope & Strength" by Glenwood Place, stitched on Jade Lugana using the recommended Dinky Dye threads. This also languished, untouched in April.

~~~~~ SALs started in 2022 ~~~~~

1. Lakeside Needlecraft SAL "Crystallized" which started January 2, exclusively designed by Oxana Polyakova, with monthly installments. Stitched on 36-ct white even-weave with DMC floss. Installment one, "Larimar", installment two, "Malachite", installment three, "Amber",  installment four, "Obsidian", and Installmentfive, "Jasper" are complete:

Installment six, "Quartz", is underway, with two of the six colors done:

There is lettering in the chart but I am holding off until the end to decide it I want it or not.

The seventh installment is due out May 8.

​2. A Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Magazine SAL, designed by Nancy Wahler, which started with the February 2022 issue of the magazine (I get it digitally as well as hard copy); further installments come in future magazine issues through the end of 2022.  Stitched on Wichelt oatmeal evenweave using Anchor and Weeks Dye Works threads, and Kreinik braids. Installment 3 consists of an A-frame and a Classic Craftsman. I have completed the A-Frame and the Craftsman lacks only backstitch (sorry for the fuzzy photo):

3. A Lakeside Needlecraft SAL, "Kogin", designed by Elizabeth Almond. I began after four installments had been issued. The entire pattern is now in hand. I had issues - and the frog was a frequent visitor . It has been put away until I can deal with my obvious inablility to follow a pattern here!

4. A Stitchonomy SAL, "Spring 2022", started April 22 and installments are due out every other day. It is being stitched on pale pink14-ct Aida using DMC threads and is meant to be a "partner" to the Stitchonomy Winter 2021 SAL. I have stitched installment 1:

So, in summary, this month I made progress on no WIPs and three SALs... I also spent this past LONG weekend watching virtual card making classes. Someday, I'll get around to actually MAKING some of the cards taught in these classes!​

Wishing for an honorable peace...

Wipocalypse 2022 Check-In - March 27, 2022 (a day late)

WIPocalypse 2022 Check-In - March 27, 2022 (a day late) 3/28/2022 0 Comments   A day late... as usual!  The topic for this month's discussion is: "Tell us about a technique, designer, pattern, or anything else in stitching that you’ve been nervous or afraid to try." Hmm, that's a good one! And I can't say that there is just one. But my primaries, in order of degree of aversion, are : Technique: cut-work/hardanger. I suspect that the cutting is what has put me off... Designer: HAED, hands down. They are so HUGE and so full of confetti stitches. I am so intimidated that I don't even have one of their patterns! Mirablia is a close runner-up... as is Chatelaine.  Pattern: I'm sure that there are patterns in my stash (LOTS of patterns) that I will not/can not attempt but more likely than not, it's because I am not a fan of the final product (I MUST have been when I bought the piece but my tastes have changed over the years). Not fond of Disney, Thomas Kincaid, "cute", vulgar/swear words. I rarely do holiday patterns (with the exception of Christmas ornaments) because I have no place to store them "off season" and few places to display them "in season".  It's easier to say what I like to stitch! Normally, I stitch according to my mood/fancy at the start. Right now, it's mystery SALs (often with motifs that I would avoid in a full-scale piece! Odd, right?) and blackwork (as much as I dislike backstitching on cross-stitch, I adore blackwork! Go figure!). I lean a lot towards geometrics, Quaker and band samplers, mandalas, and houses/scenes! I am besotted with the wonky pieces by Michael Powell. An odd mix, I know. I prefer cross-stitch but have done (and still do, occasionally) needlepoint, crewel, and free embroidery. I even tried quilting but I can't sew a straight seam to save my life! (I need to practice...) "Speciality" stitches don't bother me but... French knots and bullion stitches are anathema to me. I try them but they never seem to look "right" (Again, I need to practice more!). I lean toward evenweaves (Lugana and Jobelin in particular), but will use Aida in a pinch. Hate stitching on linen with slubs. I generally use 28 and 32 count, stitching over two, but I have stitched over one on smaller pieces (40 count and higher I avoid - my eyes simply can't cope - Heck, I use magnification for 14 ct Aida!). I have stitched on dark fabric but prefer lighter colors. Not a fan of patterned fabrics to stitch on (interferes with what I am stitching, IMO - those eyes again) but I don't mind a discrete mottled or marbled look.  I love silks and overdyed cottons. I will stitch with metallics when it's called for in small amounts but avoid rayon/satin threads like the plague! And I really like pieces with beading accents (for a while, I was into heavily embellished crazy quilting). There, how's that for NOT answering a question? ~~~~~Long-term WIPS~~~~~ When I checked in last month, I had only one long-term WIP in my project bag: The Elizabeth Almond "Save the Stitches" blackwork sampler, which is roughly 60% complete. I managed two full and one partial "block" of stitching this month: ~~~~~Kits started in 2021~~~~~ There is one kit I started in 2021 that is still unfinished: "Hope & Strength" by Glenwood Place, stitched on Jade Lugana using the recommended Dinky Dye threads. At the end of February, I had completed the inner border. In March, I finished the stars beside the phrase "and Strength" and started on the outer border, stitching pink and lavender stars along the bottom. The photo on the top is the piece as it is was of February; on the bottom is the piece as it is today (the color on the right is more accurate): ~~~~~ SALs started in 2022 ~~~~~ 1. Lakeside Needlecraft SAL "Crystallized" which started January 2, exclusively designed by Oxana Polyakova, with monthly installments. Stitched on 36-ct white even-weave with DMC floss. Installment one, "Larimar", installment two, "Malachite", installment three, "Amber" , and installment four, "Obsidian" are complete: There is lettering in the chart but I am holding off until the ned to decide it I want it or not. The fifth installment, "Jasper" arrived in my mailbox on the 27th and all I've managed to do is sort out the threads required.  2. A Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Magazine SAL, designed by Nancy Wahler, which started with the February 2022 issue of the magazine (I get it digitally as well as hard copy); further installments come in future magazine issues through the end of 2022.  Stitched on Wichelt oatmeal evenweave using Anchor and Weeks Dye Works threads, and Kreinik braids.  I only stitched on the frame in March (no photo) - the next installment is due in the June issue of the magazine (probably early April, digitally). 3. A Lakeside Needlecraft SAL, "Kogin", designed by Elizabeth Almond. I began after four installments had been issued. There is a tenth now in hand. I had issues - and the frog was a frequent visitor . It has been put away until I can deal with my obvious inablility to follow a pattern here! So, in summary, this month I made progress on two WIPs and one SAL... Not bad considering that I spent two LONG weekends watching virtual card making classes. Someday, I'll get around to actually MAKING some of the cards taught in these classes! Wishing for an honorable peace...

WIPOcalypse 2022 Check-In - February 27, 2022

 

A day late... as usual! The topic for this month's discussion is: "What stitch-a-longs (SALs) are you participating in this year?" Well, so far, the SALs I am enrolled in are: "Home Sweet Home" by Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Magazine, design by Nancy Wahler - the first two installments are stitched (see SALs started in 2022, below) "Crystallise" by Lakeside Needlecraft, design by Oxana Polyakova - the first three installments are stitched (see SALS started in 2022, below) "Kogin" by Lakeside Needlecraft, design by Elizabeth Almond - no real progress so far this year (see SALs started in 2022, below) "Save the Stitches" by Elizabeth Almond - 74 blocks  of 131 stitched so far (see Long-term WIPS, below) "Spring 2022 SAL" by Stitchonomy, design by Alyssa Westhoek - not yet issued And of course, WIPocalypse! I seem to be able to handle this, rotating among the monthly releases, adding in other WIPs as SAL installments are completed. Even accounting for days when stitching just doesn't seem to fit into my schedule, I have been keeping up pretty well this year. ~~~~~Long-term WIPS~~~~~ When I checked in last month, I had only one long-term WIP in my project bag: The Elizabeth Almond "Save the Stitched" blackwork Sampler, which is  roughly 60% complete. I have not touched this piece this month. ~~~~~Kits started in 2021~~~~~ There is one kit I started in 2021 that is still unfinished: "Hope & Strength" by Glenwood Place, stitched on Jade Lugana using the recommended Dinky Dye threads. On January 1, I still had a lion on the right of the piece to finish and then borders (heavy with beading) to finish. The photo on the top is the piece as it is was of January 28; on the bottom is the piece as it is today (the color on the top is more accurate):  As I finished the inner border, I realized that there are two stars in the interior yet to be stitched (one on each side of the words "and Strength". They are next on my agenda and will be followed by similar stars in the outer border... ~~~~~ SALs started in 2022 ~~~~~ 1. Lakeside Needlecraft SAL "Crystallized" which started January 2, exclusively designed by Oxana Polyakova, with monthly installments. Stitched on 36-ct white even-weave with DMC floss. Installment one, "Larimar", installment two, "Malachite", and installment three "Amber" are complete: The next installment is due out in March... 2. A Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Magazine SAL, designed by Nancy Wahler, which started with the February 2022 issue of the magazine (I get it digitally as well as hard copy); further installments come in future magazine issues through the end of 2022.  Stitched on Wichelt oatmeal evenweave using Anchor and Weeks Dye Works threads, and Kreinik braids.   At the end of January, I had only completed half of the first installment. Since then, I have completed the rest installment one and all of installment two. Installment three (two more houses to go on the right) is due out in the next issue of the magazine (probably in early April digitally). 3. A Lakeside Needlecraft SAL, "Kogin" , designed by Elizabeth Almond. I began after four installments had been issued. There is a eighth now in hand. I had issues - and the frog was a frequent visitor . It has been put away until I can deal with my obvious inablility to follow a pattern here! So, in summary, this month I made progress on on WIP and two SALs... Happy craft March (month 2022), have a blessed Lent and Easter, and here's wishing for peace...

WIPocalypse 2022 Check-in - January 30, 2022

The topic for this month's discussion is:

"Describe your stitching style – are you a one-at-a-time stitcher? Do you stitch on rotation? Are you a chaos wrangler? Are you comfortable in your current stitching style, or are you still searching for that stitching zen?"

I started out as a "start it - finish it before going on to the next piece" stitcher. That was before the word "rotation" was brought into the discussion. I'm not sure exactly when I first encountered it but I suspect it was somewhere around this WIPOcalypse post in 2014... In this post, I stated that I was not comfortable with having more than one piece in progress at a time. I stated that in 2006, I had done rotations --- a different project each day of the week --- when I was trying to get a lot of UFOs off the deck. But after that experience, which I found less than fulfilling (I'd get on a roll with a piece and have to put it down for a week because the next night was the next piece's turn...), I'd tried to avoid having more than one embroidery piece in the works. Still, in 2014 I was doing several online challenges: non-cross-stitch projects like Bead Journal Project, Crazy Quilt Journal Project, Take a Stitch Tuesday; an online class in finishing; across-stitch BAP; a blackwork SAL which I hadn't started yet (and, by the way, still haven't finished!); and and another SAL underway. 

My how things have changed. I blame it on SALs... installments of some of which come out every other day, some once a month and some every two months. Obviously, one can't stitch on only one project with that kind of schedule unless one wishes to insert lots of down time, and I found that down time means loss of mojo and it is VERY hard to get back into stitching (example, the four years with broken wrist, torn tendon and PT issues where stitching was not possible. Even when my hand had fully recovered, it took me nearly two years to pick up a needle and start stitching again!)!

​So now I am a confirmed rotation stitcher. The pieces that come out every other day get priority. On the off days, I pick one of the monthly or bimonthly pieces to work on and I work on those in a set order. If there are five SALs, then a month is scheduled as follows: every-other-day,  Monthly 1, every-other-day, Monthly 2, every-other-day, Mostly 3 and so on. If a month has a gap (say Monthly 3 is a bimonthly piece), then I insert a long-term UFO... I hope that makes sense.

Not sure if this is being a chaos wrangler or not. Certainly, chaos reigns in my stash so probably not.  

As for being comfortable in my current stitching style, or still searching for that stitching zen, I'm not sure rotation is any more fulfilling than it was in 2006. I am currently tempted to stick with my long-term UFO at the expense of one or more of the SALs because the UFO is nearing the finish line (only borders and beading to do) and being able to see the end means my motivation is high for that one piece. I tend to rationalize that, if a pattern is only released once a month, there is plenty of time to get back to it in time for the next release. Also, since my every-other-day SAL is also nearing completion, that means I will have those extra days to fill before the next SAL comes along to tempt me (and believe me, there are several that probably will!)!

~~~~~Long-term WIPS~~~~~

When I checked in on the first of the month, I said I had only one long-term WIP in my project bag: The Elizabeth Almond "Save the Stitched" blackwork Sampler, which was roughly 60% complete. I have not touched this piece this month.

~~~~~Kits started in 2021~~~~~

There is one kit I started in 2021 that is still unfinished: "Hope & Strength" by Glenwood Place, stitched on Jade Lugana using the recommended Dinky Dye threads. On January 1, I still had a lion on the right of the piece to finish and then borders (heavy with beading) to finish. The photo on the left is the piece as it appeared in that post. On the left is the piece as it is as of January 28:

As you can see, I have made some progress on the inner border. There are several outer borders and the beads yet to come...

~~~~~SALs started in 2021~~~~~

1. Stitchonomy "Christmas SAL 2021", started December 2021, in progress. A new motif is released every other day. It is stitched on ice blue AIDA (not obvious in this photo) in the colors specified (except I am substituting a DNC Diamante gold for a called for yellow and a Diamante silver for ornament hangers). There is a pot at the bottom of the tree not yet started in this photo; I wanted to see if I prefer one of the alternatives before stitching it. And there are charms to be added to the snowflake on the bottom branch and the tree on the next-to-bottom branch but I am waiting until the entire piece is stitched before attaching them.

​Since this is a mystery SAL, I can only reveal what is public, even though I belong to the pattern club and have actually completed this piece:

2. A Lakeside Needlecraft free "Christmas SAL", started in December 2021 and now complete. Stitched on white Aida using recommended threads. ​

One error in the stitching, top right corner of the border is one stitch off. I only discovered it near the end and was unwilling to front the entire border so I left it in and adjusted for the difference.

​~~~~~ SALs started in 2022 ~~~~~

1. Lakeside Needlecraft SAL "Crystallized" which started January 2, exclusively designed by Oxana Polyakova, with monthly installments. Stitched on 36-ct white even-weave with DMC floss. Installment one, "Larimar" is complete". Installment two, "Malachite" is in progress:

2. a Faithwurks/Just Cross Stitch Magazine SAL, designed by Nancy Wahler, which started with the February 2022 issue of the magazine (I get it digitally as well as hard copy); further installments come in future magazine issues through the end of 2022.  Stitched on Wichelt oatmeal evenweave using Anchor and Weeks Dye Works threads, and Kreinik braids. 

​The first installment consists of two houses, the first of which, a Victorian-style house, is complete except for the backstitching; (NOTE: I was a half stitch off from the top and from the left in placement of the house. I discovered this after the house was done and I was NOT going to waste all that speciality floss so had to fudged the smyrna stitching in the grass. I just cannot count!)

The second house will go in the frame immediately below this one...

​3. A Lakeside Needlecraft SAL, "Kogin" , designed by Elizabeth Almond. I began after four installments had been issued. There is a sixth now in hand. I had issues - and the frog was a frequent visitor (as you might be able to see from the blue fuzz on the white evenweave fabric). It has been put away until I can deal with my obvious inablility to follow a pattern here!

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So there you have it: my stitching this past January: one completion and progress on one WIP and progress on four SALs.

Happy New Year and here's hoping it turns out more like "normal" than the last two years! Meanwhile, stay safe out there: get vaccinated and boosted if eligible, and mask up wherever there are groups of people NOT in your "pod"! I have too many friends who are suffering from this latest variant and I don't want to lose any more...