Keyword: SAL

Today's discussion topic is: "Which are your favorite three designers?" I don't usually think in terms of designers but more often I choose by the subject matter. And these preferences evolve and change over time, What I liked back when I started , back in the late 1900s, differs significantly from what I stitch now. Historically, my favorite designers has been Michael Powell and I have collected MANY of his charts, although I have only stitched a few. The designers I have been using…

Today's discussion topic is: "Tell us about the oldest WIP you have in your stash." My oldest would have to be Elizabeth Almond's "Save the Stitches" SAL. Stitching on antique white Lugana (28ct) using DMC 310 (with substitutions of two shades of blue and two shades of green where the pattern called for metallic threads.). This is a BIG piece, and I suppose that is why I got sidetracked --- that and the blackwork which seemed to be getting more and more complex as I went on... I sta…

Today's discussion topic is: "How do you organize your WIPs and stash?" Please excuse the sounds of hysterical laughter (bordering on sobbing, to be honest) as I answer this question because organization is my curse and my failure. My WIPs are piled on top of a bag in my bedroom, by my bed (I stitch in bed...), each in its own ziplock or project bag along with the required floss, fabric, and (occasionally) pattern (More often than not, I use my iPad's "Books" app to store patterns a…

Today's discussion topic is: "Which designers have you discovered lately?" Not sure that I have discovered any new designers lately. I have found one blackwork designer a year ago: Cliffside Stitches cliffsidestitches.com - I have been collecting weekly SAL pdfs from their facebook page www.facebook.com/groups/976911076971090 , but I haven't stitched anything yet. Been too busy trying to finish up my backlog of WIPs and there is still a huge stash of charts purchased over the…

Today's discussion topic is: "Recap your accomplishments for the year! (Your finishes, your final before/after photos, etc)." I really have little new to post here since I completed my December check-in so I will summarize briefly: 1. My 2023 finishes were "Happiness is Handmade", a Lakeside Needleecraft SAL designed by Durene Jones; the "Halloween Sampler 2023" by Stitchonomy; and the "Charity 2023" SAL by The Steady Thread 2. Since the last post, I have made progres…

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…

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…

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…

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…

This month's discussion topic is: "Give us five projects in your stash right now that you’d really love to start – and why you haven’t yet." I should be laughing out loud here but there are so many unstarted projects i my stash that it isn't funny! Of the ones listed here recently (and probably the most likely to be started sometime, simply because I'm not really sure what else I have! AAACK!): • a cooperative venture between Nancy Wahler ("Faithwurks") and Sue Hillis Designs…

This month's discussion topic is: "Tell us about your favorite places to buy stitching supplies." Sadly, there are no LNS stores within driving distance of where I live. The closest town (Toledo) has a Hobby Lobby, a Michaels and a Joanne's but I have never found them to be well stocked with stitching supplies (except may a healthy selection of DMC threads) - not worth the 40+ minute drive IMO. SO... I shop online! It has two major drawbacks: you can never be sure of the color of fabri…

This month's discussion topic is: "What stitch-a-longs (SALs) are you participating in this year?" Easy question! The tricky part is how one defies "participation"! Here's a list, starting with long-term WIPs (bordering on UFOs). followed by current SALs, and ending with SALs where I have collected the charts with every intention of starting (but haven't yet)!! 1.There are two long-term SAL/WIPs which have stalled out for one reason or another. I hope (against hope) to get back to them…

The topic for this month's discussion is: "Have you been participating in gatherings via online chats (Zoom, Google Meet, etc) during the COVID pandemic? If so, what have been the best formats in your opinion?" The answer to this is short, and not-so-sweet! No! I have not participated in any online gatherings at any time, before or during the Covid pandemic, and I don't anticipate doing so after (if there is an after). I don't perform well, stitching (or crafting) in groups. I hav…

The topic for this month's discussion is: "What five patterns do you really want to purchase (or start) right now?" "I don't really need to purchase any more projects... I have enough to outlive me by decades! But there are a few in my stash that I would like to start. The following three are patterns soon-to-be released or already in hand that I intend to begin shortly: • The soon-to-be issued "Autumn Sampler" from Stitchonomy, a companion to the already finished "Wniter Sampler" and…

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 Glenwo…

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 rigu…

In the past, we have used the first post of the year as a preview of our "plans" for the coming year. And, as they say, the best-laid plans, etc. etc. etc. ​A lot of what is written in this post is a small revision of my last check-in, so apologies if it looks familiar. But there are a few, however slight, changes. Let's start with an introduction to me, if you haven't been here before... I'm Carol Harper, AKA thatyank, and I've been stitching since graduate school "way back in the midd…

The topic for this month's discussion is: "Recap your accomplishments for the year! (Your finishes, your final before/after photos, etc)." This will be somewhat lengthy and photo-heavy. So please bear with me... In January, here is where I was: **** * Long Term WIP: The only long-term WIP in my project bag is Elizabeth Almond's "Save the stitches", shown below - before (November 2014) and now (November 2021)  Clearly, this has been low on my "finiosh-it" list,…