The Stitch Up

Summer WIPs

I've added a few progress bars to the blog in an effort to keep myself accountable.  I"m listing 3 of the DOZENS of projects that I've started but haven't gotten around to finishing yet.  These should change as I get through each project and move to the next.  I'm hoping to use that endorphin rush from crossing off "to dos"  to my WIP list and plow through some of these more quickly than I have been.

WIP #1 is my design for the Mountmellick Embroidery Competition - the finished project is due in Ireland on September 16th so I am cutting it a bit close.  However my design is on the smaller side, so I think I can get it done.

WIP #2 is a Christmas project.  My friend and I made a plan to each create a Christmas elf and exchange them.  We're using the same basic supplies and then adding our own little flair.

I have a plan and I've got a few patterns to use.  I'm going to try and give some updates on this project without doing a reveal until I can send the finished project to my girlfriend.  I've never made doll clothes or anything similar so this will be a something totally new for me.

WIP #3 is a sampler I've been working on here and there for over a year.  I'm a little more than half way done depending on whether I decide to leave the horse just outlined or fill it in.

The first two WIPS have definite due dates - this is just one I'd like to get complete before I move on to the next project.  

Let's see if the progress bars are as motivating as I hope!

 

WIPs - March 2019

I've been getting a few things done, despite some vacationing and as always - the 9 to 5 job keeping me busy.  The very cute 2019 tea towel calendar that I started in January from September House is now done:

I also got another project framed up and ready to go.  I bought this Anchor Bergama Shoulder Bag kit last year in Nashville at the awesome Craft South:

It took me a bit to get it framed up but that was entirely due to my erstwhile helper:

It was making her crazy, watching me stitch the canvas to the frame.  It took awhile to get set up but now I'm stitching away.  

I've been trying to make a list of all of the projects I've got in progress in hopes that I can prioritize and finish up a few of them.  My plan is to do a posting listing all of these WIPs and then check them off one by one.  I'm hoping that some internet accountability will help me focus.  Although, I"m dragging my feet a bit in taking that first step to work up the list.  Accountability is tough!

I can see that Spring is coming soon, it's always nice when I can start to take my stitching outside and soak up some sun at the same time.  In the mean time, I'm going to try and use the next few weeks of cold to wrap up what I"m working on now.  Happy stitching everyone!

 

Thankful

I spent the last couple of weeks finishing up a section of an ongoing project and getting ready for the holiday season.

This is one corner of a sampler I'm working on.  The flowers represent state flowers from various places my family has lived over the generations.  It's taken me a while to get this portion done, so I'm taking a little break to work on holiday projects before starting back on this.

My first plan was to get my salt and pepper shaker collection organized so I can pull out seasonal shakers more easily.  I had some help on this project:

I've got everything organized now according to season/holiday which is very helpful since when I pulled out my Autumn/Thanksgiving shakers I realized I only had THREE sets.  Obviously this was not enough for any kind of display so I bought some turkey shakers to go with my pilgrims and pumpkins.  

I already know that my Christmas shaker collection is BIG so I'm looking forward to getting those sets out.  And speaking of Christmas I've got some projects planned already:

Currently I have some felt ornaments, a tablecloth and a wreath made of wine corks planned.  If this is like most holidays however, other projects will slip in as well.

I also have a project I'm working on for a contest - it's not holiday themed so it's going to be a little bit of a challenge to keep working on it while I want to just do Christmas stuff but it has a due date in January so I'm going to try and stay focused.

I feel like I'm not necessarily ahead of the holiday crafting game, but I'm at least prepared for it.  I hope everyone's Thanksgiving is great and you holiday season is filled with fun crafting!

 

 

Late Summer WIP Update

Hi All!  Just thought I'd give an update on my previous WIPS and the new stuff I'm working on now.  First, a little embroidery:

I managed to finish this tea towel in time to check a few months off the calendar!  I love this pattern and I like the way the colors came together on it.  It's going to get framed, along with some other tea towels, in my craft room.

This next project, I did not blog about at all while I was making it because it was a gift and you just never know!  I made a baby quilt for some friends.  I had bought this fabric a while back, just because I thought it was adorable and knew that I would find something to make with it.  I actually used a bit when I made this project bag for myself.  It worked perfectly for a baby quilt.  I found a couple of organic cottons to mix with it at Joanns and a nice soft baby flannel for the back side so that the new little bundle would have a soft side to just cuddle.  I liked how bright and happy these colors are:

The new baby's name is Adelaide, hence the "A" I embroidered to personalize it a bit.  I love making baby quilts.  You get to use the cutest fabrics and the project always comes together pretty quickly.  I almost always use a play on this basic pattern.  It works great for a baby shower gift if you want to have everyone fill out a fabric square with best wishes for the new mom and baby and then sew them up together.  

Another project I started and finished before it hit the blog was this sampler:

 

This is a pattern that I designed and I plan to share in my next post.  I'm thinking to do a bit more detail in the orange flowers but haven't really decided yet.

The projects that are now "Works In Progress" are this cowboy boot embroidery pattern that I am planning to use for a bigger "Cowgirl Quilt" down the road:

I also have a fairly worn out sweater that I thought would be good to try a little crewel embroidery.  I've wanted to work on embellishing a sweater for a while and what better time than as we head into Fall?  I have a bunch of inspirational ideas saved on my Pinterest page here.  My favorites are this, this and this.  These are the colors I have to make a plan with - we'll see how inspiration strikes:

My last planned project is a snuggly cowl that will hopefully be done in time for the first Fall chill:

This is from the Crochet Boutique book which has a ton of great projects and I think that hot pink yarn is going to be really cute as a cowl.

I guess I have plenty to do!  It's always a little hard to change gears each season but we are soaking up the last of the Summer weather before we get ready to move into Fall.  

I hope everyone has a lovely Labor Day weekend!

March WIPs

I finished my little deer and folk girl pattern.  It came out pretty cute if I do say so myself.

I seriously love the little deer.

My next stitching project is a slightly delayed tea towel calendar for 2015.  I picked a (surprise, surprise) deer pattern and traced it on to the calendar with my light box.

I think it will be an adorable way to mark the progress of 2015.

I am still working on my other sock.  I thought I would have the pair finished while it was still cold outside but it looks like I'll wrap up my wool sock project just in time for Summer.  It could be a sweaty look.

Hope everyone's projects are going great!

January WIPs

I'm getting back on track after the holiday craziness and I have a couple of WIPS I'm in the middle of.  First up is a little stitch project for my craft room.

This is yet another great pattern from Sew Lovely Embroidery.  This was a from a folk pattern collection I don't see in her shop right now, but she has lots of other wonderful stuff.  

My other WIP is the second sock in my first pair of socks:

I've obviously got quite a ways to go on this!  It's a great in front of the t.v. project though.  While I'm in this first stage of just building the top portion I can kind of zone out.  Plus I love actually making knits while it's cold.  It will be a first for me if I can get this done while it's still chilly and I can use what I've made to stay warm.

I'm also working on my first pattern in iDraw that I hope to be able to share soon!  It's a sampler that I submitted in free hand to a competition, but it really needs to be cleaned up and made a bit prettier, so I think it's a good first project for trying out the graphic design program.  

I look forward to showing my progress on all these things soon!