Stop laughing and just read and . . well, then you can laugh!
I often hear (or read) people say they’re a “monogamous stitcher”. According to Webster’s, monogamous means: Having only one mate, spouse, or sexual partner at one time.
Obviously, in the sense of stitching, according to Judy . . it means: stitching on one project til it’s finished before starting another project. That is not my nature. I love starting new projects. I love planning. I love choosing fabric and spreading the called for floss over my fabric to see if it’s all going to work, and then changing out colors that don’t work; I love making floss tags and having the floss all in a bag with the chart and fabric. I love making those first few stitches, especially when I do them correctly and don’t have to rip it all out.
The tedious part for me . . sticking with the project til the end.
The past few weeks, I’ve discovered that putting down a project and picking up another one, finding where I left off, even though it’s clearly marked on my working copy of the chart, and mostly . . just getting in the groove of stitching on the newly picked up piece . . I just don’t enjoy that. I can easily start a new project but going back to a previously started project . . I just don’t like doing that.
I’m going to try to finish what I start and not have so much going at the same time. I may fail; it may take a couple of tries to get it right or I may decide that’s not really what I like at all. Time will tell.
Today when Silhowitches arrived, I immediately decided on fabric, made sure the floss colors worked with the chosen fabric, cut the right size piece of fabric from a larger piece of fabric, serged the edges. I wanted to start that project but knew finishing Memorial Day was what I needed to do so I went back to it. I put Silhowitches, with all it’s parts, into a project bag, labeled it and filed it in alphabetical order with the other projects waiting to be done. I feel like I should give myself a glittery star!
I did get the writing finished on Memorial Day and should get started on the flags tonight. We both took naps today so maybe we can stay up late and I can stitch.
Betty Edwards says
Judy, I volunteer to finish what you start and when finished send it to you! Starting is what I dislike! We would make a great team!
Judy Laquidara says
That could be an interesting partnership! 🙂
Elizabeth Cunningham says
I can so relate. I am a monogamous knitter, Reading about your cross stitch adventures reminds me how much I liked do it. And was almost tempted to order a few things. But so far I have refrained from buying anything.
montanaclarks says
I am a monogamous knitter and was a monogamous quilter too.
Judy Laquidara says
I did not know that. I hope I can become a monogamous crafter. Knowing my propensity to jump from project to project, I never put zippers on my longarm. I knew exactly what I’d do if I had those.
Dotti Wahlers says
I’m like Betty Edwards as I’m always frightened of starting, mainly because of where to start on the fabric.
What would your tips for where to start be?
Judy Laquidara says
You know I’m not an expert but I use the cross stitch calculator so I know exactly how large my stitched area will be. Then I decide how much “border” I want showing — usually less than an inch. Since I do my own framing, I’m more than happy with about 1-1/2 inches on all sides so, using the numbers . . say the stitched area is 8 x 8, add about .75 all the way around for a border,and 1-1/2″ on all sides for lacing, that’s 2.25 on all sides. I would add 4.5″ to length and width so I would cut my linen 12-1/2″ square. I like starting at the top left so I’d measure down 2.25″ from the top and 2.25″ from the side and that would be where I would start IF the stitching started at that corner. Sometimes there are a few empty spaces so I have to take that into account. Say there were 4 squares not stitched at the corner. I’d count in 2.25″, then count over 4 squares and start in the 5th square. Make sense?
Nancy says
I’m definitely not a monogamous stitcher! I have at least a dozen projects going right now, most of which I love. Sometimes I get tired of a chart, or I don’t like the fabric, or it’s difficult and just needs to go in time out, so back in the closet it goes. I’ve found that eventually I’ll come back to those and get them done, even if it’s only because I need a finish to justify buying something new!
Sibyl Scott says
Judy I saw this on another page and thought of you–yes she is talking about flying–but it reminded me of you quite a bit.
In soloing – as in other activities – it is far easier to start something than it is to finish it.
Amelia Earhart