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Affirmation

Once Denise and I made our plans about not buying in 2022, I was 100% committed but as time has gone on . . maybe four days now, I’m getting nervous. What if I see a chart I REALLY want? What if the perfect linen becomes available and it’s a one time thing? I know if I go off and buy something, that’s the end, I’ll just keep buying.

This has been a rough week and tears have flowed easily. Feeling bad didn’t help but I’ve distanced myself from matters that I have no control over (family but not Vince, Chad or Nicole so don’t worry about that).

Last night I was kitting up more projects. Oct. 31 is one I had hoped to get done this year but didn’t.

The called for fabric is 40 count Ancient by Picture This Plus. I knew I had a leftover piece from another project, as well as a larger new piece. I found the remnant but it’s a bit small, though I love the color. I went through the rest of the fabric in the 40 count bin and pulled out a couple of others that would work but I had my heart set on Ancient.

According to the stitch count, leaving 2″ on each side means I’d need a piece of fabric that’s 9″ x 10-1/2″.

I began calculating in my head . . if I leave 3/4″ border, that gives me 3/4″ for lacing. I don’t mind that. Then, I began to get frustrated at myself because I had committed to not buying anything new. I knew this was going to happen. I’m going to need stuff I don’t have!

I was almost sure I had a large piece of new 36 count Ancient in the 36 count bin and 36 vs. 40 would only make about a 3/4″ difference in width and length.

There’s way more 36 count fabric than there is 40 count. There’s a chance I could be really low on 40 count by the end of next year if I don’t start using more 36 count and less 40 count but that’s not a big deal. I like them both.

As I started digging through the 36 count bin, look what I found.

40 count fabric in the 36 count bin! Just what I needed! That made me feel like everything is going to work out just fine. There’s always alternate floss and fabric. I’m not going to run out of supplies . . though I may make some substitutions.

I’m still going to use the smaller piece. It should be fine. No need to cut into the big piece for such a small piece. I think this all happened just to prove to me that I can get past any obstacles I run into – no need to go buying more stuff.

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Comments

  1. I just love that series of patterns. I just kitted up the turkey to work on.
    You have me thinking about what I have been purchasing. I certainly don’t need any more patterns or floss but may need a few pieces of fabric for certain pieces. Other than the few series that I get patterns for, I am committing to no patterns this upcoming year.

    • Good luck. I think I’m seeing that it’s much better for me to make a list and go back and look at it and not do so much spur of the moment buying when it comes to charts. I have the turkey too and may try to kit it up.

  2. I’ll assume you use an electronic calendar. So my suggestion? Put a note on Jan 1 2023 that includes the name of the project/where you can buy it, the name of the linen you want/where you can buy it……and then your brain can let it go.

    I understand the psychology of Buy-Nothing. I’ve had the same thoughts with my quilting plans for 2022. But I know there has to be something in my stash for any need that might arise in finishing UFOs. I did allow myself the caveat of a purchase ONLY to finish a project if absolutely nothing else in my stash will work. AND, I have ‘phone a friend’ ?. 2 buddies that I send photos to for help/advisement. They help me work through decisions.

    WE CAN DO THIS!!!!!!

    • I’ll be able to buy again on Black Friday – make all my purchases for 2022 between Black Friday and December 31, then start anew on January 1, 2023. That’s the plan anyway.

      I’ll keep a list of charts I want throughout the year and then make decisions near the end of November as to which ones I really want. If next year is anything like this year, as far as linen, it will be what I can find, not necessarily what I want. Many linens are very hard to get.

  3. Personally I think that saying “zero” purchasing takes some of the fun out of the hobby itself. Just promise to be more thoughtful and more purposeful about your purchases. But seeing something new and buying it is therapeutic, right?

    • We all have to figure out what works for us. For me, it’s zero buying because my buying habits seem to be all or none! 🙂

  5. Friends who know will occasionally tell me, ‘Donna, they are going to make more’! There will always be that new line of fabric, a new pattern that catches one’s eye. But heaven, family and friends know I don’t need any more! Thus, I don’t even look much anymore! Several weeks ago, I ordered pink fabrics thinking I don’t have much pink and I need a new quilt (or two) for a new great-granddaughter. Looking into my cabinets for something else, I found two lines of gorgeous primarily pink fabric that will be used. Now that new order will just sit and wait. And I don’t really like the new pieces! There will always be charts you like, Judy. Linen will still be produced and dyed, new things, all the time! Some will wait, some won’t wait on you. You’ll be okay!

  6. I have to admit I’ve been worried that I wouldn’t be able to not purchase things in 2022, but this weekend I kitted almost 30 patterns, with just needing some DMC floss. And I still have fabric left over. So I’m pretty sure I have enough to keep me busy.

    I did my WIPGO board this weekend and have decided that I will add a certain amount to a kitty every time I get a bingo to be used on Black Friday next year.

    I know that not buying isn’t as much fun, but really I need to get through some of the things I’ve kitted. I love them, I want them finished and so the only way that will happen is for me to focus on them and not other new stuff.

    The only think left for me to do is to cut the fabrics to size and zigzag the edges. I will do all of the ones I need between now and the 1st and then the others I will cut right before I’m going to start them. It took a lot of time to kit them all, but it feels good to know that I have a large pile of things just ready for me to start (well I do have to get some floss, but I’m hoping to pick those up this week). Then it is just a matter of pulling each one out and working on it.

    I don’t know about you, but after kitting I’m looking forward to just stitching this week!!!!

    • I also didn’t cut my fabric yet. For one thing, in several kits, I stuck two pieces of fabric because I wasn’t 100% sure which one I’d want to use. If I have a color of floss I’m not sure about, I’ll usually make a few stitches in the “margin” and then decide and I didn’t want to mess with that in the middle of the kitting process. Also, I usually stitch one horizontal border and one vertical border before cutting the fabric.

      YES! It is very freeing to know that everything I need is right there in a bag, in a bin. It’s also freeing to know that there will not be floss arriving throughout the year that I have to put away (file alphabetically or numerically) and also that I will not spend so much time looking at new charts. I’ll look some but not like I have been looking.

    • I do need a bit of DMC and I’m making a list. At first I thought I’d go to Hobby Lobby but doubting that will happen. I think I’ll make a list of what I need and indicate which chart the floss goes with. I’ll probably end up placing a floss order this week so I don’t have to go out and get exposed (or expose anyone!).

      Also, I like to have my DMC on floss drops and I didn’t do any of that. I may go back and do it all or I may wait til just before I start a new project.

      • My Michaels in town does curbside pickup. So I placed a big floss order (they didn’t have everything, but 90%) and my nephew will go by and pick it up for me. I don’t have to leave the house.

        Most of my floss is bobbinated from years ago (I have both my stash and my mom’s stash), but as I have to replace one I put it on floss drops. I’ve tried to use up as many as possible of my bobbins in this pull. I think I will be able to reduce the number of floss bobbin boxes I have, but that is for another weekend.

        I also have some odd flosses that I was given, won, etc and I was able to use a couple of those in some one color projects to just get them out of my stash.

        Now I just need to focus on a couple of small projects that I am doing for Christmas, and I will be in good shape to start the new year!!!

        • I have quite a bit of floss from years ago that’s on bobbins too. I always check it first but I rarely find what I’m looking for. Lots of brights and primary colors in the old floss and more muted tones these days.

  7. I’m thankful I didn’t join the bandwagon when you started back into counted-cross-stitch. I’ve only ever used Aida cloth, so no linen in the house. I do own every color of DMC floss, but no other brands….
    I’m so involved in my local quilt guild, and have a lot of quilts on my “to-do” list. I also have enough fabric to last me till I’m at least 175, so I do need to do the “no buy” thing for fabric this year. Time will tell… ??

  8. I’m only an engineer like Vince, but its only December 6. You have 25 days to buy until 2022. Am I missing something? 😉

    • I’m not ordering anything now because we’re having such unrealiable mail deliveries – pretty much all the time but it seems to be a lot worse now. I try to never order after Thanksgiving – the mail and delivery services have enough to deal with and I’m usually able to order and have everything here by the last week in November.

      Also, there are several things I ordered in September and earlier that have not arrived yet so sometimes things don’t work out as planned.

  9. IF you do buy more, it will be because you need it, not because you found a new pattern to do. And if you do buy more, don’t beat yourself up about it. As for family hurting you, don’t dwell on that. They are the ones who will be missing out. Usually when something happens it is because the other person is jealous of you or what you have accomplished. They are not worthy of the love or friendship. You take care of you, Vince, Chad, Nichole and Addie. This is a happy time for everyone. Christmas is about love and you have the ones you love the most right there with you!

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