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As The Year Ends

For those of you who have made the decision to either buy nothing, buy only what you need or some other version of “stop collecting”, and I’d love to hear about all the different decisions, how are you freeling about your decision?

I have mixed emotions. I love planning . . whether it’s the chart and the linen or those plus the floss. If my linen is close to the called for color, then I’ll pull all the called for floss colors and make adjustments as needed. On the other hand, I spend a lot of time dragging out floss containers or standing at the overdyed floss which is hanging on rings in the downstairs closet. I may get out five or six colors to decide what to use to replace one color, then the ones not chosen have to be put away or sometimes, I’ll put several “options” in the kit with a note as to why they are in there. I may miss doing that but I can always make up kits with what I have here and make notes of any floss I may need and, at the end of the year, get it if I still think I need it.

I do think I’ll have more stitching time by not spending so much time digging through floss.

The mail delivery is pretty fun when packages arrive so I’ll miss that though I won’t miss hearing Vince complain about “every day being Christmas”.

New charts will be tempting, though I also think it will be fun to keep a list and at the end of the year, decide if I need them or not.

Exclusives . . buy it now or never charts will be the biggest struggle and I have to remind myself that I’ll never stitch everything I have here so why continue to buy more. Also, I have never stitched an exclusive (as far as I can remember) but I’ve collected quite a few.

On the other hand, I love setting goals and trying to stick with the plan. Now that I’ve posted it here and told Vince my plan, my feet are going to be held to the fire. When I look at what I have here and what I’ve acquired since I started stitching just a year ago, I seriously need to not buy anything ever!

The worst part – waiting for the end of the year! I keep thinking . . what else should I buy? Is there anything I’m going to want?

Whatever you’re planning to do for 2022, are you getting anxious and just ready to get started?

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I bought just a few things this year. I have all my stuff and my Mother’s stuff left from the 1980’s when we did a lot of stitching. I also prefer making smalls and really have no interest in samplers. I do really like the Quaker Samplers and have two of those to make.
    I have plenty of floss and silk floss too. So I can make do with those.
    I also have a whole box of Mill Hill small beaded things on paper to make. I finally found my Mom’s linen pieces so I will not need more of that.
    The one thing I do want to do this year is get white linen and dye it myself to make the lovely mottled pieces I admire for halloween pillows and Christmas pillows and ornaments.
    So I am joining in on the Christmas start except I am doing separate motifs to make ornaments out of. My DH and I have 8 kids and many many great grands and great great grands. So plenty of people to give them too later.

  2. I am at peace with No-Buy for my quilting. The rule in our group is you can buy the 3 Bs if absolutely necessary: border/backing/binding. I am not picky about backing so that isn’t big for me. I only border about half my quilts so I’m likely good there as well. Bindings? I’m not concerned.

    I am truly excited at the thought of actually finishing all my UFOs next year. I have finished 20 this year as well as 5 new starts and currently 18-20 UFOs and 1 new start remain-I ordered a custom Pantograph for it because it’s special).

    It does help that I detest online shopping. The bigger (and saddest) help is that my favorite LQS closed and is now online only. The upside is that we are friends and I am allowed to schedule an appt at her convenience and come browse the stacks at “The Underground” ?

    I did a few stash enhancement visits this year as I had advance notice she was closing. As well, I acquired 2 bolts of wide backing.

    So there is my long answer to your short question ?

  3. I’ve done it the past with fabric and have stuck with it for years…my goal then was to only buy what I needed to finish something. That is now my regular mode as far as quilting goes. With cross stitch it’s harder to make those goals as there are some pretty tempting things that come out. I’m going to try to limit myself a bit this year with cross stitch but I think I will go with, if I finish something, I can buy something else.

  4. Since you got me started on stitching again i swore I was not going to do what I did with quilting and knitting…buy, buy, buy. So I put everything in my wishlist on 123stitch. Then I go back and look at them and I start deleting
    What does not excite me anymore. If the pattern that I see is not on 123stitch I look for it on a website and add it to my Home Screen on my iPad and I go back and look at those and if I like it I keep it on if not I delete it. This has kept me from going crazy…

    • What percentage of the charts you add to your wish list would you say you purchase?

  5. You still have 12-1/2 shopping days left! 🙂 I think I placed my last order yesterday for a few more prairie schooler santa charts which I hope to fit in around other stitching projects. They may be my lunch hour stitches next year.

  6. I will admit I am struggling a little bit, I think just because I see so many pretty things and I want to make them all. But I know I don’t need anything. I have given myself the ability to buy 2 patterns and fabric for my birthday in July, so I know that I can get the things that draw me the most then. And I really have enough to keep me busy. I also tried to have a variety of projects, so that I don’t get bored doing the same thing all the time. I am really looking forward to a lot of the projects I have kitted and so I think that will keep going. I think the last week or so and the next week or so are harder because I keep thinking do I “need” something that I should get now. I keep looking at different patterns that I have thinking, so I have everything I need if I decide to do this one. I think it will be easier once the new year is here, then I will be less tempted to think “what if”.

    Overall I know I have more than enough to get through the year. I just have to restrain from buying something just because it is pretty.

  7. I’ve been trying to NOT BUY for about 8 years. I’m not totally successful, but am successful enough that I earn verbalized admiration from some of my crafting friends. Then that helps me stay committed to NOT buying.
    With 50 years of crafting, I have only once regretted not buying a pattern/kit. That probably led me, however, to overbuying for several decades! I am a slow crafter, and I do slow crafts, so it is hard for me to use up supplies. I enjoy knitting, cross stitch, and quilting (and reading, gardening, and volunteering). Sigh – not enough time is always a struggle! Looking forward to seeing your progress on various projects.

    • I can definitely relate to not enough time. It sounds like whatever you’re doing is working nicely for you.

  8. .. I haven’t bought much in “craft” supplies in a while and I need to start the “use or give away” attitude. I still get some quilting magazines which I look through and then pile them up. I found several patterns/layouts that I liked in the last few magazines. SO, my goal for the new year is to select some of those patterns and do something, but in a smaller way – placemats for the meals on wheels folks and smaller versions of the quilts for babies, seniors, teens, etc, I like to figure out the math of quilting, so downsizing some patterns would be enjoyable for me. And maybe, I’ll start blogging again to show off the results.

    Another task for me is evaluating my “stuff”. I’m taking this attitude – I’m getting older and need less stuff in the future, so I need to buy limited but good replacement stuff now, get rid of the excess, and not place a burden on whomever gets to clean up my home when I am gone.The list of stuff to evaluate is long…major decluttering is in store for next year.

    I hope everyone can meet their goals and if not, not to feel bad about it. There is always tomorrow, next week, next month….. Happy holidays to all.

    • The way I see it . . which is probably totally wrong . . is that I bought it. We just paid to move it all from Texas. I’m keeping it and if, at some point, I decide I don’t need it or am not going to use it, then I’ll get rid of it. Otherwise, Chad can some day have a check of a garage sale but since I don’t plan to move again, and everything craft related pretty much has a spot in the sewing room, I’m good with keeping it all for now.

  9. I’m with Liz. Next year is the year of getting rid of, not accumulating. Yall wouldn’t believe what I have. I cleaned my two rooms yesterday looking for a top I had made (during covid) and have lost. I couldn’t believe what I have. 2 chest of drawers and about 12 plastic bins full!! It’s bad. I am considering sending a bunch to Jo Kramer’s quilting friends. I know they will put it to better use than just warming my drawers. So I don’t think it will be hard for me not to buy. I am going to order something for #3 “great grandson” who will arrive in May. And guess what, all my baby stuff is flannel!! hah! That’s about it. Good luck everyone!

  10. Excited to start my Christmas Eve starter and New year eve’s SAL. Have all my WIPGO ‘s ready and waiting, so I am hoping I won’t have time to chart buy, my addiction as you know Judy, Just in case i get the urge I have a basket of desire in which I will pull out the loudest one calling me and kit out with whatever i have in stash. I have purchase enough needles so I will not have to be so precious about them. I always seem to misplace them so I’m delighted to have been given a gizmo that holds ten threaded needles ready for use. Have my pin keep over the arm of the chair where I can stick any stray needle
    Wish everyone good luck in whatever their no buying mantra means to them.
    Happy Christmas and Happy New Year from the UK to sewers everywhere.

  11. …With some unexpected life changes and the isolation during the pandemic, I’m not going to put myself on a spending plan. Of course, I should but I enjoy shopping for things online so I’ll keep looking. :-). It doesn’t take much inspiration from friends for me to get in line.

    We just say Santa needs to go to the post office. I gave a niece the antique apothecary cabinet I had which would have been perfect for cross stitch supplies. I plan to take a look in Hobby Lobby this week to see what I can find to take it’s place.

  12. I’m with Liz. I want to start downsizing my stuff. I have a lot of fabric, quilt books and patterns but I’m mostly making miniature quilts now. So I don’t need all the books and patterns for big quilts unless they translate well to minis. My cross stitch stash isn’t too big so I’m ok with that as long as I don’t buy more. I also have a lot of fabric for making doll clothes which I need to start making for my neighbor’s 5 year old.

    Mostly I need to clean out a lot of books and stuff I’ve accumulated over the years. My son doesn’t want any of it and don’t believe young people these days do either. I tried to sell the milk glass collection that we got from my husband’s aunt and nobody wants it. Not even the antique stores. Had to end up giving it to Goodwill. My husband and I are getting to where we may have to move to a one floor home and I don’t want to take all my stuff when I go.

  13. Speaking of buying, etc., I went to auction down our street. The couple went into assisted living. I got a complete set of DMC threads. Also, a BIG box of completed cross stitch projects. (Not framed.) Some fabric. No one bid but me. Spent $1,00 to get it. They have children and apparently they didn’t want it.
    I retired in 2002. I bought kits, fabric, notions, rulers to have when I retired. I now have a basement full of totes of these things. The fabric is out of date. I will never make all of these things and my fabric choices have changed over the years. I wish I had all of the money back I have spent on these things. I only buy what I will make NOW. Just a thought about how I’m spending my money these days. I’m older now and thinking how to get rid of this stuff. LOL

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