March Update

Hello, hello! Here we are again, I've managed another monthly post about stitching.  I do have a lot of stitching and knitting that's taken place over this past month, so it's been a good one. I'm only going to touch on the stitching today. 

Firstly, let's do the update of Starry Night SAL by Urban Stitches. I'm still very happy to have kept up with it so far. We've hit a new row now, so this was the most recent week's finish:

And the whole project so far:

Starry Night SAL by Urban Stitches

blackwork 1 or 2 strands  over 2 on 28ct white evenweave as charted

I'm definitely enjoying this one. There's a technique to getting all the blackwork in, and I've found a way that works for me. I tend to go colour by colour and fill in the entire weekly square, then go to the next colour. It's charted so you can see all the colours in one grid, or there are separate grids for each colour as well. Some people on the Facebook group has said that's helped them as well. I will sometimes check those grids to be sure I didn't miss any stitches from the main grid. 

Next, this is all the stitching progress this past month. There were some finishes for the "WIP-down" as well. First up, this Lizzie Kate which was worked on last year and looked like this:    

and now a finish!    

Official Snow Guide by Lizzie Kate

stitched 2 over 1 on 14ct aida with stash threads

Next, I picked up my New Year New Start from this year and added some colour!

A Stroll in the Snow by Asleep at the Stitch

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct evenweave by Chromatic Alchemy as charted

I felt like I had to get back to Witch's Gate after this, although it was bogging me down a bit, so I decided to try and finish off the left side, since I'd have to move the Qsnap anyway, and that would be a good stopping point for now. This is where it's at, a little more than halfway complete now:

Witch's Gate by Whispered by the Wind

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Mirage by PTP

with DMC 167, 738, 3823 and 3866 as changes to the original colours

I don't know if this will come back out this year. There is a flame that needs to be stitched in the mini-cauldron in the gate post, and I'm thinking a blue flame might look best, but I'll need to chart it, so I've left if for now. 

I pulled out some more smaller projects in hopes of finishing them, and had 3 more finishes to add to the pile!

Stocking ornament by Jane Henderson

stitched 2 over 2 DMC on 28ct scrap evenweave

And a conference one weekend helped me get another finish on yet another Lizzie Kate:

Normal is Just a Setting on the Washer by Lizzie Kate

stitched 2 over 2 with stash threads (WDW, Carrie's, Jodyri)

It was a 2 day conference, so I had time to pull out another WIP as well, and although I didn't get a finish while I was there, I kept up with it and it's complete as well. 

Dragonfly in Flowers Stamp by Sweet Annet

stitched 2 over 1 with kit threads on included wooden framework

This was a mostly enjoyable stitch. The one issue I had, was the white flowers? or stars need to go through the central hole so many times that it got so thick I ended up breaking a needle! So the only one that is correct as charted is in the top right. The rest I just did as 4 stitches. The other backstitch was fine, so if you attempt these, please keep that in mind. The finishing felt comes with the kit and this one is already fully finished as well. 

I was up for something a little more complicated after these finishes, so I pulled out when of the complicated full coverage patterns. This is where it was last time:

and now after 1000 stitches added:

Peacock Infinity Feather by Cross Stitch 4 Everyone

stitched 1 over 1 full cross as charted on 28ct Amethyst Spirit by Chromatic Alchemy

You can definitely tell some stitches were added this time! I believe I have less than 10K to go, so potentially if I can get 1000 stitches in per month, this would be finished somewhat quickly. I'll have to see what I'm up for though. I'd like to keep enjoying the stitching and not feel like it _has_ to get done. 

And for what I've been up to the last few nights, I pulled out a monochrome design to see how far I could get it to a finish. It will look like this eventually:

Samurai by Fire Wing Designs

and last time I worked on it (2021), it was here:

and now:

Samurai by Fire Wing Designs

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Fire Rooster by Chromatic Alchemy

with Madeira black 

The design is spread over 2 pages and I've completed one full page, and have less than a full page left. I'm going to keep going with this one until it stops being fun or until I finish. I think another finish is definitely possible! 

I hope you've all had good months and are staying well. 

Happy Stitching!

Tiffstitch

    

February Update

Hello again! Here we are partway through March, so definitely time for a February update. I got a little behind in things after catching cold after cold most of the month of February, but I'm caught up again somewhat. I hope everyone else  has been staying healthy!

First off, my Starry Night full coverage blackwork SAL progress. This is week 8:

And the whole project so far:

Starry Night SAL by Urban Stitches

stitched 1 or 2 over 2 as charted with DMC threads

With being sick, I didn't get much stitching accomplished otherwise, but did manage to finish these 2 smalls:

Birdhouse Cards by Durene Jones

stitched as charted  2 over 2 on  28ct scrap evenweave

from WOXS, not sure which issue, printed in 2016 from zinio

I didn't progess on Witch's Gate, but I did get some knitting done:

    

Summer socks by Laines du Nord

Very Merry KAL by Claire Slade

knit with Fiberstash and on part 3 now

Sockhead Hat by Kelly McClure

knit with Noro Sonata Shima col. Chaigasaki

Pretty straightforward knitting for the 2 projects I finished. I usually knit those while watching the PWHL hockey games so I can pay attention to what's going on. The colourwork still slows me down in the cowl, but it's growing slowly. It's time to cast on another pair of socks now that these are complete. And I have a shawl I'd like to knit with Noro Sonata as well. It has silk, so it's not as scratchy as wool. 

I hope you've all been having good weeks of stitching!

Happy Stitching,

Tiffstitch

January Update

Here we are, almost a month into the new year, and as often happens, I've been able to get a fair bit of stitching in. We'll see how it goes, but I hope to continue on this year and at least keep up with one SAL I signed up for. 

Here's the update on the Starry Night full coverage blackwork SAL:

Starry Night SAL Parts 1-4 by Urban Stitches

stitched 1 or 2 over 1 as charted with charted threads on white 28ct Monaco?

It's not too late to join this one if you're interested, it's been an interesting project so far. You can't use pattern keeper or anything like that since it's all black work, but so far working each square as it comes out has kept me up-to-date, and kept it from becoming too overwhelming. There's a facebook group that's very helpful if people are having trouble. 

So far, the predominant colour is DMC 312. I think you need 5 skeins or so. There's also lots of DMC 799 and only 20 or so colours all told. DD was looking at my stitching and guessed it was Starry Night before I told her, so it seems to have a good resemblance. I took this photo with the scissors so you could have an idea of it's size so far. The SAL is going to be 2 years I think, so it's going to be big. There are a few weeks off over the year, so there's not a new pattern every single week during that time period. 

Without conscious intention, I happened upon what might be a good pattern of stitching throughout the year. I finished Week 1 of the SN SAL, then picked up a small WIP and finished it!

2009 Santa by Prairie Schooler 

stitched 2 over 2 with DMC blanc, 816, and 890

on 28ct Haunted by PTP

This was overdue a finish, it was started in November 2020, and now it's complete. Possibly a flat fold would be a good finish to have it out for the Christmas season? 

That took up most of the remaining week before week 2 came out, and then I worked on another WIP and finished it as well!

Winter's Feast by Mill Hill

stitched as charted with kit threads, beads and perforated paper

One of the smaller Mill Hills I have, and nice to have it finished. It should be fairly simple to finish with some felt and make it into an ornament for next Christmas. 

Then with week 3 I pulled out something that was still on the Qsnaps from November and December, Witch's Gate, started June 2020. Last time you saw it, it looked like this:

    

and now, after a few more days:

Witch's Gate by Whispered by the Wind

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Mirage by PTP

with DMC 167, 738, 3823 and 3866 as changes to the original colours

In case I didn't make it obvious, I worked on 2 smaller WIPs the first 2 weeks of the month and a larger WIP the 3rd week. I'll keep Witch's Gate out for the rest of this month as well. That will make my stitching schedule:

1st week of the month - finish Starry Night SAL first, then work on small WIP

2nd week of the month - finish Starry Night SAL first, then work on small WIP

3rd week of the month - finish Starry Night SAL first, then work on larger WIP

4th week of the month - finish Starry Night SAL first, then work on same larger WIP

Any extra days can be anything, plus there will be some knitting in there too. There hasn't been too much recently, just a little colourwork on a cowl that is going to take me a while. 

Very Merry MKAL by Claire Slade

And that's my month so far. I hope you've all had good months and are staying healthy with this colder weather. 

Happy Stitching!

Tiffstitch

2025 Ideas and Plans

Time to figure out what to do for this year. I have a loose plan that I'd like to try and get under 50 active WIPs by my birthday next year. I think it's achievable since I have a few smalls I could work on. I've also started a couple new projects because of course I did! It's a New Year after all. My first new start is this one:

Mystery Project

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct one-off evenweave from Chromatic Alchemy

I'm not going to post who this is yet, because I'm interested if anyone can guess. There are 2 well-known comic characters (in North America especially) and this is about half of one of them. 

I'm also trying something completely different, although not Monty Python related. This is full coverage blackwork by Urban Stitches. 

It's going to be released one week at a time, with a few breaks throughout the year and it lasts over one year. So no worries if I get behind. It's been interesting so far. I had to frog once so far, but I've come up with a better system now I think. Here's where I'm at so far:

Starry Night by Urban Stitches

stitched 2 or 1 over 2 on 28ct white evenweave as charted

I'm also maybe going to participate in the Peppermint Purple 2025 blackwork SAL, but waiting on the first few patterns to decide on that. 

My loose plan is to work on Starry Night release, finish that, and then pick up a small and hopefully finish a few over the next few months. Not rushing myself or stressing myself out with anything. I hope to pick up some knitting projects to finish too. I worked on a couple advents in December, so I didn't get much stitching done at all. But I finished a pair of scrappy socks:

Christmas Smorgasbord by Becky Greene

stitched with scrap sock yarns and Regia heels and toes

And I started a scrappy Advent shawl by Renee Strouts. This is an easy one with lots of garter and between the 2 of these, I've used up lots of scraps from my sock yarn bag and it can close again!

Hope everyone has a good stitchy year!

Tiffstitch

End of 2025 Wrap-Up

Wishing everyone will have a good 2025! It's one of those things where let's not do resolutions, just make a bingo card to scratch off stuff you want to experience, etc. 

In no particular order, I'm going to try and list my WIPs from when I started the year, including new starts, completions and marking the ones that got a few more stitches added. Please check the 2024 Completions tab if you'd like to see photos and the WIPs tab for updates too if you don't want to scroll through my posts. :)

1. Amazing Animal Kingdom by Aimee Stewart/HAED - 35802/374500 (9.56%)

2. Canadian Hero by Stitching Jules Designs - 401/53850 (0.74%)

3. Kathleen and Summer by Hannah Lynn/HAED - 550/200000 

4. Halloween Freebie by Passione Ricamo - completed

5. Universal Monsters B&W by Witchy Stitcher

6. Stocking #3 by Jane Henderson - stitches added

7. Snowball Fight by Gitta - stitches added

8. Samurai by Fire Wing Designs

9. Bibliophile Bookmark by Kincavel Krosses - completed

10. Believe in the Magic of Christmas by Durene Jones 

11. Assisi Tree (unknown designer) - completed

12. Christmas Birdhouse #1 by Durene Jones - stitches added

13. Christmas Birdhouse #2 by Durene Jones - stitches added

14. Stormlight Archive Quotes by Taylor and Cromwell - 8853/13532 (65.42%)

15. Holiday Quaker by Lila's Studio

16. Noel by Bent Creek - stitches added

17. Ondulations by Jardin Privé - completed

18. Normal is Just a Setting on the Washer by Lizzie Kate - stitches added

19. Pumpkin Patch by Lois Winston

20. Winter Feast by Mill Hill - stitches added

21. Zelda Cross Stitch 

22. Warm Winter Wishes by Waxing Moon Designs - stitches added

23. Thistle Stop by Crossed Wing Collection - stitches added

24. Hummingbird Garden by Crossed Wing Collection - stitches added

25. Happy Christmas by Prairie Schooler

26. Motherhood by Selena French/HAED - 1955/58013 (3.37%)

27. Skating Snowman by Mill Hill 16-2133 - stitches added

28. Trick or Treat by Anne Stokes/Paine Free Crafts - 4531/126400 (3.58%)

29. Cryptid SAL by Witchy Stitcher

30. Vermont Zentangle by crossstitch4everyone - 3109/23502 (13.23%)

31. Halloween Kitty with Pumpkin by Paine Free Crafts - new start 392/100800 (0.39%)

32. Loon Lake by Crossed Wing Collection - new start

33. Do Not Meddle by Dragon Dreams - completed

34. Dragonfly in Flowers stamp by Sweet Annet - new start

35.The Little Prince stamp by Sweet Annet - new start

36. Journey by Urban Stitches - new start

37. Mr. Grinch by The Cross Stitch Studio - new start 514/9071 (5.67%)

38. Animal Parade by Lanarte - stitches added

39. 2009 Santa by Prairie Schooler - stitches added

40. Snow Guide by Lizzie Kate - stitches added

41. Honest Santa... I Didn't Do It - by The Sweetheart Tree - stitches added

42. Moon and Back by Heart and Hand - stitches added

43. Happy Halloween by Satsuma Street - stitches added

44. Everyone Brings Joy by Waxing Moon Designs - stitches added

45. Peacock Infinity Feather by CrossStitch4Everyone - stitches added 47639/58344 (81.65%)

46. Gothic Gate: Kenmore Gate of Taymouth Castle by Urban Stitches - completed

47. Witch's Gate by Whispered by the Wind - stitches added

48. Santa Cruise by Mill Hill - completed

49. Butterfly Quote by Jodyri Designs

50. In Harmony by Dimensions

51. Letter G - by Nora Corbett 

52. Bailey Basset by HAED 

53. Dragon Under Glass by HAED

54. Warbreaker by skitzzzz 

55. Mini Winter Magic by HAED

56. Under the Sea SAL by Lakeside 

57. McLaren Hamilton 

58. Raven Pixie by Nora Corbett

59. Visit Mordor

60. Magical Arrival by HAED 

61. Tiger Stare by Charting Creations

62. Tiger by Paine Free Crafts

63. Triumphant Ride by Charting Creations 8143/50370 (16.17%)

64. Spooky SAL 2021 by The Steady Thread

65. Lo and Behold by Long Dog Samplers

And then I've moved a few over to UFO status for various reasons. I'm working on a plan for 2025, likely similar to this year when I'll try and focus on a few larger pieces, but see if I can finish some smalls throughout the year as well. 

UFOs

Mini Waterhole Master by HAED - UFO currently

SYOA Hogwarts by Cunning Crossstitch - UFO currently

Hogwarts in a Bottle - UFO currently

Ballerina Dreams by Dimensions - UFO currently

Autumn Tree by Abi Gurden - UFO currently

Vermont - UFO currently

Otto - UFO currently

Monochrome Link - UFO currently

Land of Dinosaurs - UFO currently

Frosty Friends - UFO currently

56-67 - Dragons 1-12 by StitchItPicasso - UFO currrently

42. Symphonie Romana by Summer House Stitche Workes - UFO currently

18. It's a Wonderful Life Mill Hill 14-2035

And that's where we're at right now! Hope you all have fun stitching plans in stock for the next year and had a successful year, no matter how you measure it. I'm looking forward to seeing where everyone is at in their stitching. 

Happy New Year!

Tiffstitch

It's Finally Complete!

Some of you that still follow my sporadic posts will be surprised to see I have actually managed to finish one of my older WIPs! Last time you saw it, it looked like this:

and now, it's complete!! And it's even been mailed to the person I was stitching it for. Good thing they have remarkable patience. 

Do Not Meddle by Dragon Fire Designs

stitched as charted 1 over 1

on 28ct Monaco

It's so nice to be finished with this one. It's been waiting a long time, and it's great to get a finish. And then it took me a couple days to figure out what to pick up next, so I did some work on the intarsia blanket for DD:

Rainbow Days Blanket by Mary-Ann Lammers

knit with Jody Long cotton and Juniper Farm Neve

This one only needs another couple pattern repeats until the finish. I also finished another project while my elbow was healing. I still couldn't stitch for any significant length of time for a couple months after my injury, but I could knit a few rows a day. That meant my science officer version of a Star Trek inspired shawl was completed! It's funny how not being able to craft makes you want to do it more. 

Farpoint by Vanessa Smith Designs

knit with FiberStash fingering weight yarns

And I decided on the next project I'd like to tackle. Since I missed almost all of the planned October stitching, I picked up Witch's Gate by Whispered by the Wind to get some progress and possibly a finish before I start December stitching. Last time you saw it, it looked like this:

and I managed several thread lengths to get it to here last night:

Witch's Gate by Whispered by the Wind

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Mirage by PTP

with DMC 167, 738, 3823 and 3866 as changes to the original colours

This has a fair bit of work to get it finished, so I don't know if it will be a finish, but we'll see how it goes. Also, Whispered by the Wind is not going to be designing any more, so if there's anything you want, order soon!

Hope everyone has a good week and enjoys Thanksgiving if in the US. 

Happy Stitching!

Tiffstitch

Delay Again, Anyone Surprised? :)

Hello all! So, with all those well-laid plans in place, of course, the following Thursday I injured my right elbow and hadn't been able to do any kind of stitching or knitting for several weeks since my last post. 

It turns out, that if you're injured and _can't_ stitch on anything, you really, really want to. So I was making plans, and doing this and that, and sometimes stitched 2 stitches on Do Not Meddle. Literally 2, because more hurt too much. Same with knitting, maybe 60 stitches some days, and that was all for weeks and weeks. 

However, things have been steadily improving and by being careful, i.e. using the mouse with my left hand for about a month, mostly doing everything left-handed instead of using my dominant right hand, etc. I have been able to craft again! 

Just in time for me starting to feel better, Urban Stitches came out with this really cool Gothic Gate blackwork pattern:

And something about it called to me, so I went to my fabric stash and found some Chromatic Alchemy that I thought would work with black thread. I worked at it for several days, little bit here and there and finished it!

Gothic Gate: Kenmore Gate of Taymouth Castle by Urban Stitches

stitched 1 strand black on 28ct Jamboree by Chromatic Alchemy

I also picked up Do Not Meddle for a bit when I finished this because I felt up to doing cross stitch instead of straight stitches, so it has progressed to here:

Do Not Meddle by Dragon Fire Designs

stitched as charted 1 over 1

on 28ct Monaco

There's really not much to go, so still a good chance I can get this finished this year. I had planned on working on one of Whispered by the Winds designs, but I almost feel like getting this completed and having it off my plate. We'll see how the month goes. Plans go out the window with injuries, so it's okay to figure it out and not stress about "goals". All my goals have had to be loose anyway the last few years. 

I hope you've all been doing well without any injuries and have had good crafting successes!

Happy Stitching!

Tiffstitch