This was published wrong…I’m trying again.
I was cleaning out a bag the other day and came across this…
Oh my goodness?? Where has this been? I stitched on this a LONG time ago. It was back in my days of stitching on a larger count and stitching with two threads of floss. I was so close to done. Why hadn’t I finished it?
Whew…the pattern was with it but no floss was.
Then I got looking. I needed a blue floss for the turkey feather and the pie tin. AH…now I know why I stopped. I didn’t want blue in my piece, and way back then I was always afraid to change colors. Things have changed with that.
Then I got thinking that a lot of my cross-stitch has changed. I started back in 2018 or so. I wasn’t regularly cross-stitching…just occasional. I really started cross-stitching a lot in 2019 when Kramer was sick with cancer. By then, I think I was stitching daily or close to it. I would stitch when I sat with him or was in hospital waiting rooms. After me passed, I stitched every night when I watched television. It helped ease the pain of being alone.
I looked at the piece and was thinking about what had changed in my cross-stitch life since I started stitching this.
I no longer use this style of needle…I use Sullivan Ball Tipped Needles. You can find them HERE. I stitch on 40 count most of the time now, so I use a 28-sized needle. I have some 26 that I use from time to time.
I don’t use these hoops anymore either. I prefer Nurge hoops. You can find them HERE.
I have my light, and I have a holder for my charts. You can find the light HERE and the chart holder HERE.
I used to buy scissors for every project bags and keep them in every bag. Now I keep a lanyard with a pair of scissors attached to it. I hang it on the knob of my chart holder and keep a pair of scissors there instead. It’s much cheaper not to buy so many scissors, and the scissors are always handy to grab. I have bought THESE SCISSORS in the past and have been happy with them. Kelli and I have also gifted these scissors when we went to a retreat in the past. We like them.
I also stitch with my Zenni glasses. I ordered bifocal glasses with a line. The top of the glasses is my distance prescription so I can look up and see television. The bottom bifocal is a 3.5 reading glasses prescription.
I love these. I can easily watch television and cross stitch at the same time. All in all, I bought a cheap frame, so with the lens, my glasses were only $29. It’s much cheaper than a bunch of magnifiers, and it’s custom to me. Totally worth it!!
I ended up sitting down and finishing the piece. I was no longer afraid of changing colors. I grabbed the color Tin Bucket and stitched the feather and pie tin. Changing colors is “old hat” to me now.
Now that I stitch with only one thread of floss, it was old to stitch with two. Now that I stitch on higher counts of linen, I wasn’t used to the space in the holes. I had to relearn the old way.
Until I found this missing piece, I didn’t realize how far I’ve come in my stitching. It was fun to see my work and tools now and then.
Now I have to fully finish it…I hope to do that soon so I can enjoy the piece this Fall.
Are you settled into your cross stitch and have things that you used to do…and things you no longer do? I’d love for you to share in the comments.
Funny, this was written September 1, and it just now came through to me on September 29th! Maybe everyone else to since there are no comments.
Anyway, your piece is cute and finished! I love Lizzie Kate designs.
I learned to cross stitch from a co-worker back in the late 70’s, early 80’s (YIKES!) and everything was Aida 14 count and we used 2 strands of floss. I took a break from stitching in 2001 when my late husband retired and we were on the road with our fifth-wheel, which became our “home” for 3 1/2 years. During my break from cross stitching, I learned how to quilt from ladies at the senior park where we spent the winters. I picked up cross stitching again around 2008 and I couldn’t believe how much had changed and had continued to change through the years. These old eyes (I’ll be 80 soon) can only stitch on 36 count but that’s OK with me. I get my glasses from Zenni also and have been very pleased with them. I have been trying to finish a Hawk Run Hollow project I started about 6 years ago. It’s on a 28 count and I have to remember to use 2 strands. I’m spoiled with using 1 strand.
I am so glad you found this older project and finished it! I think it is very cute and I am sure you will come up with a very good way to finish it.
Yikes. You ladies are amazing with your tiny counts. I have difficulties with 22 count.
How neat you found something that was so close to be done – my problem is I have given up on projects 1/2 done or less.
When I started cross stitching, I too only used what was called for and NEVER switched out colors. Nowadays I use what I have – something that comes close anyway!
I only stitch on 14 ct. I never liked smaller counts even when my eyes were younger. I just recently stopped using hoops and now use my Doodler frame. It took a bit of getting used to, but I like that the fabric doesn’t pick up hoop creases….although I learned to always take it out of the hoop when my stitching session was done. I, too, will change colors if necessary. After working on some fairly intense projects, I now use a quilting pins to mark color starts….it works great! My prep work is much better now and I learned how to use a hoop start–totally awesome, but would not work for the small counts on linen. So much of the backstitching has changed since I started stitching and now does not follow a color, but rather crosses several stitches at different angles…using marking pins for this is essential. This new backstitch adds such nice dimension and softness and takes out the “grid-i-ness” of the old way. Harder to do, but well worth the effort.
Love all your cross stitch!
I’ve never heard of these ball-tip needles. I put both sizes in my Cart and will share with my daughter. Thanks for sharing all your favorites!