Lori (thornton37814) stitches and adds to stash in 2024

I'm going to try to do a little better in 2024 with posting. I did complete my 2023 WIPGO. I plan to participate in WIPGO 2024. I failed to get rid of the proofreading stuff before I completed this, and I see I still made at least one typo, but I don't know if I saved the file otherwise, so I'll go with it. By the way, my goal is to stitch 3 days on each or until complete, whichever comes first.



January calls: #22 (completed); #9 (days exceeded--will probably finish this month)

I'll begin the thread by posting some 2023 finishes. It will probably take me a few days to get through them all, and they are not in order finished. I will not include the ones I included as finishes on my 2023 thread. I'll try to post about 3 per day. Then I'll do WIPs and perhaps a final finish or two from a previous year.

Design: Berry Patch
Designer: Hello from Liz Mathews
Completed: 11 March 2023
Fabric: 36 count Milk & Honey from Fiber on a Whim
Fibers: All DMC



This is the frame I purchased for it, but I need to stretch & lace the piece and get some of those little fasteners to hold it in. (I need to go back to Helen D's tutorial to figure out what they are called.)

Design: Joy and Good Cheer
Designer: Brenda Gervais of With Thy Needle and Thread
Fabric: 36 count Flax
Fibers: DMC, Weeks Dye Works, Classic Colorworks
Completed: 2 June 2023

Design: God Bless America
Designer: Jerianne Van Dijk of Janlynn Needlecraft
Note: This was a kit with 14 count white AIDA. Another cross stitcher began this piece for a lady in the nursing home where my sister-in-law works. My sister-in-law offered to finish it for her but found she had trouble seeing it, so she asked me to do it. I called this my "good deed project."
Completed: 27 October 2023

Beautiful work! I'm sorry if you mentioned this already, but how many projects did you complete last year?

>6 lauralkeet: I decided the best way to answer that is to look it up in my Book of Days rather than trying to count through my project journals. I counted 28 finishes. I did not count the total number of projects on which I worked. ;-) I have many WIPs.

Thanks Lori. 28 finished projects is an amazing accomplishment!

>8 lauralkeet: Thanks.

Well, I'm heading to the cross stitch shop to try to find a replacement fabric for Mary Gypson 1828. Snow is forecast this evening for the area in which the shop is located although not for where I live. I don't want to wait until tomorrow in case it is worse than predicted. (It has been cold this week.) I should be home before dark. I'll sit and stitch there for a bit.

That is quite a ot of projects. Good for you. The ones you have in the pictures are great and God Bless America is beautiful.

Lovely work, Lori!

It's great to see you back and some of the projects you've been doing, Lori. Now that I don't cross-stitch anymore, I always get envious when I see your stuff.

>10 mnleona: "God Bless America" is not one I would have selected myself, but it was done for a good cause.

>11 MickyFine: Thank you.

>12 dudes22: You are welcome to jump back on the cross stitch wagon any time. With the lighting and magnifiers available now, "old eyes" can see (if that is your reason).

Pattern: Kitty in Basket
Designer: Michelle M. Lash of Brittercup Designs
Booklet: Britty Kitties III
Fabric: 28 count Summer Sky Jobelan
Fibers: Weeks Dye Works, Classic Colorworks
Completed: 31 January 2023

I stitched this for the smalls exchange at StitchCon 2023.



Kristi Bernstein chose the package I stitched when her number was called. Gary of GaRon Stitchery is in the background.

Design: Quilt Shop
Series: Hometown Holiday
Designer: Diane Williams of Little House Needleworks
Fabric: 28 count Natural linen
Fibers: DMC, Classic Colorworks
Completed: 15 October 2023

Design: Cincinnati
Designer: M. M. Waldock of Oberlin Samplers
Fabric: 28 count white lugana
Fibers: DMC
Completed: 23 December 2023

This is an older designer as you can tell because of "Riverfront Stadium," but it is the Cincinnati in which I lived. I found the chart on eBay. I took it to the framers earlier today.

Happy New Year! All the finishes from 2023 look great!

>16 thornton37814: I love the Cincinnati piece. That turned out really well. As you know, I grew up there. I remember when Riverfront Stadium was new and shiny!

You did so much last year! And so much planned for this year. I’m really impressed. And I don’t think I’ve seen the cat cross-stitch before, it’s very cute.

>17 lesmel: Thanks. I'll continue to post a few each day so I'm not overwhelming anyone.

>18 lauralkeet: I love it too. It's going to look lovely with the frame.

>19 PawsforThought: I did not post the cat one last year because it was a StitchCon small, and I didn't want to reveal what was in my bag ahead of time--just in case anyone else stumbling across it was attending and participating. The fabric used for the back of the pillow had kitty paw prints on it.

Design: Strawberry Faire
Designer: Robin Sample of October House Fiber Arts
Fabric: 36 count Antique white linen from Zweigart
Fibers: Classic Colorworks, DMC
Completed: 1 March 2023

I've got the fabric cut to sew the pillow together on this one, but I'm not sure I have a border trim I want. I'll see when I get the pillow stitched.

Design: Deep Waters
Designer: Susan O'Bryant of Sweet Wing Studio
Fabric: 36 count Wisteria from Lakeside Linen
Threads: DMC, Weeks Dye Works, Classic Colorworks, Gentle Arts
Completed: 8 June 2023

I could have finished this one earlier, but I saved the crab for a StitchCon finish. (You get to ring the bell when you finish something. Most attendees take one design near completion to finish so they can ring it.)

Design: Without Ceasing
Designer: Susan O'Bryant of Sweet Wing Studio
Fabric: 36 count Milk & Honey from Fiber on a Whim
Fibers: Classic Colorworks, Gentle Arts, Weeks Dye Works
Completed: 1 April 2023; Final finish 12 October 2023

I gave this one to a friend who was leading our Bible study on prayer.

My first stash of 2024 was the "Winter Quaker" chart by Primrose Cottage. I got the called-for 28 count mushroom lugana for it. My LNS does not stock the called-for Colour and Cotton floss, so I'll be ordering it. I could have substituted something else, but I've been wanting to try this brand of floss that Flosstubers say is delightful to use. Most of the finishes I've seen of the design are done with the called-for variegated fiber.

That's a beautiful pattern, Lori. I can't wait to see yours worked up. Are you planning to make it a cushion also?

>25 MickyFine: It will probably be a pillow for the dough bowl.

I like that a lot, Lori. I'm thinking of making a quilt similar to the square pattern just above the year in your picture. We're going to be doing a bit of traveling this year and I'm thinking about getting the fabric and thread for a pattern that I bought at least a year ago. When I do I'll be coming to you for advice about fabric and thread.

>27 dudes22: Sounds good. I really am looking forward to trying the Colour and Cotton. I like to use silks for really special stitches, but they are pricier so I don't do it often! (I will sometimes use a silk for a single color sampler also.) I am a huge fan of the Quaker motifs that are so popular today. The same designer has a Valentine sampler that will be coming out soon. It's in a pink overdyed floss. (I checked to see if it was Colour and Cotton, but it was one of the ones my LNS stocks.) I did order a few extra Colour and Cotton colors to make the shipping costs worth it!

Design: Kitty's Christmas
Designer: Lynda Keske of Keslyn's
Source: Just Cross Stitch, 2019 Christmas Ornament Issue
Fabric: 36 count Petit Point Raw Natural/White from Zweigart
Fibers: DMC

Design: Honey Faire
Designer: Robin Sample of October House Fiber Arts
Fabric: 36 count Colonial Parchment from Fabrics by Stephanie
Fibers: Classic Colorworks, Gentle Arts, Weeks Dye Works
Completed: 20 August 2023

Design: My Home Sweet Home
Designer: Brenda Gervais of With Thy Needle and Thread
Fabric: 36 count Flax
Fibers: DMEC, Weeks Dye Works, Classic Colorworks
Completed: 29 June 2023

This one had over one stitching on the flag pole to the left of the house and on the small flag the bird has in its beak.

Design: Bless and Keep
Designer: Susan O'Bryant of Sweet Wing Studio
Fabric: 36 count Flax
Fibers: Classic Colorworks, Weeks Dye Works, DMC
Completed: 4 July 2023

This was stitched for our worship pastor's retirement. We did a song based on this Scripture, and I thought it was appropriate for his retirement.

Design: Snow Angel
Designer: Giulia Punti Antichi (Giulia Manfredini)
Source: 2022 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament Issue
Fabric: 28 count white Jubilee
Fiber: Weeks Dye Works Sky
Completed: 11 July 2023

The model added a head and something pinned to look like wings. I thought it would make a great bookmark, so that's how I finished it.

Design: Nordic Reindeer Ornament
Designer: Summer House Stitche Workes
Source: 2022 Nashville Needlework Market Cookbook
Fabric: A scrap, probably Natural or Flax, and probably 28 or 32 count
Fibers: DMC
Completed: 2 August 2023

nice!

>35 al.vick: Thanks!

I've gotten behind on posting things. I'll try to begin the process of getting caught up over the weekend. I also had my first finish of this year!

Design: "Summer Pillow"
Designer: Pine Mountain Designs
Fabric: Kitted Aida with kitted finishing pillow form
Fibers: Kitted
Finished: 2 September 2023

Design: Summer Sampler
Designer: Nurdan Kanber of Twin Peak Primitives
Source: Punch Needle & Primitive Stitcher, Summer 2023 issue
Fabric: 36 count antique white linen
Fiber: NPI silk 325
Finished: 23 September 2023

I added the section with the cats and my name and location.

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Design: Fabric & FlossTube
Designer: Helen Dailey (Helen D./East Coast Crafter)
Fabric: 28 count Pioneer Trails linen from a grab bag
Fibers: DMC, Gentle Arts, Weeks Dye Works
Finished: 3 October 2023

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Design: Pumpkin Faire
Designer: Robin Sample of October House Fiber Arts
Fabric: 36 count Latte from Fiber on a Whim
Fibers: Classic Colorworks, Weeks Dye Works
Finished: 4 November 2023

I did make some color substitutions based on the fabric used.

Design: Cats Love Christmas
Designer: Stephanie Webb of Lindy's Stitches
Source: 2019 Just Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament issue
Fabric: 32 count mint lugana from Picture This Plus
Fibers: DMC, Weeks Dye Works, Gentle Arts
Finished: 6 November 2023

I changed the cat colors to more closely match mine. I finished this at a retreat with the Bristol, VA embroiderer's guild chapter.

Design: Main Street Station
Series: Hometown Holiday
Designer: Diane Williams of Little House Needleworks
Fabric: 28 count natural linen from Zweigart
Fibers: DMC, Classic Colorworks
Finished: 13 November 2023

Design: Celebrate Harvest
Designer: Brenda Gervais of With Thy Needle and Thread
Fabric: 36 count Oaken from Picture This Plus
Fibers: DMC, Weeks Dye Works, Classic Colorworks, Gentle Arts
Completed: 21 November 2023

The over one numbers were not fun on this fabric because Picture This Plus 36 count is really closer to 38 or 40 count!

Design: Indescribable Gift
Designer: Susan O'Bryant of Sweet Wing Studio
Fabric: 28 count mushroom lugana (from stash)
Fibers: DMC and Gentle Arts (from stash); I substituted DMC 309 for DMC 309; I didn't have DMC 3364 so I used the called-for fancy floss (Gentle Arts Green Apple).
Completed: 31 December 2023

This was my last finish of 2023 (and the chart was released mid-December 2023).

Design: Cats in Love
Designer: CrossStitching for Fun (free download)
Fabric: a heart brought to me from my friend Hildegard from the Zweigart store in Germany
Fiber: Weeks Dye Works Camellia
Completed 9 January 2024

I will probably turn this into a pillow although some of my friends think it ought to go onto a project bag. This little chart was a WIPGO call for January. I'd put about 5 stitches in the night before thinking it would be nice to have a start on it when I stitched on it at lunch. As it turned out, the Internet was out all day at work. I managed to finish it before noon. I had a reception to attend that afternoon. I did get started on another chart, but this was my main accomplishment that day!

>45 thornton37814: That's lovely!

Every piece is so lovely. I really enjoy the Hometown series. When I look at your work, I yearn to return to stitching. It won't be in the next 6 months as I am preparing to move out of our large home and into a smaller place near two of my children. Once settled there, the cross stitch will come out for sure! I will need to downsize my stash, but I will have plenty to last me and there are always new stores to check out, right? Thanks for the inspiration and I hope you have a good stitching and reading year!

>46 lesmel: Thanks. I thought the design was cute. I changed the fiber. It called for DMC 107 which is variegated, but it didn't really change fast enough to take advantage of the variegation, so I opted for something a little more to the pink side with some changes instead of mixing red, white, and pink.

>47 beebeereads: I like the Hometown Holiday series too. I'm doing the block finishes on them to turn them into a Christmas village.

Lori, your cross-stitching projects make me nostalgic for the cross-stitching project I did when my daughter was an infant. I worked in the gift shop of our synagogue. I uses to cross-stitch the baby's name in Hebrew (for a boy's brit or for a girl's baby-naming). These could be ordered for me to make. I don't know how my eyes would take to doing such fine cross-stitching now. LOL!

I have so much embroidery thread left that, after I do my yarnwork, I'll have to think of some projects to use up those threads (or buy even more!).

What do you do with your completed projects?

>50 SqueakyChu: I gift some. I frame a few. I turn some into pillows. I'm using a block finish on the Hometown Holiday series to make a Christmas village. (There's a tutorial on the Little House Needleworks website that shows how.) Some become ornaments. Some get attached to something--a finishing board or something on which a magnet might work. Just depends. If you watch enough FlossTube, you'll get all sorts of ideas.

>51 thornton37814: Cool! I like the bookmark I saw above as well.

>52 SqueakyChu: I wanted it to be a bookmark rather than the angel, so I did change that up!

I tried to upload these earlier, but Spectrum had an Internet outage affecting the entire area. Fortunately it was back up after I returned from church.

Here are my WIPs for the week (including the chart):



Just a little shy of 3/4 of the first page. Most members of my local needlework group began this January 1 as a group SAL (stitch along or start along). It's only 20 pages long! LOL I'm trying out the next to the largest Nurge hoop in the set I got for Christmas. I prefer to stitch in hand, and the hoop is slowing me down, but so far I do not have carpal tunnel flaring up which was a problem with Q-snaps.





Planning to work on this one some more today. If I don't finish this week, I should be close to a finish. This one is in the Hometown Holiday series. It was one of my WIPGO calls for the month.

I want to show off a couple of cross-stitch gifts.

   

I also received a Glocusent LED neck reading light. These are supposed to be great for cross stitching. I'm going to charge it and take it with me to the cross stitch meet-up in the library this week to try it out.

I have a question for you knitters out there. I have a sweater (regular sweater knit with rayon) I purchased from a store that is coming apart at the seam on the left side. It appears that seam was machine stitched. What's the best type of thread and needle to go through that fabric if I try hand-sewing it?

Great work. I have a feeling you love cats; yours are so much fun to see.

>55 thornton37814: That cross-stitch kit looks familiar. 😊

>57 mnleona: I do love cats! My boys bring me lots of joy. Everything is stitched with love . . . and cat hair.

>58 MickyFine: I really wanted to do a Thomas Kincade-like full coverage piece so I put this on my Christmas wish list. I didn't really expect to get it because I added it pretty late.

It's a finish!

Design: Town Church
Designer: Diane Williams of Little House Needleworks
Series: Hometown Holiday
Fabric: 28 count natural linen
Fibers: DMC, Classic Colorworks
Completed: 22 January 2024

Note: This was a January WIPGO call. (I only had to do 3 days, but I had time to finish it so I did.

OOPS - I posted something here I intended for a different group. It was already posted here.

Design: Unnamed by designer, but I call it "Great Smoky Mountains Bear"
Designer: Nancy A. Gifford of Smoky Mountain Distributors
Fabric: 28 count cream Lugana
Fibers: DMCs
Finished: 26 January 2024

Comments: I found this mostly finished piece when I went through some drawers with fabric and charts. I noticed I'd done everything except the pine needles and words. I decided it might be a good thing to try to finish some month when I had finished my WIPGO goals and had some time on a day not designated for one of the big projects on which I'm stitching. I finished it today while at the cross stitch shop sitting and stitching.

I'll try to add the picture to the above, but I may have to upload it to LT. It appears that it does not want to accept the embed code from Flickr this evening.

ETA: I added it to my gallery. Not sure what is wrong with the embed feature that I used with the others.

I picked this up at Nelson Fine Arts in Johnson City, Tennessee today. This is "Cincinnati" from Oberlin Samplers. This is the photo taken at the shop itself before we packed it up. I need to figure out the layout of my Cincinnati wall before I put the nails in. I have a couple more things I want to add to the wall, but I'm not sure when I'll get to them.

>64 thornton37814: I love this one and I love the idea of a Cinncinati wall..what fun.

>65 beebeereads: I have one piece from when the Reds won the World Series while I was there. I found a pattern for the Tall Stacks event that was held there when I lived in Cincinnati in the 1990s in a free bin at Keepsakes, the cross stitch store in the Cincinnati area. Then today I found a book of NFL helmets in the free bin at my own LNS, Cross Stitch & Crafts. I thought I could do the Bengals helmet and then return the book so someone else can enjoy it.

>66 thornton37814: really fun ideas. I am working on a New England sampler that will evenutally hold a place of honor on some wall, wherever I end up. But I love the idea of a specific space for you locally themed stitches. Hmmm, has me thinking. :-)

>64 thornton37814: - I love the red frame on that. Good choice.

>68 dudes22: That was my first reaction too, Betty. An excellent choice, Lori. And I absolutely love your ideas for a Cincinnati wall.

>68 dudes22: Thanks. Everyone who has seen it in person says the same!

>69 lauralkeet: Glad you liked it. It's nice everyone agrees with the choice.

>7 thornton37814: TWENTY EIGHT?? You're my hero. 💜💜💜

Hi Lori! Catching up...

>13 thornton37814: I would be so lost without good magnifiers and lights. Makes all the difference.

>14 thornton37814: Stitch Con is on my list...

>24 thornton37814: This is a lovely pattern. I don't know Colour and Cotton floss, but I'll do a little research if it's that nice to use.

>38 thornton37814: This is particularly lovely too. And the cats are great. 😁

>47 beebeereads: Barb, come back and stitch with us!!!!

>54 thornton37814: Oh, I have "Pandemic" also! Haven't started it yet, though. I'll be excited to see your progress!

>55 thornton37814: Just wanted to add... I have one of those neck reading lights (different brand, same idea) and it's fantastic. So glad you got one... hope it works well for you!

love the bear. And Cincy. Very nice work.

>71 PlatinumWarlock: LOL. I am hoping for more than that this year. We'll see. I have some big projects, but I'm putting a lot of smaller things into the mix.

>72 PlatinumWarlock: I hope you have a chance to do StitchCon. It is fun! I am absolutely loving the Colour and Cotton fiber. I've stitched almost half the Winter Quaker and have not had a tangled thread yet. I enjoyed the sampler with the extra cats. It was meant to be! I'll try to take occasional progress pictures on Pandemic.

>73 PlatinumWarlock: I enjoyed it. I need to remember to charge it this evening before we have the stitching at the library on Tuesday.

>74 al.vick: Glad you like both!

I registered for the Superb Owl stitching event on February 11. It's officially from 5-10 pm. Cost is $39 (US). It's hosted by Lindy Stitches and Hands-On Design. You'll get a free design from each designer. They'll have entertainment in the main room and then they will have stitching tables and "speed dating" (which was quite fun at the Jingle Ball in December). You are supposed to stitch on an owl chart of your choice. I already have Kathy Barrick's "Parliament of Owls" going from last year so I'll work on it. (I think the two free charts are owl designs, and they do provide a materials list in advance if you want to kit those up.)

Is anyone else going?

I'm very frustrated. I cannot add images from Flickr to the thread at the moment. I also cannot update any post that has an embredded image in it. If the post exists, it will keep the image there but I just can't add anything new to the post.

I know a lot of you were also using Flickr to add images of your crafting. Is anyone else having problems?

After you paste the Flickr code, remove
<$cript async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></$cript>

$ = s

Something LT staff did locked us out of using any javascript in Talk.

>75 thornton37814: Re: the neck reading lights... I actually bought two (given the very reasonable price), so one could be on the charger while I'm using the other. It has saved my bacon a few times!

I know this is a repost of the last photo I shared, but I want to check the suggestion >78 lesmel: made.

>78 lesmel: Looks like it worked! Thanks!

>79 PlatinumWarlock: Sounds like a great idea. I might purchase one before I go on a retreat the next time. The overhead light at the library is usually adequate for my needs there, but I'm wanting to see if it is any better with the extra light while I'm working on higher count fabrics.

The January Fabric of the Month from BeStitch Me arrived. It's a lovely 36 count piece of "Dusty Cottage" linen.

A little stitchy haul from the trip to the cross-stitch shop.

Brenda Gervais is one of my favorite designers. I was tempted to get a second of her new spring designs, but I settled on this one.



When someone came in looking for a challenge, the staff began talking about Glenshee linen which is apparently hard to find but very nice to stitch on. We got to talking, and one of the staff members mentioned there was a kit that had the linen in the half-price bin. I didn't really care for the design, but we went over to the wall that held the rest of the designer's charts, and I found one I thought looked nicer. I chose it mainly to try the fabric. However, the inclusion of the au ver a'soie silks and the fabric with the design make it a bargain even at full price.

I worked on three designs this week.

1) Winter Quaker by Primrose Cottage Stitches



2) Pop's Filling Station in the Hometown Holiday Series by Little House Needleworks. It's one of my two WIPGO calls for the month. I've met the goal of stitching on it 3 days, but I'll probably finish it this month. (I've stitched on it some all 4 days this month.)



3) Pandemic by Long Dog Samplers. This is the stitch along from my local group of stitchers. Each of us are using a different fiber. I'm not quite to the first page finish, but I'm close! I should reach it when we meet on Tuesday to stitch together.



All photos show progress through 4 February 2024.

>83 thornton37814: This is a bit of serendipity for me. Yesterday my good friend who is also a stitcher, spent the afternoon with me purging my cross stitch stash. Along with everything else in the house, I am downsizing before my move. We went through all the charts and all the fabric. I was easily able to leave behind a number of charts, but the fabric...it all stayed with me. When she found a piece marked Glenshee, she had never heard of it. I had purchased a large piece because I am using it for a series and wanted all stitched on the same. Just an interesting coincidence that I now read about Glenshee on your thread. The few that I've done in the series worked up very nicely on it. I hope you enjoy your piece.
>82 thornton37814:, >83 thornton37814: Love the overdye fabric btw and the Brenda Gervais chart. I am on a chart diet for now, but that one is tempting for sure.

I like some of these quite a bit and look forward to your progress each month.

>85 beebeereads: Almost all of Brenda Gervais' charts tempt me. I may get "Grandma's Candy Dish" yet! It's so cute! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with a piece of Glenshee. I doubt I'll get to it right away, but I look forward to it when I do.

>86 dudes22: Thanks. I'm trying to be better about posting progress photos and finishes.

I'm very excited because my Hobby House order arrived. In it was the 36 count replacement linen for the piece I tried on 46 count on New Year's Day and the rest of the silks for my birthday start which is coming up Sunday. I'll have to work on it before 4 p.m. because I'm going to the Superb Owl Stitch-In online and want to be there for the pre-event socializing from 4-5 p.m. EST. I will begin it after I get home from church and eat lunch. I should be able to get at least a couple of hours in on it.

I have a page finish on the Long Dog Samplers. Only 19 more to go!

wow! beautiful. 19 more pages to go huh?

>90 al.vick: Yup!

Design: Pop's Filling Station
Designer: Diane Williams of Little House Needleworks
Series: Hometown Holiday
Fabric: 28 count Natural Linen
Fibers: DMC and Classic Colorworks
Finished: 10 February 2024

>82 thornton37814: Mmmm... pretty fabric!

>83 thornton37814: I like the Yugoslavia Sampler Accent pattern! I have exactly zero experience with samplers, but I've recently acquired three because all of my stitchy friends AND everyone on Instagram is an enabler, damn them. (Seriously, it's bad. I've clearly got a problem.) I also haven't stitched with silk before, but the Au Ver A Soie silks are sooooo pretty... I'm sure it won't be long. 😳

>84 thornton37814: and >89 thornton37814: How are you finding stitching Pandemic? It's so pretty too....

Lori, I saw your mention on Micky's thread of Floss Away bags. I've always taken the bobbin approach, but I'm starting to rethink it. What do you like about Floss Away over bobbins? And how do you store all of them so you can easily find what you want? Is there some sort of organizing system available?

>93 PlatinumWarlock: The fabric is really nice. I'm sure I'll find something in the upcoming Nashville Needlework Market haul that it will fit well. I love stitching with silks, and the Yugoslav design was my favorite of the ones in stock at the LNS. Pandemic is coming along slowly but surely. I'm on the second page now, and I enjoy it, but I also enjoy the feeling of accomplishment by stitching smaller charts at the same time. I think Pandemic will be a 2 to 3 year project.

>94 PlatinumWarlock: I used bobbins for many years, but I love that the Floss Away bags easily keep the shorter lengths that I might be able to use when I only need a few stitches in one place with the color without having to wrap and secure a bunch of short lengths that get in the way. I can also keep single strands for working on 36 count and higher in there while keeping some double strands I used on 32 count and under together. The Floss Away bags work for DMC but also for all the fancy flosses on floss drops (Weeks, Gentle Arts, Classic Colorworks, Colour & Cotton, Roxy, etc.). It makes it easy to use the punched hole and put all the various ones for a project on one binder ring. I store the bags on larger binder rings by brand and color (for fancy flosses) name or number (in case of DMC, Anchor, NPI silks, etc.). I have multiple 5 or 6 inch rings for DMC and for Weeks Dye Works, I believe. Some of my DMC is still bobbinated, but as I use it, it tends to move bobbin and all into a Floss Away bag.

>95 thornton37814: As I am packing my cross stitch supplies to move with me, I've been thinking about changing over. My DMC is all on bobbins and my specialty threads (Weeks, Gentle, etc) are in bags. I much prefer the bags for all the reasons you mention. So I will likely eventually transition the DMC to bags. I like your idea of doing it as you use the color. It would also be good busy work when my eyes and hands get tired. I should be moved and ready to stitch again sometime this summer.

>96 beebeereads: I wish you the best in your move. I might add that I tend to grab a Sharpie fine point marker to write the color on the bag. I can see it better than if I write it with just an ink pen. Some people tape the color on. I did that with a kitted project where I wanted the fibers in bags, but when I went to reuse the bags, the tape didn't always peel perfectly. It made it harder to reuse the bag, although I did. Most of the time I'm just going to refill the bag when I run out with the Sharpie versions.

Design: Love Cats
Series: Britty Kitty Monthly (February)
Designer: Michelle M. Lash of Brittercup Designs
Fabric: 32 count Truffle (Picture this Plus) - It's pinker than the photo shows.
Fibers: Gentle Arts
Finished: 16 February 2024

Stitcher's Garden in Conway, Arkansas had a 30% off everything sale on Super Bowl weekend. One of fellow Morristown library stitchers was a bad influence. Although a lot of my preferred colors were gone, I was able to snag a fat quarter of 36 count Dirt Track by Fox & Rabbit, an Australian dyer that I've been dying to try.

>95 thornton37814: Very helpful... thanks. 😁

While we're still (sort of) talking floss storage options, there's an embroiderer I follow on Instagram who uses wooden clothespins for their flosses. I think it's a little too bulky as a storage solution for me but they do look pretty when they're circled around a finished piece.

>100 PlatinumWarlock: You're welcome.

>101 MickyFine: I've seen someone else show that they use that, but I don't remember who it was. I need to get my spools out of the floss away bags and back onto the spinner. I do find it easier to access them on the spinner. I was talking with Annie, the Proper Stitcher, today at the cross stitch shop and said something about the boxes that the Attic and Fat Quarter Shop have for the spooled fibers. She had not used them, but she agreed they would be easier than the bags for those. The spools make the bags bulkier so I really do think the boxes may be the way to go for traveling with 100/3 silks.

>101 MickyFine: I've seen those too, Micky... cute, to be sure, but probably not the best solution for me - also too bulky.

Lori, I've been doing a deep dive on floss storage ideas in the past few days... there are Etsy shops that sell "rods" that hang in a file box and from which you can hang threads, like floss drops (something like this). I think those are really pretty too, and it would be easy to see everything... decisions, decisions.

>99 thornton37814: Pretty! I follow Fox & Rabbit and love looking at their beautiful fabric!

What lovely things you've been making! The Pandemic sampler is such a stunner. I'm often tempted by Long Dog patterns, but I'm much more of a small-piece stitcher.

Your fabrics are giving me major envy.

>103 PlatinumWarlock: There are indeed many ways to store fibers. I've ordered some spool pods for taking 100/3 fibers with me when I travel. I'm using the wooden spool holder my grandfather made at home for them.

>104 PlatinumWarlock: Our LNS does not stock Fox & Rabbit because it's hard to acquire. You have to order directly from them instead of through a distributor--and with them being in Australia, it makes it harder. I'm happy to finally have a piece of it.

>105 mabith: A couple of local stitchers are opting for some smaller Long Dog Sampler designs. The February BeStitch me fabric should be arriving before too long, I would think. It was late in the month when it arrived last month. I can't wait to see what color neutral it will be!

Design: Winter Quaker
Designer: Lindsey Wright of Primrose Cottage
Fabric: 28 count mushroom lugana
Fiber: Battleship (Colour and Cotton)
Finished: 22 February 2024

Design: Teacup Sledder (in Let's Go Sledding: 12 Sled Ornament Designs)
Designer: Annie Belcher of Annie Beez Folk Art
Fabric: 14 count brown perforated paper
Fibers: DMC
Started & Finished: 24 February 2024

The stitching group that meets at the local library has a stitch along for Pandemic by Long Dog Samplers. Here is a group photo of progress to Saturday, February 2024. A couple of people are stitching smaller pieces by Long Dog Samplers, and those are not in the group photo.



Mine is the purple one.

February 2024 Fabric of the Month from BeStitchMe's neutral club (36 count) is "Vanilla Latte."

I should mention that I am nearly done with another one. It's a smaller chart called "He Is Risen." I will show an in progress photo of one I'm doing with silks ("The Lord's Prayer') soon. It's almost got enough in it that you can see how beautiful it will eventually be. I just need to make a little more progress. I'll probably do another sled or two next week also.

I am still "nearly done" with that other chart. I didn't have a lot of time to stitch on it Friday. I left town early Saturday morning. I took the project with me, but I didn't have time to stitch on it. I just got home, and I'm too tired to think about stitching. Maybe tomorrow!

I'll have Nashville Needlework Market haul on Wednesday. I'm looking forward to seeing what things my LNS was able to pick up and what is "backordered." I've seen most of the things I requested in the photos they put up of things they purchased at market, so I think most of my haul will be there.

Design: He Is Risen
Designer: Susan O'Bryant of Sweet Wing Studio
Fabric: 14 count Lambswool Aida
Fibers: DMC & Weeks Dye Works. (I did make a substitution of a DMC for one of the called-for Weeks fibers that only used a few stitches.)
Finished: 4 March 2024



Just a couple of notes: This was a very old piece of Aida I had in my stash. I still have a little more of it if I can find designs the right size. It is not fun doing "confetti" stitches on Aida!

Ii need to play catch up on my thread. This post will feature my haul from this year's Nashville Needlework Market.



I love Heart in Hand's tiny town series. I already had the Any Town Tiny Town from when it was released as an exclusive to Keepsakes, so I only needed the "more" and the great "Frosty" one!



The biggest piece I ordered along with the Valdani thread pack!



The birds are gorgeous! Who doesn't love a sampler with stitchy things?



I love Primrose Cottage's Quakers. Annie (The Proper Stitcher) also goes to my LNS. This piece was inspired from a Bible study her daughter attended and recounted.



A favorite hymn & a cute small.



I love the Scripture from Esther. The piece on the right is a C. S. Lewis quote.



The cookbook is always a must! It includes a few charts along with the recipes. Bonnie's photo on the chart does not do this piece justice. Her local needlework store is mine, and this bee piece is absolutely gorgeous in person!

Design: Give Thanks
Designer: Erin Wasilieff of Erin Elizabeth Designs
Fabric: 36 count light mocha
Fibers: DMC 221, 433, 898 (instead of 938), 3820, 310. 924, 3776, 3865

Finished: 15 March 2024

Design: Pineapple Mini Bouquet #1
Designer: Jeannette Douglas Designs
Fabric: 36 count Vintage Exemplar (Lakeside Linens)
Fibers: Classic Colorworks Finley Gold; Gentle Arts Gold Leaf; Weeks Dye Works: Chestnut, Grits, Lily Pad, Oscar, Whiskey; DMC 355 (instead of Weeks Dye Works Red Rocks)

Finished: 18 March 2024

Design: Snowman and Cardinal
Designer: Annie Belcher/Annie Beez Folk Art
Chart: Let's Go Sledding
Fabric: 14 count antique brown perforated paper
Fibers: DMC 471, 310, B5200, 453, 816, 727, 349, 225, 970, 437

Finished & Final Finish: 23 March 2024

Our public library hosts craft supply exchanges a couple of times a year. You get to take anything you want for free (and you can leave anything for others too). We've been fortunate they are often on the Saturdays our cross stitch group meets in the library to stitch. I came away with a bit of free haul--mostly finishing supplies.



I must comment on The Night Before Christmas book. It was sitting there on the table, and I immediately recognized it as the version I had as a child. It had to come home with me! Only one of the balls was gone from the box when I picked it up, but I offered balls to any of the stitchers who wanted one. These are quite popular for putting your "orts" (thread scraps) in and creating ornaments. I've also seen a few others uses mentioned for them, but I am excited to have a supply. I used a larger ball for my 2023 ornament and still have 3 of that size remaining; however, it never hurts to have some on hand. There are cross stitch fibers there. One bag is DMC. One bag is assorted fibers from things I'd heard of--Anchor, Susan Bates, J & P Coats, etc. One were variegated fibers from "Iris." I need to look that one up as I'd never heard of it. There's a pack of buttons. I only got the colored buttons. I didn't think I'd use the clear buttons or the huge buttons as cross stitch decorations. There are some little felt animals. There is a deck of Noah's Ark playing cards that have cross stitch patterns on each card. There are 3 fabrics that I thought I might use in finishing pillows. There's a small piece of ruffle that would be good on a pillow finish. There is a mesh front bag that could be used for a small project or accessories. There is a board I may use in finishing a piece. Not a bad haul!

That looks like a nice haul you got. I'm going to be in Nashville for a wedding in Oct and we're planning to drive down so I should have room to bring goodies back. I might bring the sampler pattern like MickyFine is doing and get the fabric and thread I need. And I'm hoping to hit a couple of fabric stores if I have time.

I really like the pattern "It Is Well". Looks like quilt blocks and that's one of my favorite hymns. I might need to think about getting back to cross stitch.

Nice haul! I wouldn't be surprise if they schedule them on purpose on the days the cross stitch group is there. ;) I should suggest that at my library - we tried a yarn swap once and didn't have a lot of takers, but a broad all-craft-supplies one might work well. (I would be so tempted to take so much more than I should, though!)

>114 thornton37814: I love the bee pattern.

That's an incredible haul, both from the market and the craft swap. I especially like the Quaker Flowers and the sampler with birds. Coincidentally, my local library just had a craft swap this weekend. I didn't go, but I think it's a brilliant idea. Crafters always have extra stuff and are looking for other stuff!

My, what a haul! You definitely won’t be lacking in projects going forward! And how great that you can swap craft supplies like that.

>119 dudes22: I heard some other floss tubers listing the patterns of Susan's they got. They listed all but that one. I think the reason that one appealed to me--other than the fact it is a favorite hymn--is the quilt block look. I heard someone raving about a yarn shop just south of Nashville in Brentwood the other day. I believe it was Bliss Yarns.

>120 melannen: It's possible they do that. I did limit myself to stuff I thought I might use. They seemed to rotate one librarian in each hour or two to staff the room--although it's possible the last time was a retired librarian who might have been volunteering her time. (I used to see her in the library a lot, but I haven't seen her as much lately--and she is old enough to retire.)

>121 MickyFine: I love it too. That photo really doesn't do it justice. It is stunning in person. Bonny did a great job designing it.

>122 lauralkeet: I won't get to the Quaker Flowers right away because I've got too many big projects underway. When one of them gets finished, I'll get another big one out to work on. I love the birds too. JBW released her designs a couple days later than most people, and the minute I saw it, I called my shop and told them to add it because I was in love with it. The craft swap was a hit. Our little group has an internal craft swap, but we voted to add the extra stuff that was in the back of Valerie's car at the moment to the stuff at the craft swap. We'd all been through it so we didn't think anyone would be offended if we donated it to the craft swap there. They did tell us the leftovers would be stored until the next time.

>123 PawsforThought: Nashville Needlework Market is the biggest event of the year for cross stitchers so the best designs always come out there. Designers still release stuff quarterly or so, but they tend to make the biggest push at market. It is only open to retailers (limit 2 per store) and designers and their helpers, but the rest of us anticipate it and place our pre-orders!

There was a lot of Aida fabric available in the craft exchange, but I have plenty of Aida in my own stash considering how little I stitch on it. I prefer linen or Lugana (an evenweave). The designs available seemed to be the type one might start with rather than things that I'd stitch. I saw a partially done project in a hoop. I was glad one of the ladies in our group adopted it to finish.

I went to the cross stitch shop to stitch and came back with a few things I needed (and a couple things I didn't).



On the far left were the three new Classic Colorworks fibers bundled with a free chart. (You just pay for the fibers. I don't need them yet, but I'm sure I will.) In the foreground, you'll see a sled ornament chart. These make great gifts. I didn't need another sled chart, but I will use it. The beads are to go on a sled ornament that is made except for attaching the snowman's eyes and buttons which are that color bead. The fabric under it is for one of my April WIPGO calls. I thought I had a piece of fabric the right size in the light blue color until I got the fabric out and noticed I'd used part of it and hadn't marked the new size of the fabric on the bag. It wasn't wide enough, so I needed to get something that would work with all the fiber colors. This "Stormy Clouds" looked better than any of the blue options available at my LNS. (I found all the fibers or a suitable substitute in my stash.) The other fibers are ones I needed for the other WIPGO call for April and the flax fabric is for it. It's a Thanksgiving freebie from Twin Peak Primitives. I owned about half the threads already so these are just the ones I purchased.

I love the Quaker flowers pattern. What a great haul generally.

>127 mabith: I'm looking forward to it, but it may be next year before I get around to it because of the other things I'm working on this year. I don't want too many huge projects at once.