Have you ever found yourself stitching one block of 10 stitches row by row then the next block cross country style? Alternatively, have you started a project with the aim of using the parking method, only to find that you’re getting bored and are jumping all over the place with your colours? Are you then finding that the way that you’re stitching your crosses varies from one area of the pattern to the next? For example, for one colour you may stitch it row by row like the diagram below, and then the next colour you stitch it one cross at a time like the second image below?
As I’ve been stitching Dimensions Four Seasons Kittens (pictured below), the phrase ‘consistently inconsistent’ has come to my mind quite a lot. It stems from a variety of things in the pattern. For example, some areas call for three threads of one colour to be stitched as half stitch (aka tent stitch), while other half or full cross stitches may have one white thread and one light green thread. The brilliant thing is that this works! It adds a brilliant texture to the overall picture and highlights different areas that the traditional two stranded half or full crosses wouldn’t normally provide.
However, I have increasingly found myself stitching the full crosses or half stitches in a variety of ways to see if it makes any difference with the way the stitches sit on the fabric. This is where I’ve started thinking more and more about the way that I stitch and the impact it may be having on the final picture.
To show you what I mean, Dana from Peacock and Fig posted a YouTube clip on 4 April 2017, showing us the English and Danish methods of cross stitch. Until now, I’ve been unknowing using both methods interchangeably throughout all of my cross stitch projects:
Following this clip by Peacock and Fig, below is close up of an area of the Four Seasons Kittens (front and back) where I’ve used used the Danish and English style of cross stitch interchangeably:
The more I’ve thought about being consistently inconsistent and looking into what it means, I’ve found that as far as cross stitch is concerned, it’s okay to be regularly mixing things up. Because I’m still doing cross stitch, it just happens to be that the way I do my stitches may be a little inconsistent to the norm. But it keeps things interesting for me. For the most part, I’m able to keep the motivation going and trying to keep the crosses as uniformed (shape wise) as possible.
What are you wanting to achieve?
As part of reading up on being consistently inconsistent, it has led me to wonder what I’ve wanted to achieve as part of my style of stitching (let alone other areas of my life that are like this)? As I’ve touched on earlier, my aim is to stitch my stitches whichever way works best for me, whilst trying to ensure that they are as uniformed as I can make them. Additionally, I just like stitching and I’m going do continue to do it in a way that works best for me!
Consistently inconsistent or boredom?
I have wondered if the consistently inconsistency has anything to do with boredom or the inability to focus on one project for an extended period of time? Additionally, I appreciate the phrase ‘consistently inconsistent’ seems redundant and strange to say considering what cross stitch is all about! I do however, find that I get bored with a project after a while and lose my focus and my eyes start to wander. I start thinking about the other projects I have in my collection and what I want to do with them. It’s not just boredom though. I’ve found that it can be seasonal. For example, when I know that someone’s birthday is coming up or an event such as Christmas, I’m thinking about presents and cards for people.
Flosstube has a huge influence as well! Some of the projects that people are working on look awesome! This is my inspiration at times to continue working on existing projects or purchase/start a new one.
I guess that at the end of the day, the important thing is to keep stitching, regardless of which way you go about it and how many projects you have on rotation!
Until next time, happy stitching!
The XStitching Runner 