cross stitch kits – The XStitching Runner

Hi Everyone

Since I’ve started watching Flosstube, I’ve become increasingly aware of Stitch Maynia and each year I’ve been increasingly tempted to participate. because it looks like a lot of fun and I’m really good at starting a bucket load of projects! My challenge will be to finish everything that I start!

Based on what I’ve seen on the ‘Net and Flosstube, Stitch Maynia had started in May 2015 and based upon the year 2015, Stitchers were encouraged to started 15 new projects. The projects could be whatever the Stitchers wanted them to be and the aim was to get as many of those projects completed by the end of 2015. If Stitchers hadn’t been able to finish their 2015 starts by the time 2016 rolled around, they would need to include those WIP’s (works in progress) and whatever new starts they wanted to make up the 16 projects for 2016 Maynia. If Stitchers had completed all of their 2015 Maynia WIP’s, then they would be able to have 16 new starts for 2016 Stitch Maynia!

If I participate in Stitch Maynia this year, it would mean that I would need to have 20 new starts and I could start these in any which way I want – as long as they’re all started by the end of May.

Big versus Small Starts

Considering that there are meant to be 20 new starts this year, having 20 big starts may be overwhelming because of the amount of floss each project would need, where to keep it all, how to manage it etc.

Big Project Starts

Working on a big project is a challenge within its self because of the shear size of it, the amount of colours it may require, the length of time you need to spend on stitching it and that strong sense of achievement when you’ve finished it. To me, a big project is something that will take years to complete – especially if it’s the only thing I’m focusing on. Heaven and Earth Designs (HAED’s) are the first thing that comes to mind when I think of big projects. In some of my earlier posts, I’ve talked a bit about my progress on my first HAED – Moon Lit Waters.

If you choose to do at least one large project, check out the Pattern Keeper app if you haven’t already. It will let you know which designers are compatible with the app and if you’re trying to narrow down what to stitch, its compatibility with Pattern Keeper may be the decider!

If you choose to do 20 big starts as part of Stitch Maynia, the awesome thing is that not all projects need to have a bucket load of colours to give it that wow factor. One of the trends I’ve noticed with a lot of the Flosstubers is the amount of people who are in love with samplers – especially samplers based on or inspired by ones from over 100 years ago. Many of these samplers don’t have a lot of colours in them. Some of which are just mono-chrome or use variegated threads and make the most of the different hand-dyed fabrics available.

Another option for your big starts is to be part of a Stitch-A-Long (SAL) that releases patterns at the start of each month and by the end of the designated time frame, you will have a beautiful large piece.

Small Starts

To me, there’s something exciting about starting a new project – once I’ve decided on what I’m stitching and I have everything kitted up (unless I’ve chosen a kit). The excitement is in the new beginnings, fresh starts and seeing something come to life on the fabric. It also has bit to do with my attention span and getting the itch to start something new every few months or so.

Therefore, to me a small start is something I can complete within a week or two – a month maximum. It may just take me a while to fully finish it!

One of the things I really enjoy stitching are cards for various celebrations – even though I don’t stitch them very often. Partly because I struggle with fully finishing them as cards. However, with Stitch Maynia I now have the excuse to stitch a heap of Christmas and birthday cards and related paraphernalia! It may also prompt me to start some Halloween projects that I’ve been eyeing off for a while now and talked about in some of my blog posts.

The other cool thing with stitching cards is that I’m able to use some of the off-cuts of fabric I have floating around the house!

A bit of both?

Since there are meant to be 20 new starts this year, there’s nothing wrong with mixing it up and having a combination of big and small projects. Which means that you should be able to get a sense of achievement by the end of May because of the small starts being finished or nearly finished. And you should also be able to see a bit of progress with some of your bigger projects.

Theoretically, this will satisfy my need to stitch a mixture of small, medium and large projects. I’ll be able to continue working on my current WIP’s and get some small cards done. My main challenge will be deciding on what to start and when. I can plan something to the last inch of its life. My struggle point is putting those plans into action! Mostly because I’ve put so much time and effort into the planning phase, that in my mind I’ve already put those plans into action and I feel like my job is done. Funnily enough, I’m not always able to follow other people’s plans as well. There’s something about my need for independence and flexibility. There’s also an element of trying to follow something exactly and then there’s a change to my routine and I struggle to get back to the regular program.

But I digress…I’m still hopeful that I’m able to stick to the plans and projects I’ve put together for Stitch Maynia and that I can keep it flexible enough to keep me happy. The other thing that I’ll be testing during this maynia month is the use of coloured pencils on my paper patterns I can’t load into Pattern Keeper. My aim is to use a different coloured pencil for each day that I work on those patterns so that I can see how much progress I’m able to make. My goal is to stitch a minimum of 200 stitches for each medium to large project before I can move onto the next project. I’ve found that for most projects this is achievable because I’m able to spend a couple of hours at least on them, and for most projects I’m able to easily get the 200 stitches in!

Until next time,

Happy Stitching!

1. Have a break.

Having a break from cross-stitch could be just what you need. Do something other than cross-stitch for as long as you want or need. Whether it be learning a new crafty skill or returning to a crafty project you’ve set aside for some time. Alternatively, it could be going out for a long walk or heading down to the shops and treat yourself to a coffee or drink of your choice.

My break from cross-stitch can vary from a few days to a few weeks. During that time, I’ll be playing video games on a range of consoles, writing, scrapbooking or colouring in. I know when my mojo starts returning when I start looking at the patterns and kits in my collection or browsing websites to see what else is out there.

2. Browse the Internet

Browsing the Net can be a way of seeing what other patterns are out there and what other people have done and are working on. Apps like Pinterest, and Instagram or sites like Etsy not only show a variety of patterns available, but ways in which the finished pieces can be completed (other than framing).

I looooove browsing Pinterest. I have used that site to find motivation for running, inspiration for quilt designs, cheer my boyfriend up with funny and cute dog and puppy pictures, go ‘ooh and aaah’ over amazing landscape photos and cheer myself up with cute and funny cat, kitten, foal and horse pictures.

Other sites I love visiting include:

3. Join a club, group or forum

Cross-stitching can be as isolating or social as you want it to be. Online or face-to-face groups, clubs or forums can be a great way to catch up with like minded people. Face-to-face clubs, groups or forums include the Embroiders Guild and stitching sessions that your local craft store may hold.

Alternatively, if you conduct a search on your preferred search engine or social media platform for an embroidery club or forum, you will find that there’s a lot out there. Facebook is one of my preferred platforms and I’m part of the Australian Cross-stitching group. I love seeing what other members post. Whether it be their WIP’s or finishes or questions about cross-stitch, all of it is motivating and inspiring and many of the designs are absolutely beautiful.

4. Attend a craft fair

As introverted as I am and as stressed I feel at times by attending events with large crowds, there’s something about attending a craft fair that I love. It may be something to do with being curious about the changing trends in quilting, cross-stitch, paper crafts etc. or seeing what new products are available to us. I really love attending the annual Canberra Quilt and Craft Fair in August when I can and setting myself a budget and whether or not I can stick to it! Other challenges I’ve set for myself is to find patterns or kits that I think loved ones would like and others that I would like to stitch for myself.

5. Flosstube channels on YouTube

This is a recent find and I wish I had come across Flosstube sooner. Typing in ‘cross stitch’ to YouTube led me to Flosstube and I’m hooked! In a nut shell, Flosstube is the video version of blogs and face-to-face cross stitch catch ups. Anyone can post clips to YouTube using the Flosstube hashtag (#) and talk about anything and everything cross stitch. I love finding out what Kitten Stitcher and Stitching Jules are up to with in their cross stitch worlds. For me, it’s the way they present to camera and chat away. Check out their clips and you will see what I mean!

How do you get your stitching mojo back? Have you tried any of these ways? Were any of them useful?

Tag: cross stitch kits

Stitch Maynia. Big versus small projects