2020 WIPocalypse: October

Well October wasn't the greatest stitchy month, in fact my lowest of 2020 so far, but I did manage to get a finish, several more near finishes, and it was by far my best "life" month of 2020, since I finally got out of the house and went on a long awaited vacation, which was fantastic.   So, on the stitching front, I managed 22 days and almost 17 k stitches.

I started with Cathedral Woods and it was a surprise finish thanks to Crystal Academy (FB group).  She got 2 days and around 750 beads.  I love her so much more than expected.  

Fairy of the Rain had 2 days of attention and 1,000 stitches added.  I quite enjoy this piece with it's limited (and gorgeous!) color pallette, at least compared to some of the my projects.  

Comet was loved for 1 day, about 500 stitches, mostly beads.  I would have pushed a finish, but I ran out of 2 of the bead colors.  I did order them, now in stash, so I can finish it whenever.

I stitched on Victorian Carolers about 1.5 days for 1,005 stitches, mostly on the lower part of the first page, close to a page finish now.  

Rainbow Fairy had 2 days of love, 1,379 stitches, mostly backstitch counted for half.  I am pleased that the backstitch on the bottom half is now complete.  I charted my own to avoid the stair steps; it seems like I've been doing that a lot lately.

Harvest Witch received 2 days attention, 2,167 stitches, the regular cross on the top half then I went down to the bottom and started backstitching (my version, less stair steps) and stitching Kreinik.  The process was delayed by a search for the charted colors of Kreinik, which I eventually found on Etsy.  I'm ordering more and more stuff from Etsy as my old standby stores like 123 stitch seem to be out stock for certain things.  Pictured is the spider web is progress, restarted in Petite Treasure Braid PB10 after starting it with blending filament, as directed, and it looked awful.  

I stitched on Fantasy Triptych for 2 days, 1,905 stitches, all backstitch, specialty stitches in the border, and a few ninja stitches.  I would have finished if I hadn't run out of beads, which I later found on Etsy (sensing a theme?).  I redid the backstitch on the face, using my own design, I'm satisisfied it with now, I think it's a vast improvement over the pattern version. 

Toy Story Cast got long day of stitchy process during a battle round, I did 1,135 stitches, mostly on the Prospector (and Slinky Dog's feet).  

And then it was time for my trip to the most magical place on Earth.  I stitched minimally that week, but I did make a new start and ultimately gave it 3 days and 1,207 stitches.  This is the Blue Ocean Star by Stitchora from the JCS Ornaments 2020 magazine, on 28 count white opalescent Cashel.  

After vacation, I stitched a little (1 day and 257 stitches) on my Noelle ornie wip, I started the wreath, one of the stacked pieces.

Save the Stitches was another finish goal, I gave it 2 days, 1,497 stitches and might have finished, except for beads. So now it's a November finish goal.

My beast, the Gryphon, had a day of love and 550 stitches all on the upper wing. 

Finally, I made another new start, the Snowman Mitten Ornie by Ursula Michael from Just Cross Stitch Ornaments 2005, on 36 count Silvery moon Edinburgh by Zweigart.  I thought the magazine version on 14 count was a little big, so I opted for 18 count.  I just love this fabric, it's soft, smoothly woven, a lovely subtle color, and I need more for my stash (I had only a small cut from retreat swag).  I gave it 1.5 days and 1,633 stitches.

Question of the Month: How do you decide what to stitch on next?  I have my monthly focus pieces, which I choose a few months in advance, based on finish goals.  On any given day, I work on whatever calls loudest, or with consideration to the various challenge groups.  Currently, that would include Enchanted Stitching Challenges, Semisane Stitchers, School of Magical Stitches, Stitchy Quest for the One Ring, and Crystal Academy.  

Plans for November: 

•Finish model stitching 

•Finish Save the Stitches, Fantasy Triptych, Harvest Witch

•Focus rotations (1k each) on Fairy Rain, Fairy Rainbow, Gryphon, and Victorian Carolers

Happy Stitching 

Comments

[Joanne Perry]

For a somewhat quieter month, you still got a lot of progress. The smoothing out of the steps is well worth it for the Joan Elliott design.
I recognised the Stitchor design straight away, I got my magazine this week and that is one of my favourites already.

[Leonore Winterer]

I'm glad you had a great month, if not in stitching, then in travel and life! This year has been awful enough so it's nice to get a little break. But your stitching does look great too, and I'm so looking forward for your finish parade in November and December!