WIPcalypse: January 2022

Hello and welcome!  Well, I made some cracking progress in January, despite being away for a week.  

I started with Easter Bunny House, ultimately giving it 2 days and 1,472 stitches.  I finished the cross stitch on the top floor and backstitched it all, starting at the top.  I think it's coming out so cute, the face in the sun, and all the detail on the stove, table, clock, books, etc.  Finally I started working on the bunny that will be on a ladder, painting the exterior wall.  I extended the walls down a little too. Fairy Rain was a big focus for the month, as I want to finish her soon-ish.  She was loved for 4 days and 3,180 stitches.  Basically I'm working up and reached the top of the pattern, the regular cross anyway, though I need to go back and fill in her skin and her top, plus stitch her upper wings.  After that, I started backstitching from the bottom and actually finished all the backstitching on the bottom half, which was quite extensive, about 1,100 stitches with backstitch counted as half.  Quite a few ninja stitches too.    

Fata dell' Aurora had 1 day of attention and I did 1,330 stitches.  I'm working on her skirt down to the bottom of the chart.  She stitches quickly with long bands of color, though the hem involves more frequent color changes.  

Aladdin was called for WIPGO.  In 1.25 days, I met my goal to finish the cross stitching, and even started with the backstitch, with 1,787 stitches (backstitch counted for half).  It's coming along and will be coming out in early February for a focused finish, hopefully!  

Vixen was a January finish goal, also my January focus with Semisane Stitchers.  Over a few days, I did 2,883 stitches and finished it!  More details forthcoming in a finish post, need to take some decent photos of Stargazer too. 

As for my ornie WIPs, Elfie Whoo was finished in a half (partial) day with 655 stitches.  It's modified with some of my own color choices, and a yarn ply (unwinded) in lieu of Wisper, also personalized as my son's 2021 ornament.  Santa Claus Coming to Town had a little love, 402 stitches over a half day. Both are on 32 count Amber Linen (Wichelt).

Victorian Carolers was also a January finish goal, but something had to give with being away for 8 nights on vacation.  I gave it some limited effort, 30 minutes here and there for the daily 30 challenges. The backstitching is very painstaking, so the short sessions are ideal.  Overall, it got 1.25 days and 461 stitches (backstitch counted for half).  Not the greatest photo, the bottom is rolled up in the scroll, but I've completed about 6 of 9 backstitch colors (some of it was done the last few days of December too).

I finally buckled down with Alice, gave her 2.25 days, which was enough to finish the hookah panel (self charted) & border, and complete the March Hare with backstitch, 1,333 stitches. The border around March Hare was started (additional 212 stitches), but I didn't have enough time to finish.   

And now for the fun stuff, new starts!  I started 2 large projects, Santa's Workshop by Jim Shore / Mill Hill on Green Apple opal 32 count lugana by Silkweaver (vintage).  I started in the corner with the border because the border is extensive and I'd like to get it out of the way.  I got 1,006 stitches over 1 day.  Then I started Bellatrix by Bella Filipina on Dusk Belfast by Steel City Stitchers.  She was loved for 1 days and 1,630 stitches, started in the center becasuse it's all DMC, which I have in stash.  The top left corner is full of Kreinik and beads and a silk, the vast majority of which I ordered after starting.  I did not realize she would be so blingy!I also started some ornies, for the JCS SAL and others just because I fancied them.  Noel Angel by Rosewood Manor is on white opalescent Belfast and took 934 stitches, and 1.5 days to finish.  Frosty by Autumn Lane Stitchery on Haven Cashel by Picture this Plus, also had 1.5 days and 1,464 stitches to finish.  Triangle Treat by Blackwork Journey is on white opalescent Cashel was started with 611 stitches over a half day.  Chris-Minty by Queen Stitch given 1.5 days and 809 stitches.  Goodness & Light by Sunflower Seed had a half day and 500 stitches.  Both of those last two are on white opalescent Belfast.

Finally, I started a Things that Go Bump by Glendon Place, on Flash Cashel by Picture this Plus. It's a decent start of 902 stitches, which took 4.5 days, some of those being vacation days when I barely had the energy to lift the needle to stitch one thread.   The fact that I lost my Glocusent light, somewhere between home and Florida, did not help.  Lighting was insufficient and I had difficulty seeing the fabric.  This one was easier, being on 28 count.  The other fabric I packed is 32 count.

So I knocked out most of my goals, exceeding a few too! I'm excited by the progress on my WIPs, and I love all my new starts.  In fact, I hadn't touched some of the WIPs in so long, they were almost like new starts too.  

Question of the month: Describe your stitching style  I'm sort of a cross between a rotation stitcher and chaos wrangler. I do set out rotation goals in advance, with consideration as to when I'd like to finish certain projects, but I tend to switch projects every day or two, and the days I have planned for a particular project may be spread out over time.  Each day, I tend to choose projects according to challenge goals in my various FB groups (Daily 30, Magical Stitches Mystery, Stitchy Quest for the One Ring, Enchanted Stitching).  Also, it's not uncommon for me to work on 2 or more pieces in a day.  

Now for my February goals:

•1k each on Fairy Rain, Alice, Easter Bunny House, Bellatrix, & a possible Mirabilia start.  Or 2k, if the mood strikes.

•500 each on Triangle Treat and Witches Werewolves (new start)

•Finish Aladdin, Things that Go Bump, Victorian Carolers, and Santa Claus Coming to Town Ornie

Comments

[Susan from Canada]

I always look forward to reading your blog and am completely amazed by how much you manage to stitch in a day! Can't wait to see your progress for February. I do miss seeing you on Flosstube; you were always a favourite to watch.

Susan from Canada

[Lora]

I'm always in awe of how many stitches you manage in an average day. I'm more of a hundred or two a day, but I live vicariously through you.

I'm a chaotic stitcher. I generally have five or six WIPs in rotation at a time (more put away in waiting), and I choose the project of the day based on my mood, how much time I have (if it's a 2-3 pieces of floss stitching day, I will likely pick a small), and whether I've set a goal to finish or focus on something or not (usually not).

I have found that I like to go on WIP finishing sprees every few months to thin the herd, and when I'm doing that, I try to make myself focus on one project at a time until each is finished.

I couldn't be a monogamous stitcher any more than I could be a monogamous reader (I tend to have 4-5 books going at a time too :-).

[Violet Stitches]

I go by Violet Stitches on instagram and have followed you on social media for many years. I have missed you terribly on flosstube...you were always my favorite with the amazing variety of projects you stitched. I too lost my stitchy bug in 2021 and laid here depressed and consuming too many calories....living in a pandemic while distance learning with a young child is not for the faint of heart. Just getting back into stitching now and able to enjoy life a little more. Currently working on Alessandra Adalaid's Spider Banner, and Hello from Liz Matthews' Quaker Snowflakes. Many hugs, and hopes for a better year in 2022.

[Serendipitous Jo]

Fabulous progress for January, even with a holiday away in the middle!
I love the Rain Goddess, such a beautiful design.

[Leonore]

I was going to say you had a decent stitching month, and then I got down to your new starts - wow! Love seeing a start on Bella, I really need to get back to mine and yes, Bella Filippina charts are VERY bling-y.
Looking forward to your February progress - looks like some big and decent sized finishes are imminent now!