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Wednesday 23 March 2016

March WIPocalypse Hoops, Stands or Hands

WIPocalypse
WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

Each month we have to share the projects we want to complete before the End Of The World.

The focus of my WIPocalypse will be my "16 in '16" which are 16 projects I particularly wanted to concentrate on in 2016.   The full list can be found on my WIPocalypse page where you can also find my secondary list "16 Series in '16".

My main goal is to keep to my rotation of one small every Friday and the rest of the month working on my focus piece until it is finished.  I also have a number of SALs I want to keep up with:

The Alphabet Club - a different letter on the first Saturday of each month
Gifted Gorgeousness - post anything gifted on the 15th
Hallowe'en Ornie Blog - a different spooky theme each month
Christmas Ornie Blog - a different festive theme each month
Smalls SAL - last Thursday of each month

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And now for the progress report:

I have worked on a mammoth 7 out of 16 projects since my last WIPocalypse, plus 4 from my series list.

7. Strawberry Sampler by The Sampler House - Finish


10. Mulberry Sampler by Shepherd's Bush - Finish

 

11. Elizabeth Shephard by The Scarlet Letter - WIP

I stitched the Token of Love motif and added some red in other places.

12. J by Nora Corbett - WIP



14. E by Nora Corbett - Finish


15. S by Nora Corbett - Finish


16. Counting Bats by Just Nan - WIP



And the series:

1. Christmas Cubes by The Primitive Hare - WIP



I am stitching these out of order to fit in with the themes on the Christmas Ornie blog

6. The Stitcher's Alphabet by Brooke's Books - WIP


11. Mini Samplers by Shepherd's Bush - see above.

15. Alphabet Fairies by Nora Corbett - see above.

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Measi always gives us a topic to discuss too:

March - Do you use hoops, stretcher bars, lap stands or Q snap frames and why? (via CathieJ)

None of the above!  I am a strict "in hand" stitcher.  When I first started stitching I tried hoops and didn't like them, they got in the way and were cumbersome.  My method is to roll the fabric with the stitched side inside so my hands are only touching the back of the fabric.  I start in the centre and work upwards then the bottom right and finally the bottom left (as you can see on Elizabeth Shephard).  That way the part that is handled the most is the last part to be stitched so I minimise the amount of handling those stitches will get.

I used to stitch on my daily commute to work and any kind of frame just isn't practical on a train.  I also worry about hoop marks and squashing the stitches.  At the moment I stitch at the kitchen table so a large frame wouldn't work there.  And of course, with multiple WIPS I don't have to have multiple frames or keep swapping them around.  With a limited budget I tend to view accessories as something to waste valuable stash money on!

Finally, the emails went out for the Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop this afternoon so watch out for Bunnies Galore on Good Friday!  I will post the links in the morning my time zone but some of the Australians will be up already and some of the Americans won't post until later in their day.  The phrase is a doozy I must say!  

33 comments:

Brenda said...

OH you have some very lovely projects you have worked on and completed! WTG!!! That all look sooo beautiful!

Vickie said...

I stitch at the kitchen table also. I use Q-snaps with a bit of wadding to protect against crushed stitches. I use a K's creation table/lap stand.

Claudette497 said...

Let's hear it for the hands! I stitch that way too. You've been one busy stitcher - your finishes look wonderful!

Marihun said...

Yesssss!!!! So nice to see I'm not the only strictly-in-hand stitcher! :D Your wips are beautiful, as always! :)))

gominam said...

Oh oh oh, I'm so happy to learn you stitch by hand too. I tried hoops when I started a loooong time ago but my hand got tired easily. I've been stitching in hand for so long now and find I do it faster with the cloth rolled using a folder stick inside:) I stitch from darkest hues to light/pale so gridding is a must=( Lovely finishes and WIPs for your Wipocalypse, great job!

Tiffstitch said...

Nice work on everything. I stitch in hand sometimes too.

Linda said...

Lovely stitching Jo. I'm glad to read that I am not the only one left that stitches in hand.

Linda

Jan said...

Lovely finishes and progress snaps!! I'm just the opposite I can't keep the proper tension unless it's in some kind of hoop/frame.

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

Lots of pretty projects! I can't stitch in hand. My hand gets sore from holding fabric and the tension on my stitches isn't consistent. I use scroll rods of all sizes. Couldn't stitch without them!

Mini said...

Great progress on Alphabet J. I have also stitched in-hand mostly. Recently I started using q-snaps and hoop which I think is essential for non aida fabric.
I'm like you ,I feel I would rather spend money on floss rather needle minders,fancy storage boxes etc.

Preeti said...

You got lots of lovely finishes this month:)
I always stitch in hands except for one project from dimensions kit, the fabric is stiff so I use Q-snaps for that. I work like surface stitching and my right hand goes down only in the beginning and end of the thread length. I also start from the centre and move upwards, then I reverse the chart and stitch a band length to find the bottom-most row and then start from bottom to centre again. I take care that the direction of stitches do not change.
I think I unofficially participated in Wipocalypse ;) lol

Justine said...

Great progress Jo - especially those gorgeous Nora Corbett letters. I love E! It's so sparkly and I love her translucent wings.
I stitch in hand too unless it's something small on floppy fabric and then I like to use q-snaps. I'm much quicker stitching in hand though.

Lady Stitch-a-Lot said...

Wow, you really did a lot of stitching during the month =) I love the Nora Corbett letters you stitched, so delicate and blingy and elegant! My favorite is the E, with all those lovely gold colors =)
I only stitch in hand when I work on Aida, but that is a nice change sometimes =)

The Knitting Cross Stitcher said...

Great progress on these projects,you definitely have a lot going on with SAL's etc,makes for lots of lovely progress photos. I am very partial to your Hallowe'en WIP.

Katie said...

Beautiful stitching going on!!! I tried in hand and my hand cramped from holding it too hard. I only have 1 8inch q-snap that I use on everything pretty much haha. I put fabric in with the fabric and I've never noticed a problem with squished stitches. But if you can do it your way then do it your way haha. Whatever works right? Can't wait to hop along the blog hop.

Unknown said...

It's always fun to read your posts and enjoy all your different projects. I am amazed at how many people can stitch in hand. It's so hard for me. It really comes in handy for some projects and some of the special stitches - so I keep trying.

Beth in IL said...

Wow! You have been very busy. good job on the finishes.

Kaisievic said...

I am definitely a hand only stitcher, too - I find hoops, frames and stands too confining. Beautiful finishes and gorgeous WIPs. I love your E finish, particularly, as I gifted you the chart and I think of my Mum - RIP. I have posted my Easter Hop blog, so feeling quite virtuous.

Southpaw Stitcher said...

Wow, you have made a phenomenal amount of progress this month!

Heather said...

Beautiful progress Jo I love the letters :)

Thoeria said...

Gorgeous projects Jo. I had no idea that you did all these lovelies in-hand! I'm even more impressed now! I occasionally do that when I have a particularly tricky bit that I'm trying but for the most parts I feel like I'm doing something wrong if I don't have my work in a hoop!

Unknown said...

Your stitching is amazing!!!!! Love the Nora Corbett Letters, just beautiful!!!!!!

Leonore Winterer said...

Oh my, you have been super busy this month! And so many great finishes as well, it's awesome to see them al in one place.
I didn't lnow you were stitching all in hand, that makes your accomplishments even greater! I sometimes stitch small pieces in hand, and I have to say it is not my favourite way of stitching at all...

Laura Nicole Heart and Soul said...

I am new to in hand stitching. I started that technique about a year ago. With the afghan fabric I am currently using, I love stitching in hand!

OhSewCrafty said...

Counting bats is so cute. I love the letter finishes, too. Lots of pretty projects!

ANGIE said...

Hi Jo, you have many lovely projects! Happy stitching!

Angela S said...

I love the colors in the Mulberry sampler, so soft and dreamy. And the Nora Corbett letters are amazing! E is my favorite as well, it must stand for "elegant." There are so many in hand stitchers, I never realized! It's really tempting me to try it, though I love stitching on taut fabric. Great progress this month!

Sarah in Stitches said...

Great job! All your stitching looks amazing. And congrats on all the finishes this month! :D

D1-D2 said...

So many finishes :o I agree that accessories are a waste of stash money. But sometimes they're too good to pass up.

Suz said...

Great progress - I can't imagine getting so much done! And I do really like how ornate your "E" is.

I have always been a bit jealous of in-hand stitchers - I've never been able to do it comfortably. And I guess I've just lucked out that I can keep my pieces on their Qs so I don't have to swap out between projects :)

Rachel said...

What a lot of stitching Jo and numerous finishes in there as well! If you keep up this pace all year you'll have no problem finishing everything you want to!! :)

Brigitte said...

Wow, stitching on seven of your projects , that is definitely a great amount of stitching for one month. Great job.
I'm also an in-hand stitcher, have always been. I once tried out hoops and Q-Snaps but have never found a method how to hold them and stitch - they were always in the way of my hands and my stitching. I feel completely comfortable holding my project in my hand. The only thing which is not always perfect is the tension. But I just stitch for me and sometimes gifts for friends, so ...

Sara said...

So many finishes!! Great progress this month:)