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Sunday 29 April 2018

April WIPocalypse Oldest WIP

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.  For me, this will be my "18 in '18".  Many of them are part of SALs so I will be working on them each month.

This month I have stitched on 8 of the 18 projects!

1. Bande des Dragons by Dessins DHC:

stitched on 14 count aida from Hell

2. Enchanted Alphabet by Lavender & Lace:

stitched on 32 count Tiger Lily by Sparklies

3. Gardens of London by Chatelaine:

stitched on 32 count Cotton Clouds Belfast by Crafty Kitten

4. Zodiac by Donna Kooler:

stitched on 32 count Millenium Blue linen

5. Happy Hallowe'en Night by Jardin Prive:

stitched on 32 count Cognac linen

6. 12 Days of Christmas by Just Nan:

stitched on 32 count Vintage Grain linen

7. Alice and Flamingo by Mrs Peggotty:

stitched over 1 on 25 count blue evenweave

8. Diamond Bouquet by Just Nan:

stitched on 28 count lilac evenweave


Measi always sets us a discussion topic:

April - Talk to us about your longest-running WIP or UFO

When I read the topics at the start of the year I knew which piece I had to include in April's stitching, one of the oldest WIPs I have.  I have 11 projects which could come under the heading UFO.  All started prior to 2015 and only worked on recently during my Longest Day SAL for 20 minutes.  I have decided to pick one a year to focus on and actually finish them.

This year's choice was Bande des Dragons by Dessins DHC, here is the cover photo that I fell in love with back in 2001:


An alphabet and dragons, what's not to love?  Answer - the fabric.  I bought some 14 count aida and some variegated Anchor threads, a gorgeous dark red (1206) at 50p a skein from my LNS.  Price has doubled in the last 17 years.

The aida is awful; hard, scratchy and coated with something weird.  I struggled on, getting a friction burn on my wrist and complaining all the time.  Last time I moaned about the piece Christine had the brilliant idea of finishing the part of the border I was doing and calling that a finish.  Which is what I have done.

So this is it:


The plan is to cut off the top border, find a round wooden box with a circumference of 14 inches and make it into a useful box with a dragon border.  The letters I will cut out individually and make cards.

Then I can start again on some gorgeous fabric and not feel guilty for abandoning this quarter-finished.


Finally, busy preparing for Maynia and the Just Nan-athon!






15 comments:

Linda said...

Nice progress on all of your projects Jo.

Linda

Katie said...

Great update. Lots of beautiful stitching. Love the idea on how to fix the problem with the Bande des Dragons piece. Good luck!

Rachel said...

I love reading WIPocalypse round ups, even more so when there's a finish! Great idea to call it quits and restart a lovely design on better fabric. What a difference a few years of stitching knowledge can make. :)

Christine said...

Great to see band of dragons getting some love

Mary - Lecoeurceltique said...

I know what you mean about using Aida. I started a kit about a year ago and gave up on it because the Aida was too stiff and rough. Starting again on better fabric will be good as Band of Dragons is a lovely design.

Justine said...

I hope you'll stitch the Band of Dragons again - it's gorgeous! Think of the Anchor as an investment...
How many starts are you doing for Maynia??!!!!

Lady Stitch-a-Lot said...

Lovely work on your stitching, you seem to have the most beautiful 12 Days of Christmas patterns to show ;-)

I also don't like working on Aida that much, it is often so stiff that I have trouble getting it on my scroll frame. I noticed that washing the fabric helps a bit, at least I can mount is on my scroll rods then. But I think you found a great solution for the dragons band =)

Barb said...

Being a stitch on one of a kind stitcher, I do love seeing all your beautiful projects. Sounds like a good solution to the one with the fabric you don't like. It does have a very pretty design but you have to like what you are stitching.

Kaisievic said...

Great solution to Bande des Dragons - sometimes you just have to let a project go. At least this way you have salvaged something.

diamondc said...

Jo: band of dragons is a beautiful design, eight out of eighteen, hoe do you do it, my mind would explode, I am envious, I love seeing your progress.
Thank you for sharing your progress.

Blessings
Catherine

Carol said...

Oh, fabric can make SUCH a difference in our enjoyment of a project, can't it, Jo? Loved seeing your many updates--good job on all :)

Kali said...

Lovely progress, and oh my all the participants for Maynia are leaving me a bit jealous. I do not trust myself to start that many things when I have so many going that I want to finish and there are already 2 more mounted to stitch

Julie said...

Great idea of Christines. I've stitched on some of that type of aida before too, it's no fun.

Michelle Garrette said...

Haha. I thought I was reading “14 count Aida from Hell” incorrectly. But I wasn’t. What a brilliant idea to use the band on a box. You could make a drum too!

Leonore Winterer said...

Great progress this month! I am glad the Dragon dilemma is coming to a happy end - they do deserve a new start on an actual enjoyable fabric!