Project Cross Stitch: The Roadblock

It's admittedly been almost a month since I've updated on my little cross stitch project. And I confess: I hit a major wall. It got really hard, and as a result, I got pretty discouraged. There's something about progress I'm discovering... when you can see it, it's inspiring; when you can't, it gets you down.

Up until this point, the progress I've made has been very visible. The pattern has taken shape, the colors have popped, and things began to come together. Once the major, bright colors and the defining outline were complete, the remaining thread options were endless shades of similar colors. I didn't even know where to start. After I completed the goldenrod yellow (which you can see above), I decided to tackle the dark, dark brown. This was a mistake. Why? Because it was almost impossible to discern it from the black outline, which made it incredibly difficult to track what I had done and what I hadn't.

Hobby fatigue inevitably set in.




It got me a bit overwhelmed, so I took a step away from it for awhile. I felt like I couldn't not finish the dark dark brown, since I had decided to start it. The longer I stayed away from it, the more I wanted to avoid it. Now, I realize that in order to pick this up again, I need to stop that color and go with a different one—something distinct and something contrasting. A small break might also have been the thing I really needed. So long as it remained only a "small break"... not an never-ending hiatus.

I do that a lot. Leave projects and never pick them up again. There's a travel journal I started while in Scotland 5 years ago that I got halfway through and never finished. I'm still delusional enough to think maybe I'll be able to pick it up again, like the time away didn't matter.

On this cross stitch, here's just so much more to be done, and even that isn't what daunts me most. It really comes down to trying to decipher the pattern, which is a maze of varying symbols that are frankly INSANE to navigate. It makes my eyes blur to stare at it, especially when trying to find a single symbol in a sea of others.



Aren't your eyes swimming, too? And that's just one of fifteen pages.

So I post this here today to kick my own butt for letting myself ignore this little project so long—and again, to hold myself accountable, as promised. This week, going into the Thanksgiving holiday, I'm bound to find some quiet time with nothing to do but sew. I'll also be staying with my mama, who is an expert cross stitcher, and I know that if anyone can get me back in the saddle, it's her. She might also have some advice for how to keep a clear head when counting stitches until your eyes cross. :)

What about you guys? How are you all doing on your hobby projects, if you're working on any at all? Did you hit any walls, like I did? Or have you finished and moved onto your next big thing?

I've certainly missed sewing. Time for a resurgence!

Project Cross Stitch: The Skin

I realize it's been two weeks since my last update on this project. The reason being... it was kind of hard to post a picture and really see a difference.

I began working on the face, which is a barely visible white. I predicted I could pound through it and move on to more vibrant colors in less than a week, but that turned out to not be the case. Thankfully, two weeks turned out to be enough time, and I'm happy to say she's feeling significantly more complete. The skin (the face and neck) was a large chunk of what I have left to do, and I knew I didn't want to wait until the end to tackle it.

I also managed to sneak a new color in there (some canary yellow), which is only a fraction done in this update.

A little note about finding mistakes: There were several stitches I came across while stitching the white that were... let's just say "f*cked up," for lack of a better phrase. Moments of panic and then denial and then acceptance would set in. How the hell am I going to undo all of this?!? I'd stammer. Nope, not gonna, nope, and then inevitably... Ugh, fine.

It's difficult to accept you made stupid mistakes, but alas, there is no doubt you will at some point in your project. You have two options: (1) set aside time to do a bit of back-tracking, undoing, and re-doing in order to make it picture perfect, or (2) embrace the mistake as an acceptable blemish on your work, leave it be, and move on.

For me, I'm finding that I can do both. Trying a new hobby means navigating that learning curve, yes, but it also means figuring out within yourself exactly what "end product" is acceptable to you. And I realize now, over these last few months of stitching that I am no perfectionist. In fact, I can get over mistakes pretty easily (once I stop berating myself for doing it in the first place), and embrace that final cross stitched picture may be a tad flawed.

When you can avoid getting discouraged, it certainly makes it easier to keep that hobby going strong.

Project Cross Stitch: Red & Teal

Now that this cross stitch is moving away from showcasing any one section, but rather highlighting with new and vibrant colors, I'm trying to complete (at least) two of the 48 remaining colors per week.

This week: Red and Teal.

These two colors are significant stand-outs in the final cross stitch, so I was immediately drawn to them. It's so lovely seeing a spattering of color in there—the little filigrees in her hair are taking shape. It's daunting to think about the expanse of browns that will work their way into the hair down the line... I may have to put those off for the time being. Maybe a bit too boring right now? The blues and yellows and reds are just more fun!

Though you might be able to see that I started working on her face this weekend (which is, of course, a barely visible white), filled in only above the eye so far. The white consists of a large number of stitches, and may take a full week (or two) to complete. But I hope to power through it quickly, even though my sewing arm is a bit sore these days (more on that tomorrow!)

Even though filling in the color is bringing to light some previous mistakes (like the 30+ black stitches I had to take out and redo because they were off by one row), it's teaching me to suck it up, get over my annoyance at myself—then work my hardest to fix them.

Thanks for checking in on this humble weekly update!

Project Cross Stitch: The Crown

There were plenty of late nights this past week/weekend, and I spent quite a bit of that time trying to keep my promise from last week to make sure some color found its way into this cross stitch.

On Friday night, I completed the full black outline, which consists of easily 8x more stitches than even the next most used color (which happens to be white). I immediately snagged a few pictures (see below), because I knew that by adding color, it would change the entire piece. Like a tattoo, there's a beauty to the basic black/gray outlines, and part of me felt the merest satisfaction that she was "done," as is. No color needed.

But of course, that just wouldn't suffice. I'm in this for the long haul, and for my first color, I knew it had to be the one that offered the most contrast. And this bright, ruby red, certainly does that! There will be more red spattered throughout the hair and the decorative rose. My plan is to tackle one color at a time—rather than trying to complete a specific area. It all should move a lot more quickly now, since counting stitches won't be as time consuming, or for that matter, risky. It's amazing the extreme delays being off by one stitch can create.

How about you? Are you working on any of your own projects? Are they coming along the way you'd like? I'd love to know!

Black/Blue Outline Completed:

Project Cross Stitch: The Hair (part 3)

A busy weekend means all my updates come out in one fell swoop. After road tripping to the San Francisco Bay Area for my 10-year high school reunion, I'm looking forward to some detox time at home this week. And guys, I am this close to being able to start stitching in another color on my cross stitch project!

I think that color needs to be vibrant. Maybe red. Or bluuuue. Something—anything other than black. Although the feeling of accomplishment that will wash over me when that final black thread is stitched... Pretty epic.

As the stitching fabric gets softer and more pliable, the embroidery hoop impressions are beginning to fade. The wrinkles are flattening, and I get to see what she's really going to look like. And I may or may not have scrolled through the shop where I found it to decide on the next piece I'd like to tackle.

But one thing at a time. Next week, I promise there'll be some color to share.

Project Cross Stitch: The Profile

A quick update today to show off the epic progress I made on my cross stitch. A quiet week with nights curled up in front of the TV really paid off. Just look at how this beauty is turning out? The scissors were added for perspective, because you guys, she is huge!

It's funny to me that something I haven't done in years has brought me so much enjoyment. We really underestimate the importance of our hobbies the older we get, don't we? No? Maybe just me? Well then, I'm happy to report that my eyes are open.

When this project first started, I felt instantly overwhelmed -- and more than a little silly for investing money in a craft I wasn't even sure I could do. But now, looking at how this cross stitch is turning out, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't proud of myself. The stitching isn't flawless, and there have been innumerable mistakes along the way, with plenty of backtracking and stitching to pull out and re-do.

But I did this. I made this with my own hands. And coming from someone who isn't the most crafty person in the world, that's saying something.

I hope that whatever project you're working on, it's going well -- and if you're discouraged about it, don't be! Pick it back up and power through, because it's worth it to accomplish something just for you, no matter how small.

Happy Saturday!

Project Cross Stitch: The Hair (part 2)

This is what happens when the boyfriend goes out of town for a week-long conference. Major cross stitching is accomplished while simultaneously catching up on weeks of "Daily Show" and "Colbert Report."

If possible, try to ignore the crop circle imprints. Remember last week, when I mentioned I was working on the hair? I know, I know, it didn't look much like hair then. Well what about now? You see what I was getting at? It's so flowing and purdy, and clear outlines of what will soon be very colorful paisley flowers can be seen, as well.

I'm oh-so desperately close to being able to pull out another color and add some flair to this sucker. The progress is moving upwards on the left side and it's becoming increasingly more difficult to plan the stitching path. As a novice, I don't really have a strategy, but I'm pretty comfortable wigging it at this point -- and am also sure that the back of the cross stitch isn't supposed to look like such a clusterf***, which is does (purposefully not pictured).

But all that matters is the front, am I right? I thought so.

Project Cross Stitch: The Hair

You may have noticed I didn't post a status update last week for my little hobby project. Reason being that I didn't make much progress on it in week 3. Visiting my family for the long weekend didn't allow for much sitting around time, even though I brought it with the intention of doing just that.

I did, however, receive a very useful tool from my mother: a round sewing hoop. Boy, has it made this whole thing a heckuva lot easier! Once I returned home and embarked on week 4 of the cross stitch, I really managed to get a lot done.

As you can see, the hoop has really made its mark. No worries though, a little flattening at the end and it'll look good as new.

I'm also finding that I clutch the fabric, which makes it a bit wrinkly. The dimensions are pretty large, so whatever isn't inside the hoop needs to be folded down. Not terrible, but it makes getting a good picture difficult.

So... what do you think? That bottom section is coming together and showing off just a little bit of a hair flip. I love that you can see the tiny nooks where the pops of color are going to go -- I'm just eager to get there.