CROSS STITCH DIARY: February Starts and Stops

As discussed last month, I pushed forward through end of January on my Christmas stitches. Unlike Halloween though, I decided to retain one Christmas project to continue plugging away while putting the rest up for now.

FINISH: December Truckin Along by Stitching with the Housewives

Stitched on 14ct Chalkboard Black aida with called for Classic Colorworks thread

This month’s Truckin Along is probably my favorie. I love working on every aspect including the challenging gingham trees despite my bad words at the time of stitching. The garland was so much fun! I was very surprised that I actually finished this one before the end of January.

FINISH: Mr. December, A Calendar Gnome, by Charlie’s Needle

Stitched on 14 ct Fabric Flair aqua with called for Classic Colorworks and DMC threads.

I am getting real good with this gingham pattern nowdays. This was my third project that had gingham. It looks good but I didn’t really like the pastel pink I used. When I step back though, it seems fine! I’ve been thinking about the next one I will start and I think I am going to skip all the way to Mr. March since February is almost half gone and is a short month.

December Projects Final Showing Before Tucking Away

At the end of January, the project that I kept out was Mr. December. I finished him last night so I will pull out one of these three to continue working on. The next closest one to being done is PineNeedles advent project.

Christmas Calendar by Tiny Modernist

Block 10 and 15 stitched on linen with DMC thread

End of January found me finishing block 15 HO HO HO and starting block 10 – two adorable elves/kids. This one has a very long way to go. It is fun doing each square. I finished block 25, 20, 15 and half of 10 before putting away.

Santa Baby Stitch Quarterly by Fat Quarter Shop

My last night’s work for Santa Baby which is stitched on 14ct minty pearlscent aida with DMC thread

Whew! This one is not very exciting. It is hard to get pumped up for this one. It is mostly red and white. I did some outlining which was helpful but I still found mistakes in my work. So I have improvised to make up for the mistakes. I was relieved to put this one away for awhile. I don’t think we will see this one until May or July.

PineNeedles.Com Advent Stitchalong

Stitched on 28 ct linen – a shade of gray – with DMC threads from stash

I actually enjoy stitching this one. It is fun and I can almost finish one whole square in a night. I find it fascinating how just a few stitches and colors turn into such distinguishable pictures.

I haven’t for sure decided to pull this one out after putting it away as I have so many in my rotation now that several of my series finally shipped and are started. Don’t be surprised if you see it next month and don’t be surprised if you don’t. LOL!

January Sampler of the Month by Country Cottage Needleworks

Stitched on 16 ct beige aida with called for threads – Classic Colorworks

I love love love this series, especially January. I love snowmen as much as I love pumpkins. Those bottom three rows just need to be reversed and stitched above the house. It actually is not to bad at all. I’m just slow.

I saw February’s and I can’t wait to start it assuming I finish this one before February is over!

January Cottage of the Month by Country Cottage Needleworks

Stitched on 28 ct Lambswool linen with called for threads – DMC and Classic Colorworks

I had to wait forever for the supplies to arrive for this one. Typically these cottages are fairly quick. I purchased the supplies for February already in anticipation of working on the February cottage. So far I have finished November and December.

I went ahead and ordered a frame that I believe will work for this project and have eyeballed it but I haven’t actually finished anything.

Snow Village by Country Cottage Needleworks

Stitched on 14 ct Fabric Flair snow with called for threads – DMC, Classic Colorworks, and Weeks Dye Works

Snow. Snowmen. What’s not to love about this project. I was thrilled to finish up my second shop in the village – Peppermint Parlor – last night. This is such a lovely fun project to stitch.

The Hot Chocolate Store is next! I’ve already started eyeballing it. This will be start three out of eleven patterns for this village. I can’t wait!

Winter Camper by Bobbie G Designs

Stitched on 14 ct white aida with called for DMC thread

Ugh! These snowmen are hard! There is three shades of blue and filled in with white. Somewhere along the way I screwed up and now I am trying NOT to rip out my stitches. I am getting very creative. This last week I decided I need to start the camper to see if I was going to HAVE to rip out the snowman. The left snowman looks right and good, but not so much “pinkie”. I almost dread working on this one now.

With that being said I bet you are not surprised that I sometimes push this to the end of the list.

Shabby Winter Calendar by Cuore E Batticuore

Stitched on 16 ct Whimsey aida with called for DMC threads

I am beyond grateful that I stopped working on the 32 ct whimsey linen with this project. It is a big project and it is nice to struggle with each little stitch. I am still working on block 2 and it is almost done. It will be some thrilling to have my first one done!

Prim Stitch Series by Lori Holt

Stitched on 25 ct Prim lugana with Aurifil threads

I didn’t realize it but I finished Stitch number 3. Where I need to catch up is with the border. I had to do some unstitching with this one because things were not matching up. I am now attempting to work all 3 colors on the border. While I am ready to start #4 square for this project, I don’t think I am ready to give up on the border yet. I really got in a grove with this one.

START: January Snapshot by Pine Mountain Designs

Stitched on 10 ct Oatmeal aida with FQS colors DMC threads

I have only gotten two nights in on this one since it arrived around the 30th of January. I’ve almost finished the center two blocks already. This is fast and fun! February arrived today. I really love this fun pattern!

START: February Truckin Along by Stitching with the Housewives

Stitching on 14 ct blackboard aida with Classic Colorworks called for thread

I originally had laid out the January Truckin Along but after I finally finished December, I spent a week hemming and hawwing whether to start January (which I love) or February. I went with February. Good choice!

It may not look like much, but I am feeling real good about this one except for the fact that I started sitching too far right. It will still work fine! It is nice to have at least one February project in the rotation each week.

Wrap Up

Simba enjoying this Quilty Box!

I have in my planner for this month to get supplies for a Winter Stitch from Whitehouse Stitching and one from Hands on Design called Let’s Talk Winter. I am now rethinking those thoughts as have way too many monthlies going on right now and spring is around the corner.

Speaking of Spring, I also have on my list to do a Final Finish for my Singing in the Rain to display in a few months. I’ve started looking around. At first I was thinking of maybe framing it, but I don’t really want to frame a seasonal stitch unless it’s like something I can swap out regularly such as Calendar Gnomes or Cottage of the Month.

With that kind of restriction on myself, that has me leaning towards a clipboard style finish either by mounting on stick board or making into a wall hanging. Over February, I will make a decision on how it will be finished so I can do that in March. Stay tuned folks!

That wraps up this month’s update on all things cross stitch! Hope you had some fun reading this. Until next time!

Peggy

2 thoughts on “CROSS STITCH DIARY: February Starts and Stops”

  1. Hi Peggy! All your projects are lovely and it has me itching to get back into cross stitch! And Simba is so cute filling up the Quilty box! Thanks for sharing the lovely update. ~smile~ Roseanne

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