We have reached the last Friday of the Summer. So hard to believe we are here already. I feel like the summer just flew by! I didn’t really DO anything all summer. My summer was spent settling in to my new home and selling the old one. My San Jose home finally closed last friday. (Yea!!!) I still have one more home to sell in San Jose and I hope to sell it before year end. Hopefully ya’ll have done something way more fun this summer!
September and Ocotber will be making up for being a homebody all summer. First trip is quickly approaching and I can’t wait to see all my friends in person as we attend the Zephyr Cove quilt retreat on Lake Tahoe.
Moving on to stitchy things!
Starts & Finishes
Just one!
START & FINISH: April Square Dance by Heart in Hand
I liked that April was something different. All these super cute carrots 🥕 scattered about. Love it.
I don’t know if you remember, but I have chosen to do the monthly square dance charts as one large piece. I finally decided to go with 3 x 4 layout. I think it is going to look fabulous!
WIP Updates
I kinda sorta followed the plan from last week but went a little off the reservation. 😜. No worries though . I am totally on track for the month of August.
August WIPGO Project 15: 2025 SJ Temperature Moon 🌖 Phases by Climbing Goat Designs
Wow! Why I hate how much time it takes me to stitch my 2 1/2 moons each night, I am loving the progress. I am totally going to hit my WIPGO goal of finishing through May 31st. So excited to see this moving forward!
Spring Baskets #2 by Hands on Design
It doesn’t look like much, but that is actually all of the top left corner and the start of the bottom left corner. Sweet progress!
March 2 March Barn by Stitching with the Housewives
It’s hard to believe that is 400+ stitches. It doesn’t look like much. The letters are pretty dense. I must say that the tulips are fun to stitch. Love the colors that were picked (CCW Ripe Melon and Shrimp)
Patriotic Quaker by Primrose Cottage Stitches
I think I would be totally happy working on this one for several days in a row. Alas, that is not on my calendar for this month. I got the start at the end of July (because it is always easier to pick up something started). I decided, I will keep this in the rotation until I finish Patriotic Tiny Town which should be soon. I can’t wait to start one of the fall tiny towns (maybe I will do both!)
Patriotic Tiny Town by Heart in Hand
I had decided to work on this one twice this month, and this is the result of my second time. I was able to finish the flag, start house, and the pinwheel “flowers”. Such a fun stitch. I usually keep stitching Tiny Towns until they are done. I am over halfway already. So excited!
May WIPGO Project 19: Winter Camper by Bobbie G Designs
Still plugging away on this WIPGO project from May. It popped just a couple of weeks after the physical move to Washington State so I didn’t even find this project until end of May. The original goal was to work on it 5 times during the month. After this month, I only have 2 times left. I made a ton of progress this month. I have almost completed the camper.
Crescent City Velaris by Woven Wild Crafts
I am only 300+ stitches away to finishing my first of 30 pages for this project that I am starting for my daughter Caitlin. There is a total of 3 of these and Caitlin is working on the “red” version (I think it is called FireHeart). Last time I checked with her she was finishing up page 2. I am down to only 2 colors so it will get easier once there is only one.
September WIPGO Projects
Numbers were drawn last weekend. I wanted to share with you my projects.
Project 14: October Calendar Crates by Stitching with the Housewives
Project 14 was Calendar Crates. My current month is October. I am totally thrilled to be working on a Halloween project this month and made my goal to be 2000 stitches. While I would have loved to have said finish it, I have over 3700 stitches left and I just don’t stitch that fast. I am loving the colors that Priscilla picked for this one. Purple is always a welcome choice in my book.
Project 18: Stitch Quarterly by Fat Quarter Shop
I actually did not have any backlog of stitch quarterly WIP projects so this will be a new start for me. I pulled out my fall stitch quarterly projects for September starts. I decided that the first ever stitch quarterly would be my WIPGO project this month. It is simple (and kind of boring with only 3 colors), yet I decided it would be good. When isn’t a sunflower 🌻 not a good idea. The WIPGO goal is once again 2000 stitches.
Where is 2000 stitches coming from? I stitch approximately 400 stitches per night. Before my app, my WIPGO projects would be to work on them 5 times in the month so 400 x 5 =2,000 .
Reflections & Plans
One could say that about fold marks as well. I do use a hoop, but I take my project out of the hoop every night. Mostly because I don’t normally stitch on the same project multiple nights in a row, but also it is easier to store without the hoop. I use to stitch in hand. I stopped doing that as I am faster in a hoop (or qsnap). I have considered getting a scroll set, but once again since I switch out projects often, not sure it will really work for me. All you monogamous stitchers really have it made.
Pateron
How many of you are on Pateron? It is a place for creatives to share. Many designers are on the platform. There is a free 🆓 level and some of the creators I follow, that is where I stay. Recently I upgraded my levels on a few of the creators so I could get free goodies. One creator has Tier 1 – 4. (1 is usually free).
I am really enjoying being a Tier 3 with Chantelle’s 141 Designs. Last Sunday we did our first Mystery Draw. I forget what exactly she calls it, but you buy a “pull” for $5. I bought 5 “tickets/pulls” and walked away with some sweet swag that I am anxiously awaiting in the mail.
The other person I have signed up for a small fee is Hello Liz Matthews and have been receiving her free chart each month since last year. My House on Pumpkin Hill was one from last fall.
Other Free Stuff
I have also signed up for Primrose Cottages newsletter where once a month I receive a free small cross stitch chart as well as a small quilt pattern. I am truly enjoying these freebies. Check it out.
Next Week’s Plans
I haven’t really focused on what I want to do for September, I will put some thought into this while I am writing my To Do list to finish off August:
- Start Snowman Collector #4 : The Postman
- Start Stitching Quaker from Primrose Cottage (I bought the Stitching series and will be starting with this one)
- Start Calendar Gnome: Mr. April
- Finish off 2025 SJ Temperature Moon 🌖 Phases for May!!!
To start off September, I looked real quick and I am thinking:
- Continue with 2025 SJ Temperature Moon 🌙 Phases. Let’s start with 2 moons and see how it goes. Theoretically that would mean fininish June & July in September. Pretty ambitious considering my WIPGO projects
- 400 stitches on October Calendar Crates
- Start Home Grown
- Work on Patriotic Tiny Town
- Start Chill for my Friendstitch Virtual retreat
That should keep me plenty busy! Everyone enjoy your weekend. It is Labor Day weekend here in the states. I am cat sitting while my daughter and her husband are in Alaska camping. 🏕️
Keep on Stitching ❌🪡
Peggy Stockwell in Vancouver, Washington