Welcome to 2026! I finished off December 31st trying to make it through my December goal list. Unfortunately, while I worked on EVERY project left, I did NOT make my goals. So I focused on my December WIPGO projects as that is the whole reason to have WIPGO projects. Total win there!
2025 Project Recap
- WIPs as of January 1st = 21
- Starts = 52
- Finishes = 39
- WIPs as of December 31st = 34
- View WIP list/gallery here
- Zero Final Finishes (FFO)
I thought about doing a post for 2025 ending / 2026 beginning WIPs but decided that instead I would create a page for it instead. You can visit the page anytime view the top menu. I did mention I was going to shake things up this year right?
Starts & Finishes
I had so many new starts working through my list this past week. I wanted to have all these Christmas starts ready for this year. It just seems so much easier to pick up a project than to start one. I had just one finish this week.
START & FINISH: June Monthly Square Dance by Heart in Hand
I was pleased to finish this one the same night I started. I don’t know what there is about popsicles. I just couldn’t put it down once I started. I am doing a 3 x 4 banner. I am enjoying the look so far. I had to order some floss for the next 3 – July, August, September.
START: Pointsetta Pageant by Hands on Design
I ended up spending a bit of time uploading and setting up this chart in Markup R-XP. I decided to stitch on 16 ct shadow. I think it is going to look great. This is one of the ornaments from Chantelle’s 141 Designs 2025 Mystery Ornaments. I picked two of the five to start. This was number 1.
START: Giver by Teresa Kogut
I had originally picked a pink fabric but ended up swapping it out at the last minute for this “wheat” color. I had to substitute a couple of colors with what was on hand. This is the other chart I choose to start from the 2025 Mystery Ornaments.
START: December Calendar Crates (small) by Stitching with the Housewives
I had orignally planning to finish this one. Time was against me so I was only able to start it. My intentions were good.
START: December Stackables by It’s Sew Emma
Just wanted to get some thread on my fabric. This is one of two left from my Stackables Series that I have been working on. As you can tell I started the present and I am stitching on pineboard white marble. I can’t even tell. Almost feel like it is a waste to use. No matter. They have all looked fantastic.
START: December Month 2 Month button by Stitching with the Housewives
I had to search my stash for some white fabric. I cut up the last of plain white that I had into the two pieces needed for December and the two needed for April. While organizing my fabric stash, I discovered some gingham white/gray fabric flair fabric (a lot of it). I think I may have originally bought it for this series and then forgot 🙄. I think I will be switching to this fabric once I finish the white I have.
I didn’t want to stop working on this. These trees are addictive!
DEC WIPGO START: Spring Basket #3 by Hands on Design
My objective was to get the final chart started. I succeeded. This will definitely be finished in 2026. Love these colors!!!
FFO Update
I want to start this section off with a partially done FFO I discovered this week in my sewing studio. Technically I knew it was there…. But I forgot.
Let’s Talk Autumn Pillow (medium chart) by Hands on Design
I finished the actually stitching this 3 chart series in 2023. I know I started on finishing this back in 2024 before I started packing to move in 2025. I re-read the directions yesterday as well as picking my fabrics for this future pillow. I hope I can find the 4 inch hoop I purchased for the small chart. I know I never got the 8×10 frame for the largest chart, so that’s on the need to buy list. I look forward to sharing a finish with you this month.
WIP Updates
In the rush to touch all my active WIPs this month, I had a lot left to work on as well as all the new starts. I ended up having a mini marathon on New Year’s Eve to make this happen. No stitching for that whole unplanned week in San Jose totally sabotaged me for the month. Despite that, I got pretty darn close to finishing up my goals.
Fruit of Plenty by Modern Folk Embroidery
I love working on this project. I had to make a decision on what year to stitch this week. Since I am such a slow stitcher and I have one and half pages left to stitch, I opted to use the start year (versus the finish year) for my sampler. I see myself stitching my initials and year in backstitch when I am all done along one edge.
Snowman Collector: Mr. Postman by Cottage Garden Samplings
I love snowmen so this project is always fun to work with. I am enjoying the Valentine vibe I get when I work on this one. It was interesting to work on his leg and bicycle.
MAY WIPGO Project: Winter Camper by Bobbie G Designs
Despite my dread to work on this project, I forced myself to finally finish the goal on this one. It is actually starting to get a little easier as I am filling in areas on the trailer. Since it is winter, this one will be staying out to work on in January.
Crescent City Velaris by Woven Wild Crafts
I am going to totally mess up Caitlin on this one. I opted to work down versus over for my next page. This she will probably find totally irritating. LOL! Who knows, I have been known to go down and over in other projects on a whim. I was just following a color swatch which is how this happened. Not as many stitches as I wanted. Forward progress anyway.
2025 SJ Temp Moon Phases by Climbing Goat Designs
Another one that is off the rails. I did so good the last couple of years. I am giving myself some compassion and grace due to the move. It sure has derailed my motivation for this project and my Monthly Square Dance. I put in only 30 minutes. I refused to skip it. January this is one of my WIPGO projects with a plan to finish July and August which means 2 moons a day. While I know I can do it, it is work.
Fieldguide to Dragons by Climbing Goat Designs
Love the colors of this. Obviously, I don’t think dragons should be green (not my favorite color). At least these greens are fun. Once again I only got about 30 minutes on it and once again I was happy to touch it at least.
Pop of Christmas by Bent Creek
New Year’s Day, I pulled almost every Christmas project to put back in the closet. This is one I kept out. I ended up working on things in the sewing studio so by the time I finished dinner, it was well into the evening. I still needed to go for my walk. I only got 375 stitches on it last night. I am determined to finish it this week so it is staying out.
This project is stitched on a very stiff 20 ct linen with 1 strand of DMC pearl cotton over 2. I use a 24 needle and seems just fine. I was having issues knowing where the top and bottom were until I finally stitched the little gingerbread guy. The kit comes with the pearl cotton. It doesn’t say what size of pearl cotton but I think it is 5. I don’t think it is 10 which I remember being much finer thread and it is not nearly as thick as a 3.
December WIPGO results
Reached all goals!!!!!
Project 1: Snow Village by Country Cottage Needleworks
Thankfully I finished this one up earlier in the year. Since I had so many new starts, I did not replace it with any other projects. (Thank goodness!)
Project 13: Triple Play Pillows: Spring Baskets by Hands on Design
Very productive month on this project. I have set myself up with a finish this spring. Love the colors! It felt good finishing that second chart and then starting the third.
Project 25: Fabulous Houses: Santa’s House by Cottage Garden Samplings
It was nice to added all the details to this beautiful house. The reindeer and sleigh are defintely a nice touch. There are other small details that were added to enhance this piece including the border. I am looking forward to starting the Castle in January.
Plans & Reflections
This post seems to be going on forever. So while I have more to share we are going to cut it off. I did received several orders from 123 Stitch so I could do this week’s starts as well as some January’s. Until I start kitting, I won’t know if I am still missing stuff.
Plans for this week
I have not even started planning in detail. I have general ideas jotted down so the only things I know for sure I will be working on are:
- Finishing Pop of Christmas
- Penguin Advent Stitch A Long
- 2025 SJ Moon Phases
- Shabby Winter Calendar
- and maybe Prairie Schooler Santa 2011
I am in the process of kitting my projects from Friendstitch Winter Gatherings (there are a lot of them) as well as my 2026 temperature stitch from Climbing Goat Designs (Solar System) and prepping for her annual stitch a long that begins on January 15th (Ocean). I have the fabric and have on order what I think I am missing.
Have a great weekend. If you are on the West Coast of North America, stay dry!
Happy Stitching,
Peggy Stockwell in Vancouver, Washington