It's the fabric I'm using which has put me off. I'd only ever used aida fabric before and this is 28 count linen and I've come to the conclusion that it just isn't for me. What's more, it's such a huge piece of fabric that I spend most of the time manhandling it to get in a good enough position to stitch. I've since used 28 count evenweave fabric when I stitched You Are So Loved for Eleanor and I really like that, it's much softer compared to the harshness of the linen.
Pulling out my Spice of Life blanket, which I wrote about in my Rip It Up And Start Again post, was liberating, I no longer had that nagging feeling knowing it was there waiting for me to work on, and I've been getting those same feelings with this Joyful World project so I've taken the decision to call it a day. There's other cross stitch projects which have caught my eye but I haven't wanted to start something new whilst this has been waiting for my attention.
I'd completed three months and had just started the border for April, so I'd only done a quarter of it. I should say that the charts were from The Snowflower Diaries blog and they're still available there. Perhaps I should have tackled each month separately, it wouldn't have seemed such a big undertaking then.
Life's too short to spend time on projects you're not totally committed to. I'm looking forward to giving some other cross stitch projects a go now, but I won't take on anything quite so big.
Understand the feeling, believe my eyes would be a mess trying to work on something that small. It's cute. What was the original intent? A wall hanging, pillow? Could you stitch some ADA cloth you want to work with beneath your three months done? Spring flowers perhaps for the ADA cloth? Or good bye winter and hello spring something so your 3 months would be like a header? I have some to many projects like that. Some I've re-purposed, some I've un-knitted, some are still just UFO. Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteSandy's Space
I use a magnifier when cross stitching so the size doesn't bother me, it's the size and harshness of the fabric really, I think I'd have been more eager to work on it if I'd perhaps chosen evenweave. I hadn't thought so far as to what it would become when finished, I like your idea of stitching the three months to another fabric but I think I'm just going to put this one down to experience and call it a day. There's lots of other designs I've seen which I'd like to have a go at.
DeleteI have not finished mine yet, but I am much further along, it will be looked at later in the year as the weather cools. I wanted to make it for my grandson, but mum was not keen on it.
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame as I think it would be lovely for your grandson, I really like the design. You can't have much left to finish, I remember you steaming along with it.
DeleteSome times it is best to cut our losses and move forward. Maybe one of your readers would be able to finish it? The little pictures are really sweet, particularly the ducks. Wishing you a lovely weekend. x
ReplyDeleteI couldn't resist starting it when I saw the design, it's so cute. I'll probably pack it away, who knows if I'll come back to it in the future, we'll see. I'm eager to start something new now, there's so many lovely charts out there, it's just deciding what to start first.
DeleteI ordered a kit to make two Mackintosh coasters to do for my granddaughter who is going off to uni in September.I hadn't realised they are 16 count not 14 and it is proving harder to do.Some of the threads are metallic so quite tricky.I shall plod on as it is a small project but yours is enormous and I would be daunted by it too.
ReplyDeleteI've got a small magnifier with a light which attaches to the frame and that makes it much easier to see the holes. I haven't tried metallic thread but I can imagine that it could be tricky to stitch with. I think it's lovely that you're making the coasters for your granddaughter to take to uni, I've made a few things for Eleanor over the past couple of years.
DeleteI so agree. Life is too short, to continue with any project, which is not making us happy. I don't sew, but it applies to reading, etc.
ReplyDeleteA 'Nana'
I agree, it does apply to other things in life too. It's taken me a long time to realise this instead of persevering and continuing with something I'm not enjoying.
Delete"Life's too short to spend time on projects you're not totally committed to"
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you, give it a good go but sometimes it's just best to turn your time and attention to other things.
All the best Jan
There's plenty of other things which I know I'll enjoy more than plodding on with this project so it's definitely time to pull the plug.
DeleteI agree, Jo. If you're not enjoying what is meant to be a fun thing to do, why do it? I hope you manage to find something else to cross stitch that you will enjoy doing. :o)
ReplyDeleteI think this was too big a project. Perhaps I'd have stuck with it if I liked the fabric more but I'll find something else to cross stitch which, I'm sure, I'll enjoy more.
DeleteI know what you mean - sometimes you feel as if you "have to" complete a project, simply because of how much time you have already invested in it. Letting go can be hard to do but once done, is very liberating.
ReplyDeleteIt's so annoying when you have a project awaiting attention, it's as though it was calling to me every time I noticed it so I feel as though I've been set free now that I've made this decision. I'm looking forward to choosing a new cross stitch project to work on.
DeleteI'm the same. If it's not working out, leave it and move on. Crafting is supposed to be fun. And you can still use the months you did finish for other projects, they are too beautiful to stay in the cupboard.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
I think I will use the completed months for something, I was just going to discard it altogether but it makes sense to make them into something.
DeleteIf you are not enjoying it, don't do it. They would make beautiful individual pictures for birthdays or such if you have any in those months, they are spectacular!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea, I shall have to put my thinking cap on. It's such a lovely design, it's a shame I'm not finishing it but it doesn't seem quite so bad if I use the months I've already done.
DeleteWhat you've done so far looks great, it would be a shame to rip that up. You'll have to find somewhere to use it. My eyes go all squiffy doing cross stitch these days!
ReplyDeleteI think I will use what I've already done. The prescription for my glasses changes every time I have a test as my eyesight gets gradually worse, I have to use a magnifier when cross stitching otherwise I wouldn't be able to see a thing.
DeleteSometimes large can be overwhelming & also the 28 count fabric would do my eyes, though that's never been hard anyway. You could gift it to a charity shop & somebody may finish it or cut up & frame them individually. Just a thought. You need to want to be enthusiastic about what you do, then they are completed at some point & you can enjoy. Take care.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, I think the size has overwhelmed me. I don't mind the 28 count fabric, I just use a magnifier clipped to the frame which really helps. I think I may make the three months into something, I'm not sure what yet, but they'd be nice to keep as they're such lovely designs.
DeleteTotally agree, free time is for doing things you love and enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThere's so many projects I want to have a go at, it feels silly to make myself finish something I'm not enjoying.
DeleteIsn't there a wonderful feeling of relief once you have made the decision to admit defeat? I felt like that when I gave up on my Mrs Billings quilt
ReplyDeleteThere is. I don't know why we put ourselves through it, I suppose I feel a bit defeated to give up on something but it's a relief once I do.
DeleteIt's always a good feeling once a decision has been made, there is nothing worse than that nagging feeling. A shame though as what you have done really is lovely.xxx
ReplyDeleteI love the design, it's just the stitching on the fabric that I chose which hasn't gone to plan. Perhaps I'll come back to the design again at some point in the future.
DeleteOnce you fall out of love with a piece of work and it becomes a struggle to work up the enthusiasm then it's got to go!
ReplyDeleteLisa x
I'd rather spend my time on something I really want to work on, though I still love this design.
Delete