Sunday, December 18, 2022

Slow Sunday Stitching

Hi stitchers! Welcome to the weekly hand stitching party! It's time to rest for a few moments, to get out your needles and yarns and pretty threads, and add some stitches to your favourite project.


As I have mentioned previously, I have fallen into the rabbit hole of Flosstube. It's a fascinating international world of stitchers. 

I am learning so much, but the most important lesson I have learned from the videos is... the more WIPs you have, the better! I call them UFOs, but the Flosstube folks emphasize that all their projects are "in progress". I like that! I am totally inspired by the amount of projects these stitchers have on the go at all times and realized that I do not have enough UFOs/WIPs! These stitchers are clearly a bad (or good?) influence.

All of this to say - I started a new embroidery project!

This is a free pattern called "Family Portrait" created by Melisa at the Pinker n Punkin blog - click here to get the pattern. I have altered my version slightly and am enjoying stitching with a dark blue variegated DMC floss. I am using the Thread Potion from the Fat Quarter Spooky Box. This snow family block is part of a quilt that you can see here. All of the blocks are darling, but this one appealed to me the most.

I visited with a few stitching friends earlier in the month and want to share their amazing hand stitching projects with you. 


Here are Barb's hands stitching her adorable vintage embroidery cat  design. 





Here are Louise's hands crocheting a shawl for her daughter. The colour of this yarn is just delicious. (Notice her vintage Simplicity tin on the top left of the photo?!)




These are Debbie's hands finishing a quilt-as-you-go tshirt quilt to be gifted to a friend whose Mother has died. The quilt is made using the Mom's shirts from her years of volunteering. Truly a very special Christmas gift!



And these are the hands of my sister, who (sadly) dislikes hand stitching. I know it's shocking, but it's true. Her special talent is unstitching!

It's the last Sunday before Christmas so I know some of you are busy finishing hand made gifts. I didn't put any pressure on myself this year to make anything with a deadline. I just didn't want to stress myself out like I usually do (remember the knitted earbud pocket fiasco from 2017?!) So if you have some projects you can share with us this week, link up your photo, instagram or blog post below.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

19 comments:

Katie said...

Hi Kathy! I found your blog through my friend Gretchen and I'm linking up for the first time today :) I also discovered FlossTube a couple of years ago and have been hooked ever since. I love Lori Holt's channel - she is such a prolific stitcher of all sorts! And I cannot miss Nicola Parkman's videos. She is the founder of Hands Across the Sea Samplers and is such a sweet lady.

thanks for this linkup and happy stitching!

Kathy S. said...

I guess I side with the "cool kids" in the fact that I have so many WIPS. Just keep sewing!

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

Melisa's snowman embroidery designs are adorable - I bet you'll enjoy stitching that one! I spent an afternoon slow stitching with a friend last week, too. It's such a lovely way to spend some time. Have a wonderful Sunday, Kathy!

Kate said...

Very cute snow buddy you've got in the works. Enjoy your slow stitching time this week.

maggie fellow said...

I think you are my good/bad influence - I hope I don't get another one. haha cute snowman

CathieJ said...

I like all those wonderful photos of stitchers/unstitchers. I like the snow family that you are working on. I really love the vintage kitty that Barb is stitching. I hope you have a stress free week. Merry Christmas!

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

I love the stitching hands photography! Yes, Flosstube is awesome. One of the things these ladies emphasize because some do amount a lot of patterns, is the collecting part is also a hobby. And I like the way they corral each project to a certain day or month to work on so you don't feel badly things are not getting done.Taking that approach has made me feel better about my Hawk Run Hallow year huge piece.
Stitch on, Kathy!

The Cozy Quilter said...

So nice to get together with your friends for some hand stitching, or unstitching, in the case of your sister! I’m working at finishing some UFO’s but it is very hard to resist a new project or two or three!

Angela said...

Good for you to not put extra pressure on yourself! Christmas can be stressful enough.

Linda said...

I love the flake family, will add that to my stitching as the afghan is just about finished. Happy Stitching.

Rebecca Grace said...

I loved seeing the hands of all your slow stitching friends, Kathy! I kind of agree with the more-is-better philosophy, when it comes to these intensive projects that can become monotonous especially. Now that I finished that Jingle quilt (well, I'm in the process of binding that and another Christmas quilt so they are not 100% done yet) I am looking forward to switching gears back to my Whig Rose needle turn applique in January, and plotting the beginning of another hand stitching project or two in completely different style and colors. That way I can switch off between them whenever I lose interest. Of course it takes longer to get any one of them to the finish line that way, but finishing is way overrated! Merry Christmas to you and your family, and thank you for hosting this linky every week for us to enjoy. I always enjoy visiting, even when I don't have a hand stitching blog post of my own to link up.

Karrin Hurd said...

I love Louise's shawl and the tin! Hope you have Happy Holidays! I still have a few more gifts to finish. I have plenty of WIPs or UFO's.

Deanna W said...

It is great that at this busy time of year you were able to get together with some friends and get some stitching and I am sure chatting time in!!

AnnieO said...

How lovely to have stitching friends! My sister does some handwork when she absolutely has to, but there are always a lot of colorful euphemisms when she stabs herself! Makes me laugh!

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

OK Kathy! I am going to do the snowman someday and am downloading Bonnie Hunter's pattern. I think I will check into the Floss group you mentioned. Thx for the Squirrels, maybe later I will reward myself after 10 quilts are completed! LOL
Have a great week! Hugs

Andree G. Faubert said...

Hi Kathy, I'm glad that you had time to spend with some stitching friends. That's so important! Thanks for hosting my favourite party. I didn't get a chance to post an update on my Off the Grid Sampler so I linked up from Instagram! I'm still frantically FMQ my son's Version 2.0 quilt - it may get finished in the Christmas holidays. Take care.

Miaismine said...

I am checking out Flosstube as I visit blogs and yes! The various channels are wonderful!
Melissa is so sweet to share her cute snowmen patterns! I love stitching the Aunt Martha’s designs on tea towels. Barb’s stitching is so cute!
Lovely crocheted shawl by Louise as well!
How special is Debbie’s quilt?
I have a friend who also dislikes slow stitching, but she is an amazing quilter!
Take good care!


Kim said...

How lovely to gather with some friends and enjoy a little hand stitching. Perhaps your sister will learn to love it. Well, it's official, we can have as many projects in the works as we like. =) Your little snowman sure is cute.

Melisa- pinkernpunkinquilting said...

The Flosstube community certainly makes one feel guilt free to have all of the WIPS that you want. Lol. I am so honored that you are stitching the Family Portrait, Kathy. It is looking as cute as a button and the floss color that you chose is gorgeous. Thank you so much for stitching along with me and for the sweetest shout out. Merry Christmas.