Kitting Up

There are those stitchers who love planning new projects. Picking a pattern, selecting fabric, organizing threads. In fact some love it so much that they have several to dozens of projects bags ready to start at a moments notice. (I know this because I have been known to watch what are called “stash dives” on various Flosstube YouTube channels). 

I am neither so organized nor spendthrift. The idea of matching everything up does appeal. But what if I need that thread for another project? Or the fabric better suits a pattern that is newer, shinier? Not fickle, you understand but rather knowing myself all too well.  When something is organized in a bag, not started, it fades from my awareness relegated to less than important. It isn’t new and shiny anymore. There might just be something more interesting to place in the active project bin.

Why am I fussing about all of this? Because I finished “Dreaming Frida” by Barbara Ana yesterday afternoon

Dreaming Frida

Stitched on 16 ct orphan hand dyed Aida (from MyVintageNeedleArts_

and stitched in the called for threads. The pattern came from CreativePoppy and was a three part SAL which started 1 April.

So then, I could revert to the rest of the SALs (Stitch-a-longs) that are underway. Or I could start the new Barbara Ana SAL – Dreaming Garden. Note the theme going here? Which takes me to kitting up projects. Since this is a PDF downloaded pattern that this particular seller insists on password projecting, I haven’t been able to upload it to Pattern Keeper thus having to print and work off hard copy. (Note – same issue for other PDF readers.)  Since there was thread left from the last, I could grab the 3-4 colors that overlapped. Then I went on a thread hunt (three places to search) followed by a fabric search. An hour later, I was all set. The twelve colors pulled and a piece of 18 ct Sunshine from the same dyer as above.  The pattern is smaller than 90×90 so I didn’t want to take a chunk out of a large piece. After all, I might need it some day….. right. 

And absolutely no way to reclaim that hour of search & destroy find that I spent neither stitching nor organizing. I just do not get joy out of this kind of getting ready, putting things together. My joy comes from progress, not preparation.

Dreaming Garden

 

That little bit? Most, but not all of the lower first page. Deceptive – with an estimate of at least 600 stitches it that little bit coupled with a lot of color changes (9/12 included in just this section). 

when I started getting punchy, it was time for bed.

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About Holly

fiber person - knitter, spinner, weaver who spent 33 years being a military officer to fund the above. And home. And family. Sewing and quilting projects are also in the stash. After living again in Heidelberg after retiring (finally) from the U.S. Army May 2011, we moved to the US ~ Dec 2015. Something about being over 65 and access to health care. It also might have had to do with finding a buyer for our house. Allegedly this will provide me a home base in the same country as our four adult children, all of whom I adore, so that I can drive them totally insane. Considerations of time to knit down the stash…(right, and if you believe that…) and spin and .... There is now actually enough time to do a bit of consulting, editing. Even more amazing - we have only one household again. As long as everyone understands that I still, 40 years into our marriage, don't do kitchens or bathrooms. For that matter, not being a golden retriever, I don't do slippers or newspapers either. I don’t miss either the military or full-time clinical practice. Limiting my public health/travel med/consulting and lecturing to “when I feel like it” has let me happily spend my pension cruising, stash enhancing (oops), arguing with the DH about where we are going to travel next and book buying. Life is good!
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2 Responses to Kitting Up

  1. Courtney says:

    I stumbled across your blog because I was looking for finished pics of ‘Dreaming Frida’ (I also bought all of the parts and wanted to see what it would look like complete before I started) – yours is gorgeous!! A few things…

    1. Thank you for your service.

    2. There is a quick and easy solution to your password-protected PDF problem. I don’t want to post it publicly, but if you contact me, I will share the little workaround.

  2. AlisonH says:

    That is instantly recognizable as Frida Kahlo. Well done!

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