It’s probably not the case for everyone, but I set some stitchy records in 2020, what with all the cancellations of most things and sheltering in place. As such, I started a ton of projects, the higher WIP count (up to 25 at the beginning of July) feeling acceptable with more stitchy time. Next year, on the assumption that normal life will resume sooner or later, I want to keep a lower WIP count, and continue with the category based rotation that works for me.
No 1. is Mirabilia / Lavender & Lace. This category is vacant (except Cupid reindeer), since I finished Cathedral Woods Goddess in September. I’m leaning towards Stargazer, on Winter Solstice Belfast from Hand Dyed by Steph. Another few possibilities are Portrait of Veronica on Barnwood Belfast by Picture this Plus and Renaissance Mermaid on Willow Wisp Belfast from Hand Dyed by Steph.
No. 2 is Joan Elliott. I’ll continue working on Fairy Rain, with a finish goal by midyear. New start possibilities include Christmas Blue Angel on Hamlet opal Belfast by Under the Sea Fabrics, Fairy of the Wind on a custom dye Cashel by Silkweaver, & Father Christmas on Christmas Tree opal Cashel by XJudesign.
No. 3 is Fall/Halloween. It’s another vacant category since finishing Harvest Witch. A definite new start will be the Glendon Place spooky panels on PTP Flash Cashel, that I want to frame and hang with Spooky House. I’m not sure how long the 4 panels will take and how keen I will be to work through the series. More Scary Apothecary charts by Hands on Designs, Broomstick Fuel, Bitter Brew, and Cackel Lozenges, are in my stassh, to be stitched on antique white Belfast along with the rest of the series (3 finished, 3 more on order) . I might start another large-ish piece like Glendon Place Sleepy Hollow on Dusk Belfast by Steel City Stitchers, or Halloween Quaker by Lila’s Studio on Rock Quarry Cashel by Silkweaver.
No. 4 is Christmas. I’ll continue working on Victorian Carolers, with a finish goal by the end of the year. It’s not huge, but it is full coverage. I definitely need another big Christmas wip on the go. A few that I have ready to go with charts & fabric are the Joan Elliott pieces mentioned above, Yes Virgina by Bygone Stitches on Ruby Wine Belfast, and Baby Flake by Jeannette Crews on Sand opalescent Belfast by Picture this Plus.
No. 5, Samplers, is also vacant since finishing Save the Stitches. A definite January start will be Alphabet Inspirations by A. Fox Original, and I will continue working on it throughout the year as part the upcoming Semisane SAL “Alpha-My-Bet”, but it’s small and I’m considering ditching this category in favor of something fantastical, like a chart by Bella Fillipina or Nimue. More or that below. Let me know what you think, should I keep the sampler category to maintain the variety in my rotation or do more in the fantastical genre, which is my true home?
No. 6 is Flora & Fauna. I’m currently working on the Gryphon, with a spring finish goal. A birthday finish would be nice then I can make a new magical menagerie start for Maynia. But Maynia serial starting may not be on the table at all, we’ll see. Possible new starts include Dimensions Spring Fairy, Autumn bell pull by Stoney Creek, and Winter Robin by Lesley Teare from Cross Stitch Collection magazine.
No. 7 is History and Literature. This category is vacant after finishing Fantasy Triptych. I’m planning to start the Alice SAL by Amanda Butler for Cross Stitcher magazine, with some personalization (I want to swap out 2 of the panels, and I already did some charting), on Biscotti Cashel by Colour & Cotton (more yellow than the picture shows). I might actually start this sooner than January, if I finish my model stitching this week.
No. 8, last but not least, is Wild Card. Currently I’m working on Toy Story Cast, and that is a definite finish goal for next year. Another possibility is Morning Fae by Passione Ricamo or Porcelain Belfast by Silkweaver, that would also count as an old stash new start for my SFS group SAL in January- both the chart & fabric are OLD.
Beyond the 8 categories, I’d like to keep stitching Christmas ornaments, a minimum of 12 throughout the year. I’ll be participating in the JCS SAL via FB, which is 1 per month from the 2020 issue. In January, it will be the Poinsettia by Punochka, which is not on the cover unfortunately. It’s a beautiful little flower with snowflakes and beads, I’m looking forward to it. Some of the others that I plan to stitch are on the cover, like the Polar Bear (top left), Angel (top right), Snowman (below the Angel), Snowman Juggling (center near bottom), Santa, Gnome, and Lollipop (all on bottom).
I’ll probably also do a few Mill Hill or other ornament kits in my stash. While not exactly ornaments, I did start collecting the Leisure Arts Nativity stand up charts and even got a piece of 36 count evenweave so I can start a few whenever.
So, as you can see I’m basically spoilt for choice! I’m looking forward to making some new starts in January. Next year I’m planning to switch up my rotation a bit, work on stitch count goals rather than days. I’ll still track my days, because it’s useful data, but instead of planning to spend 5 days on x project, I might plan to stitch 2k on that project. Since I rotate so frequently for all the challenge stitching I do, hopefully a goal-based rotation will make more sense.
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