OhSewCrafty Blog

Welcome back, October was a pretty good stitchy month. I managed to stitch most days and met all my goals.

First of my focus pieces, Christmas Blue Angel, had 3 days love and 3,000 stitches done, all on her wings. Those wings definitely pop against the dark blue fabric, but the stitch count is hefty! I hope I can finish the cross stitch in November, and backstitch the top half in December, and do all the beading.

New focus Winter Bellpull had 6.5 days attention and 3,000 stitches done to finish the E panel and make a tiny start on R panel. I think the E panel worked up really cute with the ice skates, sled, bucket full of snowballs, snow mom embracing the child, and the heart. It was kind of a slog though, some of those days had quite minimal stitch counts.

Poltergeist Pirates is coming along, with 3 days progress and 3,000 stitches done, all along the top pages, I worked on the moon, ghosts, the masts, sails, jolly roger flag, and the skeleton captain with his lantern and sword. Maybe I can finish in November, or get pretty close. The pirate hat, sword, ghosts, flag, moon, and bubbles on the ship undercarriage, all need work, then backstitching both the top and bottom (the middle is finished).

Secondary WIP Fairy of the Clouds received 2 days love and 2,100 stitches done. It’s a little patchy since I was working on color challenges. But I’d say about 1/3 of the chart is done!

Fairy Idyll had 3 days attention and 2,400 stitches done. I stitched more on her arm and hand, worked on her bodice and the skirt. This 36 count fabric is a little challenging to see, I’m stitching it over 2 but the squares seem smaller than than 18 count, perhaps 20 count. I really love the color though, the green looks fab with the yellow and pink.

Tertiary WIP Mickey Stained Glass received 1.5 days love and 1,500 stitches added, I continued on the top left page and actually stitched the top left corner block. I realized I made a mistake with my WIPGo board, and listed this project as 4 x 5 k blocks (I meant to list it 3 x) So either I change my board, which feels a little like cheating at this late date, or I increase my effort, I would need 5,300 between now and the end of the year. It would be awesome to get the progress, but it might drive me crazy.

St. George and Dragon had 1.5 days and 1,500 stitches. I backstitched most of the left border, worked on the horse tail, the rump, the saddle pad, saddle, George’s leg, the pole, and the sword.

New focus Outlander got 1 day & 1,500 stitches update. I worked on the left border, standing stones, the stars, sword, and started Jamie’s bust.

Now for my smalls, I did not work on everything in October, but I managed 3 finishes, some good progress, and a new start. First, my finishes clockwise from top left, Lighting the Way by Elizabeth Spurlock (1 day, 214 stitches), No Body is Home by Elle Noonan, text is my addition, (1.5 days, 674 stitches), and Christmas Morning by Anna Matvieieva (2 days, 862 stitches).

Continuing WIPs clockwise from bottom left, Tree Celebration (1/2 day, 400 stitches, O Divine Night Shepherd (1 day, 900 st), Goofy Gourds, (1 day, 600 st), and new start Christmas Cake by Rhona Norrie (1 day, 600 st).

Question of the month: What repeats or stitching events would you love to attend someday? Well, I hope to attend the 2026 Stitching Sirens retreat in San Antonio, Texas, 2025 was such a blast and I loved catching up with my friend Barbara (and others).

Now for my November goals.

•Primary: Blue Christmas Angel, Poltergeist Pirates, Winter Bellpull, (3 k per), Mickey Stained Glass (2,700)

Secondary: Fairy of the Clouds, Fairy Idyll (2k per)

Tertiary: St. George & Dragon, Outlander (1500 per)

Smalls: Goofy Grounds (finish), Tree Celebration, Cuckoo Clock, Christmas Cupcake (600 st per)

Happy Stitching