Linen Stitcher

How many WIPs do you have? How many UFOs do you have? When does a WIP become a UFO?I hadn’t taken inventory of these lately, so this question prompted me to pull out my old projects and size up the situation.

WIPs: I have one, which is typical for me. I stitch by a screaming rotation, so whatever has caught my fancy is usually the only thing I’m currently working on. At the moment, that consists of:

Blackbird Designs, Blackbird Sampler (freebie from Web site).

UFOs: Wasn’t sure how many I had, so I went digging . . . and found five:

Samplers & Such, Tin Topper series: ABC Sampler—I probably only have a half-hour left to do on this small tin topper, but it’s dated 2002! Sheesh!

Drawn Thread, Random Thoughts—This one is probably three-quarters finished, with only some specialty stitches remaining. I love doing specialty stitches when I have time to enjoy them, but I have to do those on a lap frame, and I HATE working on a frame of any sort. Consequently, this one has languished . . . since 2001! (Do I get points for thinking about finishing it lately?)

Twisted Threads, SnowBoy—All done except for the long-stitched stars that embellish the piece. Since I did this over one, I couldn’t get my stars to look like the oh-so-cute ones in the model photo (Exhibit A: the white blob on the upper left side of the red border, which is approximately my fifth attempt), so I put it away for a bit . . . which turned into a long bit. If I were guessing, I’d say this one is approximately four years old now. (Happy birthday to SnowBoy, happy birthday to . . . )

Heart in Hand, 2003 Christmas Keepsake ornament—I’m counting this one, though it’s not really a UFO. After all, the stitching is completely done!! . . . it’s just the finishing that isn’t. (Technically, if I count all of my projects that are completely stitched but awaiting finishing, then my UFOs would number in the 30s!) Anyway, the backing fabric has been attached, and it has been stuffed. However, I still need to sew the opening closed, then make and attach twisted cord.

Finished stitching: Dec. 2005.
Paid someone to attach backing fabric: Dec. 2006.
Target finish: Dec. 2007? (Anybody buying that?)

In my defense, I have been checking into buying a tool to make the cording, but I haven’t had success with that yet.

And last, but not least, my oldest UFO by years and years is:

Mary’s Needlepoint, Woven French Ribbons—Now you guys are definitely going to need to cut me some slack on this one. I started this NEEDLEPOINT project with the help of my friend who originally taught me to cross stitch. That was back when we were spending time together every weekend, and I was relying on her to guide me through it. Here it is, more than 20 years later, and I’ve never worked up the courage to finish this one on my own. And truthfully, I just don’t enjoy needlepoint like I do cross stitch. That said, though, this is still a beautiful project that I think about completing now and then. I have a different friend who is accomplished at needlepoint, and I need an excuse to spend more time with her. Could this one be coming out of retirement . . . ? Stay tuned.