Woodland Enchantress Cross Stitch, Project Report 11

Time for a cross stitch update!

Here's a reminder of what it's supposed to look like when it's done:

Here's what it looked like the last time I updated, in April 2019:

And here's what it looks like now:

This represents 36.50 hours of work. I pushed really hard to finish the regular stitching by July, as that marked 3 years since I began the project. I did meet that deadline, and even started the back stitching in July, but stopped pretty early on in the month. I'm in a place where I'm using brown thread to outline on brown stitches, black to outline on black, etc., and it's very difficult to see what I'm doing even in natural light. I needed a break. In the picture, the back stitching I've done so far is most noticeable in her hands/cuffs and her face.

Woodland Enchantress Cross Stitch, Progress Report 10

Time for a cross stitch update!

Here’s a reminder of what it’s supposed to look like when it’s finished:

Here’s what it looked like the last time I updated, in January 2019:

And here’s what it looks like now:

I started keeping track of my work again, so I can tell you that this represents approximately 40.75 hours! I’m feeling pretty good because I tried really hard to work on it more frequently and I now know that I did, because this is quite a bit more work than every other quarter I previously tracked. I had to slow down toward the end of April because of a rib injury, but I’m getting back into the swing of things now!

Woodland Enchantress Cross Stitch, Progress Report 9

Back on track for updates, hopefully! Here's a reminder of what the cross stitch is supposed to look like when it's done:

Here's what it looked like the last time I updated, in October 2018:

And here's what it looks like now:

Once again, I haven't been keeping up with tracking my hours. I think I'll try to get back to it, because it's actually pretty interesting to see how long it takes. I'm hoping to finish the actual stitching by July, which will be the 3-year mark since I began. After that will be the back stitching to give the picture details, but that's typically not as time or labor intensive.

One problem I've run into is that I've actually run out of floss for a few colors! That's never happened to me before. For the life of me, I can't figure out how to order extra floss from Dimensions, the makers of the kit, so I've had to buy more at a fabric store. The colors don't match exactly. I'm hoping it won't be noticeable.

I'm feeling excited to get this project finished some time this year!

Woodland Enchantress Cross Stitch, Progress Report 8

We're well past due for an update on the cross stitch! Here's a reminder of what it's supposed to look like when I'm finished:

Here's what it looked like the last time I updated, in January 2018:

And here's what it looks like now:

During the Great Blog Burnout of 2018, I stopped keeping track of the hours/days I worked on this project. Bear in mind that I missed 2 updates (in April & July 2018), but I still get the impression that I worked on it a lot more this year than I did last year. I feel like I've made a lot of progress. I know I finished the bottom half around mid-July. That means all that work on the top half has occurred in less than 3 months. I attribute this to the fact that I started taking the project into work with me when I have day shifts. It's much easier to put this down down & pick it back up when the phones are busy than it is to read.

I've already purchased another big cross stitch, which I plan to hang in our bedroom, so I'm feeling extra motivated to finish this one in a more timely fashion!

Note: I'm trying to complete the sky around her head before I fill in the rest of her body because I'm bored to death with those colors (mostly blue-purple, sky blue, and light blue).

Woodland Enchantress Cross Stitch, Progress Report 7

Time for the quarterly update on my cross stitch project!

Here's a reminder of what it will look like when I'm done:

Here's what it looked like during my last update in October 2017:

And here's what it looks like now:

This represents 26.50 hours of work spread out over 14 days, my most ever! One of my goals this year is to work more on this project. So far so good!

Woodland Enchantress Cross Stitch, Progress Report 6

Time for the quarterly update on my cross stitch project!

Here's a reminder of what it will look like when I'm done:

Here's what it looked like during my last update in July 2017:

And here's what it looks like now:

This represents 23.75 hours of work spread out over 11 days, my most ever! I discovered, once I got to know the ropes better, that I could take my cross stitch into work when I had day shifts and get in a handful of good hours on it. Now, those hours are somewhat approximate because I do get interrupted often with phone calls. But I did the best I could with keeping track.

As you'll notice, on the left hand side & lower corner, I've reached the edge. That means I'm getting close to done with this quadrant of the pattern! I've been feeling pretty good about how much work I got done this quarter. Then I remember I've been working on it for over a year & still haven't finished even one section. Still a long ways to go!

Woodland Enchantress Cross Stitch, Project Report 5

Time for the quarterly update on my cross stitch project!

Here's a reminder of what it will look like when I'm done:

Here's what it looked like during my last update in April 2017:

And here's what it looks like now:

This represents 14.5 hours of work spread over just 7 days, a significant drop from previous quarters. I became a bit demoralized when I discovered that I miscounted on one of the dark blue sections (second from the right). Unfortunately, I discovered it too late to tear it out & do it over. Therefore, to make up for it, I had to be creative with adding and/or dropping stitches in the various shades of gold that surround that section. There are seriously 4 or 5 shades of gold to use there and it all got a bit confusing.

But I persevered and I think it’s been fixed now. I’m excited to get more work done on it this upcoming quarter!

Woodland Enchantress Cross Stitch, Project Report 4

Time for the quarterly update on my cross stitch project!

Here's a reminder of what it will look like when I'm done:

Here's what it looked like during my last update in January 2017:

And here's what it looks like now:

This represents just 17.25 hours spread out over 10 days. That's the least amount of time I've spent on the project since I began, largely due, I think, to the move. Also, I'm sort of in the doldrums. Last night, I worked on it for two hours while watching a movie and all I did during that time was line after line of the navy blue you see on the right-hand side. And that part isn't even done!

Interesting side note: while looking this over to do my post, I realized that I've done 10 days worth of work every single quarter. The only difference is the amount of hours I spent on those days. Unintentional and a little weird.

Woodland Enchantress Cross Stitch, Project Report 3

Three more months have passed, so it's time for another update on my cross stitch!

A reminder of what it's supposed to look like when I'm done:

What it looked like in October 2016:

What it looks like now:

This represents 23.25 hours of work spread out over 10 days. Nearly all of that work was done at home, most of it in 2 hour chunks, although there were a couple of days where I fit in 3+ hours. I felt like I'd done a lot until I saw the picture of where it was at last time I posted. Now it feels like I've done hardly anything at all.

Oh well, onward and upward!

Woodland Enchantress Cross Stitch, Progress Report 2

Back in July, I did a post about my latest cross stitch project. Believe it or not, since it's been nearly 3 months, it's time for an update! First, let's start with a couple of reminders.

Here is what it's going to look like (in theory) when I'm finished:

Here's what it looked like at the time of my last post:

And now, here's what it currently looks like:

This represents 20.25 hours of work, spread out over 10 days. I didn't keep track of this, but I think those 10 days were fairly evenly split between working at my fiber arts group and working alone. I try to get to the project at least once week, although clearly I haven't achieved that yet.

I can't decide if it looks like I've made a lot of progress or not. You tell me!

Woodland Enchantress Cross Stitch, Progress Report 1

When I mentioned to regular commentor Patricia that I was working on a new cross stitch, she asked me if I was going to post pictures of it when it was done. "That's a great idea," I thought to myself. "Why wait until the end? Why not post quarterly updates on how it's going?"

So here is the first post in a new series about my cross stitch. Unfortunately, the suggestion came after I'd already started, so there aren't any very early pics. My plan for this stitch is to frame it once it's done and hang it in the library we're planning for the house we haven't bought yet (nor can we buy at this time). However, it will take a year to finish, if not longer (almost definitely longer), so there's plenty of time for us to purchase a house!

Here are some pics to set the stage:

What it's supposed to look like when I'm done.

The very involved pattern. It's two separate
pages.

Here are the mounds of floss it came with. Fortunately, modern kits come with the floss separated out and labeled. The very large cross stitch I did about 20 years ago didn't. I fashioned a "floss organizer" out of a piece of cardboard, where I attached a clipping of each floss with its name written above it. It was a pain. So many floss colors are very similar. Currently, I'm working with: light green, green, dark green, light aqua green, and aqua green. Oh, the eye strain. 

Spread long for your viewing pleasure.

Miri was very interested in what I was doing with the floss. Sorry for the litter box in the background, but at least you can't see anything!

Here's what I've done so far. Bear in mind that this represents HOURS of work. How many hours? I haven't kept track, but I would guess somewhere between 10 - 15. That's right, I haven't gotten very far. Cross stitch is pretty labor intensive.

Traditionally, cross stitchers use a hoop. I happen to dislike the way they feel in my hands, so I go with out. That's why my cloth is so wrinkled in the below picture. Once I've finished, I'll wash and iron it and it should be fine. However, this can lead to looser fabric, so if you're feeling inspired, do some research and see what works best for you.

The portion I've done is of her dress's overlay, near her hip.

Wide shot.

Close up.

Mostly, I've only been working on it during my needlework group, which I attend sporadically, but I try to get in some time here and there when I'm at home. I really love this pattern. I'm excited to see how it comes together, and how quickly I finish! My next update will likely come in October.