Christmas Cross Stitch

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We all know how this story begins. Shopping at your local craft store and something catches your eye. Impulse buy, in a manner of speaking. You get it home, you open it up, you even organize and begin the project only to find its more than you may have bargained for! So you put it away for now and go on about life as usual. Projects come and go and you get to the bottom of the project bin and there it is again, the Unfinished Project (Object)! You take it out, look at the parts and wonder will it ever be done?

How does a project become a UFO? Well, usually it’s something that was too time consuming. However there are many other reasons as well. It could have been more difficult than it first appeared and you needed to learn more before continuing it. It may have been larger than your eyes perceived. Perhaps the pattern is difficult to read. Maybe the directions aren’t as concise as you would like them to be and it leaves you wondering.

We’ve all done it and we’ve all had them. Now the question is what do we do with them?

I had a UFO for about 2 years, then one day as luck would have it my curious toddler lost some of the floss and a page of instructions for me ~ and the first thought in my mind was GREAT, I can Finally throw it out! Which is exactly what I did with it, threw it out. This is our first option for your dreaded UFO ~ throw it out.

Now you may think this is harsh but if it’s been hanging around long enough to down right annoy you its time to part with it. If your stitching (or any other craft) for relaxation and you dread even looking at the project that is hiding in the bottom of the project bin then it is defeating its purpose. We want to enjoy our crafts, relax and relieve daily stress.

What else can I do with my UFO?? I’ve gotten too far to throw it away now! This is an excellent questions. Below is our list of suggestions and ideas for cleaning out your project bin and either getting rid of or finishing all of your UFO’s.

1. TOSS IT! As we covered above the easiest option is often to just throw it out.

2. Put it in rotation. Work on it every few weeks, or for so many hours in between your other projects, eventually it will become a finished project.

3. Donate it! ~ Many times I’ve seen just started or half finished pieces for sale at the local thrift shop for a few bucks. Someone will pick it up and hopefully it will bring them enjoyment and relaxation!

4. eBay it! ~ I have also many a UFO up for auction at Ebay! Yes Ebay, the worlds largest marketplace has a large array of unfinished handwork. In these cases the seller is generally trying to recover some of their supply cost. They still sell dirt cheap though.

5. Share it! Give it a friend that may be looking for a new project or that might like to try something different.

6. Turn it into something new! This is the most flexible option of all! Create something totally new and different than what it was supposed to be. Examples: Were you making it a quilt and just couldn’t take it anymore? Make a pillow with the pieces you have done. Knitting or crocheting a sweater and just cant look at it anymore? Use the finished part to stuff a pillow and save the left over yarn for another project. Stitching a piece you just cant bear anymore? Find a small portion that is finished on it if any, cut that out and use in a patch work quilt or put it in a small frame.

Now of course if you are really determined to finish the project go ahead and stick back at the bottom of your project stash.;) I wont tell. Maybe next year it will be less stressful for you.

Most Importantly: Whatever you do, enjoy your craft!

For more tips, tricks and project ideas visit StitchingtheNightAway.com where you’ll find free cross stitch patterns, cross stitch supplies, and more great cross stitch information.

what is the difference between cross-stitch and needlepoint?

I am a cross-stitcher, and for Christmas, I want to make ornaments for friends. The ones I’ve selected online are needlepoint, so I’m wondering what the difference is, and if needlepoint is much harder?

Needlepoint is different from cross-stich in that the canvas you work on is a net, rather than fabric. As such, you have to completely cover the canvas with stitches, rather than just the design portion. I like the effect it gives for that, and I don’t consider it more work than cross-stitch where you have to do twice as many stitches per spot.

The basic moves are the same, so you won’t find needlepoint any harder than you would x-stitch. There are three ways to do the needlepoint:
Half-cross is just like you probably do your cross-stitch. This isn’t a very good stitch to use for needlepoint, despite the fact that most kits will have instructions just for this. It doesn’t cover the canvas as well as you want it covered.

Continental is doing your half cross on top, then crossing under that stitch and starting the next stitch adjacent but on the other side of the stitch you just finished. Like a knights move in chess. This is better for coverage, but distorts the canvas.

Basketweave stitch is the best to use. It covers the canvas very well, it doesn’t distort the canvas, and it goes much faster than either of the other two. Instructions are here: http://needlepoint.about.com/cs/stitches/ht/stitchtent.htm

One more difference between x-stitch and needlepoint: you don’t make knots in needlepoint. To secure stitches, you run the end of the yarn underneath several stitches on the back. When you start an empty area, you leave a good tail on the back, then stitch over the tail as you work until you’ve covered it with several stitches.

Another great place to shop for Christmas Cross Stitch products is Amazon. They have more than just books!

Bucilla 86194 Holiday Cornucopia Stamped Cross Stitch Tablecloth, 60-Inch by 90-Inch $26.38 Celebrate special occasions with family dinners over the Holiday Cornucopia Collection of hand-made table coordinates. This kit contains washable white poly/cotton pre-finished fabric with the design pre-printed in wash away ink, DMC floss requirements and easy to follow instructions. Finished size: 60″ x 90″. Design: Holiday Cornucopia. Made in USA/Imported….

Bucilla 86193 Holiday Cornucopia Stamped Cross Stitch Tablecloth, 52-Inch by 70-Inch $28.43 Celebrate special occasions with family dinners over the Holiday Cornucopia Collection of hand-made table coordinates. This kit contains washable white poly/cotton pre-finished fabric with the design pre-printed in wash away ink, DMC floss requirements and easy to follow instructions. Finished size: 52″ x 70″. Design: Holiday Cornucopia. Made in USA/Imported….

Herrschners Hearts for Christmas Table Runner & Napkins Stamped Cross-Stitch Kit Exclusive! 5-piece set. Stamped for cross-stitch on white polyester/cotton percale table runner and napkins with a red perle edge. Includes easy-to-follow instructions. Approximately 14 x 44″ (36 x 112cm) table runner and 16 x 16″ (41 x 41cm) napkins. Thread kit sold separately. Made in U.S.A….

Susho, King Silk Art Handmade Silk Embroidery – Portrait of a Raccoon – White Mat Framed Medium Size 34051WF $69.98 Susho represents the highest standard of Chinese embroidery. ** Each King Silk Art product is completely handmade with naturally dyed, pure silk. No machines, paint, or glue are used. ** To create detail, texture and depth, Susho artists split silk threads into finer strands (as thin as 1/16 of the thread) and use up to 40 different stitching techniques and over 1,000 different colors of silk thre…

Susho, King Silk Art Handmade Silk Embroidery – Red Rose on Black – White Mat Framed Medium Size 36005WF $59.98 Susho represents the highest standard of Chinese embroidery. ** Each King Silk Art product is completely handmade with naturally dyed, pure silk. No machines, paint, or glue are used. ** To create detail, texture and depth, Susho artists split silk threads into finer strands (as thin as 1/16 of the thread) and use up to 40 different stitching techniques and over 1,000 different colors of silk thre…

Cross Stitch Night Light – Children and Snowflakes $14.99 This is a night light of a cross stitch pattern with original cross stitching by Scuti Mueller. This image truly does light up beautifully when lit and is perfect for any room in the house. This light makes a very unique gift and perfect as a stocking stuffer, office gift, or grab bag gift. Photographic image is printed in the USA using high quality inks and is very colorful. **PLEASE NOTE** Unlik…

Holiday Time Angel of Christmas Stamped Cross Stitch Napkins – 2 pack – 14 inches x 14 inches $14.52 Holiday Time Angel of Christmas Stamped Cross Stitch Napkins – 2 pack – 14 inches x 14 inches…

Custom Made Order to Be Personalized – Handmade Cross Stitched Baby Towel – Little Leonardo (One of a Kind) $24.99 Simply adorable and hard to believe it is cross stitched entirely by hand! Machine washable to make it easy for moms!…

Bucilla 18-Inch Christmas Stocking Felt Applique Kit, Christmas Cookies $15.23 Bucilla always has the highest quality, most brightly colored and creative designs for their fabulous Christmas Applique Kits. This kit contains felt, cotton floss, sequins and beads, needle, and trilingual instructions. Finished measurements are approximately 18″. Design: Christmas Cookies. Designer: Maria Stanziani. Made in USA. …

Dimensions Needlecrafts Needlepoint, Polar Bear Joy Stocking $29.99 Needlepoint: Holiday Collection Stocking. From elegant to whimsical, landscapes to still-lifes, realistic to fantasy, no matter your style Dimensions has a fabulous needle-craft kit for you. The high quality goods accompanied by the wide range of artists makes Dimensions #1. The kit contains: full color print on 12-mesh canvas, 100% cotton thread, wool and acrylic yarns, felt for backing, needle, …