FlossTube 195 Why Multiple Projects 06-02-24

[@kathymellor6134]

I only work on 4 projects at a time. I work on one each week of the month. It’s usually 3 rather large ones and 1 small so that I have a finish frequently while I continue to plug away at the larger ones. Thanks for the thoughtful video.

[@janetofalltrades65]

I like to stitch holidays around holidays but also have other wips on going as well. I find that I have wips for certain times of the day. Mornings, afternoon and evenings are each a different wip. This keeps it interesting and I feel like I give every wip a little love everyday ❤

[@danetteroe8276]

I am pretty much monogamous and try to stitch in season or prep for next holiday. Thanks for always showing recent releases!”

[@juststitchinginc9777]

Congrats! You will be getting the little treats I offered after sending your physical address to [e-mail]… Shelly

[@scottbenson6348]

Interesting discussion of pros and cons of multiple projects! I am primarily a one-at-a-time stitcher, except when I need to get Christmas presents done... Although, I just started a project specifically to work on during our upcoming vacation, and will put away as soon as we get back and start some other things. You know, I am not a big time stitcher; I have a number of other interests that split up my time. The articles you referenced resonate with me more regarding my model railroad hobby. That is when I really get hung up keeping progress going across multiple objectives.

[@susanfromcolorado623]

ShellyI love seeing all the projects you are working on. You get so much done. I feel like I’m super slow but I so enjoy stitching when I can. I’m usually working on exchange projects for retreat or my stitchy group but I have a handful of seasonal projects that I work on when approaching that particular season. I love that you have been more successful when you make a plan. That’s something I’d like to try in the future. Thanks so much for your floss tube. ❤

[@nannettmcdougal-dykes9339]

I working on my WIPs first thing in the morning, with coffee...just 3 for 30 minutes...I have a WIP bag I pull from...thanks for sharing and please take care

[@kathyburch9591]

Great stitching! I agree I went back and looked at the pattern - I like the cuffs in a darker color too. I tend to get my WIPS out based on what they - example if it is patriotic I am taking them out now. I need to get more organized for sure.

[@cherylfriz2038]

Such interesting research; appreciate the different viewpoints. I try to limit my WIPS to maybe five; with a variety of easy and long-term projects. I am also a quilter, so trying to switch between quilting and cross-stitch as well. I also have a stack of quilting WIPS. Really hoping to get more organized shortly to be more efficient.

[@trishwells34]

I pretty much stitch in all my free time. I have many WIPs going all at once. I switch back and forth when I get bored, but when I get close to a finish, I stitch exclusively until it’s finished. My dilemna is wanting to start all the things! I think we can all relate to that 😊

[@joycetaunton4684]

I mainly have two projects going at any given time. One I stitch while watching you tube and the other during tv shows and movies. I tend to stitch ahead of any holiday or special day. I'm now working on Autumn. I have some patriotic pieces to fully finish but all my stitching is done for now. I am working on a pattern that is giving me a bit of a problem too. The symbols are sort of close in style. the other problem is it's a PDF and I prefer any thing I stitch be from a pro printing company. they are just so much easier for me to see especially with my eyes. Hope you have a great weekend and get lots of stitching done.

[@rosetree626]

Hi, Shelly! I have quite a lot of WIPs...I look at the pile philosophically: I started them when they sparked my interest, worked on them a lot and learned a lot, then put them aside to try something new and different. I do finish many of them eventually, going between old projects and new ones. I look at my WIP collection as another type of memory palace...scrapbook....photo album.....(P.S. I'm glad you liked the 'good consequences' idea! 😊)

[@debimiller7572]

I have downsized my purchases significantly. I have 3 wips, work a rotation of 3 days each until finished, then add another project and continue. I turned 70 and realize I have SABLE. My rule is I have to finish several currently owned projects before I buy another. I enjoyed your sharing of quotes.

[@mjsta2001]

I just realized that I only have a handful of WIPS but a lot of projects kitted up that in my brain think are WIPS. So that’s a mind switch. The few WIPS seem to get pushed back with new starts that I tend to work on until they are finished. This conversation makes me want to actually have a schedule for those WIPS. I tend to not like schedules. I think of them as promises and I don’t promise unless I can deliver. Thanks for this thought provoking video!

[@reader1869]

Right now I am working on monthly/season charts. When I get the current month or season done, I pull out my oldest WIP, Old Glory by Rosewood Manor and work towards getting it done. I am currently half done with SWTH Sayings of the Season- Summer, then I’ll start SWTH Month to Month -July. If I finish both before the end of June, I’ll work on Old Glory. Happy stitching!

[@doreendeskins2141]

It's always good to see and hear about your stitching and your store! I thought your question about how we approach our stitching was interesting. I do a variety of things. Usually, I will go through my stash quarterly and decide what I 'd like to stitch that season. Once I get it started, I rotate the project every two days. I got that idea from Lori, Once Upon a Stitch. This gives me the variety that I like to have. I sometimes use the Tiny Decisions wheel to choose the project if I want to have a different order for my WIPs.@ddestitches

[@laurieturner7086]

Hi Shelly. Typically I’m a monogamous stitcher. I make very few exceptions but typically if I’m not enjoying a current sip, then I’ll start another and slowly work to complete both.

[@phapy2451]

I am stitching on some patriotic pieces now, I am working on Grande Old Flag, by Brenda Gervais, and a little House Needle works, Martha Washington 1789.

[@korywood1052]

I keep track of my new starts, what I finished stitching, and what I FFO every month. I had a really slow month in April, but in May, I did something different. I started a bunch of projects because I kept squealing off every time I saw something on social media… But as my pile accumulated next to me with my new starts, I would pick up a project finish a certain number of strands. Then go to the next item in the pile and do just a certain number of strands. I ended up with 14 new starts, I finished stitching 13 items, and I fully finished seven in the month of May. I stitch a lot of really small patterns, so it’s easy to get a lot of things finished stitching. May was my month that I decided I would not feel so much urgency to get something done and just work a little bit at a time on my mini starts. Slow and steady won the race!

[@michelenemechek7942]

About my wips. I pick out little house needle designs and do one at a time. They’re made into pillows for gifts. With a ribbon for a handle.

[@Melinda_likes_stitching]

I really like the quotes! I can relate to the first one for work.😅 but it can be applied in part to stitching. It’s no fun to be working on one project and thinking that you need to get to the next one asap. I have 4 WIPs. I have to restart one due to bad counting and have already restarted another. I’m currently working on exclusively on a cute small patriotic pattern. It is a memorial day start.

[@carolhebert7964]

Hello! I have ADHD, so I switch projects every day or two, rotating between 4 or 5 projects. I like having one for an upcoming holiday, one for a gift, one full coverage, a sampler and a BBD or Brenda Gervais or Plum Street. I always leave some parts of each outlined to fill in at stitching meet ups. I get in the mood to start new things often, but try to finish something first.

[@marla_a]

I have mostly been a monogamous stitcher over the years. More recently, I have 2 or 3 projects going at the same time. I just switch them up when I feel I need something different.

[@philipbrazis8732]

Ruth here, l was having some serious shoulder issue, hurts like crazy!!!! so, l started watching big time what l eat, for a long time, l ate no sugar, almost no carbs, when l make chili, a little bit of tomato juice and a little tin of tomato paste, no sugar and no beans, l add just a little butter, no crackers or pasta, l use no seed or veg oils, so now l have no, gosh, the word will not come to my mind, l am 64, no sweating at all, l eat some eggs. But my shoulder feels great, so be careful what you eat, you have to figure it out what works for yo. My glaucoma pressure in my eyes came down when l quit eating gluten, this was years ago, 3 years after my pressure came down, l go every year to the eye doctor, my pressure was up, so l cut out the sprouted grain bread l had started eating, the next year my pressure was back down. This information may help someone

[@korywood1052]

I love the quotes!

[@elysbethcarson4113]

I have multiple projects based on brain power, eye strain, and situation. Some days the lighting is good but the distractions are many, Some days the lighting is bad and the distractions are many, some days the lighting is good and the distractions are few. Each needs it's own project and level of "fudge it/fix it"

[@lauriebutler-tn5pt]

I have several wips, all different seasons. I don't follow a schedule as far as days I'll stitch a certain project. I tend to stitch in the current season. The problem with that is I don't always finish what I start in that particular season! 😊

[@Chris_Yoo__AsTheYooFlies]

Heh Shelly! I'm overdue for a visit to the shop. I was a "fan" of flosstube for a bit before I jumped down the rabbit hole plus I already had stacks of quilting WIPS so I knew starting another new hobby was going to be "a thing" that I would need to control. Therefore, I made a deal with myself that I could never have more than 10 cross stitch WIPS started in project bags. Before I can start a new one, I have to finish one of the 10. I started stitching in 2019 and I have not broken that deal with myself yet. The only thing I have found with this new addiction is that I did not realize that collecting charts was a thing. I am most assuredly a "collector of charts." Sure, I don't have more than 10 WIPS, but giiiirrrrllllll, I could open my own Cross Stitch store with the number charts I have in tubs here in my craft room. So, the next time I visit you, I can only buy floss and fabric, because those are two things I don't have. Hugs from here in NE Ohio.

[@greggshepherd1172]

I usually have only one WIP at a time. I have stitched for years and that has been my pattern. However,…..I am retired now and am thinking about having maybe two or three going in the future. It’s a work in progress to teach an old dog new tricks!!

[@diannekosboth2700]

You have mentioned a pet peeve of mine - symbols being too similar close together in a pattern. I have never figured out why a designer does not catch that. A plan? I must admit I do not have one. I have not had several WIPS before in my stitching journey. Now with so much enabling we have for us, I have become a semi-monogamous stitcher. I collect patterns for sure! Fabric, yes! But, I try to keep WIPS at 3 so I don’t feel stressed. This is meant to be fun, right? Seasonal stitching is my favorite. Each season as it approaches. I do have other crafts in process.very interesting articles. Thank you.

[@gleehanson4775]

I don't schedule much because I do not have many wips going at once. I usually have one large project going (right now it's Needleworkers Sampler by Country Cottage) and 1-3 smalls going (right now it's 2 of the country Cottage Samplers and one Tiny Town (right now the Harvest one). I do use a book of days but not the official one and I definitely do my best to stitch every single day. Last year I did not skip one day. But, so far in 2024, I've missed 3 days. Such is life .

[@cathynanz9637]

I believe there are as many individual reasons for multiple projects as there are individuals. I was elderly when I resumed crossstitching. I do what I want, when I want, and if I want. It doesn't work for me to have a plethora of WIPS. I like to have a large project and a smaller project in process. Happy Stitching is the key.

[@jandamico7275]

I stitch all the time! Sometimes I have only one! More often I start many, especially Patriotic ones! I just love to stitch! I do have a car project/klostern. I have a project for stitching with friends. I have more thought provoking projects (home)! ❤️🪡

[@DeeAZstitcher]

I'm a seasonal stitcher, so May through July is Patriotic & a bit of Christmas, unless I have a gift to stitch. I collected "8" of my WIPs this morning that I'd like to get progress on for June & July. Each week (on Sunday) I choose one to work on for at least 3 days of that Week. I also get a New Start, ornament size (3 to 4 inch) item done each Month to get that accomplished feeling, and once in a while I will throw in something like a PS Santa chart size because I love New Starts!!! I can't stitch on let's say Halloween on the 13th or 31st because half the time I'm not sure what number the date is, plus I don't want it to dictate what I work on. Once I get my medium & larger WIPS under control (hopefully by September) I can have those Autumn seasonal new starts ready!! I laugh when my husband walks over and says, What are you working on Now?! He doesn't get why I switch my WIPS. I sometimes take a night off of stitching if my hands hurt and I've also worn a therapeutic glove on occasion, and it really helped me. I use hoops, Q-snaps, Scroll frames, and for the ornament size I just stitch in hand. Fun Video, and My fabrics from You have an ETA of tomorrow according to my USPS informed delivery, Yay, happy mail.

[@korywood1052]

I should add that I have enjoyed making up fun names for each day of the week to match a whip that I have and work some whips in a rotation.

[@Kathy-Loves-Stitching]

I’m fairly monogamous when I stitch. I do, however, have at least 10 kitted projects in the wings. 😊

[@edithmcclanahan1291]

I just stitch what I want when I want to. When I go shopping for a projects. In take a picture of a chart

[@karlalintzenich2376]

I am mostly a monogamous stitcher - I do sometimes work on a smaller project to give myself a break from a really big project. Just wanted to contribute but am not interested in being entered for gifts.

[@KimCox1970]

I do not have a schedule on when I start something. I have 5 sips in progress. I also have about 6 kitted up. There is no order. Just waist I want to start at the time.

[@trudyconnors2954]

Can you tell me what the pattern is for the flag on your top shelf? Looks like it has stitches other than crosses which I love. Thanks!

[@trudyconnors2954]

Guess it’s hanging on the wall above the top shelf

[@andrewilliams1954]

🪡👍🏽