Stitching Update for Week 42 2019

Wow, this week seemed to fly by so quickly! It feels like it's only been a couple of days since I wrote my last weekly update. Thankfully, even though the week has felt very short, I have some fun stitching progress to share with you.

Before I get to that though, is anyone else suffering from major retreat envy right now? If you're on Instagram, I'm sure your feed and stories, like mine, were filled with tons of retreat photos and shenanigans over the past few days. I'm not sure exactly how many retreats took place this weekend, but I personally had friends at FOUR different retreats. There was the Stitch West retreat in Farmington, Utah, the Midwest Stitcher's Retreat in Amana, Iowa, the Michigan Stitchers Retreat in Lansing, Michigan, and StitchFest in Herndon, Virginia. The only saving grace for me was the knowledge I'll be attending a retreat in a couple of weeks. I can't wait!

Now, back to my stitching update for the past week. I actually managed to squeeze in two finishes. The first was actually both a new start and a finish. I stitched one of the Year in Chalk monthly designs from Cathy Habermann of Hands on Design. It was a very quick stitch, so it only took me a couple of nights. This is my 18th finish of the year.

Design: Year in Chalk October
Designer: Hands On Design
Fabric: 30 ct Gunmetal (Weeks Dye Works)
Fibers: Recommended GAST
Started: 14 October 2019
Completed: 16 October 2019

The second finish I had this week is Home of a Needleworker Squared by Little House Needleworks. This was a market release back in March at Nashville which included both the chart and fibers. I didn't use the recommended fabric though. I stitched mine on 32 ct Summer Khaki linen from Zweigart. This is my 19th finish for the year.

Design: Home of a Needleworker Squared
Designer: Little House Needleworks
Fabric: 32 ct Summer Khaki linen (Zweigart)
Fibers: Included Classic Colorworks
Started: 8 May 2019
Completed: 19 October 2019

I started this piece during Stitch Maynia in May. Since I've now finished it, this will open up a spot for a new start during my 2020 Stitch Maynia. I use a version of the BlimeyCat method for Stitch Maynia which means rather than doing all new starts, I work on any existing Maynia WIPs and then fill in the other days with new starts. When I finish a Maynia WIP, that will then open a spot for a new start the next time Maynia rolls around. As it stands right now, I'll be able to have nine new starts for Maynia 2020, but I think I should be able to finish at least three more of my existing Maynia WIPs between now and then which would mean at least 12 new starts.

Speaking of WIPs, I was able to work on my Deck the Halls Mystery SAL from Caterpillar Cross Stitch again. Part 4 of the SAL was released in the wee hours UK time on Friday (Oct. 18) which meant I actually had it in time for Thursday night stitching time here in California.

This was another really quick stitch, so between Thursday night and Friday night stitching time, I was able to complete Part 4. We only have two more parts remaining, so this piece should become a finish in mid-November. I'm stitching it on 32 ct Vintage Stormy Night Lugana from Zweigart using the recommended DMC.

My final update for the past week is a combination new start/WIP. I'm stitching the Glitter Village series from Country Cottage Needleworks. Here's my start on Glitter House #6.

Instead of stitching them as individual pieces, I'm stitching all of them on a single piece of fabric. So, I've been counting each house as a new start/finish because they're all individual charts, but also kind of consider it one big WIP since they're all going on a single piece of fabric. Clear as mud? LOL I'm stitching it on the recommended fabric using the recommended fibers. Only three more to go after this one!