Time to stitch

Now *that* totally depends on the project. I did some bookmarks for Christmas last year and they took a day a piece, say 6-8 hours. OTOH, I am finishing up a much more complex project that has taken me well over

100 hours + design time of about 50+ hours (that's because I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do for the longest time!! :) ) For me a simple project is something that takes a month or less of my dedicated stitching time - but that's me and I would suspect that for most *simple* projects take a weekend or so.

Addie

Easy or uncomplicated.

I've finished a book mark in an hour or so and taken days to do others! All depends since I though both were "simple"..... LOL

Cheryl

Bookmarks, ornaments, and other small projects take me a couple of days to complete. That could mean I am done with one in two days, or in one week. The reason for this is the amount of time I can spend stitching at one sitting, and how often I actually have a chance to sit down to stitch.

I have a friend who does more stitches per hour than I can. I have noticed that speed is not her friend. I may be slower, but I spend a lot less time picking out stitching mistakes than she does. My thread tangles less than hers. My stitches always cross in the same direction and have consistent tension. There is a difference in how our finished projects look. Her stitching is just not up to the same level of workmanship as mine, although I would never tell her so. I have learned that it is better to strive for excellence in workmanship rather than to compete in a stitching race against someone else. The fact that I do finish projects proves that speed is not always necessary to achieve one's goal. Debra in VA See my quilts at

Simple = Select Bookmarks found in Leisure Arts Bookmarks Galore; or those $0.99 kits you can get at JoAnn Fabrics/Michaels.... perhaps 2 -

5 thread colors, basic cross stitches with back stitches. I've done some basic bookmarks with just quarter and cross stitches with 3 colors that take maybe 16 - 24 hours to complete. They look like they would work up quick but it seems to take a long time.

I do take my time though because I've tried to move fast before and spent more time undo> What is Simple ?

Well, St Petersburg is just cross stitches and minimal backstitching, and it took me about 9 months to finish. 12 months end to end, but I had some other pieces to squeeze in, too. I don't do very many "smalls"; they generally don't appeal.

Hey there,

I just finished a wolf cross stitch pattern and it took me 4962 hours to do. I took my time. I calculated the hours on this project because it was a big one and curiosity got the best of me!

Shannon

We don`t have a JOAnn here ,,,,, when i want to go `simple` ,,,, i make a small present.. If i know the intended reciever i think about her and choose items she likes + her momgrams + some kind of dedication....or wit suited to reciever and of course making year both the Hebrew and the general... That is simple work to me .. mirjam

I know that Lucille ,!!!!! I was wondering what she meant by a ...`Simple cross stich project `.... When does a xst become not simple ?? is it size , complexity of stiches ????? what dores she mean ??? mirjam

Cheryl you are just answering my question... i too thought that it `all Depends `.... mirjam

Debra ! I usually work xst as a part in a bigger artwork , as some parts need that kind of tecnique. Making time and what you call here `quality` of stich has no meaning as such in my artwork. as some art takes me months to make, and some have taken a year, slept a bit and than were finnished. Sometimes i rip out parts , sometimes i rip out a stich or two or more ,,, When i make presents for friends and colleagues and use some xst in it i am very strict about what and how it looks,,, But even than i can combine xst with a piece of applique,,, xst like any other stich is a tool , a language part to reach the goal of `saying` somrthing in color and form. The Xst in itself isn` a goal. Thus if i am not in a habit to mention to others, if i note a difference in directions of the stiches [since me and some other do it at times on Purpose, to get certain effects of light] . For me The end result of the work is the Goal, The Look , the Feeling the story it tells ,,,, Every crafter and artist have their own Needle Pull... it is very easy to notice in works , if they were made by more than one person, or if that person was moody or unhealthy. But One shouldn`t go around carrying a Magnifying glass,,, One should go and celebrate Human creativity that shines out in so many handcrafted items. mirjam

Ah, Mirjam, you produce works of art that include many forms of embroidery with more than one type of fabric or threads and often including unusual materials. That is very different from the projects that my friend and I do.

My friend and I follow commercial cross stitch patterns, and I was thinking about the baby bibs we made that are simply a backstitched outline of a teddy bear or ducky with plain cross stitch in a single color filling each area. In that type of project consistent stitches are important for good coverage and so the item will last through many uses and washings. One would not want stitches so tight as to pull the fabric out of shape or to be so loose that small loops form. My friend does both of those things within a 10 stitch by 10 stitch area, and there will be a sprinkling of accidently reversed stitches to show how little attention she was paying to her stitches while try to get it done quickly. The inconsistencies in her stitching are easily noticed from as much as 2 meters away on projects like this. She has noticed the difference between her "get it done fast" method and my slower, more consistent stitching. She still cross stitches fast, but she now looks at her stitches more often and fixes the worst of her mistakes. Meanwhile, I am learning to leave the occasional odd backwards cross stitch in my project for the sake of getting it done. Debra in VA See my quilts at

LOL It took me about 3 years. I worked on it slowly and only when I wanted to. It was a difficult pattern . I was doing another project at the time also!

Shannon

Thank you Debra Yes i create art with many techniques , but my work has to be strong and durable as well ,, When it is jung by personnel in a ,museum or gallery who haven`t seen it before they might pull things apart ,,,, {touch wood] ..... mirjam

I am delighted to read this ,,,, some works get better when one works longer over them ..... mirjam