March 21, 2023

Not Quite Done...But Getting There.

The great Christmas stocking project is almost to the finish line but hasn't quite made it there yet.

Why?

Because someone was in SUCH a hurry to start this project they neglected to read a very important part of the instructions (yes, that someone would be me) - and now I'm faced with a difficult decision - finish it as is or figure out a way to finish off the personalization bit - the whole point of this project to begin with - (hopefully without pulling out any stitches - I realize this is a pipe dream).

When I started this project (counts on fingers) seven months ago at the end of August, I naively thought I'd be done in PLENTY of time for Christmas 2022 - as we all know, that did not happen.  I also thought, at that time, that I'd make stockings for ALL of us.  HAHAHAHAHA.  No, that will not be happening.

Well, maybe...but only if I can find a kit that isn't quite as elaborate as this one was.  The Husband, half kidding, said he couldn't believe I had the patience to finish this...insinuating that I might be a tad bit impatient at times.  Well, he's not wrong there but, he neglected to remember just how stubborn I can be...which is really probably the only reason this project has gotten this far.

So here's where we are with this project - all the stitches are done.  All that's left is to figure out if I want to deal with personalization (once I realized that I'd, in all probability, never make another - I thought about just using the family name and using it as a Christmas decoration) and to actually put the stocking together.  

Knowing that if/when I personalize the darn thing I won't post it without a redaction of said name, I figured I'd share the almost done piece.


Honestly, the picture doesn't do it justice.

Despite the fact that I messed up the whole personalization of the thing, I'm pretty pleased with the results.

Even after I complained about how much I despised doing detail stitches, these weren't terribly tedious as some others I've done.

And, as you can see from the next two photos - the (tedious) detail stitches ARE pretty important to a project.

Without detail - the rabbits, the doll and the bear look
positively creepy.


With detail - although, the doll...still a bit creepy.


And with that - I'm hanging up my needle for a bit; after seven months I think I need a break.

19 comments:

  1. Holy carp. That's ambitious!!! I made the stockings out of the boy's first Christmas outfits. This year I redid them, made them more uniform (read: fits more stuff) and used my Cricut to do some fancy iron on letters for their names. The Hubs stocking is made from an old concert T-shirt he never wore, and Bonus Son is a bunch of quilted video game fabric I found. Mine is from my childhood. My parents had NO money so my mother made mine out of an old 1970's red shirt. And now you know why all of them are repurposed clothes...

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    1. Ambitious is an understatement; insane more describes it, I think. Particularly when I remember that I actually thought of making THREE more (which, of course would necessitate even more as the family will undoubtedly grow). I actually like the idea of making stockings out of repurposed, well loved clothes. Every time they are brought out, I can only imagine the memories that come with them.

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  2. You are doing a great job, Gigi! That looks REALLY hard! I have no ability whatsoever to do any kind of craft, so this is so impressive to me!

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    1. Thanks, Nicole. It's not really hard...just time consuming.

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  3. This looks hard, but also so, so chic! I feel like this style of stocking is all the rage now on design blogs. Look at you being so trendy. But also - this does look so hard. I can hardly sew a button back on and would have abandoned this project about 10 minutes in. So huge kudos for sticking with it and I think it looks awesome!!!

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    1. Me, trendy? I had no idea. Does this mean I'm an influencer now?

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  4. Wow, beautiful work! The detailing really does make a difference.

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    1. Thank you. The detailing does make a difference and I know this - but yet every time, it always crosses my mind to just skip it. But I never do.

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  5. This is incredible! I'm beyond impressed. You've created a legacy item. Why can't you just find a lovely pin with their initial and add it to the finished product? Your work speaks for itself.

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    1. Thank you, Nance. This has been my biggest project ever and I am pretty proud of it.

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  6. I am so impressed with you. I could never do this. YOU GO!!
    I have to say, I liked the faceless creepy doll. 🤣

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    1. Thank you, Kari. And yes, you could do it; it's not hard. But I wouldn't start off with a project this elaborate. ;-)

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  7. This is beautiful. Whatever direction you decide to go in . . . it looks amazing. I don't blame you for wanting to take a break. This looks like it requires a lot of neck pain and squinting.

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  8. I think it's adorable. I recently that close work is no longer easy for my eyes to take, so I will just have to enjoy yours!

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  9. You are amazing to stick with that. Look at all that detail. It's beautiful. I agree you deserve a break from stitching for a good long while.

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  10. Waw, this is amazing. I got a cross stitch kit for Xmas from the kids and I have done like a miniscule part of it. The issue is the cat thinks the thread is hers. Plus I am so slow. Shall I send it over?

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  11. I too think it marvelous. I have learned the hard way to always think and read the instructions before I jump into things.

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  12. Girllllll, you are doing a fantastic job on this. Such an ambitious piece to begin with and I love your tenacity to keep on with it. You are right, the details MAKE the objects so much better!!

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