I have at least a dozen partially-done needlework projects laying around -- in fact, there's half a sock sitting on my computer table, shoved back against the wall. It's my first sock and it's right at the point where I need to start paying attention to the heel so I need some time when I'm not doing anything else and I just... haven't. :P I did the leg part while YMing and such.
Let's see -- I've got about 80% of the surface stitching done on a hardanger pillow. I'm this close to finishing it and being able to start on the cutting and all, but I just haven't felt like it recently. And I have a little practice piece of needle lace that I haven't worked on in ages, and a counted cross-stitch tiger cub which is going to be a gift for my husband the cat person if I ever finish it, and a half done Christmas tree hanging that needs to have a lot of silver cording frogged out because the Q-snaps that the lady at the needlework store swore to me wouldn't damage the piece At All crushed the cording [eyeroll] and an Assisi work placemat (cat pattern -- also for the husband) that's about a third done, and two partially done baby sweaters for a "baby" who's about five now and.... LOL!
Plus whatever all else is lying around. Every now and then I get the needlework bug and I'll do whatever for a while and then it goes away. I actually posted pics of three of my projects to a few needlework coms here on LJ a while back, hoping that'd spur me on to work on them. No such luck. [sigh] They're here though if you want to take a look. You could post pics of your bargello; I'm sure the folks there would enjoy seeing it. :)
Oh man... I don't even want to talk about half-finished projects. ;) The joys of trying a lot of different creative things is all the stuff I started and then got distracted by something else. I have this needlepoint canvas up on the top shelf of my bedroom closet that's this intricate Christmas scene. I think I started that right after I got married. Is it done? Uhm... no. But it's one of those things I really, really need to pay attention to -- like with counted cross-stitch that's a hugely intricate pattern -- and I can only do a little of that at a time. And then there's all the crocheted projects, like afghans, part-way done. Hubby says I collect projects, and he's totally right.
I went to look at the projects you posted. The tiger kitty is cute! I've never heard of needle lace before, and the hardanger pillow looks daunting. Is that counted-thread work? I've never been tempted to try that. I did a little crewel work at one time, but I like counted cross-stitch better. My knitting is limited to anything I can do in a straight line without counting stitches. :P I'm wowed that you're doing socks and baby sweaters. Even if, you know, the baby's kind of outgrown the project. ;)
Thanks. :) I collect projects too, heh, and materials -- I have fabric and threads and beads and some yarn and stuff all stashed away, and that's not even the stuff that's been started or even earmarked for a project. [groan]
My grandmother taught me to knit when I was three (although I didn't learn the pearl stitch till I was six or seven, LOL!) so I've had a lot of practice. I got into knitting lace in my early twenties and didn't do much work with yarn for a while, until a friend at work got pregnant and I did my first baby sweater for her. I like baby sweaters 'cause they work up quickly and I'm more likely to actually finish one while I still have the knitting bug. It doesn't always work [cough] but at least it has a chance. :)
Needle lace is one of the "true" laces, along with bobbin lace and netted lace. If you've never seen it before, my practice piece definitely isn't anything you should get a first impression off of. [wry smile] People who actually know what they're doing produce some absolutely gorgeous stuff using this technique. Another thing I collect is needlework books, and I have quite a few on lace and lacemaking, with photos. :)
Hardanger is counted, right. [nod] You do the surface stitching, then threads in some parts of the pattern, the ones bounded with stitching like the triangles and squared in my piece, are cut away, leaving a sort of network of remaining threads and you do more stitching on those threads and in the open spaces.
I think that's probably why I don't do much needlework -- the stuff I'm interested in tends to be the more intricate and complex techniques, things I can't do while watching TV or whatever. I have to pay attention and count stitches and keep the pattern in my head and/or be referring to the printed pattern regularly, so I need time set aside just for my project, and I don't do that often. :/
Let's see -- I've got about 80% of the surface stitching done on a hardanger pillow. I'm this close to finishing it and being able to start on the cutting and all, but I just haven't felt like it recently. And I have a little practice piece of needle lace that I haven't worked on in ages, and a counted cross-stitch tiger cub which is going to be a gift for my husband the cat person if I ever finish it, and a half done Christmas tree hanging that needs to have a lot of silver cording frogged out because the Q-snaps that the lady at the needlework store swore to me wouldn't damage the piece At All crushed the cording [eyeroll] and an Assisi work placemat (cat pattern -- also for the husband) that's about a third done, and two partially done baby sweaters for a "baby" who's about five now and.... LOL!
Plus whatever all else is lying around. Every now and then I get the needlework bug and I'll do whatever for a while and then it goes away. I actually posted pics of three of my projects to a few needlework coms here on LJ a while back, hoping that'd spur me on to work on them. No such luck. [sigh] They're here though if you want to take a look. You could post pics of your bargello; I'm sure the folks there would enjoy seeing it. :)
Angie
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I went to look at the projects you posted. The tiger kitty is cute! I've never heard of needle lace before, and the hardanger pillow looks daunting. Is that counted-thread work? I've never been tempted to try that. I did a little crewel work at one time, but I like counted cross-stitch better. My knitting is limited to anything I can do in a straight line without counting stitches. :P I'm wowed that you're doing socks and baby sweaters. Even if, you know, the baby's kind of outgrown the project. ;)
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My grandmother taught me to knit when I was three (although I didn't learn the pearl stitch till I was six or seven, LOL!) so I've had a lot of practice. I got into knitting lace in my early twenties and didn't do much work with yarn for a while, until a friend at work got pregnant and I did my first baby sweater for her. I like baby sweaters 'cause they work up quickly and I'm more likely to actually finish one while I still have the knitting bug. It doesn't always work [cough] but at least it has a chance. :)
Needle lace is one of the "true" laces, along with bobbin lace and netted lace. If you've never seen it before, my practice piece definitely isn't anything you should get a first impression off of. [wry smile] People who actually know what they're doing produce some absolutely gorgeous stuff using this technique. Another thing I collect is needlework books, and I have quite a few on lace and lacemaking, with photos. :)
Hardanger is counted, right. [nod] You do the surface stitching, then threads in some parts of the pattern, the ones bounded with stitching like the triangles and squared in my piece, are cut away, leaving a sort of network of remaining threads and you do more stitching on those threads and in the open spaces.
I think that's probably why I don't do much needlework -- the stuff I'm interested in tends to be the more intricate and complex techniques, things I can't do while watching TV or whatever. I have to pay attention and count stitches and keep the pattern in my head and/or be referring to the printed pattern regularly, so I need time set aside just for my project, and I don't do that often. :/
Angie
Reply
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