Unfortunately nothing was calling to me. It was then that I started feeling the lure of the large project. I knew that I had a large number of stunning patterns in my stash, any one of which I could work on. What was the harm in another project, right? I mean it is my hobby and I should enjoy it whatever form it wants to take.
Alas I have been down that road before and I knew were it would lead, guilt-ville. Starting yet another project would provide a very temporary contentment but soon I would look at my growing number of unfinished projects and be annoyed that I had yet another one to finish. Worse yet, the time I spent on that new start would have been better spent on getting closer to finishing a WIP.
So what did I do? I thought about what it was I was looking forward to in a new project, what about the charts that were calling to me were pulling me in. Here is what I came up with: I wanted some block stitching but not a HAED, I wanted some quick progress. I was in the mood for something pretty, like a fairy pattern or a fancy lady. Lastly I wanted to stitch on a larger count, something around 28ct eveweave.
So off I went to my pile of WIPs to find something that would match my requirements. As soon as I saw Celtic Spring I knew that was the one to fend off the New Start Itch. So I settled down and finished off the last of the darker purples, filling in that section. I felt so much happier at not only having avoided the call of another new project but that managed to get, what is to my brain, a little mini finish within a big project.
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| Lavender & Lace: Celtic Spring |
Whatever type of stitcher you are I hope you at least found this post interesting, for those who are like me and need to keep a limit on the WIP pile I hope you found it helpful. At the very least you might have enjoyed the picture of my Celtic Spring progress.
You can read another tip for New Start Itch in my post : Stitcher's Dilemma
You can read another tip for New Start Itch in my post : Stitcher's Dilemma
Good luck with fending off that New Start Itch.
Oh so true! My stash is calling me but my WIPs are screaming for attention! I haven't started anything new since New Year's, but I do love diving into a new project. Sometimes I can find a project that I haven't worked on in so long that it almost feels like a new start. I do love the Celtic Seasons series and yours is coming along beautifully.
ReplyDeleteYour Celtic woman is beautiful! I know that new start itch very well, and it seems like you've found the perfect solution. I don't like to have too many WIPs either.
ReplyDeleteI forget how beautiful her designs are until I see someone stitching them again.
ReplyDeleteI like to work on one big project and then have ornaments on the side for quick satisfaction.
I know that feeling....in fact I'm trying to ignore it and finish one of my current WIPs too! Love your Celtic spring, the colours are so rich and gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteHappy stitching!
Celtic Spring is a great choice! Good for you. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat progress! I'm the same, I don't like to have a lot of projects hanging out, especially since I tend to focus on just one at a time. I've got five WIPs now and they are driving me mad!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful progress! Way to find a way to scratch that itch that works best for you!
ReplyDeleteCeltic Spring is gorgeous. I used to be a one a time stitcher. About 12 - 13 years I discovered blogland and the rest is history.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Great idea! I'm glad you found something satisfying for you :)
ReplyDeleteOH yes! Recently I had this same epiphany and can now pick up a WIP and throw a few stitches into it and feel good enough to get back to the main project at hand :D
ReplyDeleteSo great that you found a project that fit all your requirements. The new start itch is why I have time set aside each week to stitch a small. I'm not committed to something huge and I can finish it in a couple of weeks (usually), so no guilt.
ReplyDeleteOh yes I'm with you, I have 3 I need to stitch this year and right now I don't want to stitch them. I want to start a big HEAD of all things the Trreasure hunt bookshelf. I've wanted to start it since Jan 1 but as I think of moving away from the 3 I start to feel bad. The only thing really stopping me is thinking of the peoples faces when I give them their gift. It's so hard at times to not start a new stitch. Love that you went and found a wip you love to stitch again, she looks great.
ReplyDeleteI've been having this exact same stitching dilemma of late!! Your Celtic Spring is beautiful, well done for getting some more done on it and avoiding a start :) I've been itching for a new start for ages (either cross-stitch or stitchery/quilt) but am trying to be good and finish off other things... as a result I'm jumping from project to project and seemingly not getting much of anything done!!
ReplyDeleteI know what it is, I felt for that feeling once. The only one time, and I do regret, cause I could have worked on one of my 3 WIP. I don't like having 67 wip at the same time, 4 is enough for me ( okay, maybe 5 but that will be all, I promise :) )
ReplyDeleteWhat a clever way of solving the problem. I also thought your idea in the linked post, of laying out your non-rotation WIPs, was really good.
ReplyDeleteI've always been a several at a time stitcher, and have managed to persuade myself that swopping projects is (usually) as good as a new start. That means when you start a real new start, there is a genuine sense of pleasure, without fear of guilt.
oh yes yes, I thought you were talking about me! I think I totally have that symptom recently! But I'm itching for not one but many HAEDS! lmao
ReplyDeleteOh I can so relate! Last year I managed to stay off the itch with the Smalls SAL. This year will hopefully see me completing some of the WIPs I have, but I don't think I'll be able to completely stay off the urge for a new start!
ReplyDeleteYour Celtic spring is gorgeous...I've been eyeing all 4 of them for ever so long....but can't truthfully justify purchasing more charts with all that I do have that needs stitching! I'll just enjoy watching yours :)
Love your reasoning for not starting a new project. And will borrow it in the future. L&L has always been a favorite. Your Celtic Lady is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteCeltic Ladyis beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYou are a better stitcher than I am I'm afraid. I let myself be whispered into a new start even though I have a gazillion WIPs/UFOs hanging about and I needed a new start like another hole in my head!!! Luckily, it is from stash so at least I didn't blow my stash diet!! It's a biggie too so it will be around for a while. But I promised myself I would only work on it through the weekend and then I had to make some finishes before I could take it out again. Hope that works as a motivator!! Laura
ReplyDeleteVery insightful! Great job finding something that met all your needs. It amazes me how versatile stitchers are.
ReplyDeleteOh how beautiful she is =)Great work on her!
ReplyDeleteI totally understand how you feel, we all love new starts, but we also want to finish things. I guess I wil choose a Black/White deigns for my next new start for sometimes I feels like just a few colors and I never stitched a BW before. So I hope that my interest in it will last ;-) I guess I will try to add more different projects, so I have a project for every mood and don't start random projects because I look for something "different" or more "suiting" :D I'm not sur eif this makes sense :D
Beautiful stitching !! I am a moderate stitcher as well-not too many starts, not too little either.
ReplyDeleteOoh we all know that feeling too well :) You found a great way of dealing with it & your stitching is just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGreat post~ I love being the weirdo here; I must be immune to the new start itch! I like having new patterns and new ideas but actually taking that first step of prepping everything is something I do not like at all (probably because marker fiascoes hah)! Plus I get very easily and unpleasantly overwhelmed by many unfinished projects looming on the horizon.
ReplyDeleteYour Celtic Spring is looking wonderful; that whole set is so pretty.
Beautiful progress, and well done fending off startitis!
ReplyDeleteCeltic Spring is beautiful and I'm really glad she satisfied your new start itch. You're right in that L&L patterns give you that real sense of achievement because they grow so quickly despite being large(ish) projects.
ReplyDeleteIf you do go for another new start try not to feel too guilty. As you said, it's you're hobby and you should stitch whatever makes you happy. We're here to support you either way! :)
I love the L&L Celtic charts and I really do intend to stitch them one day (although my list is very long).
ReplyDeleteShe is stunning and I can understand why you picked her to help curb your craving. I get the guilt thing, I have to have more than one, but I feel very uncomfortable with the amount of WIP's I have now and I need to clear a few of them, which I am trying to do :)
Well done for resisting the temptation!
I love your decision! I understand...I am working on a HAED right now and I love it but I think I need a change.....
ReplyDeleteI know what you speak of? New Start itch? Smirk grin smile chuckle.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great way to dispel and conquer that very very demanding call.
She's beautiful and the colours in her skirt are so lush.
Temptation 0 - Pull the other thread 1 Woo Hoo!!
xo Alicia