365 Days of Hand Stitching

Posted on January 10, 2018 by prairiemoonquilts in Handstitching

While I was laid up, I did a lot of wandering around the internet, and while I was mostly jealous of seeing all the quilting other people are already getting done this year, I also got a few ideas for things I’d like to do this year as well.

One of those things was inspired by Daisy Yellow Art and iHanna, and their project is called 365 Somethings in 2018. I know myself, and I know that even if I don’t have to complete one thing every day, finishing 365 somethings is not something I can do, even if they’re small things. That’s a lot for a year!

However, I can work toward finishing something every day, and if I have the freedom to go back and make up days I’ve missed, I can do even better. Their project gives you this freedom: you don’t have to make something every single day, but over the course of the year, make 365 of something.

Well, I’ve adapted it to fit my own way of working, and I’m committing to 365 Days of Handstitching this year!

Hand stitching is my first love. Hand needle-turn appliqué is my favorite thing, and I also love embroidery and knitting. And I’ve been known to hand piece and hand quilt a quilt or two in my day, and I have a couple of English Paper Piecing projects going on as well!

I tried a couple of 100-day stretches of hand stitching last year, and during those, I finished 21 hand stitched projects! The problem with those 100-day sessions was that I didn’t give myself permission to miss a day and go back and make it up. That’s what’s different about this time — that guilt will be gone, which is demotivating (the “well, I’ve missed a day, so I’ve botched the whole deal, so why keep trying?” mentality).

I know there will be days when I don’t get to pick up a needle (I’ve already had a couple of those this year), so being able to go back and do a little extra on days when I can, and let that count . . . well, that I can do, and that is what I’m shooting for this year.

So I’m off and running with this project, and so far I’ve worked on this Elementary Wrap (a free pattern from Purl Soho):

My Granny Stripe Afghan (free pattern from Attic24):

Some yo-yos for my Yo-Yo quilt:

I’ve done a little appliqué, and I’m about to embark on a cross-stitch-along that I’ll tell you about once I get started. I have LOTS of handwork projects to keep me busy. I’m hoping that most of it will involve appliqué or embroidery, but I’m also letting my knitting and crochet projects count.

So there you have it!

Have you chosen something that you will be working on all year?

Something you can commit to that is realistic, yet will hopefully move you further along with some of your projects?

Maybe just joining in on the 350 Blocks Project when it starts back up next week is just what you need?

I’ll be checking in periodically to show you all my handwork projects and their progress, and I’m anxious to see how many projects I can finish, if I have a dedicated commitment to making time for hand stitching this year.

I’d love to hear if you are doing a year-long dedicated project of some sort. Or if you’d like to join me in hand stitching, I’d be delighted to have the company!

10 responses to “365 Days of Hand Stitching”

  1. Sherry V. says:

    The cross stitch a long sounds interesting. . . haven’t heard of one of those before (but it has been ages since I have touched anything to do with cross stitch).

    I am trying to not commit to too many things this year. My problem is I want to do everything and then nothing gets done.

    So, this year, I am working on the One Monthly Goal (OMG) process to get things either done or moved a bit further towards being done. It is working so far. . .I have been steadily (like almost every day) on a quilt that I have had languishing in my home for about 8 years.

    This month it gets finished and moved out!

    Looking forward to seeing your progress.

  2. Sounds like a good plan. My friends and I are doing 15 minutes of stitching a day. If you miss a day you can do 30 minutes the next to make up for it. Plus we have 2 Get out of Stitching passes a month if we just can’t do it. Just trying to be more productive this year compared to last year.

  3. randy says:

    I saw the start of a you tube on quilt shawls or quilted hugs project. There are SO MANY AMAZING people out there… I get in so much trouble wandering on you tube.
    I just got back from spending time with my Wednesday peeps. I ironed fabric to make a dozen of so snow landscapes. If life gives you snow… make quilts about it.

  4. Kari says:

    Hi Shelly,
    I love the idea of 365 days of hand stitching….I have many knit projects half done or waiting to be seen, a few quilt projects EPP or embroidery, a few bindings waiting to be sewn on! Love the idea of 15 minutes a day as I know I can manage that…but think I will try for 30….and will track it!
    And yes, I will participate in 365 blocks again this year ….not that I am a huge producer but it is one way I can keep moving forward on projects. And yes, I have had to move my goal of using up stash fabric to this year…a goal of completing 3 scrap quilts and quilting the 2 I put together last year! Yup….I better get busy!

  5. Jocelyn says:

    Congratulations on your 365 goal! I really would love to finish the UFO’s that are hanging in my closet, which might not be enough for 365, but it would hopefully give me a push towards the finish line.

  6. Karen Edwards says:

    I do something related to quilts nearly every day already. I’ll continue to make quilts for two or three different charities as well as a Quilt of Valor or two. I am making a quilt for my nephew’s May wedding and will be working on a raffle quilt for our guild starting soon. I’d also like to concentrate on making some small quilts for me this year too. All that should keep me busy!

  7. Karen says:

    I love this idea of hand stitching every day! I used to knit, tat and cross stitch all the time, but haven’t picked anything up in ages. I have many unfinished projects that I would dearly love to complete. I also have a few bindings to hand sew and some mini quilts that I’d like to hand quilt. So I’m joining in with you! Great idea!!

  8. Marlene says:

    I am not, nor ever will be, a morning person. Now that I am retired, it is very rarely relevant. When I was still working, I decided to lay claim to a small amount of time that I “wasted” every day. I made a small adjustment that was surprisingly effective. Every evening before going to bed, I made sure my hand quilting project was next to my chair, two needles threaded and “ready to go.” Every morning before I left for work, I drank two cups of coffee. I moved that activity to my “sewing chair” and put in 15 minutes of stitching along w/my coffee. I was amazed at how much I got done in that short amount of time. If I can stitch before sunup than anybody can!!

  9. Rose Marie says:

    I will try this……….I am doing a lot of hand-stitching lately. Remember the Ruby McKim fruit basket applique I started back in the 90’s when I first met you? I got it out again. And I am hand appliqueing little squash from a Dawn Heese pattern. And soon and very soon, I am going to start hand quilting the Circle Game quilt designed by Jen Kingwell. And my daughter Linda and I are going to finish stitching some hand-pieced blocks that we found in my Mother’s stuff. We are still pulling stuff out of that like a magician’s hat. Then we will make a plan for using the finished blocks in a modern quilt. Quilters never get bored.

  10. Karen says:

    I found this to be a great motivator! I managed to knit 26 days in January, as I did extra on some days to make up for days missed. I’m not doing anything exciting, just dishcloths, but it’s more knitting than I’ve done in ages. And my 9 year old is doing it with me, learning how to finger knit a hat. Thanks for the motivation!

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