State of the WIPs
20260331 - Tuesday
20260331 State of the WIPs
In this post, I'd like to introduce you to all of my work in progress craft projects! As it stands I have no idea how many WIPs I truly have, but I'm hoping to get the ones listed here all done by the start of July this year.
Main Project: Filet Ancien cross stitch
Started: 20251220 - Saturday
I'm using a pattern from DMC's Filet Ancien book 3, on page 125. The fabric is 32ct linen, and the thread is silk, which is completely new to me! I found the pattern because a lot of them are reposted to Pinterest, and one of the screenshots I found there had the Antique Pattern Library listed as its source. It was my first time seeing it, and I think I spent about 4 hours just looking through the 12 or so Filet Ancien books on their own.
I've been really enjoying this project, in part because it's only utilizing one color, but also because it's fun to slowly see the little critter designs come to life. I bought the fabric as a 1/4 yard, and I'm hoping to fill the whole of it with different complementing designs from the same book.
Secondary Project: Kogin coasters
Started: 202505??
I think I started these last May based on memory, because I didn't start my craft journal until a few months later down the line. The pattern is from here, which I lazily copied directly. I'm using DMC 14ct aida with 6 strands of DMC 561 embroidery thread.
I chose supplies I had on hand because this was before I committed to making a Yuzawaya order. I also thought the offsetting would look a lot cooler than it's actually turning out, which was a major de-motivator for working on this. Maybe a more compact design with contrasting colors would be better for the offsetting, but I'll have to experiment with that later.
Empoleon cross stitch
Started: 20260114 - Wednesday
I drafted the pattern myself, using a photo I found on google and FlossCross's photo to pattern tool. It's on 36ct linen and I'm using DMC embroidery thread. Pattern can be found here.
On Hold: Precious Moments Afghan cross stitch
Started: 20250823 - Saturday
I have a mostly ironic relationship with Precious Moments. A crappy job I had in the summer of 2020 sold them, and the days were slow enough that I had time to look at them closely and research who and why Sam Butcher exists. Either way, the intersection of vague Christianity mixed with consumer goods has always been an interesting topic to me, and I think that Precious Moments is an embodiment of what makes that intersection so uncomfortable to observe. That being said, I ended up giving them a lot of money last summer when I visited the Precious Moments Chapel, because they happened to have not one, but five different cross stitch books available in their gift shop.
It's actually kind of weird, because one of the designers that Butcher worked with to make these books was Mormon. The design company is called Gloria and Pat, and they actually made even more Precious Moments books than the ones I got my hands on. The company has been gone for a little while, but you can still find copies of their books on mainstream and secondhand sites.
On Hold/Deserted: Nikka Whiskey cross stitch
Started: 20251220 - Saturday
I don't have much to say about this one. It's kind of hideous? I thought the logo looked cool, but it doesn't seem to translate right. I'm open to the potential that backstitching might add in terms of making it look more like stained glass, though.
On Hold: Pusheen Christmas cross stitch kit
Started: 202502??
This was given as a late Christmas gift for 2024. I began cross stitching in July that year using the regular Pusheen kit from the same company, as well as the Sanrio kit they have too. Being more experienced now, it feels a little silly to do a kit, even though the patterns are cute. I at least want these done by Novmber though, for the sake of turning them into ornaments.
Want to Do: Needlelot Designs patterns
I bought 4 of her patterns (Sleeping Fox, Red Panda, Dreaming of Carrots, and the Art Nouveau Fox) on a whim because I thought they were so pretty! Someone on the cross stitch reddit had recommended them (to someone else, lol), so I chose out some favorite animals for friends and family. I won't be around to them anytime soon, but I want to at least start one of them by July.