Wednesday, March 12, 2025

What to do with an old project.

 I've been working hard trying to finish up a couple of quilting projects.

I started looking for something different to add some variety to my stitching in between the other concentrated efforts to finish things.

I found this old (and I mean old) cross stitch project designed by Paula Vaughan and thought maybe it was time to complete it.  I think I moved it with us when we moved 25 years ago. 




This is how much I have completed.  There are hours and hours already devoted to this project.



I sat down yesterday evening to work on it with my now aging eyes and aching joints.  It is 18 Aida, not as small as many of the designs are now.

It's a pretty piece and I've got most of it done, it seems a shame to just abandon it.



But, after about an hour of stitching and unstitching. . . this is all I got done, the gray part to the left of the tree.  So I'm rethinking this.  

Do I want to spend a lot of time (still) to finish this up?  It is in the decorating style of the 90's.  And when I finish it, what am I going to do with it?  I tempted to donate it to a thrift store.  

Is anyone else hanging on to old projects that are mostly done but know it will just go back on the shelf if you finish it?

I'm going downstairs to sew on something that I know I'll use while I mull this over.

Robin

8 comments:

Julierose said...

I have donated my old stitching projects and my partially completed ones as I can no longer do that type of tiny stitching...
I am having enough problems with my Dark Days..I decided to use perle cotton and not embroidery floss (which I hate--as it knots and tangles and 2 strands never stay together for me!!) as it is easier to see and handle...gives a different look, but I like it...
Hugs, Julierose

cityquilter grace said...

i remember all her lovely stitchery patterns but i gave up 18 count long ago...i say do whatever your conscience will permit...could be that someone would love to have it who cannot afford a pricey kit like those were...

Anonymous said...

If the design of the picture itself no longer speaks to you then I would donate it. You're right, what will you do with it when it's finished?
I'm doing the temperature tree thing and am amazed at how long it's taking me just because I'm rusty at it and no long have the eyes for it.

Linda said...

Wow that is a gorgeous piece! I know what you mean about old cross stitch projects. I have mine all in another closet, and I can't seem to give them up.

Juliann said...

I am trying to be more realistic about old, unfinished projects. So many things that I left undone and usually for good reasons. Slowly I send them out into the world to make space for new things.

Mystic Quilter said...

Gosh that's a heck of a lot of cross stitch, however a beautiful scene and what a beauty it will be when completed whether you keep and finish or donate.

Nancy said...

I think my criteria for deciding whether to keep or pass on would be whether I still love it and whether I'd love working it. If you don't love it and the process of finishing it is painful, it won't bring you happy memories. Will you wonder if you wasted your time? It has an amazing amount of detail!

Janet O. said...

Oh, I remember all the beautiful Paula Vaughan patterns. Before I even read anything of this post, as soon as I saw the picture I immediately recognized her style. It is a beautiful piece! So hard to let something like that go when you have already put so many hours into it. But do you enjoy it anymore, or is it drudgery to work on it?
Do you have a daughter or DIL who would love it, or even love to finish it? I don't have any unfinished cross-stitch pieces, but I saved two sampler patterns and the floss that I told myself I would do one day. I beginning to question if that day will ever come.

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