In December 2016 I was invited to an embroidery challenge. The challenge was to stitch every day in 2017 (at least one stitch) and post your progress on social media. I joined the Facebook group: 1 Year of Stitches: 2017 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1294313713974098/ and decided to post the pictures of my progress on my Facebook timeline. I knew that freeform was not my style so I decided to do “little embroideries,” using designs that I already had and randomly picking the floss color for each one. The randomness is gone and the “little embroideries” may get bigger as the year goes by.
I was excited to start, but apprehensive too. How much time would this take? Could I keep up?
Would I get bored? I decided on using three strands of embroidery floss (out of 6) which would make a finer design. I’m also using felt on some of the designs. I use a Sulky wash-away stabilizer that comes in packs of 12 sheets that you can print designs on with your printer. You just print out the design and peel it off the backing and it sticks to your fabric. It doesn’t always stick well. I usually embroider in the morning. If I turn on all my lights I have enough lighting at night to embroider too.
Starting three days before January 1st, I felt a sense of urgency, which didn’t leave me until the first design was done, the hummingbird, in a week’s time. Now I don’t have the same sense of urgency. I am supposed to post to the Facebook group on Sundays, but now post whenever I have a finished embroidery to share. I’m on Day 54 and have finished five so far.
I’ve framed one and plan to frame the rest for gifts in 2018. One friend has already tagged the angelfish for herself. The themes are one color floss and bling! I’m beading each one, and adding sequins to some of them.
What have I learned so far? That saying you’ll do something for a year is quite different than actually working on something every day. That I have to take it one day at a time or the task will seem far too enormous. That having external support (Facebook likes and friend’s comments and the support of the Poetic Muselings) is extremely important and helpful. Here’s to 10 more months of stitching! And 8 days!!!
This is my current WIP, a chandelier, almost done:
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Margaret Fieland
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Poetic Muselings 
Comments on: "2017 Embroidery Challenge" (1)
I love love love these and what you are doing! Remember to tell me NO when I ask you how to do it, so I can stay focused.