Stitcher's Questionnaire

Found this out when traipsing around the 'net. It's from the Incoherent Stitcher (http://blog.blondelibrarian.net/archives/2008/03/sbq-recycling-questions/)

According to her blog: I took over “The Stitching Blogger’s Question of the Week” from Jennie back in January of 2005. When I first started it I had no plans to post a question every week so I changed the name of the meme to The Stitching Blogger’s Question and then shortened it even further so that it became the SBQ.

So, without further ado, I rounded up some of the past questions and post them here with my answers to make one giganto survey. :D.

1. Define a stitching term for a newbie:

BAP: Big Assed Project. Generally anything larger than one would normally stitch, such as a Teresa Wentzler or a White Willow Stitching. Usually very large, very complicated, but VERY worth it!

2. Do you ever get to a point working on a project that you’ve had for so long, you start to wonder what possessed you to start it in the first place?

Usually BAP's for me,  but I have had smaller ones that have driven me straight up a tree.  

3. Do you currently subscribe to any stitching publications or have you in the past? (Either in print or online) If so, which ones?

While I am not currently subscribing to anything, I have subscribed to JCS, The CrossStitcher (US version), Stoney Creek, and the Better Homes and Gardens publications. 

4. How do you balance your stitching time with your other obligations such as work, household chores, etc.?

I stitch when the mood strikes, so if this means not making up the bed, I'm ok with that. :)

5. What is your cross stitch weakness? (i.e., What do you have to have when you see it, even if you are supposed to be on the Wagon?)

Charts and kits. LHN and SanMan Originals are my two biggest weaknesses and I just go ape when I see the new stuff they constantly bring out. 

6. Do you have any projects that you have scrapped and started over? What made you start over from scratch?

I have one of those now, Little House Needleworks 'Cappuccino'. I decided to stitch it on a 14 ct Starlite aida from Sassy's Fabrics called Tan Marble. I had to frog out ALL of the cup that was stitched as the original was stitched in a Crescent Colours Belle Soie silk called 'Vanilla Pudding'. I re-stitched it in CC Belle Soie 'Cranberry' and it shows up a lot nicer. I also found that the flower motifs at the top were out of alignment, so those had to go too. Mind you, according to my stitchy notes, I began this project on Wednesday, December 26, 2007 at 8 PM EST. What is the date again?! And I am probably only halfway through it and need more floss, as the original was done on a 32 count fabric and there is only enough floss for a 32 ct and not a 14 count. 

7. What was your favorite finish of 2007?

A New Jersey Devils logo that I did for a very dear friend of mine. I submitted it on a whim to the Devil's Legion on the official NJ Devils web page and it wound up on the front page for a very long time. I was really excited about that because the players often go there to check things out. There goes my 15 minutes! :D

8. Do you have any pieces that you would liked passed on to future generations as family heirlooms?

Oh, heavens yes. First and foremost would be the band sampler I did back in 1996. I did it in 3 days, despite not knowing how to do most of the specialty stitches. The mat is a cranberry red VELVET and cost more than the frame itself! I will have to post a pic of it at some point. It's still one of my absolute favorites. 

9. What items do you consider essential to your needlework that you keep in your stitching bag?

Well, after rooting around the contents of my DMC XL stitching bag with the DMC Mentor pin on it, I came up with the following:

1. John James Platinum tapestry needles

2. Q-snap frames of various sizes.

3. Thread Heaven

4. DMC Stitch bows with DMC Flosses on them

5. a couple of projects that were put by the wayside so I can stitch my current two. (I do that a lot)

6. The DMC Stitch bag itself. I love that thing! Keeps everything organized, I can fit large and small projects in it, and I feel so professional toting it around. :P

10. When you stitch a pattern that you have downloaded do you print out the pattern or do you stitch directly from your computer screen?

I've done both. At this time, I have about five and a half GIGS worth a freebie gifts that I have been collecting since about 2000 (if not earlier). To print all of that out would be insanity, so I print what I will stitch right then and there, then they are either shredded or stitched again. (I do that a lot too!)

11. Are there other crafts that you have tried and abandoned? Why do you like stitching better?

I actually started out with silk ribbon embroidery, and that one I really do miss. It was pretty, fun, almost instant results, and it was a blast to play in all that ribbon. :) I've tried other forms of needlework from hardanger, crewel (my mother called it cruel and unusual punishment! LOL!), mixed embroidery, Brazilian embroidery, crochet, knitting, needlepoint and a few others I am forgetting because it's so late. Some I like, others I hated and still others I didn't 'get'. I swore I would never do any xs, but it sort of got under my skin after I did a card for my mother for mother's day and never really quit doing it. 

12. Do you ever get to a point working on a project that you’ve had for so long, you start to wonder what possessed you to start it in the first place?

As my WIP/UFO list can attest to, YES!!!

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Respectfully submitted,

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