Last night my fingers needed something to do. I think I’ve been missing stitching, since finishing off the book. I went and found the old Hardanger runner I’ve had floating around my office since I discovered it, unfinished in a drawer last year. Until I’ve figured out what book I’m going to do next, this can keep my hands happy.
When I found the runner last year, I didn’t remember it at all. This isn’t terribly surprising, because when I had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome about 5 years ago, it wiped bits of my memory. So I wasn’t sure how old it was, just that it was definitely pre-CFS. It was obviously my work, and my design, because I practically never stitch anything that isn’t my design. I have too many ideas of my own to spend time working other people’s designs!
The runner didn’t have a pattern with it, and there were some areas which I wasn’t really sure what I had planned for it. So this morning I started up my very, very old desktop computer to see if I could find the pattern on it. No such luck. It did seem though, that I had cleared out most of the files from the computer in preparation for decommissioning it. That meant that if the pattern still existed, it would be on my external hard drive.
Bingo! With some searching, there it was, from way back in 2005! And with it were some other designs that would certainly be good to stitch. I now have confirmation that it was definitely my design, and I can now continue on, either with the pattern as planned or make some changes to it, as I see fit.
It is lovely to be stitching again. 🙂
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
I cleaned up my sewing room the other day along with my overflow room. Not a pretty sight. I have three hobbies….quilting, needlework and photography. I have enough fabric and thread to start my own store and I am not kidding. I went to my local fabric store, got my hands on a bunch of empty bolts and wrapped a huge amount of fabric up to make it more manageable.! Needlework has taken a back seat the last few years but ever since I got your hardanger book I have realized how much I really missed it. So in the course of the clean up I was happy to find a few projects started but never finished. And was thrilled to be able to locate the errant design books. One project has very little work needed to finish it and it is beautiful. I was especially happy to locate that missing book. So I know exactly how you feel!
Happy stitching, Eileen! 😀
It is lovely to rediscover a project and to have the satisfaction of completing it shortly. I can imagine after the concentrated effort required to finish your latest book, it must make for a refreshing change. I was interested to read about your experience of CFS. I have the same illness and although it has not affected my memory, I am considerably limited by it. Although I cannot do as much as I would like, needlework (especially white embroidery) has become a great source of pleasure. Also, thanks to the magic of the internet, I can enjoy seeing beautiful embroidery by other needle workers, such as yourself. Thank you for the inspiration, Yvette. 🙂 I very much look forward to reading your new book.
Hi Kathryn, I’m sorry to hear of your illness. I know how truly horrible it can be. I am glad that you are still able to enjoy embroidery. When I had CFS, unfortunately I was unable to do any embroidery at all. I knew I was getting better when the desire and ability to do embroidery started to return.
Knowing that these things can take a very long time, I won’t glibly say that I hope you get better soon. However, I hope *today* is a good day for you.