I had a whole bunch of DMC that I had on bobbins and I needed to put back in my master set. My 5 year old grandson was visiting and he LOVES numbers. So me and Asher spent a couple of hours putting them all in numerical order! We had a blast. Now when he comes over he asks if I "have any more threads to count"! Great video!
@lisaboban I am chuckling bc my 5 year old granddaughter Nora took mine all out of numerical order in the 3 drawer plastic storage case I keep them in and re arranged them 😂Can we trade for a day? 😉
I love watching Emmy's tail go by....and watching your flosstube between tornado warnings and going to the basement. It is a great distractor! 😉After 46 years of stitching, I bought myself a Lowery stand after stitching in hand for all of these years. I love it so far but it is only day one! You have to stitch what feeds your heart, I completely understand that you tabled, re evaluated or just stopped doing certain projects!!
I just went to the store and bought 40 skeins of floss for 3 new charts that I want to start in July, Fall & Winter & then I organized my floss bins. I love doing that. I wish I lived near you because I would come over in a heartbeat to put your floss away and organize it for you. It is good to go thru your things to see what you like and dislike. I did that last year and once I did it then I thought oh I got rid of things so now I can buy more and start more and now I am back up to the same number that I had before so be careful of falling into that rabbit hole. Happy Stitching.
Such a fun video!! We’re having wind storm too!! I’ve been going through all wips, starts, want to start!! I’m determined (?) to finish my 3 oldest wips!! From early 90’s!! One is very close to a finish!! What we do to ourselves!! 😆
This was great, I agree that having floss tied up in kitted projects can be frustrating and time consuming when you’re digging through project bags to find a certain skein of floss. You have inspired me to go through mine again to un-kit some, ufo some and see what happens. Love the midweek extras!
I curate my WIPs regularly. But I just shuffle them like a giant deck of cards, draw my poker hand for the month, and put the rest back in longterm storage until I want a fresh draw. I don’t count anything that isn’t “in my hand” as a WIP. Fully kitted or stored projects belong to the house until I draw them.
Well Helen, I think I have discovered that I am a collector...yep...I love certain things and whenever I see them on the secondary market I say 'me please' and of course they are adding up, like you say. I can't possibly stitch all these in my lifetime. Crazy, but I can't seem to stop. It is so exciting when I find one that I love and so, well, you know. ...lol
Hi Helen--I am inspired by your audit approach. I go through my patterns every so often and have been stitching since the early 80s. My tastes haven't changed much but between this cross stitch surge and the one in the 80s, cross stitch itself has taken a change. For many years, all those wonderful brick and mortar stores closed up. I had enough to keep me busy through my working years. Then, in my retirement, along came flosstube and so many enablers. Then there is instagram and more enabling. No longer a young or even middle aged stitcher, I must "be honest with myself". Thanks for that reality kick I needed.
Oh how l enjoyed this video and your honesty made me laugh. We too have windy weather and so much rain . I looked in drawers and cupboards in workroom , decided to have a sort out like you and feel a lot better. Yes, we do change our tastes and some of the designs today just call us. Big thank you 🎉😊
Hi Helen. Don't worry about UFOing or tabling projects. It's your stitching. Do whatever you want. Happy stitching. I have 4 Mira wips and 4 more in stash, and they aren't calling to me at all. I don't want to UFO them, but I may break down and do it to 2 of them.
Hi Helen I too have been looking at my stash of cross stitching some I really want to do and others not so sure. Oh well we have our ups and downs even in life itself. Love watching Emma's tail go by LOL. In the meantime Happy Stitching and be safe and kind. God bless Pat
Hi Helen, I enjoyed your video, it’s so true, that at times you have to be accountable to yourself. I have 3 wip’s, but I tend to work on one project at a time, and of course it’s not the wip’s, but I will finish them someday. I have kitted up patterns and they sit and I have been know to go thru them looking for floss, it’s such a fun game, haha. And as you know I’m a collector of patterns and I will never get them all stitched, but they are fun to look at. And you are so right that our taste changes, then it’s time to pass on charts. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your day!🌷Terri
It's so frustrating to go through all your projects to find a floss and coming up empty handed! If I wrote things down I wouldn't have that problem, but that just takes so much time away from stitching. 😊
I loved the "What I found out about me" lol, what I found out about me was, I like everyones projects better than mine 😂 Good video, blowing a gale here also but pretty normal for living close to the Firth of Forth which means cleaning the windows will have to wait, I'm 12 floors up have a balcony and vertigo 🤦♀️Thank you really enjoyed.
It's satisfying to be accountable to oneself. I'm working on just one project until it's finished, as I don't have space to have more projects out. It's working for me, so I'm enjoying me stitching time. Thanks for the video.
Honesty is the best policy! I did an honest audit and UFOed a couple of projects, as well. It feels good to reorganize and prioritize. I loved your Marie Kondo reference.
Oh yes the “floss basket of returns” 😟 I usually wait until I need to use a few or when it’s too full to add anymore!😂 I recently did this same thing when I was going to do Wipgo, well I still have a few in bags as a NEW market release was more exciting ! It happens to us all ! Love seeing any video you do, long or short I’m in ! Stay safe and have fun at your retreat !
I love honest assessments of WIPS. I too have learned what kind of stitcher I am. I wasn't even tempted to rush to buy a Market chart. I added 2 to my Wishlist then I think about them for a while. I already have so much going that I don't want to buy another thing. I just finished "Live On Little". From that piece I learned I do not like stitching bricks or repetitive borders. Even the fill-in got tiresome. Stitch what you love. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Loved it!
I so appreciate you sharing your thought process and your honest audit! I think we all struggle sometimes with quitting on a project. At least I know I do. for the Arctic animals Satsuma, I would be tempted to stitch all four animals in a block and then the scenic mountain skinny section along on top. 🤷🏼♀️ thanks again for sharing!
Thanks Helen for the inspiration to do this! I have a few I am thinking about unkitting. Like you my tastes have changed and I have alot from this years market I want to do with so little time. I try not to think about it too much as it does my head in as well. Go you, love you and everything you do. Love watching your floss tube. Thanks for sharing. Much love from NZ ❤
I feel your pain. I did that in December and listed the flsses in each one because I was tired of rebuying floss i had for 20 stitches 😂. Stitch what you love. Life is too short and we're too busy not to. 😊 keep stitching
Yes an audit is a great cleansing tool. I just moved all my stitching into a new room and was quite overwhelmed at how much I had, especially kits and WIPs. This was great inspiration Helen 🎉 stitch what you love, right 😊 enjoy
I love how you say your projects talk to you and give you attitude or shame you. Mine have been doing that for years. They can be really judgmental. They also talk to me as I am stitching them. I always stitch faces first so they can watch my progress. 😮😂
You are so cute!! And you are absolutely correct! There are so many patterns I want to stitch but for some reason I don't. Time to identify what you really want to stitch!
I have done this in the past and it is so cathartic! You go, girl! Marie Kondo away. We are never introducing our neglected WIPS - they might gang up on us! Take care.
I love this!! Especially, the "what I learned about me" parts. I've learned that I mostly stitch monogamously, especially once I get into the rhythm of a piece. But once I finish, I want to have something new to start right away - I mean right that minute! So I've learned to have no more than 4 or 5 things kitted and ready to go. Even in designing, some times I start something and it just doesn't work, somethings not right, or it's just not the right time for it. I'm a much happier person just being honest about it and moving on :)
I am so sorry you are having issues with the weather, love the lobster, you could make it into a scissor fob, love all your future projects, Sapphire is a beautiful blue, I would stitch them and make a banner, those changes you want to make in stitching are a great exchange idea, just heard the thunder or wind. You made me giggle on your threads. I have never not finished a design, even if I do not like it, I am an oddball.
Thank you for sharing, Helen💚 I may need to take some time and be ruthless on my kits & WIPs. 😊 Seems like a great summer project to do with my daughter - she would help me be tough 😂
Helen, you are adorable. I take audit of my work every day, every week. I only have 3 things going. Haha! Try not to stress out. I saw a FlossTuber with 100 wips. Her name is Sarah at Stitchin Mommy. She seems to take it all in stride. And she does gorgeous work. You are a delight to watch. Have fun and bask in your wonderful personality and beautiful work. ♥️🌹 As someone said, stitch what you love.
So many projects, so little time! It can get overwhelming. I just did an inventory and audit of my WIPs. It's funny that I found several that I just was not as interested in doing as I once was. I un-kitted a few because I found my inventory of floss was incorrect and I was either buying floss I didn't need or I couldn't find floss that I thought I had. It was very satisfying to get everything back in order.
The tail going by had me laughing so hard! Now I’m motivated to get all of my kitted stuff out and make decisions. I have so much floss kitted and not being used. Thanks for sharing and for the laughs!
Helen you crack me up up about the front door and scissors. I would absolutely love to put your floss away if that meant spending the day with you. You are such fun. But I live in Florida. Great video and BTW I just took out my Live on Little and I am just about finish with the big house. A lot of stitching there. Have a great week and we will see you Friday. ❤
It is always good to take inventory and decide what you want to prioritize! I have a bit of the same problem, I have lots of things kitted, but tend to stitch one thing at a time. After Stitch New England last year and you sharing the bins from Target, I bought 4 and spent 3 days making a spread sheet of each brand of floss I have. I went through each kit, and noted floss in the kit, so if I need it I can find it. Lots to keep track of but it is great to have. I can get to it from my phone so if I am out I can check it before shopping for more. You were so funny taking about your kits talking to you.
You are not alone😊I hate putting floss away. I toss it in a basket and when my mom comes to visit she sorts it and helps me put it away. Last year during one of her visits she helped me kit up projects so they would be ready to grab and go. I think I've stitched 2 of them. It's not that I don't want to stitch them, I just am not in the mood for them at that time. I'm not going to kit up things I advance again.
When removing a whole bobbin to go in a kit, I replace it with a dummy card (bobbin) with the same number and a See reference (yes I'm an ex- librarian!) eg 789 SEE "Real Comfort"
Thank you for sharing. The struggle is real! A dear friend took all my floss home and put it on bobbins for me as a gift.🎁 I am not very good at staying organized. It takes a lot of discipline, not my strong suit. 😂
Winter Woods will look so pretty on sapphire! I started it this winter on Zweigart blue spruce. I’m stitching all four squares but stacked on top of each other rather than 2x2. I think your edits will be just right. It’s a fun stitch-I put it away to work on a more spring-y project but look forward to getting it back out next winter!
I watch flosstube while cooking too. I’m watching you while making enchiladas for lunch today. (Stirring meat, beans and rice on the stove 😂). Yes, my kitted up project talk to me!!! I just unkitted an Ink Circles because I’ve had it for 4 years and it’s still not calling to be started. Really, my taste has changed and i’ll never stitch it. My wip count gives me anxiety but there are so many great patterns to stitch. Xoxo
HI :) Special Hello to Emmy's tail . . . so cute ! It's terribly windy here too . . . unreal. Love your Honest Audit. Funny this should show up today. I was going through ALL ( on boy) my project bags and am letting a few of them go as well. I just have too many and as you say, over time, things change. Hang on to something and stay safe.
I laughed and laughed! The side-eye from your kitted, not started pieces really got me. "Why are you going to retreat and buying stuff when WE'RE here?"
This was certainly a thought provoking video. Great advice about doing an honest audit, both in my stitching world and in my quilting world. I definitely need to take a look at what I THINK I can accomplish. I do feel anxiety from my UFOs. Thanks, Helen…🪡🪡🪡
Good timing for this video. I don’t have a lot of WIPS, only 3, but in January I kitted up quite a few projects and then I signed up for 2 monthly and 1 quarterly stitch from Fat Quarter Shop, plus market and the upcoming SAL with Erin E. It’s really making me think about what I want to stitch. I don’t want to limit myself to the monthly stitches and I probably won’t sign up for those again. Organizing floss, thread and fabric are totally my jam. If I lived near you I would gladly put all the floss away.
Great minds think alike. I just did an audit of my kitted projects and unkitted a couple. Found lots of floss to use now! I try really hard not to have too many WIPS. Your time is precious so it’s wise to work on something you are really motivated to enjoy. Happy stitching. TFS.
Loved this video because I can relate to it since I audit or visit all of my kitted and charts at least twice a year. I have to say Helen if I was asked to name 5 floss tubers that I would love to stitch with you would be at the top of the list!
So picture this: I’m current on vacation in Cabo. Sitting on a beach chair relaxing and saw your video pop up and thought I’d watch. I LAUGHED OUT LOUD at your impression of the kitted items “just sitting there…hey. Remember me!” Omg. That was hilarious. 🤣🤣. Maybe I need to do an honest look when I get home. 😊
Hi Helen! It was nice meeting you at the retreat last weekend. I usually do an audit of my projects at the end of the year - what do I want to carry over into the new year? One of your projects you’re tabling, the winter mountain scene, had inspired me to purchase the same set of patterns, but I was doing the town with the skating pond. The navy fabric is really hard to see for me. I worked on it on the 25th for a couple months, but now it sits and mocks me from my upstairs WIP cabinet (the projects I’m currently working on). I also have downstairs WIP baskets in my craft space that contain the rest of my WIPS. And then there’s all the new patterns I bought at the retreat. Oh dear.
Great video. I get caught up in other floss videos and stitchers marketing their fabrics and charts and floss and want to buy and do it all. It’s not a smart way to be part of this fun community. This accountability video is a great tool . Thank you for exposing our addiction.
Rest assured, you're not alone! 😆 I've got a drawer of patterns and kitted patterns to work on -- and so I did my audit before I ordered *anything* from Market. My shortfall has been fabric, so while I bought 4 patterns, I'm focusing on acquiring fabric for them (if I don't have it in stash). I'm blessed with an LYS that is small and while it gives great service, it's also sloooooowww -- and doesn't charge payment till ready to ship. That helps with the cash flow! And while I may be tempted by US offerings, I live in Canada, so I'm even judicious about PDFs. It costs me a 30% exchange rate to buy from US shops, including Etsy. That helps with the discipline!
I'm with you on doing an evaluation! Several days ago I started reviewing my collection of patterns to be stitched and sort out what I no longer want to stitch. And this doesn't include any pdf or patterns in magazines - yikes - will have to work on those next!🙂
I gave myself a thoroughly good talking to a couple of months ago and it was awful but having recently found 123 it was very much needed. There's about a 40 year spread between what I got on staff discount when I worked in an LNS and what I've purchased recently and tastes do change (mine have always been more about what is now available). I still have far too much stuff to finish in my lifetime so I'm going with collecting and doing are two separate hobbies 🤣 and thank goodness my daughter stitches.
I’d love a trip to Maine to come sort your floss! I actually enjoy doing it but I have a friend who isn’t a stitcher but absolutely loves sorting them so I leave them for her to do. I would finish that biscornu for you in a heartbeat if I lived close to you. I wouldn’t say my tastes in what I stitch have changed as much as the fabric and size count. I tend to do more linen and even weave so I’m trying to finish up old wips on white Aida so I can have them done.
Hi Helen! Thanks for another great video. You have made me laugh and made me think a lot about some of my WIPS and kitted items.. I am been seriously thinking over the last year+ about what kind of charts I really want to stitch. I had been trying to pick something different with each new stitch. I feel the same way as you and will set aside a couple I may not “ever” finish🤔 and check out some of my kitted items that have sat for 2 years. May take out the floss and add to my main collection🤔 I have also just started stitching Blackwork, that is to say backstitching with varigated floss and stitching Blackwork and cross stitch mixed on one pattern. I am really enjoying this. I look fwd to your next video. Cheers👋🧑🏻🦰🇨🇦
I’m currently stitching my first (and maybe last) biscornu. I’m with you on the repetition thing - I’m about halfway through and kind of like been here, done this, but I want to learn how to finish a biscornu, so I shall persevere!
Well done! It's so hard to be honest with ourselves (certainly I am terrible at it!) so you are brave in making those hard decisions! I also dislike stitching large blocks of colour with 1 thread. I hate putting floss away so I'm not going to do an audit until one of my kids are home and I can make them do it for me (I'll bribe them with baked goods!)
I found this video very helpful. At least I know I'm not alone with the WIP anxiety and mocking WIP's/kits. 😂 I've gone through my WIP list and found several I should be able to finish this year, so I'm adding them in as I can.
so exciting to have a bonus visit with you! I also really want the frosted pumpkin SAL but I am gearing up to do my very first LARGE stitch so I think that would put me over the top for wips. But really what do I know ... I only started stitching in December!
@@helend.flosstube I am going to tackle Serenity by Teresa Kogut. It’s my name and this year is a milestone bday so it will be a bday stitch but I will start when my fabric arrives.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have been going through all my kits and patterns (I don’t have any WIPS) for the last couple of months, doing an inventory. There are a number of charts that I have put in the “will not stitch” pile. By watching you it validated what I’ve been doing and not feeling like I’m crazy. Now I need to figure out what to do with all these charts I will never do?😂
😅Helen you are too funny. I have way too many wips mocking me. But mine aren't being nice about it. I think maybe it's time for a honest audit. Thanks for sharing, you're the best.
You are so darn funny😂 talking about your WIPS mocking you. Mine have been WIPS so long they’ve quit talking to me.🤣 I really like the one with the polar bear, owl and reindeer but couldn’t see what it’s called. I may have to get that one 😳😑🙄
I've been doing really well with being honest when it comes to adding to my stash this year. Honestly, it feels good! I need to sit down and go through my chart collection.. and possibly my fabric collection with an honest eye. The things that I have kitted right now are all Mirabilias, so they're not going ANYWHERE.. and kitted for them actually means chart, beads and metallics/silks. I also have them in a drawer that I don't have to open so I don't hear the mumbling from them very often lol. 🪡👠
I audit each season because it stresses me to have things started for to long and not worked on. I have one wip that’s now three years old! And I love it but hate the fabric but I’m too far in to restart it. I keep thinking of how I can shorten it and make it an ornament. But I hate working on the fabric,lol. I hope you re visit the Harvest Hexies pattern some day! I’d love to see you finish it as I loved your idea of doing them in a row. It’s my unicorn chart so I may be partial to seeing you complete it. Windy here but we finally have sun!
I had a whole bunch of DMC that I had on bobbins and I needed to put back in my master set. My 5 year old grandson was visiting and he LOVES numbers. So me and Asher spent a couple of hours putting them all in numerical order! We had a blast. Now when he comes over he asks if I "have any more threads to count"!
Great video!
I love that! My son used to help me when he was younger too! ❤
@lisaboban I am chuckling bc my 5 year old granddaughter Nora took mine all out of numerical order in the 3 drawer plastic storage case I keep them in and re arranged them 😂Can we trade for a day? 😉
@@loriirons9503 Asher would totally love to come over and put everything back in order!!!
I wish I lived closer I would come hang out and put floss away. Thanks for the laugh with the kitted up cabinet.
I love watching Emmy's tail go by....and watching your flosstube between tornado warnings and going to the basement. It is a great distractor! 😉After 46 years of stitching, I bought myself a Lowery stand after stitching in hand for all of these years. I love it so far but it is only day one! You have to stitch what feeds your heart, I completely understand that you tabled, re evaluated or just stopped doing certain projects!!
I LOVE my Lowry stand so much. My wrists would die without it.
I read my husband your comment, we're both adamant about not moving to an area prone to tornadoes. I hope you're safe!!
@@helend.flosstube for sure stick to ice storms and power outages. LOL
@@retrorx8180 the difference is we know those are coming days in advance. It's the no warning that gets us! 😂
@@helend.flosstube ha fair!
I just went to the store and bought 40 skeins of floss for 3 new charts that I want to start in July, Fall & Winter & then I organized my floss bins. I love doing that. I wish I lived near you because I would come over in a heartbeat to put your floss away and organize it for you. It is good to go thru your things to see what you like and dislike. I did that last year and once I did it then I thought oh I got rid of things so now I can buy more and start more and now I am back up to the same number that I had before so be careful of falling into that rabbit hole. Happy Stitching.
I would so take you up on the organization! 😂
You have inspired me to call a whip “quits”. I haven’t worked on it for a year. I don’t even want it. Gonna let it go and get on with projects I love!
It feels good!
Such a fun video!! We’re having wind storm too!! I’ve been going through all wips, starts, want to start!! I’m determined (?) to finish my 3 oldest wips!! From early 90’s!! One is very close to a finish!! What we do to ourselves!! 😆
There's just so much we want to stitch!
This was great, I agree that having floss tied up in kitted projects can be frustrating and time consuming when you’re digging through project bags to find a certain skein of floss. You have inspired me to go through mine again to un-kit some, ufo some and see what happens. Love the midweek extras!
Good luck with your audit!
I curate my WIPs regularly. But I just shuffle them like a giant deck of cards, draw my poker hand for the month, and put the rest back in longterm storage until I want a fresh draw. I don’t count anything that isn’t “in my hand” as a WIP. Fully kitted or stored projects belong to the house until I draw them.
I am similar …
That's a good idea!
Well Helen, I think I have discovered that I am a collector...yep...I love certain things and whenever I see them on the secondary market I say 'me please' and of course they are adding up, like you say. I can't possibly stitch all these in my lifetime. Crazy, but I can't seem to stop. It is so exciting when I find one that I love and so, well, you know. ...lol
They say collecting is its own hobby!
Hi Helen--I am inspired by your audit approach. I go through my patterns every so often and have been stitching since the early 80s. My tastes haven't changed much but between this cross stitch surge and the one in the 80s, cross stitch itself has taken a change. For many years, all those wonderful brick and mortar stores closed up. I had enough to keep me busy through my working years. Then, in my retirement, along came flosstube and so many enablers. Then there is instagram and more enabling. No longer a young or even middle aged stitcher, I must "be honest with myself". Thanks for that reality kick I needed.
I 100 percent agree that flosstube and Instagram are completely enabling!
Oh how l enjoyed this video and your honesty made me laugh. We too have windy weather and so much rain . I looked in drawers and cupboards in workroom , decided to have a sort out like you and feel a lot better. Yes, we do change our tastes and some of the designs today just call us. Big thank you 🎉😊
It really felt good to cut some things loose and put them away!
Hi Helen. Don't worry about UFOing or tabling projects. It's your stitching. Do whatever you want. Happy stitching. I have 4 Mira wips and 4 more in stash, and they aren't calling to me at all. I don't want to UFO them, but I may break down and do it to 2 of them.
It actually felt really good to cut some things loose! 😊
LOL!!!! "Who wants to put floss away" I feel your pain Helen!
I got it done, but I didn't like it!
Hi Helen, I like them all - Winter Woods is my favorite because you can personalize and also make the small ornaments - thanks for sharing 😃
Your episode inspired me to do a tidy up and purge in my sewing room. There is only so much time, got to stitch what you love.
I love a craft that mocks us!! Thanks for your transparency!! 😊
Thanks for the update have a wonderful Thursday and happy stitching 😊🧵🪡🤗🤩
Hi Helen I too have been looking at my stash of cross stitching some I really want to do and others not so sure. Oh well we have our ups and downs even in life itself. Love watching Emma's tail go by LOL. In the meantime Happy Stitching and be safe and kind. God bless
Pat
Hi Helen, I enjoyed your video, it’s so true, that at times you have to be accountable to yourself. I have 3 wip’s, but I tend to work on one project at a time, and of course it’s not the wip’s, but I will finish them someday. I have kitted up patterns and they sit and I have been know to go thru them looking for floss, it’s such a fun game, haha. And as you know I’m a collector of patterns and I will never get them all stitched, but they are fun to look at. And you are so right that our taste changes, then it’s time to pass on charts. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your day!🌷Terri
It's so frustrating to go through all your projects to find a floss and coming up empty handed! If I wrote things down I wouldn't have that problem, but that just takes so much time away from stitching. 😊
I loved the "What I found out about me" lol, what I found out about me was, I like everyones projects better than mine 😂 Good video, blowing a gale here also but pretty normal for living close to the Firth of Forth which means cleaning the windows will have to wait, I'm 12 floors up have a balcony and vertigo 🤦♀️Thank you really enjoyed.
I definitely would not be out there cleaning windows in the wind! 😮
Same, Emmie, same! I hate wind storms when there are no leaves on the trees. Sounds like a constant train going by. Hopefully, it will end soon.
Great flosstube. Stitch what brings you joy🎉🎉
You are so funny! Talking WIPS!!! Lol! Great idea to go through your projects! I should do that !! Just not today!!! 😂 Have a great week!!! ❤
It's satisfying to be accountable to oneself. I'm working on just one project until it's finished, as I don't have space to have more projects out. It's working for me, so I'm enjoying me stitching time. Thanks for the video.
Sometimes I miss monogamous stitching, but it would make for a pretty boring flosstube video. 😉
Honesty is the best policy! I did an honest audit and UFOed a couple of projects, as well. It feels good to reorganize and prioritize. I loved your Marie Kondo reference.
It did feel good to just cut some loose!
Oh yes the “floss basket of returns” 😟 I usually wait until I need to use a few or when it’s too full to add anymore!😂 I recently did this same thing when I was going to do Wipgo, well I still have a few in bags as a NEW market release was more exciting ! It happens to us all ! Love seeing any video you do, long or short I’m in ! Stay safe and have fun at your retreat !
I love honest assessments of WIPS. I too have learned what kind of stitcher I am. I wasn't even tempted to rush to buy a Market chart. I added 2 to my Wishlist then I think about them for a while. I already have so much going that I don't want to buy another thing. I just finished "Live On Little". From that piece I learned I do not like stitching bricks or repetitive borders. Even the fill-in got tiresome. Stitch what you love. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Loved it!
I so appreciate you sharing your thought process and your honest audit! I think we all struggle sometimes with quitting on a project. At least I know I do. for the Arctic animals Satsuma, I would be tempted to stitch all four animals in a block and then the scenic mountain skinny section along on top. 🤷🏼♀️ thanks again for sharing!
It's hard to give up on something, especially if you're publicly stitching it on flosstube. 😂
I loved this honest audit and your thoughts behind each one. If I lived closer, I would love to come and organize your floss!
Thanks Helen for the inspiration to do this! I have a few I am thinking about unkitting. Like you my tastes have changed and I have alot from this years market I want to do with so little time. I try not to think about it too much as it does my head in as well. Go you, love you and everything you do. Love watching your floss tube. Thanks for sharing. Much love from NZ ❤
I feel your pain. I did that in December and listed the flsses in each one because I was tired of rebuying floss i had for 20 stitches 😂. Stitch what you love. Life is too short and we're too busy not to. 😊 keep stitching
Yes an audit is a great cleansing tool. I just moved all my stitching into a new room and was quite overwhelmed at how much I had, especially kits and WIPs. This was great inspiration Helen 🎉 stitch what you love, right 😊 enjoy
I love how you say your projects talk to you and give you attitude or shame you. Mine have been doing that for years. They can be really judgmental. They also talk to me as I am stitching them. I always stitch faces first so they can watch my progress. 😮😂
Our projects really need to learn some manners! 😂
You are so cute!! And you are absolutely correct! There are so many patterns I want to stitch but for some reason I don't. Time to identify what you really want to stitch!
I have done this in the past and it is so cathartic! You go, girl! Marie Kondo away. We are never introducing our neglected WIPS - they might gang up on us! Take care.
We would be completely outnumbered by those wips! 😬
I love this!! Especially, the "what I learned about me" parts. I've learned that I mostly stitch monogamously, especially once I get into the rhythm of a piece. But once I finish, I want to have something new to start right away - I mean right that minute! So I've learned to have no more than 4 or 5 things kitted and ready to go. Even in designing, some times I start something and it just doesn't work, somethings not right, or it's just not the right time for it. I'm a much happier person just being honest about it and moving on :)
It can be hard to be honest, but it needs to be done. That's funny that you want something new right this minute! 😂
Very neat video. I am still newer to stitching and already feel a change in my tastes, likes, and what calls to me. Great job!
I am so sorry you are having issues with the weather, love the lobster, you could make it into a scissor fob, love all your future projects, Sapphire is a beautiful blue, I would stitch them and make a banner, those changes you want to make in stitching are a great exchange idea, just heard the thunder or wind. You made me giggle on your threads. I have never not finished a design, even if I do not like it, I am an oddball.
Thank you for the honest audit. You are so right I have things that aren’t calling me either. Maybe thinking is a good idea.
I love a good audit. PS: love the tail. ❤
Helen...enjoyed your "honest audit"...excellent name❤❤
Thank you for sharing, Helen💚 I may need to take some time and be ruthless on my kits & WIPs. 😊 Seems like a great summer project to do with my daughter - she would help me be tough 😂
My kitted projects talk to me with that same sarcastic tone!!! An audit is always good. Thank you!!
Helen, you are adorable. I take audit of my work every day, every week. I only have 3 things going. Haha!
Try not to stress out. I saw a FlossTuber with 100 wips. Her name is Sarah at Stitchin Mommy. She seems to take it all in stride. And she does gorgeous work.
You are a delight to watch. Have fun and bask in your wonderful personality and beautiful work. ♥️🌹
As someone said, stitch what you love.
I know some people don't mind having a bunch of wips. But that is definitely not me! 😂
Me, neither. It would take me 3 years to finish one project.
You are not alone! WIP anxiety is real!! Lately I haven't even wanted to stitch much because of it. I now have a plan for Friday. Thanks Helen!
What a nice surprise! You made my day. I love your videos. ❤
You are not alone, Helen!
Thanks for the inspiration. I have so many kitted projects and should just put it all back in the stash. That will be an after I retire project.
So many projects, so little time! It can get overwhelming. I just did an inventory and audit of my WIPs. It's funny that I found several that I just was not as interested in doing as I once was. I un-kitted a few because I found my inventory of floss was incorrect and I was either buying floss I didn't need or I couldn't find floss that I thought I had. It was very satisfying to get everything back in order.
I agree, it felt good to let things go!
The tail going by had me laughing so hard! Now I’m motivated to get all of my kitted stuff out and make decisions. I have so much floss kitted and not being used. Thanks for sharing and for the laughs!
Helen you crack me up up about the front door and scissors. I would absolutely love to put your floss away if that meant spending the day with you. You are such fun. But I live in Florida. Great video and BTW I just took out my Live on Little and I am just about finish with the big house. A lot of stitching there. Have a great week and we will see you Friday. ❤
I still love Live on Little and hope it calls to me at some point!
It is always good to take inventory and decide what you want to prioritize! I have a bit of the same problem, I have lots of things kitted, but tend to stitch one thing at a time. After Stitch New England last year and you sharing the bins from Target, I bought 4 and spent 3 days making a spread sheet of each brand of floss I have. I went through each kit, and noted floss in the kit, so if I need it I can find it. Lots to keep track of but it is great to have. I can get to it from my phone so if I am out I can check it before shopping for more. You were so funny taking about your kits talking to you.
That's a lot of work, but you'll appreciate taking the time when it helps you find something later!
You are not alone😊I hate putting floss away. I toss it in a basket and when my mom comes to visit she sorts it and helps me put it away. Last year during one of her visits she helped me kit up projects so they would be ready to grab and go. I think I've stitched 2 of them. It's not that I don't want to stitch them, I just am not in the mood for them at that time. I'm not going to kit up things I advance again.
When removing a whole bobbin to go in a kit, I replace it with a dummy card (bobbin) with the same number and a See reference (yes I'm an ex- librarian!) eg 789 SEE "Real Comfort"
That's a great idea!
What a great video! I love your suggestions and am going to give this a try - makes so much sense to do a reality check!
Thank you for sharing. The struggle is real! A dear friend took all my floss home and put it on bobbins for me as a gift.🎁 I am not very good at staying organized. It takes a lot of discipline, not my strong suit. 😂
Winter Woods will look so pretty on sapphire! I started it this winter on Zweigart blue spruce. I’m stitching all four squares but stacked on top of each other rather than 2x2. I think your edits will be just right. It’s a fun stitch-I put it away to work on a more spring-y project but look forward to getting it back out next winter!
I haven't seen anyone stitch it vertically, that's going to be pretty!
I watch flosstube while cooking too. I’m watching you while making enchiladas for lunch today. (Stirring meat, beans and rice on the stove 😂). Yes, my kitted up project talk to me!!! I just unkitted an Ink Circles because I’ve had it for 4 years and it’s still not calling to be started. Really, my taste has changed and i’ll never stitch it. My wip count gives me anxiety but there are so many great patterns to stitch. Xoxo
Your lunch sounds delicious! 😊
You just make my day! I love listening to you and your reasoning.❤
Thank you!
Good plans! I love that lobster biscornu (if you feel like passing it along I'd be happy to finish stitching it and send it back to you!).
HI :) Special Hello to Emmy's tail . . . so cute ! It's terribly windy here too . . . unreal. Love your Honest Audit. Funny this should show up today. I was going through ALL ( on boy) my project bags and am letting a few of them go as well. I just have too many and as you say, over time, things change. Hang on to something and stay safe.
I was really hoping Emmy would show off more than just her tail! 😂
I can relate. I have too, too much going and have de-kitted many things, too.
I laughed and laughed! The side-eye from your kitted, not started pieces really got me. "Why are you going to retreat and buying stuff when WE'RE here?"
WELL DONE. 👍🏻
The perfect time of year for an audit 😂😄
That's what I thought! 😂
You do you Helen!
Thanks Helen that was great!!!
This was certainly a thought provoking video. Great advice about doing an honest audit, both in my stitching world and in my quilting world. I definitely need to take a look at what I THINK I can accomplish. I do feel anxiety from my UFOs. Thanks, Helen…🪡🪡🪡
It honestly felt good to cut some loose!
I get it. I can not have too many going at once. It stresses me and takes away from the joy of working on stitching anything!
Of course I look forward to seeing you every Tuesday!!!! Good choices on the audit.
Kit Audit ! That’s a great idea. I’d stitch those lobsters for you.
I tucked them in a drawer. Maybe I'll be all about biscornus in a few years. 😂
Good timing for this video. I don’t have a lot of WIPS, only 3, but in January I kitted up quite a few projects and then I signed up for 2 monthly and 1 quarterly stitch from Fat Quarter Shop, plus market and the upcoming SAL with Erin E. It’s really making me think about what I want to stitch. I don’t want to limit myself to the monthly stitches and I probably won’t sign up for those again.
Organizing floss, thread and fabric are totally my jam. If I lived near you I would gladly put all the floss away.
It's easy to get swept up in all the things! 😊
Great minds think alike. I just did an audit of my kitted projects and unkitted a couple. Found lots of floss to use now! I try really hard not to have too many WIPS. Your time is precious so it’s wise to work on something you are really motivated to enjoy. Happy stitching. TFS.
I hate putting floss away!
I tackled the floss over the weekend, so now I'm ready to keep stitching!
Loved this video because I can relate to it since I audit or visit all of my kitted and charts at least twice a year. I have to say Helen if I was asked to name 5 floss tubers that I would love to stitch with you would be at the top of the list!
Aww, thank you! ❤
So picture this: I’m current on vacation in Cabo. Sitting on a beach chair relaxing and saw your video pop up and thought I’d watch. I LAUGHED OUT LOUD at your impression of the kitted items “just sitting there…hey. Remember me!” Omg. That was hilarious. 🤣🤣. Maybe I need to do an honest look when I get home. 😊
I hope you're enjoying your vacation!
Hi Helen! It was nice meeting you at the retreat last weekend. I usually do an audit of my projects at the end of the year - what do I want to carry over into the new year? One of your projects you’re tabling, the winter mountain scene, had inspired me to purchase the same set of patterns, but I was doing the town with the skating pond. The navy fabric is really hard to see for me. I worked on it on the 25th for a couple months, but now it sits and mocks me from my upstairs WIP cabinet (the projects I’m currently working on). I also have downstairs WIP baskets in my craft space that contain the rest of my WIPS. And then there’s all the new patterns I bought at the retreat. Oh dear.
Great video. I get caught up in other floss videos and stitchers marketing their fabrics and charts and floss and want to buy and do it all. It’s not a smart way to be part of this fun community. This accountability video is a great tool . Thank you for exposing our addiction.
It's very easy to get caught up!
Rest assured, you're not alone! 😆 I've got a drawer of patterns and kitted patterns to work on -- and so I did my audit before I ordered *anything* from Market. My shortfall has been fabric, so while I bought 4 patterns, I'm focusing on acquiring fabric for them (if I don't have it in stash). I'm blessed with an LYS that is small and while it gives great service, it's also sloooooowww -- and doesn't charge payment till ready to ship. That helps with the cash flow! And while I may be tempted by US offerings, I live in Canada, so I'm even judicious about PDFs. It costs me a 30% exchange rate to buy from US shops, including Etsy. That helps with the discipline!
That was smart of you to do before Market! And I had no idea Etsy had a Canadian surcharge!!
I'm with you on doing an evaluation! Several days ago I started reviewing my collection of patterns to be stitched and sort out what I no longer want to stitch. And this doesn't include any pdf or patterns in magazines - yikes - will have to work on those next!🙂
Ahhhhh…glad to know I’m not the only one that my WIPS give me the side eye haha! 😂
Constant side eye! 😂
I just this evening broke down some retreat kits that I know I’ll never stitch. I’ll pass along the charts at the next retreat to tablemates.
I gave myself a thoroughly good talking to a couple of months ago and it was awful but having recently found 123 it was very much needed. There's about a 40 year spread between what I got on staff discount when I worked in an LNS and what I've purchased recently and tastes do change (mine have always been more about what is now available). I still have far too much stuff to finish in my lifetime so I'm going with collecting and doing are two separate hobbies 🤣 and thank goodness my daughter stitches.
Buying things is just so much quicker and easier than stitching! 😂
I’d love a trip to Maine to come sort your floss! I actually enjoy doing it but I have a friend who isn’t a stitcher but absolutely loves sorting them so I leave them for her to do. I would finish that biscornu for you in a heartbeat if I lived close to you. I wouldn’t say my tastes in what I stitch have changed as much as the fabric and size count. I tend to do more linen and even weave so I’m trying to finish up old wips on white Aida so I can have them done.
Lucky you to have a floss sorter! 😂
Great decisions, it’s gotta be fun, no anxiety!
That's right!
Hi Helen! Thanks for another great video. You have made me laugh and made me think a lot about some of my WIPS and kitted items.. I am been seriously thinking over the last year+ about what kind of charts I really want to stitch. I had been trying to pick something different with each new stitch. I feel the same way as you and will set aside a couple I may not “ever” finish🤔 and check out some of my kitted items that have sat for 2 years. May take out the floss and add to my main collection🤔
I have also just started stitching Blackwork, that is to say backstitching with varigated floss and stitching Blackwork and cross stitch mixed on one pattern. I am really enjoying this.
I look fwd to your next video. Cheers👋🧑🏻🦰🇨🇦
Good luck with your audit!
I’m currently stitching my first (and maybe last) biscornu. I’m with you on the repetition thing - I’m about halfway through and kind of like been here, done this, but I want to learn how to finish a biscornu, so I shall persevere!
This was the second biscornu I had started. They've both now been ufo'd. 😂
Well done! It's so hard to be honest with ourselves (certainly I am terrible at it!) so you are brave in making those hard decisions! I also dislike stitching large blocks of colour with 1 thread. I hate putting floss away so I'm not going to do an audit until one of my kids are home and I can make them do it for me (I'll bribe them with baked goods!)
My son used to help me, but he's too old for that now. 😂
A timely video….I had a similar session this morning. I have to give up on fabrics I can’t see to stitch on anymore!
I found this video very helpful. At least I know I'm not alone with the WIP anxiety and mocking WIP's/kits. 😂 I've gone through my WIP list and found several I should be able to finish this year, so I'm adding them in as I can.
so exciting to have a bonus visit with you! I also really want the frosted pumpkin SAL but I am gearing up to do my very first LARGE stitch so I think that would put me over the top for wips. But really what do I know ... I only started stitching in December!
Ooo, what's your big stitch going to be??
@@helend.flosstube I am going to tackle Serenity by Teresa Kogut. It’s my name and this year is a milestone bday so it will be a bday stitch but I will start when my fabric arrives.
@@retrorx8180 that's a beautiful piece!
Yeah, I need to do a WIP. audit and an audit of my charts. I'm pretty sure I could part with quite a few of my charts.
I think Helen we are all in the same boat! I when thru mine last month!
Great minds!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have been going through all my kits and patterns (I don’t have any WIPS) for the last couple of months, doing an inventory. There are a number of charts that I have put in the “will not stitch” pile. By watching you it validated what I’ve been doing and not feeling like I’m crazy. Now I need to figure out what to do with all these charts I will never do?😂
That's one of the hardest questions!
Oh no, Helen! Live on Little😢
I'm starting it next week, finally found a big enough Stonewashed lugana for it.
That was the hardest one to sideline, but I just wasn't working on it. I'm hoping it calls to me in the future.
😅Helen you are too funny. I have way too many wips mocking me. But mine aren't being nice about it. I think maybe it's time for a honest audit. Thanks for sharing, you're the best.
Some of those decisions were hard to make!
You are so darn funny😂 talking about your WIPS mocking you. Mine have been WIPS so long they’ve quit talking to me.🤣 I really like the one with the polar bear, owl and reindeer but couldn’t see what it’s called. I may have to get that one 😳😑🙄
That is called Winter Woods and is by Satsuma Street 😊
I've been doing really well with being honest when it comes to adding to my stash this year. Honestly, it feels good! I need to sit down and go through my chart collection.. and possibly my fabric collection with an honest eye. The things that I have kitted right now are all Mirabilias, so they're not going ANYWHERE.. and kitted for them actually means chart, beads and metallics/silks. I also have them in a drawer that I don't have to open so I don't hear the mumbling from them very often lol. 🪡👠
I have several Mira's kitted just the same way and for some reason I don't count them and they don't bother me at all! 😂
I audit each season because it stresses me to have things started for to long and not worked on. I have one wip that’s now three years old! And I love it but hate the fabric but I’m too far in to restart it. I keep thinking of how I can shorten it and make it an ornament. But I hate working on the fabric,lol. I hope you re visit the Harvest Hexies pattern some day! I’d love to see you finish it as I loved your idea of doing them in a row. It’s my unicorn chart so I may be partial to seeing you complete it. Windy here but we finally have sun!
Shoot me an email. Harvest Hexies is doing me absolutely no good sitting in a drawer, I'd be happy to send it to you!
eastcoast.crafter.me@gmail.com
@@helend.flosstube email sent, thank you !
Hilarious!!! My WIPS talk to me, too 😂
Helen, don’t feel so bad, we all have this issue, we can call it True Confessions of Cross Stitcher!
Absolutely!