January: Sort through and organize your UFO's (UnFinished Objects) selecting the one UFO you REALLY want to finish. I am VERY proud to say I finished my Pageant Kings piece (from Treasures Magazine...I started it something like eight years ago -- eep!) this fall, and what a feeling! Make sure this piece is out where you can get to it, and that you have all of the supplies to complete it. Keep it by your stitching chair, perhaps?
February: Send your very best stitching buddy/buddies a Valentine/card with something pretty -- a skein of silk, a few silver charms, or a sweet little chart.
March: Root around on the Internet for free charts. You can find a good list to start with at http://www.dnai.com/~kdyer, but you can also try a lot of the designers' own web sites (try prairieschooler.com, fancithat.com, drawnthread.com, sweethearttree.com, or look on Kathy Dyer's site, above, under "Designers.") Make sure you have plenty of paper and ink, and enjoy yourself. (Make sure you are copying free charts sanctioned by the designers!)
April: Put together a "take along" project to keep in your desk at work, in your car, or in your purse/bag. Make it something small, and make sure you have needles, a small scissors, and everything else you need to work on it. You'll be amazed how much you can get done while you're out and about (or on your coffee break.)
May: If you're planning a trip, scout ahead of time what needlework shops might be on your route or at your destination. Hoffman Distributing has a great list of shops at www.hoffmandis.com (go to their shop locator). If you aren't going on a trip, this month make a visit to your favorite local shop or online shop. See what might be new and exciting, or buy some basics.
June: Organize your charts. If you're REALLY organized, start a database of those that you have, listed by designer, or by subject area. You might be surprised to find you have multiples of some, or want to get rid of some you don't want anymore -- give those to friends or a needlework charity like NeedleHearts (this group donates supplies to those who have lost their stashes due to fire, flood or other disaster). Their address is NeedleHearts, Virginia Chapter, C/O Chris Webb, 890 Radford Street, Christiansburg VA 24073. They cannot accept monetary donations, but do also accept stamps for postage in sending your supplies on.
July: There's still half of the year left -- start something new this month (what the heck -- I hereby give you permission!) Some stitchers don't feel as much like stitching in the summer months, but I bet a new project will get your fingers flying.
August: Sort through the rest of your needlework supplies (see that in June, you should have already organized your charts.) Fabrics can be labeled and sorted according to count and/or color. Go through your floss boxes and make sure you have the complete set ready to go. Maybe you need a new Rubbermaid container for some of the supplies? Mine fit under my bed, which is perfect, as our house is small. Again, donate what you don't need to friends or other stitchers (see June.)
September: School is starting -- make it your mission to learn a new stitch this month; you'll be surprised at how much it opens up to you. Last year (1999) I learned the Colonial Knot, and have used it all over the place since then (no, I have not Colonial Knotted my children.) One little stitch can't hurt anyone, can it? If you need a stitch guide for ideas, Earth Threads ringed stitch guides are great, and Sampler House has two books full of different stitch diagrams. You can also check back issues of magazines you might have, or other needlework books in your stash. You could perfect your tassel-ing technique, or your cord-making skills as well.
October: What is more wonderful than a book, a cup of hot cider and a little light background music in your favorite reading spot? Get some chocolates (or cookies, or cake, or candy...) and plunk yourself down to read a little about needlework. You may already own a few books, but I'd recommend anything by Thomasina Beck (plus, the pictures in her books are gorgeous). The Scarlet Letter has a wonderful selection of books related to needlework, old diaries, the lives of Colonial women, and such (their website is at http://www.scarlet-letter.com). Or you can re-read magazines you have in your stash.
November: Don't put it off -- make one ornament this month. Maybe you have an ornament exchange to participate in this season, or you want to make something for your secret stitcher or special stitching friend. By now the Just Cross Stitch Ornament Issue should be out, but you can also look through your stash for ideas. I love my back issues of JCS Ornament Issues -- they continue to inspire long after their publication.
December: I hope you've finished your UFO for the year by now. If you haven't, there's always next year. My assignment to you this month is make a date with yourself for stitching time. December can get awfully hectic, and there's a lot of thoughtful reflection that should go on at this time of year. Mark off a three- or four-hour spot off some time this month for quiet stitching. Put on some carols, drink something warm, eat something sweet, and savor that time as your gift to yourself.
© 2007 Theresa Venette. Articles on this site may be reproduced in needlework group newsletters or other handouts with permission of author and proper attribution. Send questions, comments and suggestions to: xspeddler@yahoo.com