I hear from customers/readers about their injuries, illnesses, fatigue, and other things that prevent them from stitching at times. Sometimes, even when I'm not injured, I don't necessarily feel in the mood to stitch, but I look for something to do in my spare time. Here are some ideas (stitching-related and not) to keep you busy.

Of course there are obvious tasks that can take up your stitch-free time (and let's not discuss housework). I know a lot of you like to tinker in your garden, so you could look through seed catalogs, plan a garden, weed, fertilize etc... And I also know a lot of you like to read; spend time browsing an online bookstore, organize your books at home, pick up one you haven't finished, or page through some magazines you've been meaning to get to. I've done some reading in an archaeology book this week.

But I still want to stitch! Ugh! What can I do?

This afternoon, I'm going to try to organize my UFOs. Many of you have commented on the article on finishing your UFOs that I posted on my site last month (it's still there!) Look through what you haven't finished, put your projects in some kind of order (plastic bags, boxes, binders), and make plans for finishing them (use the advice in the article on my site -- it's really got some good ideas.) Make sure you have the fibers and embellishments ready for each project; organize your UFO's with the necessary supplies needed to complete them, and you'll be set to go.

And when you're organizing your UnFinished Objects, keep in mind the Christmas season -- this is the perfect time of year to start making your stitching plans for holiday giving. I bet you have some projects already started that would make wonderful Christmas gifts. Sort that out now, and set some goals.

I also am planning on making a quick baby gift for a friend who's due any day now. I'm going to page through some of my magazines -- there are a few things I have in mind, but I'll have to see if I have the supplies all ready to go. It'll be fun to kit that one up and get it ready for when my finger is feeling better.

I also love re-reading through some of my old magazines. The Needleworker, Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly, Fine Lines, Treasures, and Needle Arts (the EGA quarterly magazine) are all filled with articles about great needleworkers from the past and present, old and new techniques, tools, collectibles, designers and more. I also have a number of books about techniques and samplers -- always fun to read or look at the pictures.

And, if I'm ever not able to stitch, I take that opportunity to go needlework shopping. Even though I run my own business, I go browse at the Nordic Needle (and always end up buying something.) Maybe you could take the opportunity to go get some new needles, complete your collection of floss, buy a new pair of scissors, or add to your collection of charts and fabric.

Then you can go home and organize your stash. There are a number of cataloging systems available for your computer or hard copies you can carry with you (you'll find software and inventory books on my site in the catalog under "Gadgets".) Take inventory of what you have, make a little card file for your charts and books. Sort, fold, and label your fabric. You could use zipper plastic bags with the labels on the front and write right on the bag what type of fabric each is. Go buy a new plastic storage container or two for your supplies, and put them neatly under your bed (rather than in a pile next to your stitching chair, or in a heap in your closet). You might even have space enough for a set of inexpensive shelves (you can find these at hardware and discount stores). Plastic shoeboxes could hold fibers and tools. Get some bookends to hold your charts and books in place. Make a box of what you don't want/will never use and give it away to stitching friends or a charity thrift store.

A few months ago, I wrote an article about taking your needlework with you (it's in my archives now). Organize a small take-along project for your purse, car or desk, complete with a small pair of inexpensive scissors, a few needles tucked in a piece of felt, fibers, chart and fabric.

Or how about going through your "finished" needlework. Clean and press your finished needlework, and store it nicely in a safe place. Or watch the paper for news of framing specials at frame shops, and take them in to get them up on your wall. Use the framing advice on my site to try your hand at stretching and finishing your own framed projects. Finish off that Christmas stocking by adding a back and hanger.

Have you started keeping records of what you have stitched? Go around your house with a camera and photograph your completed works. Buy a scrapbook, and work on organizing a record of your accomplishments. On each page you can place a photo of the piece, then underneath write who the designer/publisher is, fibers used, fabric used, your thoughts about the piece, techniques employed...whatever. Don't forget to include information about yourself on the back of every piece -- your name, home town, the year completed. Maybe you want to type up a biography about yourself. Make copies, and include one on the back of your framed pieces. I like to include the charts with my framed designs -- tape an envelope on the back of your pieces, or make a pocket out of backing paper, and put the pattern in there. It's a handy habit.

Maybe if you're feeling really creative, you could try your hand at designing. Buy some graphpaper and sketch out some ideas. Use fabrics, fibers and embellishments as inspiration. Create a meaningful gift for a friend. Make something that really represents who you are. There are no rules but your own.

And lucky us, now there's the web to keep entertained. Have you been meaning to get back on a bulletin board to read letters, or are you looking for some free charts to download? Maybe you want to do some research on a technique that's new and exciting to you. Or you could just spend some time browsing on new sites. You never know what you'll find.

This is all well and good for me for today. But I keep watching my finger to see if it's healing. I'm itching to get back to Embellishments by Emie Bishop at Cross N Patch. Hopefully it'll be even more fun since I've had to wait. (Theresa's note -- I'm writing on Friday, now, and my finger is almost back-to-normal! I'm typing and stitching again, with relative ease, and my Emie Bishop sampler is looking gorgeous.)

© 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