I literally finished the accursed unicorn, took a picture, did a quick post last night and ran. I came back downstairs this morning to stitching paraphernalia strewn everywhere and the abandoned finished project quite unceremoniously dumped on my laptop. Thus begun ‘Project Packdown’ aka tidy the fuck up.
I’ve learned a few things while picking back up stitching. While furiosuly using an eraser to remove the pencil from my paper pattern, but trying not to get bits over the sofa I had reflection number one: the next time I do a paper pattern, make a copy, use that and recycle it at the end.
Reflection number two followed shortly after: no more paper patterns! One of the reasons I’ve been so eager to get this project out of the way is I discovered in the years since I’d previously stitched things had come a long way. Not only were needle minders a thing (a little magnet to stop you losing your needle… I still managed to lose it…) someone had developed an app for working on cross stitch charts. Also, if the app wasn’t compatible people used PDF apps to track their progress. I obviously went balls deep, bought a new tablet for blogging and stitching, downloaded a few PDF apps and bought Pattern Keeper.
Other packing up reflections included when adding spare unused thread to my stash I really ought to use the bobbinator I bought. A little windey contraption that spins thread onto bobbins rather than doing it myself and further ruining my hands. Also, when cutting off bits of thread for whatever reason, bin it on the day instead of having it moved by helpful paws and finding little bits everywhere later down the line.
After some procrastination and a lot of picking up tiny bits of thread, job done. The question now is what’s next? If I stitch it’ll definitely be quick gratification. I’ve got a huge project ready to go but I need some quick wins. I’ve also had more games arrive and the back catalogue is growing instead of shrinking. Even with lockdown there’s still not enough time in the day.
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