2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start # 6 - Irish Sampler by The Sampler House

The next new start might start to look familiar over the year as I think I've accumulated a lot of these Irish themed projects since my parents had a vacation in Ireland. They said it was the best place they'd ever visited, and they've been on quite a few vacations to different locations around the world. 

This is what the project will look like when completed. It has some specialty stitches and instead of just green and white I plan to throw some orange in there as well, so it will have the colours of the Irish flag. I managed to find some close colours in my stash of Silks4U Advent threads and will be using them on some stash fabric. I believe it's 25ct Jobelan since it's a looser weave than some evenweaves I've used. 

Here's my start after a couple threadlengths were added:

Irish Sampler by The Sampler House

stitched 2 over 2 on 25ct stash fabric

with Silks4U advent threads

I'm fairly happy with this start, although I kind of wish I'd stitched the zigzag line in orange. I didn't think of it till it was almost complete though, and it's not worth frogging the whole thing. Accents will be fine. I will very likely not stitch the alphabet on the bottom, although maybe I'll come up with something, like my parents initials or something like that. There's already a beautiful Irish phrase, so I don't think it needs another one. Unless I want to throw in something a little naughty? Pog mo thoin perhaps?

Probably not if it's going to be a gift for my parents. My dad would definitely look it up to see what it meant. 

This was lovely to stitch on so far and I'm looking forward to getting back to it. Hope your stitching days have gone well. 

Happy Stitching!

Tiffstitch

2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start #5 - Arranging Microbes by Ink Circles

I'm fairly sure it's obvious I've been a fan of Ink Circles for years. I've stitched some smalls and one large Mandala that I still love!

Reflections of Canada by Ink Circles

stitched 2 over 2 on 25ct Jobelan 

with Ruby Slippers by Jodyri

So many fun details in that one, although I think my favourite is still the hockey sticks. 

On to the new Ink Circles start! Again, this looks like something I picked up from a LNS and I found a great fabric to stitch it on. I've been trying to go through my stash of Chromatic Alchemy since it really accumulated over the years I was a member of her fabric of the month club. 

And I didn't have any of the called for colours, but found some close matches in my stash threads box:

Note my new Caterpillar scissors that Santa brought this past year!

And I managed a decent start so far:

Arranging Microbes by Ink Circles

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Fruit Salad by Chromatic Alchemy

with stash threads (mostly WDW)

The tiny little motif that kind of looks like an alien is a bacteriophage and I did a project on this subject in Virology back in undergrad. It's kind of fun to remember that while stitching this. 

I'm debating if I can hang this up at work when I'm finished. Maybe in my exam room instead of the office bathroom? It's going to take a while, so no rush on deciding. 

Hope you've all had a good stitching day!

Tiffstitch

2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start #4 - Carré by Jardin Privé

And another new start, and another new start, another new start today! In case it isn't obvious, to the tune of "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen. 

I wish I'd kept better track of where I've picked up all these charts, but I believe this one is from one of the LNS's that closed in Vermont over the past several years. It's a fun little chart that I think I can stitch monochromatically as well. 

The combination of cross stitches and backstitches in these is fun for me. I know it's not for everyone, but I like how it adds some dimension to the project. Here's my start after one full thread was added:

Carré by Jardin Privé

stitched 1 or 2 over 2 on 28ct evenweave Elpis by Chromatic Alchemy

with Silks4U Advent thread

A decent start to what I hope will be a fun one to get out again when I need something less fussy to work on. Having just one colour helps this be easier to work on for me, even if you change up stitches now and again. 

This one is back in the banker's box for now, and on to the next new start!

Happy Stitching,

Tiffstitch

2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start #3 - French Country Reindeer by JBW Designs

I think many of us have accumulated these little charts from JBW Designs over the years. They're small, monochromatic and have so many fun little details in them. I believe I've stitched some in the past, but can't remember for sure, however, I'm happy to start this one. I picked up this unusual fabric somewhere and decided I could use it for these charts to make them useful for decoration as well, therefore less finishing work will be needed! 

I don't love stitching on soft, afghan style fabric, but with the Qsnaps I was able to get this tight enough that it wasn't too difficult to stitch. This is 18ct Zweigart Tannenbaum, which I stitched over 2, so ended up being 9ct. This was pretty fun to do, and although I did get off center a bit and changed up where the words go, I'm happy with the start and finish!

French Country V Reindeer by JBW Designs

stitched over 2 on 18ct Tannenbaum by Zweigart

with Silks4U PR 126

I'm thinking this will be a gift, but there is one more JBW with this fabric in the box, so we'll see if I keep this one or that one. I believe just some interface on the back will make this finished enough for use, although possibly something iron-on to make it look fancier would be nice? Suggestions welcome as always!

Hope today was a good stitching day!

Tiffstitch

2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start #2 - Walk With Mom by Handblessings

I have a very scientific way of picking my next project. I open one of the boxes they're all stored in, and look through till I find one I want to start. We'll see how this experiment works throughout the year, and if I end up changing anything out. 

I was definitely feeling like something fairly easy, so although this is a little larger than Start #1, it could be done with just one colour. I decided on 2, in a similar way I finished it's companion piece several years ago. Here's the companion piece:

    

Walk with Dad by Handblessings

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct scrap evenweave with WDW Lucky and DMC 895

I've had this chart for a while, but it was finally time to start Walk With Mom!

I pulled some of my Silks4U advent threads to use and had a decent start:

    

Walk With Mom by Handblessings

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Bryophyte by Chromatic Alchemy

with Silks4U Advent Box threads (2023 and 2024)

I've received the Advent Box from Silks4U the last few years, and I'm so impressed they managed to still get it out last year with all the postage issues. I'm not sure if they're having one this year, and I might skip anyway as I'd like to work through all the threads I have. This will definitely help. 

It might be obvious, but green is DH's favourite colour, and blue is my favourite colour, so that's why the colours are different for each one. 

Hope things are good and you've had a good stitching day!

Tiffstitch 

2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start #1 - EduCATed by Bent Creek

I've started a few projects, but hadn't had much time to post, but here we go with the first start of 2026!

I have a fair amount of small projects, but some larger ones as well to work on over the year. I'm hoping I can keep doing a WIP down and finish up some of my older projects as well as some of the new small ones. 

Starting the year off with a smallish project, EduCATed by Bent Creek. Here's my progress so far:

EduCATed by Bent Creek

Stitched 2 over 2 on scrap 28ct evenweave

with stash threads, WDW and Gloriana so far

This was a fun little one to start with. I have lots of stash threads hanging around, and I found a decent amount of variegated grey which should turn into a nice look for the cat fur. The books should be easy to make moderately colourful, so I'm looking forward to getting back to this one. 

I have 2 banker's boxes that are almost full with all the projects I'd like to start this year. Once I start them, I put them back in a box at the front, so I know which ones I've started. 

Hope everyone had a good stitching day!

Tiffstitch

December and End of 2025 Wrap-Up

Here it is, the start of 2026 and time to wrap up 2025! I definitely got some finishes and a few new starts, so let's see how the year finished up. 

I'll try and make it obvious which are finishes, what got work, etc. 

1. Amazing Animal Kingdom by Aimee Stewart/HAED - 35802/374500 (9.56%)

2. Canadian Hero by Stitching Jules Designs - 401/53850 (0.74%)

3. Kathleen and Summer by Hannah Lynn/HAED - 550/200000 

4. Universal Monsters B&W by Witchy Stitcher

5. Stocking #3 by Jane Henderson - completed

6. Snowball Fight by Gitta - stitches added

7. Samurai by Fire Wing Designs - completed

8. Believe in the Magic of Christmas by Durene Jones

9. Christmas Birdhouse #1 by Durene Jones - completed

10. Christmas Birdhouse #2 by Durene Jones - completed

11. Stormlight Archive Quotes by Taylor and Cromwell - 8853/13532 (65.42%)

12. Holiday Quaker by Lila's Studio

13. Noel by Bent Creek - completed

14. Normal is Just a Setting on the Washer by Lizzie Kate - completed

15. Pumpkin Patch by Lois Winston

16. Winter Feast by Mill Hill - completed

17. Zelda Cross Stitch 

18. Warm Winter Wishes by Waxing Moon Designs - stitches added

19. Thistle Stop by Crossed Wing Collection - stitches added

20. Hummingbird Garden by Crossed Wing Collection - stitches added

21. Happy Christmas by Prairie Schooler

22. Motherhood by Selena French/HAED - 1955/58013 (3.37%)

23. Skating Snowman by Mill Hill 16-2133 - stitches added

24. Trick or Treat by Anne Stokes/Paine Free Crafts - 4531/126400 (3.58%)

25. Cryptid SAL by Witchy Stitcher

26. Vermont Zentangle by crossstitch4everyone - 3109/23502 (13.23%)

27. Halloween Kitty with Pumpkin by Paine Free Crafts - new start 392/100800 (0.39%)

28. Loon Lake by Crossed Wing Collection - new start

29. Dragonfly in Flowers stamp by Sweet Annet - completed

30.The Little Prince stamp by Sweet Annet - completed

31. Journey by Urban Stitches - complete

32. Mr. Grinch by The Cross Stitch Studio - new start 514/9071 (5.67%)

33. Animal Parade by Lanarte - completed

34. 2009 Santa by Prairie Schooler - completed

35. Snow Guide by Lizzie Kate - completed

36. Honest Santa... I Didn't Do It - by The Sweetheart Tree - stitches added

37. Moon and Back by Heart and Hand - completed

38. Happy Halloween by Satsuma Street 

39. Everyone Brings Joy by Waxing Moon Designs

40. Peacock Infinity Feather by CrossStitch4Everyone - completed

41. Witch's Gate by Whispered by the Wind - stitches added

42. Butterfly Quote by Jodyri Designs - completed

43. In Harmony by Dimensions

44. Letter G - by Nora Corbett 

45. Bailey Basset by HAED 

46. Dragon Under Glass by HAED

47. Warbreaker by skitzzzz 

48. Mini Winter Magic by HAED

49. Under the Sea SAL by Lakeside 

50. McLaren Hamilton 

51. Raven Pixie by Nora Corbett

52. Visit Mordor

53. Magical Arrival by HAED 

54. Tiger Stare by Charting Creations

55. Tiger by Paine Free Crafts

56. Triumphant Ride by Charting Creations 8143/50370 (16.17%)

57. Spooky SAL 2021 by The Steady Thread

58. Lo and Behold by Long Dog Samplers

59. Starry Night SAL by Urban Stitches

60. Stroll in the Snow by Asleep at the Stitch

61. Magical Castle Stamp by Sweet Annet - completed

62. Frost by Seba Designs

This leaves me with 45 WIPS that I'm currently working on, so I did manage to meet my initial goal to start the 100 new projects this year! I'll put that all in a separate post. I know it will add a lot to my pile, but it's a big birthday, so it will be a big year of starts as well. 

I hope you all had a good holiday season and here are my last 2 finishes for 2025!

Animal Parade by Lanarte

stitched 1 over 1 with kit threads and fabric

Butterfly Quote by Jodyri Designs

stitched 2 over 1 on 14ct Aida with Jodyri threads

Happy 2026 to everyone!

Tiffstitch