2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start #76 - Santa Stocking by Durene Jones

I'm sure we all know Durene Jones' patterns. She has a flair for creating colourful designs and I have so many of her patterns. She also often has 50% sales at her Etsy shop and I've purchased patterns from there frequently. I'm glad to be starting another one, even though this is a big one!

You don't stitch the beige colour, and I think I found a pretty good match for the pattern image. I also like that this doesn't have as much backstitching. I didn't get a lot of stitching into it, but that will come. Everyone else has a handmade stocking from me, so it's time to make one for myself as well. There's so many choices out there, but I'm happy with this one. And there's not a ton of colour changes, so that will help when I get back to it. Here's my start:

Santa Stocking by Durene Jones

stitched 2 over 2 on 27ct "370" by BeStitchMe

with DMC as charted

I think you can tell by this photo that I've started in the toe, but just in case, this is the very bottom part of the toe on the left side of the pattern. I was debating about how to start, but in the interest of less counting to find the right spot, I figured I'd start at the bottom left and work my way up. 

This pattern is somewhat okay in Pattern keeper. You have to do a little finagling, and add the thread colours into PK, but there's not too many, so it works out well. I really love being able to use PK again after using some paper charts. 

I hope you've all had some good stitching days!

Happy Stitching, 

Tiffstitch

2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start #75 - Holly Jolly Farm by Hands on Design

I've seen these designs around for years now and finally picked this one up to start. I go back and forth a bit on these designs since it's not my usual thing, but this one is kind of fun, so we'll see how it goes. 

I actually had 2 of these, apparently I debated on this for so long I'd forgotten I had purchased a copy already. Kate, of The Suddenly Kate Show and I were talking about this and when I realized I had a second copy I sent it to her. I don't think she's started it yet though. 

After a couple nights I managed to get a full thread length of B5200 into this one. I'm fairly sure I remember the Stitching with the Housewives crew don't like B5200, but I'm using a lighter fabric than is called for, so I wanted the white to pop a bit. 

Holly Jolly Farm by Hands on Design

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Stygian by Chromatic Alchemy

with B5200 so far

I debated about keeping this out to get more stitches in, but I'd also like to keep rolling along with my 100 starts. We're 3/4 of the way now, so it's definitely possible!

This paper chart isn't as big as some of the others, and since I'm almost at 50 years old, this has definitely become more of an issue. However, still easy enough to tell where I was most of the time and I don't think I've had to frog this one yet. 

I hope you've had some good days of stitching!

Happy Stitching,

Tiffstitch

August 2026 Stitching Update

Here we are again, another month is over, how the summer flew by, I have no idea. I only had extra crafting time for knitting, so I managed to finish a couple pink dishcloths:

I have a huge ball of this cotton yarn to use up. I'm doing well with keeping up making one of these every time I finish something else, if not more often. 

I also started and finished a pair of shortie socks:

I used a vanilla socks pattern with a traditional heel to make it simple knitting for traveling, etc. I did knit these two-at-a-time, so they're identical, except for the stripe pattern being completely opposite on one sock compared to the other. 

There was also another conference I had to attend for continuing education for work, and I started a new project. I had this ball of colour changing yarn and couldn't figure out what pattern to use for it. I came across this pattern and it looked ideal for knitting until I used up as much yarn as I wanted. It's a simple lace pattern once you get the increases completed as well, so it's very easy knitting. 

Winter's Spine by Lani Stanistreet

knit with Queensland Rainbow Cake cotton yarn

The red is completely finished, so there will be a section of white before I get to orange. It might be the same length as the red. That will likely mean this will be a long project, but that's okay. I'm still using up stash and creating something interesting. Again, this is mostly knit while traveling since it's not a complicated pattern. 

And that's it for this month! I hope it's been a good month for everyone,

Stay well,

Tiffstitchin

2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start #74 - Don't Like Dogs by Taylor and Cromwell

I don't know if everyone is familiar with the Bad Kitty series by Nick Bruel?

DD was very into these from about age 5 to 10 or so. They still kind of enjoy them, but aren't as rabid a fan as they used to be. They even wrote a fan letter to Nick Bruel! 

So I had to pick up this chart when I saw it on Taylor and Cromwell's site:

It also fits DD since they've had a kind of fear of dogs since they were really little. I'm also trying to adjust my language because DD is feeling nonbinary currently. Their fear of dogs is a little better, I assume as they grew taller that helped? But also my brother and SIL have the gentlest dog ever. She's almost like a cat because she doesn't go up for kisses or pets often, just when she feels like it. She even moves away sometimes when I go to pet her! She's a doll, but is very old now too, so we may not have her much longer. 

Here she is, getting my mom's attention for something. She's very polite, never jumps up or anything. Well trained as well obviously. 

Back to the chart! I didn't get a full thread length of black in, but almost. It's a small start, but still counts!

Don't Like Dogs by Taylor and Cromwell

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Cassia-Rose by Chromatic Alchemy

with DMC as charted

It took me a bit to realize I needed to do 3/4 stitches on some of the chart, but I've got it down now and it seems like a good likeness so far, even with the empty eyes! 

I hope you've all had some good stitching days,

Happy Stitching!

Tiffstitch

2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start #73 - Lost Souls Cemetery by Autumn Lane Stitchery

It's definitely time for Halloween stitching, right? And this will be my first Autumn Lane Stitchery chart. They're generally pretty big and I had been somewhat avoiding starting one since it's a lot of stitching. However, it is only a few colours, so.... it shouldn't take that long! :)

I found some nice fabric that seems to fit the fabric they used pretty well. I managed to get a full thread length and a bit into this one, so it's well started. 

Lost Souls Cemetery by Autumn Lane Stitchery

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct unknown fabric

with DMC as charted

This is a paper pattern, and it's not as large as the Primitive Hare ones, but it is clear, and again, not many colours means not too many symbols to keep track of. I don't think I have much frogging to do on this one, although the bat needs a little TLC to make it look a bit better. That will happen when it comes out again. 

I hope you've all had a good couple days of stitching!

Happy Stitching, 

Tiffstitch

2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start #72 - Mother of the Ocean by The Primitive Hare

Another Primitive Hare today, and another nice chart. I'm fairly happy to stitch these despite not being electronic since they are pretty large and the instructions are clear. I love this one, so fun with the whale and I decided on a different fabric to sort of tie in both ocean and sky. The chart looks like this:

 And I didn't get much of a start, all black so far as well. The whale is a few different grays, some of them WDW, so I'm debating on if I'll do that or not. For now I stuck with DMC 310. 

Mother of the Ocean by The Primitive Hare

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Iolite by Chromatic Alchemy

with DMC 310 so far

This will be a fun one, and really not too much stitching, most of which is block stitching, so once I get back to it hopefully it will stitch up quickly. I just need to decided on the WDW or not and go from there. There might be another specialty thread in this one as well, so we'll wait till it comes out again to decide what to do. For now, it's back in the banker's box again!

I hope you've all had good weekends! I was away and didn't get any stitching done, but did get some knitting in. 

Happy Stitching,

Tiffstitch

2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start #71 - Harriet Tubman by The Primitive Hare

Time for another start with only a few colours. So, remember, this won't take as long because there's less colour changes. :)

Of course, there's still a lot of stitching to do! 

I think this is my first Primitive Hare chart. It won't be the last, there's another one coming up next in a similar style. So far I'm happy with the chart, even though it's paper and generally I'd prefer Pattern Keeper if possible. It's very big though, A4 I think, so it's easy to see all of the symbols. 

I managed a couple days of stitching on this one and 3 different colours of brown. There's several still to go though!

Harriet Tubman by The Primitive Hare

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Vellum by Chromatic Alchemy

with DMC as charted

In case you're not familiar with Harriet Tubman and her important work with the Underground Railroad to help slaves fleeing from the US, there's more info here on Wikipedia. 

I'll be glad to get back to this one and get it framed and up on the wall somewhere. Possibly at work so more people can see it? We'll see. The finish will need to come first. 

I hope you've all had some good stitching days!

Happy Stitching, 

Tiffstitch