Saturday, September 12, 2026

2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start # 78 - Celtic Circle Knot by Frony Ritter Designs

Another small start, but not a finish yet. Time has been a little short lately, but I did get a start into this one. This is another new designer for me, and it looks like it was a sale/clearance chart as well. I have so many of these from the LNS closing here in Vermont. Good for my stash, but not so much for the area. 

Here's how it looks so far:
Celtic Circle Knot by Frony Ritter Designs
stitched 2 over 1 on 22ct white hardanger
with DMC as charted

I was debating about doig all the blue outline, then figure out the rest, but not sure if it makes more sense to work on the border first since it somewhat connects? It's a question for when I bring it out again. 

I've been thinking about next year plans and what to do with all the WIPs. A lot of the Flosstubes I watch are using wheels to choose their projects, so I'm thinking about maybe a wheel for all the full coverage and pick one for the week to stitch on at least 1000 stitches, then maybe a couple non-full coverage to work on as well. But would it make more sense to have all the smalls on one wheel and larger projects on another? Or just all together? Ideas welcome!

I hope it's been a good few days for everyone. 

Happy Stitching!

Tiffstitch

Thursday, September 10, 2026

2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start #77 - Fleur de Lis by JBW Designs

Time for another Fleur de Lys! The last time I worked on one was back in 2023 and finished an all backstitch design. 
Fleur de Lys by Brodeuse Bressane
stitched 1 over 2 on 28ct blue Zweigart linen
with Caron Wildflowers

And this time I started another JBW Design:

Which is a small design, except I decided to make it more difficult for myself and use a small piece of scrap fabric, which meant I had to stitch it 1 over 2 on 40ct linen. So it's not a finish, but it's a decent start:
Fleur de Lis by JBW Designs
stitched 1 over 2 on 40ct linen by BeStitchMe
with DMC 5200

I do love the colour of the fabric, but it's not easy for me to stitch on linen. But it's a decent start and fits on the fabric scrap, so it will work and be a finish at some point. 

There may be another Fleur de Lys coming up later this year, if I can find the right fabric and thread to make it work. Again, DH is French Canadian, so a good Fleur-de-Lis is always appreciated in our house!

Hope you've all had good stitching days and a relaxing Labour Day weekend/or weekend!

Happy Stitching, 

Tiffstitch


Saturday, September 5, 2026

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

Thursday, September 3, 2026

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

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

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

Sunday, August 30, 2026

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

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

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 # 78 - Celtic Circle Knot by Frony Ritter Designs

Another small start, but not a finish yet. Time has been a little short lately, but I did get a start into this one. This is another new des...