July 2026 Stitching Update

It was a busy month, lots going on and not a lot of time for stitching other than the daily starts. However, I did get 2 small projects that had been lingering for years finished off. 

I believe the last time I touched this project was in January 2016, which means it's been lingering over 10 years!! Here's what it looked like then:

And it's now a finish!

December cat by Happiness is Crossstitching

stitched 2 over 1 on 14ct aida tea towel

mostly with DMC as charted

This was part of my 2015 Crazy January Challenge and it's nice to have it finally complete! The towel had yellowed a bit, unsurprisingly, so I let the whole project sit in the wool wash I use for socks and knits and it came out very well. 

The next project was also from that same Crazy January Challenge in 2015 and I managed to complete it as well. I had left it here when I got fed up with stitching on afghan fabric:

And it's also complete!

Day 4 Dragonlet by Dragon Dreams

stitched 4 over 2 on afghan fabric

with DMC as charted and some Kreinik in the dragon

It was nice to see this one completed and finish another afghan one. I'm debating about the sixth one. I still don't love it, but then the entire row would be complete, and that would be a nice accomplishment. 

They're smallish as well, so even though they're a pain to stitch, at least they don't take too long. We'll see how the rest of the year goes and how I feel. 

I did start a new pair of ankle socks, but haven't taken a photo, plus another dishcloth mostly finished. I'll add those to next month when they're actually completed. 

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

Happy Stitching, 

Tiffstitch

2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start #62 - Day 5 Dragonlet by Dragon Dreams

After making Day 3 for Clare, I decided to dig out my old 12 Days of Dragonlets project and started and finished Day 5. I still don't love working on afghan fabric and I'm definitely done for a while again, but it was nice to get another day completed. 

Day 5 Dragonlet by Dragon Dreams

stitched 4 over 2 on afghan fabric

with DMC as charted and Kreinik for the 5

This is a very cute one, and the pattern calls for some Kreinik in the rings, but because I'm using blending filament for the dragon, I decided to keep it simple with DMC as well. 

I'm not sure if I'll pull this out again for Day 6 for another of my 100 starts this year, but it's a possibility. How the afghan works there's a section on the top of the main panel and I'm stitching the first 6 across the top, then the last six will be across the bottom. I don't think I've touched this in over 5 years though, so definitely nice to get some work on it. 

There's a kind of sneak-peek for the end of the month summary too. Day 4 wasn't complete until a few days ago, so that's another finish for this year, but it had been started years ago, so doesn't count for a new start this year. 

I still love how fun these are, but still don't love my fabric choice. However, it will be really cool when it's complete. Some day!

Hope you've all had some good stitching days!

Happy Stitching,

Tiffstitch

2026 Year of 100 Starts: Start #61 - Day 3 Dragonlet by Dragon Dreams

Time for some deja vu! I stitched this pattern way back in 2016 and had planned to stitch all 12 for one of the Crazy January Challenges. I had this idea to stitch them on afghan fabric and turns out I didn't enjoy that much at the time. However, Clare from Aimetu's is working on some 12 Days of Christmas trees this year, and I thought I'd try and get one stitched up for her. So far this one is my favourite, so I thought I'd stitch it up again. 

Day 3 Dragonlet by Dragon Dreams

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct scrap white Monaco

with DMC as charted

Now I just need to get it mailed in time, so I'm hoping to get that done ASAP. 

This was a fun one, I managed to stitch it up this evening and it was pretty quick. I'm debating about picking up the afghan to work on the other patterns. Maybe just to see if I can get a few of them done despite the fabric. It's one of those UFOs that I'm still a little annoyed about, so it might feel nice to get some of it accomplished! 

Hope you've all had a good weekend!

Happy Stitching, 

Tiffstitch

Blog Clean-up, Leftovers From Crazy Challenges, and a Plan

I hope today is treating you well! I've been going through and trying to tidy up things with my blog. For example, I had kind of forgotten I had a DUCJFC progress tracker for both the 2015 and 2016 events I participated in. I updated the progress to show where I'm at currently, and it's not too bad really. I'm almost 3/4 of the way through 2015 and over halfway through 2016. Some of the projects are on both as I used it not just for starts, but also to make sure I kept working on some WIPs.

From the 2015 Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January Challenge, I have these WIPs left:

1) Otto

self charted, 2 over 1 tent stitch 

Realistically, unless I can get the pdf into Pattern Keeper, this won't get much work done on it. 

2) Ladyfee Xmas SAL

This was a free online SAL and I just haven't gotten back to it. I'm not in love with it at this point, so not sure if I'll continue on. It's a UFO right now. 

3) Sleigh Ride stocking - Dimensions

Same story here, not really in love with this one, so haven't gotten back to it. 

4) Warbreaker

I do like this one, and it's from my favourite book. Again, if I could get this in PK, it would go faster. 

5) Twilight LeMans

I still like this one, and I did pull it out last year to get some more done. 

6) Skittzzzz Fractal

Again, PK would make this so much easier, so I'll have to see if I can import it. 

7) AAN Christmas Mystery SAL - I hated this one, so will repurpose the project. I didn't even finish the first part. 

From the 2016 Debbie's Ultimate Crazy January February Challenge, I have these WIPs left:

1) Letter S

This still needs beads because I have all 3 letters on one piece of fabric. 

2) Letter H

I'd like to get these finished this year maybe. 

3) Letter G

We'll see how it goes. :)

4) Princess and the Dragon

It would be amazing to finish this one, but I don't think it will happen this year. It did get a lot of progress last year, so we'll see. I have the conference coming up that I usually get a lot done, so if I get some outlining done, that will help. 

5) Monochrome Link (new start)

This is another one that would be more fun if I could add it to PK, I'll have to give it a try. It's got a long way to go. 

6) Fleur de Lys (new start)

I'm enjoying my restart of this one, but I will have to try and figure out what thread I'm using because I don't know if I have enough to finish the whole project. It is Caron Waterlilies I think, but it's a big project. 

7) December Mini Cat

Realistically, I just need to find this one and finish it, it's practically complete. 

8) Kiss for a Snowman (new start)

I've recently misplaced this one as well, so will have to do a search to figure out what I've done with it during one of my organizing binges. 

9) Butterfly Quote (new start)

I also managed a fair bit on this one last year. There's still a fairly big chunk with the word "butterfly"and the smaller word "over", but then it will be complete. 

10) Land of the Dinosaurs (new start)

I had somewhat ignored this one because of so many other projects going on, although I did manage some stitching last year. I think it will be handy for chunks of colour if that comes up in any of the challenges. 

11) Twilight LeMans (also in 2015) - see above

12) Day 4 Dragonlet

I don't love afghan fabric, and that's how I started these. I'll get back to it at some point. 

13) Frosty Friends

There's 6 of these and I haven't managed to finish a single one yet. Again there are chunks of colour, so they might work for some challenges. 

14) Frosty Friends

15) Frosty Friends

16) Frosty Friends

17) Frosty Friends

18) Frosty Friends

19) Sleigh Ride Stocking (also in 2015) - see above

20) Do Not Meddle (new start)

I would love to finish this one this year since I was given it years ago to finish for a friend that can't stitch any more. It's more difficult working 1 over 1 on 28ct than it was when I started, but still, I can do this! 

21) Savannah Birth Record (new start)

This project also suffers from dislike of the fabric. I like hardanger, but 2 over 2 is not working for me. Too clumpy and messy. So I can restart or give up and pass this one on. DD doesn't really need another birth sampler at this point, and soon she'll be too told for this one. 

22) HAED Basset (new start)

With PK I hope to either get more done this year, or possibly finish up one of the smaller ones, then get back to this one. 

23) See Ya Later Alligator (new start)

This needs maybe a week of work? So I think it's my next focus for a finish project. 

24) Ladyfee Xmas SAL (also in 2015) - see above

25) Vermont (new start)

I think this would be fun to finish, however I keep putting it off for more interesting projects. I haven't given up on it, but don't know if it will come out this year unless I get a lot of other things finished. 

26) Snow Guide

This should be a quick finish as well if I just sit down to work on it. For whatever reason, LK letters always seem to stitch up so quickly. 

27) Otto (also in 2015) - see above

As you can see, a lot of my current WIPs are leftover from these 2015/2016 challenges. There are quite a few that are small enough to finish this year if I make the choice to stitch on them. My top ten I'd like to finish this year are:

1) See Ya Later Alligator
2) Do Not Meddle
3) Snow Guide
4) Butterfly Quote
5) Letter S
6) Letter H
7) Letter G
8) Frosty Friend - 1 of them
9) Dragonlet #4
10) December Mini Cat

Wish me luck!

Happy Stitching,

Tiffstitch

The Stitchy Quest for the One Ring: Quest 7 - A Most Mysterious Disappearance

We've progressed a little farther in The Hobbit, to where Bilbo has caught up with the dwarves and Dwalin has loaned him his green cloak and hood. Gandalf soon catches up with Bilbo's pipe and several pocket handkerchiefs. This cheers Bilbo up for a while, but soon the lack of 8 meals a day and the constant rain gets on everyone's nerves. And just as they'd like to find a place to camp, Gandalf disappears!

Task 1 - Stitch 150 stitches on something that has been gifted to you, fabric, floss, etc or 150 stitches in green. I don't think any of my current WIPs have any part that's been a gift, although if I have forgotten, please let me know. So I chose to stitch 150 stitches in green and got out Messy But Mine. Lots of green to be found here!

Last time:

153 stitches later:

Messy But Mine by Dragon Dreams

stitched 2 over 1 on 18ct Nimbus? by Chromatic Alchemy

Task 2 - for Gandalf's kindness in bringing Bilbo his handkerchiefs, we're supposed to stitch 150 stitches on something with fabric or clothing in it. I chose to pick up Full Moon as I was using that for a Magical Stitches task as well. It now looks like this:

Full Moon by Cute Patterns by Maria

stitched 2 over 2 as charted on 28 ct Lazurite by Chromatic Alchemy

Task 3 - Bilbo is really missing out on those typical extra meals Hobbits add to their daily regimen, second breakfast, elevenses, afternoon tea, etc. We need to stitch 150 stitches on a project with food in it. I chose See Ya Later Alligator, because some people eat those animals. :) Like sushi!

See Ya Later Alligator by Jodyri Designs

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Nuriel's Forest by Chromatic Alchemy with stash threads

Task 4 - this may be the easiest of all. We need to stitch 50 stitches on a project that something has disappeared, like you mislaid the thread, lost a needle, etc. This is pretty easy, so I may just plug 50 stitches into Princess and the Dragon as I've definitely lost needles with that project. I have found them again, but it meets the requirements. :)

This week's tasks are almost complete for LOTR, so I'll be able to concentrate on Magical Stitches and maybe get some extra credit done this time for Book 5.

Happy Stitching!

Tiffstitch