From: motto@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (mary.rita.otto)
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
Subject: Re: Keeping stuff we make (was Fabricholics Anonymous) vs. giving away/
Date: 11 Sep 92 17:59:23 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T

In article <BuDsCH.KMD@world.std.com> nancy@world.std.com (Nancy C Reynolds) writes:
>
>How much do other people
>
>1) finish projects 
>
>2) do projects for themselves vs. for other people?
>
>The next friend who *wants* a cross stitch picture or clothes from me gets
>it with a smile, but otherwise *forget* it!
>
>--Nancy Reynolds
>
Nancy - You asked some great questions here!

How much do I finish projects?  Well, it depends on how you classify
"finished".

I've just completed making three cross stitch designs, all of which I
consider completely finished.  One was hemmed on both sides and pockets
sewn on top and bottom to make it into a bell pull (although a short
one 7x8 in size, but with bell pull hardware for mounting).  The
second is similar, but hangs from a decorated dowel and is fringed
on the bottom.  A third design was trimmed with leather, fringed on
one side, and hemmed on two, again with a dowel pocket.

In contrast to these three projects, is a rare project which I abandoned
in mid-stream because I was unhappy about the background color and
about the amount of material left outside the design making it a
disaster for finishing or framing.

Does an abandoned project (due to deciding it wasn't working out) count
as unfinished?  I'm not going to ever attempt to finish it.

In one of my totes (I have three currently full of projects) are a variety
of materials ready to begin more planned projects.  (Currently hot on the
agenda are the Halloween jar lids.)  Do planned but unstarted projects
count as unfinished?

And then there are three breadcloths which need to be run through the
sewing machine and then fringed.  And a mini-sampler that needs to be
blocked and framed.  And an office sampler that needs to be blocked
and framed.  And the Math sampler that needs to be remounted and reframed
because the frame it was in just didn't look right.  These I consider
"partially finished" because the stitching is done.  Only the final
"finishing" (for lack of a better term) needs to be done.  Do these
count as unfinished?

And then there is the Victoria afghan with the knight on horseback,
which is only partially stitched and I haven't touched in nearly a
year.  That one, definitely unfinished.  And the perforated paper
angel that was supposed to be for my sister-in-law last Christmas,
but I hate perforated paper SOOOOOOO much I haven't finished it.
And the Mary Englebreght (sp?) "Believe" Santa on linen, is also
definitely unfinished.

I'd say that in an average year I work on 30 cross-stitch projects
and finish 20 completely, get stuck on the framing on 5, (they do
eventually get framed) and have five that are either "put on hold"
or abandoned.  Many of my projects require no added finishing after
the stitching is complete (like the triceratops I stitched on my
daughter's polo shirt) or minimal finishing (like jar lids or
breadcovers).  Framing is usually more expensive than the materials
purchased for the project by 5:1, so it is usually a slower process.
However, I did buy a cutting mat and foam core board and have started
doing my own mounting, which saves a lot.  And I look for frames at
closeout sales, garage sales, etc, and I try to work to standard sized
frames, too.

Question 2:  For myself or for others?

A mix.  Some of the stitching I do would not be appreciated by others
in quite the way I appreciate it.  For example, one of the pieces I
like the most is a study of different sampler making stitches that I
felt I stitched flawlessly.  While I feel it is exquisite, most people
view the piece as boring.  These pieces I keep myself.

Then there are the pieces I do for the household.  Breadclothes are a
big favorite, and we have them for all occasions.  We use them with
our baskets and bowls for all sorts of things.  And tableclothes,
napkins, placemats, jar lids, switchplate covers, and country keepers
all fall into that category, too.  I even have a cross-stitched plate
on the face of the telephone in the kitchen.  Do these count as being
for me or for others, since they are a family resource?

Then, I do make things just for me, personally.  A tissue holder for
my purse, a wooden mirror case with a stitched insert.  An afghan.

And I do make things for other people, like an afghan for my daughter,
a picture for my son, a dresser tray for my husband.

But beyond those options, I also make things to sell at auction, too.

Mary Otto