Saturday, January 12, 2019

A New Year Brings New SALs!


Happy 2019! I hope this is a spectacularly Stitchtacular Year for all of us 😊 Although I know I probably won't be able to blog regularly, due to continued illness in my family, I couldn't resist joining in with Jo's fun Gifted Gorgeousness (GG) SAL again this year:

https://serendipitousstitching.blogspot.com/p/gifted-gorgeousness-2019-sign-up-page.html

This is a relaxed SAL that posts every month on the 15th, and is meant to encourage us to use up stitchy supplies given as gifts. You can join in every month, or on an as-you-can basis (which I'm doing). The full rules are on the FAQ post on Serendipitous Stitching. I've participated in past GG SALs and it's a great way to meet new stitchers!

Jo also mentioned a great new SAL that is just starting. It's so new that it doesn't have a name yet, but Rachel at the Ten Hour Stitcher is starting a Fully Finished Off (FFO) SAL to encourage stitchers to make something - anything - with previously stitched projects.

As she says: "It saddens me that there are probably hundreds of completed cross stitches stored away in drawers and boxes when all that might be needed is a bit of encouragement or inspiration for their owners to dive in and have a go at fully-finishing some, even if it's only one or two."

This will also be a relaxed, join when-you-can sort of SAL (right up my alley!) and more details will be given around the 10th of February, as she is more accurately able to gauge stitcher interest. So if this sounds like something you'd like to join - and as an added incentive, each entry will count for a prize draw! - head over to her post and tell her you're interested. If this gets off the ground, I might try to jump in for a month or two. Although I don't have the majority of my unfinished stitching with me right now, I do have a few small projects that are waiting to be FFO! And, no doubt, I'll make more in need of finishing this year too 😄

Although I'm not a big believer in New Year's Resolutions, my Stitchy Goals for 2019 are to keep experimenting with hand embroidery and embellishment, and to stitch whatever takes my fancy LOL I'd also really like to update the blog too, as time permits.

EDITED: I totally forgot TAST! Take A Stitch Tuesday is a SAL that has been hosted by Sharon B at Pintangle for the last few years, for hand embroidery. It is meant to teach a new embroidery stitch each week, with an additional Beyond TAST level for those who want a challenge. There is a group TAST Flickr pool where you can see lots of stitchy goodness and which will give you a better idea of the SAL.


You can customize the SAL by working stitch samplers or doodle cloths, a big sampler, monthly small projects or one big project. Some people have made beautiful fabric books, with each page being variations on a stitch, such as this amazing example at Crafty Creek. Or you can use the stitches in projects you are already making. You can post every Tuesday with a single stitch, or post some Tuesdays with several stitches at once. It's a challenge I've greatly admired from afar for the last four or five years, and I hope I can dip in and out of that one too this year. I still have so many hand embroidery stitches to learn 💟

How about you? Any Stitchy Goals for 2019? And are you participating in any SALS this year? I'd love to hear all about your plans for this year!

6 comments:

Katie said...

I'm joining those other than TAST. I wish you luck! I just want to finish as many stitching pieces as I can.

Queeniepatch said...

It is nice to make plans for the year ahead, but also important to feel free to change or cancel plans as life might get in the way.
I took part in TAST twice and learned a lot, I think it is a fantastic online stitch course.
All the best for 2019
Queenie

Karen said...

These all sound like wonderful SALs to join. I look forward to seeing your FFOs and the TAST SALs. I've looked at TAST every now and again too over the last few years. :) Good luck with all of your goals and all the best in 2019!

Aurelia Eglantine said...

Katie: I think the FFO SAL will be fun, and hopefully the push I need to finish a few things. Best of luck to you too, I'll be following along and look forward to seeing your finishes :)

Queeniepatch: That's so true! These are super tentative plans and I joined these SALs because I knew they were so relaxed - I have high hopes, but time will tell. I will try to remember to be flexible! I've seen some of your amazing TAST stitches and have been following along with your Sunday Stitch School whenever I can, your blog is a wonderful resource for learning stitchers like myself. Best of luck to you too this year :)

Karen: All the best to you too, hope you have a great stitching year ahead :) I've hesitated over TAST, wanting the time to "do it right" with a big sampler but Sharon might not be doing it again so I decided to take a leap of faith and try it, even if I only get one post in for the year, it will be a victory for me ;) Maybe you can squeeze in an embroidery project too - if it uses any of the yearly stitches, it counts!

Julie said...

Good luck with your plans, sounds like you will have lots of fun with crafting friends.

rosey175 said...

Hooray for the SALs~ I'm not a fan of resolutions either, more like "Why should I wait for the beginning of a year to change?" mindset. But it is nice to have hope ahaha. Love the idea of the Stitch Book. How cute is that?! G'luck with your projects~ \:D/