When writing a book, nothing feels more satisfying than placing that last period at the end of the last sentence. Such a feeling of completion after months of work! I feel the same way when I finish a cross-stitch project after what is often years of work.
Back in September of 2021, I wrote a post about finally starting a cross-stitch project that I had owned for over 30 years. You can see that post here. Well, I’m excited to announce that the last stitch was placed a few weeks ago. WooHoo!
Fall 2021 to Summer 2025. Almost four years! Well, really only two and a half. I took 18 months off in 2023-24 to work on a design for my son’s wedding last November.
I took a few pictures of my work in progress along the way for my Sweethearts design. These are not the best quality, but I thought you might enjoy seeing the proression.
And here is the finished product after cleaning, ironing, and framing:
Purchased in 1988 or ’89, started in 2021, and finished in 2025. Whew! What a long journey. But that just makes the completion all the sweeter. It now hangs on my office wall above my writing desk. I find myself glancing up to enjoy it every now and then as I work. It always makes me smile.
Do you have long-term projects that felt amazing to finally finish?
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Congrats on that completion, Karen! It’s lovely! And what an undertaking! I haven’t cross-stitched in years, but when Mom passed in 2009, I inherited all the cross-stitched gifts I’d given her in my younger years. Maybe I’ll post about those soon. Thanks for nudging those sweet memories to the forefront.Congrats, again.
Thanks, Tammy. My daughter enjoys cross-stitching too, and the boot with sunflowers design in the background of my office photo is one that she made. I just love it. Makes me think of her every time and smile. I’m sure your designs made your mom think of you and smaile as well. And now you can look at them and think of her. A perfect circle!
Bravo, Karen! I couldn’t agree more about how wonderful it feel to complete a lengthy project.
I was on a family vacation with my niece recently and she has begun painting her own designs onto a cross-stitch mesh base. Then stitching the pattern. I was so impressed!
Wow! That is impressive. I have no artistic talent on my own. Ha! But I can follow directions someone more talented than me leaves behind. 🙂
It looks beautiful, Karen! And I know how much work goes into a project like that. I haven’t cross- stitched for a while. I have a couple of unfinished projects in my sewing bag. Now, I enjoy getting my daughter’s projects framed.
Framing has gotten so expensive. I’m sure your daughter is so thankful to have your help with that. And it’s so nice to have that keepsake preserved for future generations.
beautiful,
Thank you, Sharon.
Congratulations, Karen! It’s lovely.
My mom was a prize-winning cross-stitcher. She won first place in the Minnesota State Fair for her quilt. Sadly I do not have it as it wore out over many years of use and couldn’t be restored. My longest project lately is our half-acre flower/wildflower garden that has been a constant battle with deer and rabbits for the past 14 years. I will never again believe those “deer resistant” plant tags. But the critters have now won, or I’ve wised up. I’m slowly putting in plants they truly resist based on my experience. Those other lovely ones will have to wait for the next house we move to.
I bet your mom’s needlework was amazing, Karen! My husband’s great aunt was a marvelous quilter, and I loved visiting her house just so I could ooo and ahhh over the quilts on deisplay. Your wildflower garden sounds beautiful! It’s too bad the wildlife think so too. 🙂
Karen, that’s beautiful! Kudos on finishing! My long term project is very similar to yours—a cross stitch project from years ago. You’ve inspired me to finish.
Yay! I hope you do. I find I go in spurts, but if I can get used to working on it a few days a week in the evenings, I eventually make good progress.
What an accomplishment! And how fun that you’ve had it so long. It’s beautiful.
Loved your finished product!
Yes, there have been projects that were finished months or years after they were started.
This past winter I finished a quilt that had the blocks cut in the 1990s. It definitely was different than when the pieces were cut. The finished quilt was larger than the child’s quilt first intended.
Your piece is beautiful! You did such a nice job! I have an unfinished cross stitch project of a piece of music on a piano with flowers that I started years ago. I picked it up 2 years ago and was determined to finish but it had many errors so I gave up! But you may have encouraged me to try again!
I recently finished a baby sweater that I started for my daughter when she was a baby. She is now 44 years old! I thought that was quite an accomplishment but now I need to find someone to give it to!