I am generally not a huge Americana stitcher. I’m hyper-aware that American patriotism has always tended to be a little over the top for many of our foreign friends… and things just have gone into bizarro world in the last decade. It admittedly has deterred me from a lot of projects that I may have otherwise stitched, simply because I don’t want to be seen under the current label of a “patriot” as it’s often identified in social media.
I love my country. I want my country to succeed. But in recent years, I’ve also been pretty ashamed of it. After the hope of the Obama years, things have been in a pretty dark cloud here. This is not news to anyone who’s watched the insanity occurring on our side of the pond.
But with the election in 2020, I wanted to regain some of that hope. Especially with the frustration of Covid. I needed something to celebrate, however small it might be. Enter into the #ReclaimOurFlagSAL and #InaugurationDaySAL in January 2021, where a number of stitchers chose pieces in Americana that interested them, that we could stitch together as we watched Joe Biden’s inauguration.
A Stitch for Sweet Freedom by Lindy Stitches
I selected A Stitch for Sweet Freedom by Lindy Stitches. I’ve always liked the Betsy Ross symbolism in Americana. I loved that this particular piece had an African American stitcher to represent Ross. And I really liked the verse. It’s a gentle one, which I appreciate – rather than the Rah Rah Freedom!!!! stuff that I often see (much of which tends to lean Christian, which doesn’t work for me).
I started my piece on January 20th, and I have a mix of Gentle Arts and DMC from stash, but am not using the charted colors. This one was kitted entirely from stash.
A Stitch for Sweet Freedom as of September 1, 2023 – stitched 2 over 2 on 32 ct Morning Mist lugana from Heaven Lea Creations with threads from stash
My attention switched to other pieces in 2021 and 2022, so I haven’t done a bunch on this piece. It will probably get occasional work for stitch games via Semi Sane Stitchers until the presidential election cycle starts heating up… and then I’ll likely put it into more active rotation as I watch the primary results from various states in the spring and summer. I’d like to have this finished by the next inauguration – a fitting window for the project. 🙂
Since I am back-dating this post, here’s the progress made via Semi Sane Stitchers Go Fish game in September. Not a lot since I only used it once as an “S” draw… but still… every stitch counts!
A Stitch for Sweet Freedom as of October 1, 2023. Stitched 2 over 2 on on 32 ct Morning Mist lugana from Heaven Lea Creations with threads from stash
Last year I joined the Tudor Rose Sampler Guild(abbreviated TRSG going forward) to participate in an online class for Amy Mitten’s Mute But Not Silent project. The class was great – a blend of new-to-me stitches (cut work!!!) and some history about Dutch samplers. I’d also been curious about joining a formal stitching guild, but have felt the EGA to be a bit too intimidating and not quite cross-stitch friendly, so it was nice to discover a group that is supportive of cross stitch and a variety of different styles. I’ve enjoyed putting names to faces with some stitchers who I’ve seen in Facebook groups over the years, too! The group is local to the Dallas, TX area, but for now they are meeting virtually. Until it goes back to in-person meetings and isn’t accessible, it’s a great opportunity for me to learn, branch out, and get a sense of how a guild membership can work (and as they’ve been doing this for over 20 years – it’s going quite well!)
One of the things that TRSG does every year is a project called M.A.G.I.C. – My Annual Good Intentions Contract. MAGIC goals are ones stitchers choose themselves for projects that they’ve already started that they intend to finish – either in stitching or to be fully finished (FFO’ed) if stitching is already complete. There’s a form on the membership website to enter in your pieces (due by February 1st), and a couple progress check-ins will be done during meetings through the year. Totally fun, just to keep folks motivated. 🙂
So I’ve entered my M.A.G.I.C. list for the year onto the website. Now I just need to get these suckers done this year! My list is as follows:
Witches Wheel (Glendon Place) – The stitching on this is done, but I have all of the beading to do. Ideally I’d also like to get this framed so I can enter it into this year’s Big E fair.
Jade Band Sampler (iStitch Designs) – I am currently on week 11 of 30 on this sampler. If I just stick with this, I should be able to complete this easily in 2022.
The Castle (Teresa Wentzler) – I completed the stitching on this way back in 2005. It’s never been framed, and that needs to be rectified. So this is a FFO goal.
You Were Hatched (Teresa Wentzler) – I have the Celtic braid corners to complete on this ornament before FFOing this in time to hang on my tree next Christmas. I’d had this stalled for a while because there was a time that I was going to create this into Max’s birth sampler… but then I went another direction. So ornament it will be!
Mirabilia Round Robin (Mirabilia – customized) – Completed back in 2011!!! Not framed!!! What’s wrong with me?!? So yes – big FFO goal for the year. This needs to go on my wall. Soon.
A Stitch for Sweet Freedom (Lindy Stitches) – This cute little piece is one I started last January for Inauguration Day. I’d like to have it completed by the end of this year.
Apache Wedding Blessing (Kooler Designs) – Crosses are done, but I completely burned on the backstitching on this. The friend it was intended for will celebrate her 20th anniversary in a couple years, and I’d like to have this done for then.
Bird & Berry Box (Barbara Jackson) – This project was via a class I took through Celebrations in 2020. The class was short and I didn’t really get to work on it much, but I’d like to get all of the smalls stitched and assembled this year.
Winter Welcome (Park Hopper Bart) – I received this pattern in the recent Nice Box from Black Needle Society, and it’s so stinkin’ cute!! Not large at all, and it’s a design that should also be easy to frame. So my goal is to get this both stitched and FFO’d.
Christmas Pin Pillow (Kathy Barrick) – This is another project I received fully kitted in the Nice Box. I started this on New Year’s Eve, and would like to complete it this year. My goal is to only finish the stitching for now – if I can FFO it, great. I’m not sure yet how I will finish it (kinda need to get a sense of the finished size first).
Flying Lesson (Silver Creek Samplers) – Silver Creek is quickly becoming one of my “whimsy pattern” favorites. I received this project in the Black Needle Society’s Trick or Treat Box in October. My goal is to stitch it. Unsure for finishing quite yet.
I Love USA (Mani di Donna) – In 2020, Celebration of Needlework was held remotely, like so many other things. I supported the retreat by paying for my membership and my normal classes, even though I’d be sitting at home in front of my computer. Mani di Donna’s project was one of the eight via the Round Robin class on Friday evening – an event I enjoy participating in every year. It’s a small fob and flosswinder set. My goal is to do both the stitching and finishing for this.
Temperature Tree 2022 (Stitchin’ Mommy) – My intention had been to complete this tree in 2021, but I wasn’t able to get things done… so it’s becoming a 2022 temperature tracker instead! Fully stitched. I’ll FFO it in 2023.
It’s a lot of things to try to finish, but I’m optimistic. Many of these projects are either small, or just need final framing. In true “me” fashion, I made it official by creating a planner checklist page for myself. Now that it’s in writing, it’s an official goal! 🙂
