One of the days this weekend, probably Saturday or Monday, I decided to pick through my UFOs and work on one, to get myself ready for the new year.
I pulled out one of my 2011 Crazy January starts, Ms. Mitchell's Christmas Pageant. I know I had thought I would make MUCH more progress on that one because that first kid went very quickly the first day I worked on it. I started working on the next kid, and discovered I didn't have the color I needed. Apparently, I NEVER had the color I needed, because I was particular about not robbing those projects. I thought I had kitted it completely up before starting the darn challenge, but I guess it must have been one of those disappointing Michaels trips where they didn't have all the colors (BTW, I emailed them about that little situation to ask if they were intending to stop carrying DMC and they claim it's a stocking issue. Seriously, AT EVERY store in Montgomery and Carroll Counties? In case someone from Michaels reads this, hire new stockers or investigate your supply chain, Joanns and AC Moore don't have these issues, and I actually bought DMC from the LNS the other day, it may cost more, but at least they have the colors). Since I still don't have those colors, and I wasn't running out to the store that day, I had to put it back in the bin.
Next, I pulled out a picture of Carousel Horses. I think I started that one in 2004, but, apparently, I robbed it of the floss color I needed to use between then and now. I didn't feel like digging through the bin of floss for another skein (or maybe the original one), so that went back in the bin. Finally I pulled out my current UFO WIP and am working on that--at least I know I didn't rob that project, LOL. My large Chestnut project by White Willow will also suffer from this theivery, if I remember correctly. BUMMER.
I find this to be one of the uniting factors in my UFOs, the self-created lack of all the supplies. Not all of them are placed as UFOs for that reason; it almost seems like I will start a project, realize the stars are not aligned that will allow me to enjoy said project, and put it down, then I rob it blind, like an old car that breaks down, is left sit, then you come back for it with a towtruck, and find the tires are gone. Does anyone else do this? It really is kinda frustrating, when I think about it. Does anyone else do this?
13 comments:
Sometimes you amaze me. You seem to have an endless supply of stash and yet do often you don't have the right color handy at the right time. I'm basically a one-at-a-time project stitcher and I'm also not so picky about the exact color. I never mind substituting something different.
I do find that I never seem to have the right backing fabric for a project no matter how many fat quarters I buy. So I guess it's a similar situation.
Ah.. the difficult life of a crafter... not really so much to complain about in the scheme of thing.
I accumulate UFOs because I have the need to move on to something more novel, more challenging, more shiny ... or just plain different. I rarely, if ever, rob one project to stitch another which is the main reason I am the proud owner of multiple partial skeins of various shades of GAST, WDW and CC overdyed cotton and Belle Soie silk floss. Don't ask me how many skeins I have of Maple Syrup or Forest Glade or Pine. I do try, quite diligently, to use up my partial skeins on ornaments and smalls ... but they keep multiplying!
I live in carroll county! The last time i was at michaels there were quite a few empty bins. And if they aren't empty, they are all mixed up so u have to triple check the label to make sure u grabbed the right color.
I do this ALLLL the time, don't feel bad! :)
And while occasionally it IS frustrating, because inevitably get get an attack of the guilts for the amount I've never finished, I figure one can never have too much floss. :)
Okay. Title of your post made me laugh (and I may steal it someday soon for myself.)
I think I have done this a time or two myself. Rob one kit for another. I try very hard not to because of the problems it creates. A solution is to stitch one project at a time - something I'm never going to do. Another solution is to write it down when you steal - and the notes about what you need in your purse so you replenish what you've stolen.
I hate when I find out that the color I need is no where to be found. And you are right about Michaels, they have a lousy stocking system for DMC thread. Sometimes I just order it from ONS just so it's less frustrating!
Happy New Year, Rachel. I also do this to my UFOs; in fact, I was going to ask this very question on the 123 message board - What Makes an UFO? I live in Harford County and have a Joann Fabrics and a Michaels within a half block of each other in the Bel Air Marketplace. Inevitably, especially during Joann's DMC sales, I will need one skein of floss. I dutifully go over to Michaels and they never have it. Our Michaels is truly pitiful in the needlework section. I just don't think they care about stitching anymore. It's done to 1/2 of an aisle for kits and 1/2 aisle (both sides) for fabric and threads.
I tend to be creative and substitute something similar - or perhaps even something completely different if I don't have the prescribed floss.
Go for it! Pick up those old projects and stitch & stitch until they are no longer UFO's but WIP, then before you know it, they will be HOTW - Hung on the Wall !!!!
I hear you about Michaels not having their stock.. stocked. It's so frustrating, and you can go back WEEKS later and still the colour you want isn't there. boo. hiss.
I think with my UFOs, they were a little beyond my skills, or really large. I get really tired of large projects (even the L*K one I did that was about 12x12" was bordering on too large.) and a lot of it has to do with how I find holding the project. I don't really like folding my fabrics on the Qsnaps, and want the qsnaps as large as the project, so it becomes unwieldy for me. Taking it on and off the snaps isn't an option either as I'm SUPER LAZY and once I get the fabric centered, I want it to stay there til I'm done lol. Whew that was a long comment. :D
I like to keep my floss pulled for projects all in one place...I use a floss box(since I use bobbins) that way if 2 projects use the same color it's there for all....if the floss isn't in the projects box it's in my main floss cabinet(extra skeins are in floss away bags in 1 location).
That's a funny analogy about the old, broken down car! I have a similar reason for UFO's. I will start a project and will then run out of a specialty thread. I'll wait to order the thread when I have something else to order, to save on shipping. In the meantime, I'll start another project and lose interest in the original WIP. Then I feel bad and buy the thread to finish it. By that point, I just want to get it over with and don't enjoy the project as much as the first time around.
Carolyn
LOL! I have done that more than once--robbed one project for another! Now I try to just kit up what I'm actively working on and stick to that. Easier said than done!
Looks like you're going to have to do some re-organizing! LOL! If my projects become UFOs it's because I don't feel like stitching on them anymore. I try my best to keep all the supplies with them :o)
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