WIPocalypse 2025 Kick-Off

 This is my first time participating in WIPocalypse, so I will start out with an introduction. I go by the name Tweezle. It was a name given to me back in the 80's by my then boyfriend's close friend. He called me Tweeze all the time and the name just stuck. 

I have stitched since I was a child. Mom started me on embroidery first then cross stitch, counted cross stitch and then crewel embroidery. She also started me on crochet when I was about 5 and knitting a couple of years later. There were many other crafts sprinkled throughout my life, but counted cross stitch, knitting and crochet are the ones that I have stayed with.

I worked as a model stitcher since the mid 80's and have enjoyed working with some great shops as well as amazing designers. I've also proof-read charts, test knitted and crocheted items and did proof-reading both knit and crochet patterns as well. Now, it will pick up a test here and there, but I'm basically retired. It got to the point where I was no longer loving the needlearts and hating the deadlines. I put that aside for awhile and then my eyes went bad. I guess it was just in time. 

My project list is forever changing. In fact, I just pulled another set of patterns off my list. I've decided to scrap Curtis Boehringer's The Needlewoman Murder Mystery in 13 Chapters. I'm just not enjoying it at all. So off to the Pulled List it goes. 

It was my start and focus piece for this year, but after putting 5 days of stitching in, I decided it was time to make room for things I love. 

Before

After 5 days

I have passed the requirement for WIPGO, so I can mark that off and I've put my time in for my focus piece on WIP Warriors. It's been stated that I've wasted my time, but I really haven't. It helped me to come to a conclusion that this one needs to move on. Now I have more time for something else.

My next piece for WIPGO is Lanarte's Romantic Picnic (Stoney Creek). It's being stitched on white linen and it's not as easy to work on as it once was. This one will certainly take some time with my crappy eyesight. 

Next on the WIPGO Board

What I Will Be Working On In 2025

1. Kustom Krafts Sofa Cat
2. Happy Everything
3. Noah's Ark
4. PV May
5. The Frosted Pumpkin Artic Animals Club
6. CWC Hummingbird Garden
7. KK Fire & Ice
8. L&L Celtic Spring
9. The Baby
10. BC Snappers
11. Lanarte Romantic Picnic
12. Dimensions Magic In Motion
13. The Sweetheart Tree - Olde English Needleroll
14. French Calendar
15. Northwoods Stocking
16. Dimensions A Bird for All Seasons
17. Sunset Gettysburg
18. The Silver Lining - Aymers Amber Rose
19. KK Four Horses of Apocalypse
20. Curtis Boehringer's The Needlewoman Murder Mystery
21. Marty Bel''s Hideaway Cottage
22. Marquoir Mystery Sampler
23. Just Nan Last Stitches
24. Creative Circle Inn Keeper's Sign (stamped)
25. The Sweetheart Tree Teenie Tweenies Spring Has Sprung

I'm looking forward to whittling down this WIP list. I can't wait to see what others are doing!

Great meeting you. Now, off to whip my WIP list into shape (I know - Boo Hiss!)

Week 1

BRR-ingo has brought some excitement back to the old projects I tucked away and haven't touched in forever. Yes, there was the eye issue, but some of these projects hadn't been touched waaaay before that. The first number called was in my last post.

The second number was #4 - A WIP or new start that intimidates you. I had originally picked Teresa Wentzler's "Stretch", but honestly, it just never called to me, and the person it was being stitched for wasn't "into it" any more. That was pulled from my rotation and will be frogged and the green fabric will be repurposed. 

Kustom Krafts "Fire and Ice" took its place. The black was intimidating after the eye issue, so this was chosen because of that reason. I don't know why I put this aside and never touched it again all those years ago, because it was such a soothing stitch for me this time. It will DEFINITELY be getting more love this year!

Fire & Ice before

Fire & Ice after 2 hours 

Jan 3, the number called was #9 - WIP or new start that is sparkly (fabric, floss, etc). Pamela Kellogg's "Cupids Garden Mystery SAL" certainly fit that bill! I started it on 28 count opalescent white that should have been an evenweave, but certainly was not. Now I know why it never got touched again. That fabric was autrocious at best. I put the requred hour into it and decided to pull this one from my rotation as well. This does NOT get frogged!!

Cupid's Garden Before

Cupid's Garden after 1 LONG hour

January 4 - #5 WIP or new start that will be a gift. This one is called "My Husband" by Linda Myers. Yes, this is the one I received in a XS lot from Ebay and searched for the pattern. I was lucky to receive it just in time to all it to my BRR-ingo card! 

My Husband before

My husband after 2 hours

January 5th - #19 WIP or new start you were inspired to start because of the way you'd see it finished. This was December 2023's Secret Needle Night Kit from The Silver Needle. It's called "Love Machine" and not only do I think the pattern is cute, but it is finished and displayed on a small cutting board. I love that idea! After looking up the ideas on how to do the finish to display on a cutting board, I saw that someone had put magnets on the board and washers on the back of the stitched, so one could interchange them with with other similar sized pieces. So cool!!!

A new start!

Love Machine after 1 hour of stitching.

January 6 - #25 WIP or new start you would take on vacation.  My choice for this was the Dimensions kit "Laundry Day". It's easy and kitted, so grab and go. I had to get this when I saw it at Walmart one day. It says it all... 

Laundry Day before

Laundry Day after 2 hours

January 7 finishes up the week. The number called was 10 - WIP or start from a magazine. I knew exactly the WIP that needed to be chosen for this number - "North Woods Stocking" from the Premier issue of Cross Stitch and Country Crafts. It has been in WIP/UFO pile for a many years and if I'm not mistaken, is my oldest.  I started it in the late 80's and it was touched every now and then, and then I discovered a major mistake and had to frog a considerable amoun that had been done to the tree. The tree was frogged and then the piece returned to the pile to wait and wait and wait. It has surfaced, the issue has been fixed and has received some much needed love.

North Woods Stocking before

North Woods Stocking after 3 hours.

This has been the most fun activity I've participated in a long time. I really look forward to the posting of the new number every evening. Weirdly enough, it's not to see if I'll win a bingo, but just to see what is next to work on.