Keeping Sane During 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic Doing Cross Stitching

GeorgiaBulldogsFan
by GeorgiaBulldogsFan
3 Materials
$35
5 Months
Easy

During these extremely troubling and stressful times in our lives, I have tried to keep from going NUTS and do something constructive as much as possible. Because of my age bracket, I began self-quarantining in March 2020.

I purchased a craft book several months ago. Going through it I found the chart for stitching this “Santa Checking His List” chart. BUT the chart was for stitching it onto an Afghan. As a long time cross stitcher, I decided that I would use it to cross stitch it on 14 Aida fabric instead. Went to my trusty cross stitch bins and found a piece of 14 Aida measuring 45x60 inches. Not wanting to cut it, I decided to get started. I realized VERY quickly that it was too large to put on my lap. DUH!!

As a long time thrift store junkie, I remembered having spent a whopping $1.50 for the pictured rug frame from a St. Vincent de Paul thrift store many years ago “in case I needed it”. 🤣. So, I knew immediately that this rack would make stitching the pattern MUCH easier.

I stapled each selvaged edge of the Aida fabric to the rug frame after determining the center of the pattern. I rolled the fabric around the frame as tight as I could get it. It wasn’t taunt but it was much better than in my lap. This is how it looked on March 5, 2020 when I quit stitching for the first night. I had gathered all 30+ colors of embroidery floss and put them into a box for easy access while stitching. I was switching colors frequently since there was lots of shading throughout the piece.

After stitching for 5 months and 14 days and stitching 82, 620 stitches, this piece is FINALLY done. 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌. AND my sanity is still intact. I do regret that I didn’t document the number of hours I worked on it. I would probably be amazed. The space left empty at the top of Santa’s list is for grandchildren’s names. Now I have to take it off the frame and see how out of shape the fabric is and steam press it. I admit, I did back stitch areas that the original chart did not have. Also, since my husband retired from CSX Railroad and my son now works for CSX, I personalized the train engine. I also changed the way the names were stitched and added names that I particularly like. I have purchased a frame already from, of course, a thrift store here in town. Once I get it framed, I will add the absolute finished project. Hope this gets you inspired to do something constructive. This Pandemic isn’t over yet and I pray that all of you fellow Hometalkers remain safe and healthy. Thus far our family remains COVID-19 free. Feel free to ask questions you might have.

Well, here it is. Framed, on my iron easel, and READY for Christmas. I had to lay it on one of my rugs to get fewer reflections in the photo. My scored $10.00 thrift store frame came with the exact mat size I needed too! The frame measures 29 inches wide and 35 inches high. Can’t imagine what I would have been charged at a frame shop! I am sure it would have been MORE than $10.00 though. 🤪.

Another picture with reflections.

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4 of 11 comments
  • Kara Wurtzel Kara Wurtzel on Dec 09, 2020

    This is amazing! Thanks for sharing

    • GeorgiaBulldogsFan GeorgiaBulldogsFan on Jan 16, 2022

      Hi Kara. Thank you for your kind response to my project. I am quite proud of it myself. And now the Christmas holidays are upon us so I’m ready to use this project in my home.


  • Thea Thea on Jan 16, 2022

    Found the post. Now I understand the thought process that goes on with someone crazy enough to embark on embroidery.😅

    • GeorgiaBulldogsFan GeorgiaBulldogsFan on Jan 16, 2022

      Thank you, Thea. I must admit that during the process that I considered myself quite crazy for starting such a HUGE piece. Lol. I doubted myself as to whether I would finish it. But now I’m so glad that I persevered and completed it. I place it on its metal easel next to my Christmas tree during the holidays.

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