TIMELINE: 2/28/2026 – present

Going on an embroidery retreat with a bunch of stitchers can be fun.

Stash exchanges, though, can be problematic. Don’t get me wrong. It is great to clear out projects you know you will never finish, getting the stitching area under control and giving the new members of your group an opportunity to fill in the holes in their collections. The challenge is not to pick up any new projects while cleaning out your old.

2/28/2026 – Totally unrelated, at the embroidery retreat I started a new cross-stitch entitled “Two Grey Hills” inspired by an indigenous rug design. The kit came with thread of unknown origin (it is cotton), Aida cloth (14 count) a needle and a pattern. At the moment I am working the portion of the design I have to pay attention to, and then I will be saving this piece to finish at meetings to keep my hands from rising to volunteer.

3/7/2026 – The first two  pictures of the Two Grey Hills Cross-stitch were taken after a week of embroidery since I was away from home when I started and forgot I am trying to show my embroidery to the world. I am working the embroidery within a hoop to help with tension, not that Aida cloth tension is usually an issue but this is a larger project so there is enough tension to twist the fabric out of true.