Slow Sunday Stitching Oct, 2026 AND 2026 Rotation #8 Slot #1 (Not Counted X Stitch) New Project Options

 I have been ALL OVER the place with my crafting this week.  I'm bouncing from project to project like a demented squirrel getting ready for winter.  And we are sneaking into Autumn here in Kansas (finally).  The leaves aren't really turning yet, and we haven't had a hard frost, but I pulled on a hoodie to let Dela out yesterday morning.  Sweater weather is coming!   And look!  I have a sweater shaped object to report on.   The Brown Study Sweater (link to my Ravelry page on it) has been getting steady attention over the last few weeks, though I have barely mentioned it.   

I am up to where all the decreases are done and the neck shaping starts; I'm planning to do a short row neck with three or four turns on each side (depends on how it fits when I try it on).  And I'm noodling about the neck finish.  Even though I used ribbing on the bottom and cuffs, I think I'll do an I-cord edge on the top.  This sweater will be worn over collared shirts or turtlenecks and so it doesn't really need a ribbed crew neck.  An I-cord edge gives a nice smooth finish and quite a bit of structure - win/win.  But before all that happens, I need to close the underarm seams so I can try it on.  Right now, they are on rigid stitch holders; the pokey ends would get in the way and affect the fit.   Even if the worst happens and the yoke fit is wrong, I will only pull back as far as the lifeline, which is above the underarm seam.   So the next report will be underarms and fit.  Keeping my fingers crossed that all my numbers were right.  

The month end happened in the middle of last week, so I did my update on "Santa of the Forest" (details in the changeover post).  But if you don't care to click through, I'm happy to share a pretty picture.  When I finished the bit of the robe that goes 'over' the bottom border, I reached the bottom of the project!  There's still about 5K stitches though, so no happy dance on this one quite yet.  I did put in another 419 stitches since the first and finished off the gap in the robe on the right side. I am currently at approximately 87.23%

There WILL be a happy dance soon on the vintage German needlepoint "Alter Bauernhof".  I have gotten to the point on this one where I just want to power through to the end.  Look for a FINISH post later this week!

and the back - not much left!

And that upcoming finish means that I get to choose a new "not counted X stitch" project.   It will be one of these two - both of them are cutwork type white work.  

On the left is "Five Band Sampler" by Catherine Scott, published in 'Sampler & Antique Needlework: A Year in Stitches, Vol II'.  Ecru on raw linen - Hardanger, drawn thread, pulled thread, needle weaving.   On the right is "A Lady's Sampler" by Linda Driskell, published as three parts in 'Antique Sampler and Needlework Quarterly' (Vol 15,16,17) White on white - drawn thread and surface embroidery.  Whichever one I choose, I won't start it until the next rotation.  (Just a note:  The above printouts are working copies; I own both the book and the CD collection of magazines.  Respect Copyright!)

I also had a new start on the first for the Blackbird Academy SAL - "Moonlit Garden" is now at 12.52%.  It's on the larger size for a monthly project (aprox 5,750 stitches), so it might not get finished this month.  We'll see.  

Oh, and I finished the Maple Leaf LOSY Hat (link to my Ravelry page or here on the knitting quarterly roundup) and it's already in the donate bag.  I haven't cast on another travel project yet since the Santa ornament is still travel appropriate.  It's up to the 50% mark after I put some time in on Monday and Tuesday, so I'd better figure out something soon - maybe a pair of socks?  Or another Musselburgh Hat?

Woof - I did warn you there were lots of projects this week!  Want even more projects?  Go check out what the SSS crew got up to lately (link up post is here.)

FINISHED KNITTING PROJECTS - Q3 2026 (July, August, September)

Maple Leaf LOSY Hat

Brown Study Sampler Hat

 Muchness Cowl

2026 Rotation #7 Slot #4 (Pictorial) Changeover

 

 4,437 stitches this month / rotation period.  That brings the total stitches to approximately 29,850 or 86.02%

Here's where I was at the beginning of the month for comparison:

Basically, this month brought the right side of the robes down to row 200 (matching where the dove's lower wing ends), then I focused on the wolf.  Got it done, did the little bit of greenery behind the wolf's head, then went back to the right side of the robes.  The main part of the robe goes down to row 230 (where the bottom of the wolf's head stops) with more greenery off to the sides and a narrow(ish) dangling drape over the edge on each side (the drape on the right side is done).  So, still not near a finish, especially when you look at all the metallic stitches and beads that will go in at the end.   That blank area of St. Nick's staff / bishop's crozier is really bugging me.  I am itching to get the bling added LOL. 

Slow Sunday Stitching - September 27, 2026 AND 2026 Rotation #7 Slot #3 (Modern) Changeover

 

There were a couple of 'stopping point' milestones on my projects this week.  First is the Modern slot, the "Collaboration Sampler Bellpull".  I was able to finish the Just Nan portion, which is the bottom third of the piece. Done except for the beading, which will happen at the end. Very typical JN in the 1990's look, but I still like it.  I did short the hours a bit, so I'm also putting some time in on the perforated paper Santa ornament this week.  I haven't had a lot of appointments this month, so I'm afraid it has been a bit ignored of late. 

The other 'midpoint milestone' project is the September assignment for the Blackbird Academy SAL.  I finished the front panel on Loose Feathers #40 (original series) "Hedgerow Birds". (Details in the finish post here.)

 I will be doing the back panel in March for the prompt "flowers", hence the date being next year.  (Left/back cover of the pattern leaflet below shows what it will look like.)  It will be stitched upside down relative to this one on the same piece of linen.  If you look closely, you can see the basted lines for the center fold and bottom start under the urn.  I'll be finishing it to the kit directions, which I will share when I get there. 

I got to the next decrease point on the yoke of the brown colorwork sweater.  I'll be working on that later today and I will move the project to a shorter circular needle, which is another good milestone!

"Santa of the Forest" will get its month end and changeover post soon - look for that post on Wednesday night.   That will be the end of rotation #7.   I'm clicking through all five (six if you count the travel project ornament) projects every month pretty regularly of late.  Not sure how long I can keep up that pace, but I feel very accomplished.   I'm linking up with the SSS crew (here).

NEEDLEWORK MILESTONE: "Hedgerow Birds - Front Panel" by Blackbird Designs

 

Pattern: "Hedgerow Birds" Loose Feathers #40 - front panel

Designer: Blackbird Designs

Fabric: 20 count "Straw" linen by Weeks Dye Works

Threads:  Gentle Arts and Crescent Colors / Classic Colorworks as charted

 

Stitches:  Three over two, satin stitch 

Size: 10.75 x 10.5 inches (27 x 26.6 cm)

 

Started 9/6/2026, needlework completed 9/23/2026

23.0 hours

Blackbird Academy SAL - September 2026 (prompt = bird)

Back panel scheduled for March 2027 BBD Academy SAL (prompt = flowers).

Will be finished as a bag per the kit instructions when the back panel is completed next year. That's why it's dated 2027. 

Slow Sunday Stitching September 20, 2026 AND AND 2026 Rotation #7 Slot #2 (Historic) Changeover

I have a page finish on "A Quaker Christmas"!  I have stitched 2775 stitches out of 23,406 for last rotation and this one (before and after getting it into Pattern Keeper). That brings me to 11.86%.  I'm still loving the Sulky 12 weight thread over two on the 40-count fabric.

It was totally worth the time I took to chart the pattern into PK.  The second half of Page one with the bird and the oddly alien looking hearts went so much faster than the two corner half medallions.  I think I'll work down the left side to the bottom left corner next.  Now that I'm not working from a paper pattern, I don't have to stick to one page at a time.  There's still a VERY long way to go!  

I put in 1,061 stitches on "Santa of the Forest" this week - all in the wolf's head.  Here's a teaser pic at 81.11% from just after I rolled up the fabric again.

No photo on the knitting, but I did the second round of decreases on the yoke yesterday.  Not too long until it will need to move to a shorter needle.  That's encouraging progress.  No appointments this week, so I haven't made any progress on either of the travel projects.

I'm pulling out the modern piece "Collaboration Bellpull" when I get back from church and will be catching up with the SSS crew over on this week's link up.  See you there.  

Slow Sunday Stitching - September 13, 2026

 It's been a very difficult week this week.  One of my college roommates passed away on Wednesday.  So I have a funeral to attend this coming week.  Part of life, I know, but still hard, in some ways even harder due to the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack.  Marilyn was always the one to comfort in the hard times and lead prayer and look for the good in all times and places.  She will be missed.  I'm glad I went to see her earlier in the month.  

For one reason or another, I didn't get a ton of crafting done.  I only put in 924 stitches on "Santa of the Forest" this week.  That gets me to 78.05% though, and I'm past the wolf's ears and almost to his eyes.   

Most of the crafting time has actually been spent at the computer.  I pulled out "A Quaker Christmas" and decided that I wasn't enjoying working it from the paper pattern, so I've been charting it into Pattern Keeper.   That took several hours. I did get a start on the big bird motif before I highjacked myself into charting. And that bird is what made me acknowledge that I've gotten really spoiled by having patterns in Pattern Keeper.  I find it extremely motivating to mark off my stitch count each day. 

There's actually a surprising amount of stitching in this piece.  It's DENSE.  Not like a full coverage, but at 23,406 charted stitches, it's up there at the low end of the 'large' category.  At the end of the last rotation, I had 1390 finished stitches, as of the photo above, I have 1719 or 7.34%.

The knitting on the yoke sweater is coming along.  I finished the colorwork and did the first decrease round.   Decreasing 80 stitches is noticeable in how fast I can knit around the circumference now!  Seven more rounds to the next decreases.  

Hope everyone else had a better week and I'll be checking in with the SSS crew (weekly roundup here).