Slow Sunday Stitching - January 1, 2023 PLUS 12 x 12 SAL Results and Resetting the Needlework Rotation for 2023

I had a lot of fun stitching on my rotation pieces during the NYE 12 by 12 SAL yesterday. Here were my SAL goals

• Dutch Beauty  - finished before SAL (link to finished post)
  
• set up the Victoria Sampler quilt block #7 (managed to squeeze in the set up earlier this week)
  

1.  "Sugar Skull" to ten hours total - 1.0 hours during SAL
   
2. "My Day Complete" January section - 2.25 hours during SAL
3. VS "Beyond Cross Stitch #1-3" borders - 2.0 hours during SAL 
4. "Plaza Sewing Bag" - 1.5 hours during SAL 
   
5. BBD "Beyond My Heart" lettering - 1.0 hours during SAL
   

I touched all of the projects and stitched almost 8 hours straight.  I had hoped to go the entire 12 hours, but my hands were hurting, so I took a break for dinner and simply didn't get back into it.  As per my plan, I worked for an hour on each project, then switched out, working my way through the rotation. I did find that I didn't like to change out my project that often.  I felt like I was just getting into the flow when the hour was up

See below for my progress, the end of the New Years Eve challenge = the start of the 2023 Rotation #1. I am sticking with the five slot rotation that I've used for the last several years, but I am tightening down on the stitch-a-long and 'special' projects that were threatening to derail me the last few months of 2022.  

1) Full Coverage:  "Sugar Skull" by MagicCrossStitch.  I'm going to outline everything before I start filling in.  One over one on 28 count ice blue Lugana with charted DMC.  Only one hour during the SAL because I had just put a couple of hours into it on Friday.  Ten hours total stitching time (including set up).

2) Historic/Historic Inspired Sampler/Smalls: "My Day Complete" by Kathy Barrick.   It's based on a folk painting from 1809, so it belongs in this slot as an 'historic inspired' piece.  One over two on 40 count "Vintage Country Mocha" Newcastle base.  DMC version with a couple of substitutions.  12 monthly sections (Oct 25 2022 to Oct 25 2023).  I can work ahead, but don't want to fall behind - working on Jan / Feb.

4) Modern Sampler/Smalls:  Three more Victoria Sampler Learning Series kits remain to make as blocks for my planned Christmas Wall Quilt.   Currently working on the last of the 'Carol' blocks, "Silent Night".  There are just the corners yet to do on the borders.

3)  Pictorial:  The Plaza Sewing Bag continues in this slot.  The front panel of the bag is very close to being done, with the back panel underway. Still to do - the entire top border on all sides, initials (carriage door) / date (clock face in tower), and add a bunch of beads and metallic details.  Plus massive amounts of assembly at the end! Specialty stitches galore, beads, over two and over one on 30 count cream linen

older pic - worked on horse during NYE SAL

 5) Other than Counted Thread:  Two UFO projects available for this slot; there's also the needlepoint pillow for Carl that needs to slide in here sooner rather than later, which may lead to hibernating one or both of these again.  Back to waiting on Kimi for a pattern.

The projects will continue to get 10 timed hours per slot (except full coverage) and full coverage will be worked on Fridays for a minimum of 250 stitches per week (hopefully more).   I will continue to try to finish/frame as I complete things and I would like to FFO / frame at least six older projects from the 'under the bed box' this year.

There will be a couple of big changes to my needlework plans this year.  I will be winding down the #BBDweekendSAL once "Beyond My Heart" is completed; I am going to try to work in the occasional BBD piece in the 'historic/historic inspired' slot instead. Here's where my BBD project is after the time I put in on it during the New Year Eve SAL

Also, I will not be doing WIPGO this year.   In both cases, I feel like they are interruptions to a system that works.   I'm always losing motivation around them instead of gaining it .  Gave both an ongoing date dedicated SAL and WIPGO good solid one and half to two year trials, but neither works well with my rotation style.

I'm on the fence about the final SAL/challenge that I've been involved with over the last couple of years - #24HoursOfCrossStitch.   I love the idea of a virtual retreat, but I've never once managed to actually get to 24 hours.  I have too many weekend obligations and I have to be careful not to overdo and hurt my wrists and shoulders.  Plus the actual chosen weekends seldom work out with my work schedule - especially the July one.  On the other hand, the virtual retreat weekends ARE motivating and I can use them to get major progress in on my rotation - two slots in one weekend if I finish the entire thing!  There's plenty of people that tweak the dates, so I don't feel bad going a week or two behind or ahead of the 'official' date.  I'll probably play along for 2023, but not push myself to get in more hours than my hands can comfortably manage.

So that's 2022 reviewed (with knitting plans) and 2023 goals set; Happy New Year everyone.

Linked up to the SSS crew (this week's roundup).