Encouagement advice needed

[Sarah]

Hi! I have been doing my first large project since 9th Feb. I do it for a couple of hours in the evening after my daughter has gone to bed because I have no chance of even thinking about it during the day. The problem I am getting is although (so far) its been pretty easy with no fractional stitches or french knots(I can't do them anyway) I am finding I can't be bothered with it. I want to do it because I would hate it to be a waste of time. What do you do to remotivate yourself? Sorry to sound like a div! Xx

[pamelam]

When I start to lose interest in a project, sometimes I work on a different one for a while. Then I start to want to go back to the first one again. Sometimes I just stop stitching altogether for a few days or weeks and just look at other people's work here or on other sites. That usually gets my interest back. Good luck!

[Sarah]

Thanx Pam! I was hoping that, after posting my message on here, nobody would think 'Oh My God! What an idiot'. I havnt stitched for a couple of days and part of me thinks I really should and part of me thinks can't-too tired! I mentioned it to my partner and he said if I am tired I would probably make a mess of it anyway which was a good point! I just feel like a bit of a defeatist but then I am coming down with a cold so feel rubbish anyway! Anyway, sorry to ramble on about nothing in particular! Hope to chat to you again soon xxx

[coffee_freak]

i usually start a small..usually something christmas like ornament or for a card..

[irelandshs]

I had the same problem with my current project. I followed the advice that everyone here gave me and did a quick little project. I got about 1/3 of the way through it and got the stitching bug again, so I went back to my big project. I agree about not stitchin when you're tired though. Every time I do, I make a mistake. Frogging is not fun.
Hope that helps!

[Angel]

I post progress pictures on here and this lot enthuse about it so much that I sort of feel obliged to keep at it when I don't feel too enthusiastic about it and that sets me right again.

[~threadbear~]

If you're not feeling well, that could be a part of how you're feeling as well.
Even so though, I'd advise the same as already been said. I'm sure your bug will soon find it's way back once you feel alot better.

[MaggieM1750]

I have times where I am so mentally busy with other things that I cannot even imagine trying to stitch.. so I don't. I go to bed early, look through a magazine.. read a book or two, take a month off, start a different project. I don't stitch if I am not in the mood.. because your partner is right, that is when I start to make mistakes. I will continually drop my needle, or grab the wrong shade of thread, lose my place in my chart... then have to frog it all the next day.

[freelady]

I've just found my enthusiasm for stitching again after a few weeks of not being able to get interested at all. I put away the unicorn I was doing and got out the purple fairy and am loving her again. I had 'got stuck' working on her - just kept losing my place so put her completely away for a while. Now that is not a problem and is fun again.

I've read, played games, and done other things but figure that if I don't feel like stitching, I just won't bother trying 'cause I'll only mess it up.

[meerkat]

My golden rule is don't put pressure on yourself,that is a sure way of your stitchy bug going off to hide for even longer. Our craft is supposed to be a pleasure not a trial Like other members have said, perhaps try to stitch something else ...quick and easy.. choose your favourite colours...and of course keep coming here for a chat and encouragement Missing stitchy bugs are as much of a pest as :

[Cecilia]

Don't worry! It happens to most of us at some time or another.

I agree with what everyone else has said - don't force yourself to stitch when you don't feel like it, otherwise it becomes a chore instead of a pleasure. Leave it for while, do something else like reading or other hobby or do a smaller project. Also, keep visiting the forum for inspiration - your stitiching bug will soon find its way back to you.

[tiffstitch]

I've gone through this too, joining this forum actually made my stitching interest take a huge upswing, so we'll see if it lasts. There are days I still don't get any stitching done because I worked late, stress, etc. This Crazy January Challenge I'm doing has me stitching a bunch of different projects and I feel I kind of like having different things to do instead of slogging away at the same huge project all the time. I don't know that I would decided to try and finish 15 within a year again though.

[frankattleborough]

I would go on to something else Sarah. It is quite easy to get disinterested in a project, then you will find something which gives you that extra little buzz. I have been doing my family Coat of Arms for around five years!!! I have only just got back to it although there were reasons for my putting it to one side for so long.

Stitching is not a race but something to do at leisure when you feel like it. Find something which will give you an interest, for example someone has given me a kit of Norwich Cathedral and as I live only 15 miles from there I know I will enjoy doing it, so the Coat of Arms is going to suffer again!!

[Serinde]

Large projects are a different cross-stitching beast altogether, and this is your first one, too. They are daunting because you seem to be making no progress at all when you start -- several hundred stitches sort of just disappear into the vast amount of fabric. Don't despair! They are absolutely worth the time and effort. Stitch something small, which you can really see developing. Try to use different colour schemes to the "Big Project" -- Easter is coming... And if you aren't feeling quite well, for heaven's sake, don't stitch the big project!

[RosemaryH]

Hey, stop giving yourself a hard time. With a little one to run around after you are probably too worn out most evenings to even tell someone your name let alone do a craft. If you make yourself stitch you are almost bound to make mistakes so relax and pick it up when you genuinely feel like doing it.

Rosemary

[Nachstenliebe]

I have a smidge of a different approach.. sometimes I'll do a smaller project...or sometimes I'll get some extra sleep. Then I feel refreshed and motivated to the parts of a design I was cringing at before.
Faith