Apparently I'm fairly dull sometimes. Even though I've been stitching off and on for 30 years it never once occurred to me to kit up projects. It's slowed my stitching down because a lot of times I'd like to work on something but am too lazy or tired for all the gathering. Last night I kitted up 2 active projects into gallon-sized baggies and today grabbed one to work on quickly. I'm loving it!!
So, do you kit up stuff as soon as you get the chart or do you just kit up projects you're working on either individually or in a rotation?
I kit a project up when I start to work on it. If I did one for every chart or book of charts that I have I wouldn't have a place for all of them. Since I have just started rotating projects, I am just in the process of deciding what works best for me in terms of maintaing the "kits" of those that are not active. Probably will keep them "kitted" until the project is complete. I now have this neat iPod program which (i am so sorry Ican't remember who told me about it - getting older every day) helps me keep track of which projects have which colors and the total number of DMC skeins that I have. It has made it much easier to manage my stash.
Carole
WIPs
Star Wars Afghan:Chewbaca
HAEDs:
O Kitten Tree
Dancing with the Cat
Everything else "on hold"
2022 Finished: Star Wars Afghan: Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Finn, Rey, Poe, Han Solo,Darth Vader, BB8,Luke Skywalker
since i've only recently started up again w/ my stitching, i'm purchasing kits to do.
but i used to kit as i chose the next project. it was part of the process ... buy the chart, read everything, choose the fabric, get the threads ... after a while i had enough stash to pull from, so the smaller projects could be kitted almost as soon as i brought the new chart home!
pattiebelle
pattiebelle
"Gratitude is memory of the heart" (Jean-Baptiste Massieu)
I definitely don't kit everything up (I'd struggle to fit it all in my apartment!) but I do have the 'ingredients' for a number of upcoming projects (including 10 HAEDs) ready for when I finally have time for a new start so then I just have to get them all together.
One of my projects for tomorrow is to copy and print all my charts and tuck the working copy into the chart. That's another thing that stops me, not having a working copy to mark up.
I was reading on another thread where someone creates partially wound/filled bobbins for each kit, that way she can use the same color in another project if need be. I thought that was a good idea.
Just active projects or the ones that I am working on in rotation. I don't have enough room to kit up everything..... plus I usually change my mind about stitching on a design if one of the grandchildren have outgrown certain themes.
When I am nearing the end of one project, I make sure I have all that I need to start working on the next. I seem to buy things in groupings- a couple of charts at a time, then the fabric for the charts, then the threads. And like you, scan a bunch of charts at the same time and make working copies, and I will edge a few pieces of fabric at a time (I just bought this little hand held "sewing machine" for edging.. but when I get it out, I edge whatever fabric I have on hand so its ready to be used)
Right now, I am kitting up my next 4 projects. 2 are complete and ready to be worked on, 1 I have about 80% purchased, and 1 I have about 50% of the materials purchased.
I don't kit every chart I buy, but most of them. In this last bunch of charts I bought was a few Christmas ornament booklets. Those I will just pull from whatever leftovers I have and not follow specifically what the chart calls for.
I have the ones I am working on kitted up, so that can be anywhere between 2 and 6. If I start running out, I will kit up in advance especially if I am not feeling like stitching but feel like playing with threads. So I will sort threads and edge fabric ect so when I want to start it's ready to go.
But I also have alot of things I haven't kitted up.
I have a few different style and sizes kitted up to add to my rotation or if I feel the need to do a small project in between larger ones just for a change. I always have in mind projects I want to do next so I can keep my eyes out for stash bargains! The list of projects I want to do always changes as some shout louder to me than others and work their way up the list!
Amanda
Band Sampler (SANQ)
Elle Brodes des Lettres Carmin (Reflets de Soie)
Alice (Aury TM)
Mini Tears of Yesterday (HAED)
Miss Cherry Blossom (Mirabilia)
If I buy a chart (not really often) I tend to keep an eye on prices and when there is a sale and I can afford to I will kit it up ready for me to get started on 8} (save a LOT of money waiting for the sales)
I love kitting up and will sometimes kit things up which I then don't actually stitch and have to un-kit again -- but it's just so relaxing and enjoyable getting fabric and threads together, and beads and other things, and see how beautiful they look together... or perhaps I'm just a little sad?
Mabel Figworthy wrote:I love kitting up and will sometimes kit things up which I then don't actually stitch and have to un-kit again -- but it's just so relaxing and enjoyable getting fabric and threads together, and beads and other things, and see how beautiful they look together... or perhaps I'm just a little sad?
If you are a little sad, then so am I! I've been known to do the same thing--it is rather fun to see how nicely the threads and other bits look before you actually do the stitching, that is, if you do actually do get it started
Work in Progress
Dimensions Passion Flower Angel
Tempting Tangles Welcome SAL
Various small designs
I try to kit up everything. I want to have everything ready when I am ready...I get so disappointed when I want to start something and i don't have my materials!
WIP:
Mickey and Minnie holding hands
Alphabet
Starry Night w/Tardis
To start
A dalmatian
Parents dog
Minnie Thumper Dumbo
Mabel Figworthy wrote:I love kitting up and will sometimes kit things up which I then don't actually stitch and have to un-kit again -- but it's just so relaxing and enjoyable getting fabric and threads together, and beads and other things, and see how beautiful they look together... or perhaps I'm just a little sad?
Well, I guess I'm sad too. I'm the one who asked the original question and since I've begun to kit stuff up I find I'm really enjoying it. I love handling all my supplies and seeing them all packaged up ready to go.
I spent this afternoon in our sunlight-filled office sorting floss from a Janlynn kit I just bought and had myself a fun little time (my 4 cats were all sleeping!).
i don't buy kits...so nothing to kit up unless i see something in a mag or book that i know i'd like to stitch..when i'm ready to add something to my rotation, i kit it up.
If you get a comment of a ,I must be holding my http://coffeecupcakescrossstitch.blogspot.com/
skype:coffeecupcakescrossstitch WIP:
Joan Elliot Spring Fairy
Cupcakes
Snuggle Up 2012 HD's
Bohemia
Fairy Friend
I usually have one or two projects kitted up that I'm not working on....you know just in case, in addition to the projects that I AM working on. I do try to kit similar projects together, whether that's similar colors or number of threads used in the design. I have bobbin boxes that have all the threads for 3 or 4 projects in them. I usually take all those projects along so I have a choice of what project I want to work on. It really helps me keep organized and give me options to fit my mood, but I don't usually make a lot of progress on the projects I'm working on because I have so many.
current project rotation:
Twilight Balloon Flight
The Accolade
Faces of Faery 89
Dad's Flower Pot
Even though I've been stitching off and on for 30 years it never once occurred to me to kit up projects. It's slowed my stitching down because a lot of times I'd like to work on something but am too lazy or tired for all the gathering. Last night I kitted up 2 active projects into gallon-sized baggies and today grabbed one to work on quickly. I'm loving it!!
