Rotation versus one project at a time

[lmbernhardt]

I've been working on Kinkade's Cinderella kit for about 2 1/2 months now and was making really good progress for a while. Now I have a hard time really sitting down and putting in some solid effort. I wanted to know if most people work on one project at a time or rotate on some sort of system? I think maybe my brain just needs a break because there is so much confetti stitching. Let me know your opinion!

[karen4bells]

When I'm working on a larger project, like you are currently working on, I generally will try some type of rotation method. Currently I am working on Joan Elliott's Earth Goddess, and try to stitch on her during the week and then work on smaller projects on weekends--just to keep from getting too bored with it.
Hope this helps

[Mrs Milkybar Kid]

When stitching a bigger piece I always give myself breaks with small stitches that I can finish in a week. If you look at my SAL thread you will see that I have the concentration span of a gnat so I find that mixing up my stitching keeps my mojo going!

[rcperryls]

Until I joined this forum I would run into what you are experiencing when working on a large project and would just lose my stitchy bug, sometimes for a few months or more. Once I learned that rotating projects was not illegal (I am almost not kidding), it has made stitching so much more fun. I am rotating at least two right now which is critical because one project is almost all black stitching for a few pages, and the other has a fair amount of confetti. I am almost ready to add two more to that mix. It will take longer to get them all done, but as has been said on this forum by a lot of members, it is the journey not the destination that makes it fun. At least that is sooooo true for me. I am enjoying all of my projects a lot more.
and looking forward to the new ones.

Carole

[LadyS]

I started on my 4th rotation piece today (not counting my monthly SALs), and I used to only work one piece at a time but I like the idea that every week or every certain period of time I pick up a piece that feels new again, and thus keeps me focused and admiring the work for longer.

Before joining this forum and working one piece at a time I'd just take breaks where I'd go up to 3 months without stitching anything, so now I stitch about 5 days out of the week, and only 'cus I have to split my time with my other hobbies (reading, games, movies).

[vanessanjf]

I was asking the same question last week. I was just sticking to one project at a time and yes you do finish it quicker that way but it makes it so much more interesting to have a few on the go. I am doing 3 now.

[Rose]

When I work a confetti heavy piece I have to rotate. It just keeps me flowing!!!!!!

[Ketta]

I typically have about 3 projects going at the same time. I used to do just one at a time, but I rarely finished a project because I'd lose the bug, then get mad at myself for losing interest. By the time the bug would come back, I either wasn't interested in the project or didn't like it any more.

By having multiple projects, I sew longer during each day and finish projects. It may take me longer to finish, but I'm glad to keep my bug.

[koko]

When I am working on a bigger project, I always rotate in some smaller projects to keep me interested. I need a sense of accomplishment, so I tend to get tired of the big projects, I need little finishes (cards, ATC's, etc) to keep me going.

[starshine123102]

I used to only do one at a time, but recently I've started trying to rotate between a few pieces. While it certainly helps to keep it fresh by working on multiple projects at once, I have noticed that I have started to constantly look at new projects and add to my rotation than just stick to a small handful. That might work for some, but I feel like now I'm never going to get any of them done, and one has a deadline since it's a baby birth record for my cousin's third child!

[annastasia76]

I rotate between many different kinds of projects, I currently have only one cross stitch going but I have been making mini's to turn into ornaments, I will also rotate with sewing, smocking, crocheting, and knitting (somewhere in-between those I might find time for some cleaning, lol)

[socialsue]

I used to rotate up to 5 different stitching projects but then I would lose the threads and get confused which goes where or run out of threads and realized that I have put them in with another one of my projects.....so I finally narrowed it down to 2 or 3. Now that I have my grandchildren over to visit often, I will probably just stitch one at a time until finished. If it is a big project, I only stitch in my sewing room so the needles doesn't get lost or misplaced.

Socialsue

[Lenne]

I've currently got 4 projects on the go but I tend to rotate between two at any time. I am not entirely sure how my first two projects are going to get completed if I keep rotating between 2 AND taking on new projects.... think I see a flaw in my plan

[Heather]

I used to force myself to finish one project before starting a new one - for fear of never going back to finish the first one. I just started a HAED before finishing a dimensions gold one... it had become tedious and no fun! Too much confetti! When the HAED gets boring I will go back to it. It's much more fun to do it the way you like.

[MaggieM1750]

I have various projects that I am working on at the same time. Different in terms of size and subject. I finished 2 last week and will hopefully finish the 3rd this weekend... if I can get off this computer and put a needle and thread in my hand. I start a hardanger class on Tuesday and I gave myself the goal of having those projects done before I started the class.
I stitch most often over my lunch hour. So I have one project that I keep at my office and another that I work on at home. I used to bring a project back and forth but too many times I would forget to grab it and not have it when I wanted to work on it. So I usually have at least 2 on the go- sometimes 3. 2 at home, 1 at the office.

[sweet_stitcher2011]

When I'm working on a larger project, like you are currently working on, I generally will try some type of rotation method. Currently I am working on Joan Elliott's Earth Goddess, and try to stitch on her during the week and then work on smaller projects on weekends--just to keep from getting too bored with it.
Hope this helps

this^
me as well

[Sarah Gixxer]

I normally rotate half a dozen or so projects, not particularly because I get bored with just one, but because there are so many that I want to stitch and I simply can't wait until I finish one to start the next! Sometimes I rotate them by stitching one page of the chart and then going onto the next, or I might stitch one particular area of one and then change to another - just depends how I'm feeling. But I do love having a few on the go at once.

[Nachstenliebe]

I've become a multi project person.. usually one big project on the go and a smaller one to keep things fresh..
Faith

[Lessa54]

For me it depends on how easy it is to transport a project. When I'm commuting, I like to have some cross stitch with me and that tends to be smaller projects. At the moment, as I'm on maternity leave and not doing the commute I've only got my big SQ on the go and it is nice to see that one progress a bit more quickly. I am however rotating a bit between cross stitch and knitting, depending on what I feel like doing each day.

[Monica33]

I do lots of different crafts, and alternating between them keeps everything fresh, and also helps keep me from any kind of repetitive strain injuries. I think of it as cross training!

I HAVE made it a point though to cut down my current cross stitch patterns to only 2 at a time. I find it is best if I can remember the chart icons for a given project without getting them mixed up with the icons from other projects. For instance, if I am working the dots in light yellow, it is helpful to remember that all the stars were dark yellow so I can stay accurate without having to look up all the other icons all the time.

I also like to have one easy and one harder project going so my brain can have a rest when needed.

Enjoying the journey is the whole point of it all, IMHO.