Do you have a project you despise working on?

[seedreemer]

And yet you can't get rid of it? I do. It's my Chatelaine Designs "Caribbean" mandala. Argh! First off I don't like the salmon color of the (very expensive) linen I chose yet I feel I'm too far along to start over. I do think it'll be pretty once its finished. IF it ever gets finished. And then there's the thread colors....I didn't have everything so I subbed a lot of them. They look good, but each time I move to a different section I have to plunder around and figure out my threads all over again (They are written on the pattern pieces but in a messy way that confuses me). Normally I enjoy plundering in my stash but this just annoys me. It's the perfectionist in me thinking I'll get my colors wrong, I recognize this.

In addition, the mandala patterns are mirror images of each other so you have to be very careful to do your pattern correctly. It's tedious and exacting stitching. Beautiful but tedious. You can't really relax.

The good thing about this situation is in actively avoiding this one project I'm getting a lot done on ALL my other WIPs. The Chatelaine sits in a box calling my name as I give it the side-eye and furiously stitch on everything...anything....else.

Sigh....one day I'd love to finish it....it's so beautiful.

Christy

[BizzieLizzie]

Ugh, sounds like a real love-hate relationship! I've never felt that strongly about continuing with a piece I find frustrating. If it gets on my nerves, it gets stuffed in a drawer never to see the light of day again. (that's me waving bye-bye to pieces I don't get on with.)

[seedreemer]

Yes, love/hate is perfect. It's the time and $ I've invested already otherwise I would indeed stuff it in a drawer or sell it.

Christy

[rcperryls]

Ugh, sounds like a real love-hate relationship! I've never felt that strongly about continuing with a piece I find frustrating. If it gets on my nerves, it gets stuffed in a drawer never to see the light of day again. (that's me waving bye-bye to pieces I don't get on with.)

I agree. What used to happen to me (when I thought it was illegal to start a new piece) is that I'd stop stitching completely. Sometimes for months. I've been known to lose projects. Can't be found anywhere. I don't even wonder where they went.

Carole

[Rose]

I do understand how you feel I just FINALLY finished the Heart and I was in the same frame of mind as you. I hated it but I felt obliged to finish it as it had been part of a Christmas exchange and I did not want to hurt the feelings of the person I recieved it from. Never again. I will toss it in a drawer and hide it if I ever get another evenweave or Carries Creation thread again.

Slow and steady is how I did it. I had a rotation. I would have up to 4 projects and I would rotate 1 heart , 2 wedding gift , 3 pumpkins , 4 cottage then to treat myself the next rotation would be 2, 3, 4, then back to the 1, 2, 3, 4. This gave me the time in between to relax and enjoy but still gave me time on the difficult work.

[seedreemer]

I tend to give away things that I hate. I may start out liking them but after finishing I'm sick of looking at it so I give it away. My mother-in-law has a large Amish farm scene I spent half my life on and I hated it when I finally finished. She loves it and has it framed nicely. I can visit it and make faces at it then leave, haha.

Rose, I was thinking of your Hated Heart when I wrote my post, lol. I like your rotation idea. If I do that then I at least won't be side-eyeing the dreaded Caribbean in between. As it is now I'm avoiding it completely yet obsessing about how I SHOULD be working on it. At least using a rotation like you described I can relax in between and still plug away at it on occasion.

Christy

[imogenX]

When I was working on the dreaded TW's The Castle, I tried to post updates even more frequently. That way, I got positive feedback to counterbalance my own negative thoughts about it. I still have it - I actually just brought it to my new office to hang - but I still have bitter feelings toward it. If I ever feel that way again about a project, I think I would pitch it... There aren't enough stitching hours in life to waste them on something I despise!

[Corey.G]

Totally understand. About 6 years ago I was working on a project that I had agreed to do for my (at the time) friends spouse who wanted to be an EMT. Normally I wouldn't but at the time her and I were good friends. It was an EMT design, 9 pages and 96 colours of blue. I'll never forget it. Personally I couldn't stand the person she was with and when it came down to them getting married I changed my mind and didn't go as a guest to their wedding.

Since I didn't go I had no more ties to them or the project. I had 3 pages out of 9 done and I relish that day that I got to take the scissors to it and cut it up into tiny pieces.

Then, to spite, cause I didn't go to their wedding he got a job as a security guard where I worked to try and get me fired. Didn't work though.

[MaggieM1750]

I'm like the others.. there is not enough time in my day to get the things done I WANT to stitch.. let alone the time to do things I don't. This is my fun, relaxing time.. not an additional stressor to my day.

I have given away projects that give me the bad vibe. Cut my losses on the cost of materials and the time I've invested.. I would never finish them, but no reason another person couldn't if they were interested in it. And it was either pass them along to another stitcher, or put them in the donate pile. Either way.. money and time wouldn't be recouped and thats what I had to make peace with.

The color of the fabric isn't going to change. It will always be a color you don't like... and wouldn't use even if you ripped out what you've already done. Correct?
The threads can be used in other projects.. especially since you are already raiding your stash.
You can still admire the design in theory, even if you don't actually stitch it.

[dragonene]

Mystic Stitch Call of the Wild, it's a wolf howling at the moon, I have been battling with that piece for a couple of years. As soon as it is on the stand to be stitched I get about a quarter through a page and think 'that's it see ya next year...maybe'

I don't know if it's because it's an entirely blue palette or the pattern which is the problem. I found it rolled up in the back of a drawer a few weeks ago and thought I'd try to at least get halfway but I still don't like stitching it, so it's gone back in the drawer. I do like the design which is why I'm still trying to finish it, so if it ever gets finished I'll frame it and put it on the wall, it has made me choosier about patterns though.

[pattiebelle]

Oh, good grief, YES!!!

I absolutley HATE HAED's. But I've kitted up a few, and the cost of floss and fabric guilts me every time I avoid the pieces!

I got one I thought I'd give to my sister for a "milestone" birthday, then it became for the Christmas after the birthday, then it became for the next milestone event (whatever that may be...) I should have just bought her the artwork! I had no idea how long it would take me to stitch. I've had it 2 years and I've still not finished page one. (there are 34 pages)

DH reminds me that it's a hobby, it should be fun, and like others have said, there's just not enough time to be doing something you don't like. He's already come to terms with the expense and tells me to recycle. I'm the one who has to let it go.

I don't know when that will happen for me. Even though I understand the concept, so many emotions are tied up in the darn thing. (sigh)

I hope you find that you can move one with, or let it go.

Good topic, too. I'm glad to know I'm not alone!!!

[kimkat_tkl]

Yes I have a few actually.

The first one is 'Around The World In 80 Stitches' (Papillon Creations). This project feels like it has been dragging on forever. The first part of this 24 part mystery project was released mid April 2012 and we currently have 23 of the 24 parts released. I didn't start until a couple of the parts were released, so that I had a better idea when choosing the colours to use. I started in mid July 2012, got myself caught up to the releases and kept up with each release for quite some time. Then due to unforeseen circumstances on the designers side, there was a delay in the release of parts and I got a bit over the project with the time frame dragging on. I WILL finish it, even if I am struggling, currently Parts 1-19 are completely finished, Part 20 is just waiting for beads, I'm halfway through stitching Part 21 and the borders have all been stitched.

The second one is 'Train Of Dreams' (HAED). I'm almost two thirds the way stitching this and while I really like the artwork, I feel that the way it has been charted is too dark. There is a couple of areas where I really question the charting to the point where once I've finished stitching the piece I plan on going back and changing the colours used in these sections. I think that because I'm disappointed with how it's turned out is why I struggle to stitch on this.

Finally the last one is 'The Swan Lake Mandala - Mystery 14' (Chatelaine). This one I've decided that will forever remain a UFO. However I still can't get myself to deal with disposing of it (whether that means recycling the fabric for something else or tossing it). I got the first two parts completed but wasn't impressed with the charting of the dancers and from then on struggled with stitching any further.

[seedreemer]

Y'all are so right....this should be enjoyable. Lots of words of wisdom here. I've even considered paying a stitcher to finish it for me but the cost would be astronomical.

I'm going to begin to think about turning this WIP into a RIP and giving it to the animal rescue thrift store. $50 worth of linen plus the $25 pattern I'll have wasted!! I just don't know if I can do it. I'm not sure I'm ready to let go of my dream....er, fantasy.....er, delusion.

Christy

[wendywombat]

I know EXACTLY!!

I keep reminding myself...
... that each stitch done gets me nearer the final stitch.
... all stitches are the same X's whatever I'm stitching.
... the floss/colours are nice to use.
.... if it's for someone else, they will love it!!

[Squirrel]

Yes been there a few times with designs I've struggled to finish. My House is one and is still in the drawer downstairs and one day I will most likely finish it. My Chat is another which almost drove me mad but it was a special for a family member so did get it done.
My current one, Fujian is getting to the stage I would love to toss it but again it is for a family member's special birthday so has to be finished asap.

Oh well, I have 3 lovely ones waiting in the wings to enjoy and very little confetti - hurray.

[coolpenguin]

I just finished a project I had a true love hate relationship with. It was my baby feet project. 13 shades of beiges and browns. I hated it. But I really like the finished project. I still have to personalize it after the baby is born and I will dread that since I have to center the personalization but then it will be finished and framed! I will take it to my friends at the end of October and then it will away from me forever!

[imogenX]

Christy, do you have a link to your progress on this Chat?

[seedreemer]

Coolpenguin, lol, 13 shades of beige and brown!! I take back all my Chatelaine whining! At least I get to work with bright colors.


Endersprincess, here's the link and a pic of my latest progress. As you can see I've gone too far....in my mind anyway.....to start over. I got up this morning and came up with a brilliant idea. I do not have to stitch this whole thing! I can finish this section and stop and frame it. Which is exactly what I'm going to do. This is not a perfect solution but it's a good enough one.

Christy

http://www.crossstitchforum.com/viewtop ... an#p593328

[fiddler]

When I was new to stitching I bought Teresa Wetzeler's Rapunzel, it was really too complicated for me at the time but being a bit bloody minded I thought I am going to do this if it kills me. Needless to say I ended up hating it. I only have a few stiches to do but cannot bring myself to pick it up again. I learnt my lesson if I am not enjoying it it gets put away.

[imogenX]

I can finish this section and stop and frame it. Which is exactly what I'm going to do.

Great idea! It will still be beautiful and impressive!