Stitching speeds

[Sojourner]

I think I touched on this a few years ago, but how fast do all you guys stitch?
I've timed myself, and reckon I do well to average 100 stitches per hour, over say, 2 or 3 hours, which seems really slow, surely I go faster than that?
Of course it's all the changing colours which takes the time - finding the skein, threading the needle, finding where to sew, blahblah.
Not that it's an issue, really, as it doesn't matter how long the job takes - just curious if anyone else has thought about it?

[DahliaDoll]

I've never tried to guestimate the number of stitches I can complete in a given period of time. There are too many variables, including calculating in mistakes that require so much more time. Yes, I do make mistakes and try to correct them. I'm more interested in trying to estimate the number of stitching evenings (approximately 3 hours) it will take me to complete a chart. I normally do small charts for greeting cards or ornaments. It is still very difficult to judge the amount of time it will take me to finish a chart. I think if I guess and then double it, I'd probably be about right. LOL

[mauveme]

I don’t count stitches, I go by how many hrs per night to finish. Errors are time consuming and really annoying so that figures into time spend both reg stitching and reverse stitching. I used to be a very fast stitcher as I used both hands, now not so much. I find when I do stitch it’s because I enjoy the repetitive motion, it’s relaxing. Now I have no pressure to finish in any great hurry when I do stitch I enjoy it more now. I also enjoy doing smaller things more than I used to. Once I finish knitting my sweater I’m going to find something to stitch. Looking forward to that.

[rcperryls]

There are so many variables. First the type of pattern I'm stitching. If there is a lot of confetti its slower than if there are large blocks of a color, though the confetti is in many ways more interesting. Also it depends on what I'm also doing while stitching. Listening to a book or watching something on tv. Some shows or movies require more attention. And it also depends on how much attention Rosey is demanding, though she is much more tolerant of my diversions (according to her the stitching is the diversion, not her). I don't count how many stitches I actually do in an hour so I can't tell. I do take a photo every night to see my progress and that is a motivation.

Carole

[Mabel Figworthy]

I've never yet been able to work it out precisely! When people say "how long did that take you?" I generally haven't got a clue. I can do a small card-sized freestyle design in an evening, and the little Hardanger cross I use for Sympathy cards I can also do in an evening (i.e. 2-3 hours, perhaps a little more but not much as I often don't start until 8pm), but a lot depends on whether I'm familiar with the design and the stitches, whether I'm tweaking or stitching as is, and frankly, whether I'm tired!

[mauveme]

and frankly, whether I'm tired!

And , getting older, how bad the pain is.

[fccs]

I think I do about 100 stitches per hour, but as has been said before, there are lots of determining factors. I used to worry about being slow but finally realized it’s not a race. Of course, I have missed a few birthdays and Christmas deadlines. Lol

[Squirrel]

I have no idea how many stitches I normally do an hour as I work by what date it is needed by more than anything. Recent projects have all had an end date - some rather closer than I would like - and that determines just how often I need to carve out time to sit and stitch.
My current one - a Wrendale design full of shading and colour is a horror to work toward an end date and I have already resigned myself to not having it finished in the time I have left.
Yesterday I was 'filling in' a small gap of about 100 stitches which took almost 2+ hrs. It had 5 shade/colour changes though which constantly slows me down and frustrates me but that is the nature of these designs. The fact that it is need for a special birthday in less than a month does not help either so I try my best to ignore that fact and just do as much as possible whenever I can carve out some time to sit and stitch.

[Podolyanka]

I count my stitching time very roughly- by weeks. At this I never can tell exactly when I started/finished the project. I just dont care. After really complicated projects I sometimes am horrified by the thought of all the "killed" hours which will never return, if you see what I mean. But later, looking at that project, all I feel is quiet pride. No regret whatsoever.

As for counting stitches - as long as one does not earn daily bread by this craft- what does it matter?
I still have to BS branches on my Janlynn's "Sportsman's Dream"- I dont count the time after having finished the cross stitch on it. Could have backstitched within two days. But it is so boring, I just cant chain myself to it for a few hours, always lying myself that I just dont have enough time for that BS. At this, by the deadline (16th January, when it is going to the birthday "child") it will be backstitched, washed, ironed and wrapped up.

It happened so that I know exactly how long Sandra Littlejohns' "Victorian Christmas Eve" took me - 2 months. Nobody believes, but that's true because I wanted to make it for my daughter for Christmas so much, that I had been stitching like crazy. And at that was enjoying every stitch. The BS included,as without it the picture simply could not do. So it is more the matter of the mood and wish than of the chart and technique, as long as the chart is from a decent designer.

[Sojourner]

This was only idle curiosity - of course we're doing this for pleasure, rather than racing ….
One thing which does slow me down is crawling around on hands and knees searching for dropped needles

[poppy]

Thank you, Sojourner, it is a very interesting question. I enjoyed reading everyone's answer.

I am a really slow stitcher but it does not really bother me. I double check if the stitch is in the right place, I am using the right colour and try to make my stitch as neat as I can : I fuss a lot!

One thing which does slow me down is crawling around on hands and knees searching for dropped needles

There is still one missing near the settee : I warned everyone in the house!

[wendywombat]

We need a 'snail' smilie for my speed!
I have never counted how many stitches I can do in an hour...life's too short to do that!

[Serinde]

WW, me too. I'm incredibly slow and easily sidetracked. I did notice, though, that when I was working on the Firebird, and at my (then) workspace, I got along quite quickly. Perhaps there's a lesson in there for me. Alas, the workspace now doubles as my office desk (DH having retired and occupied my former "editing suite"), so it's pretty crowded...

[fccs]

One thing which does slow me down is crawling around on hands and knees searching for dropped needles

There is that!! And the feline interruptions.

[Mabel Figworthy]

And the feline interruptions.

Definitely

[Serinde]

There's one kitty who is definitely Not Amused!

[Garnet]

Lexi is adorable, that expression is priceless

[rcperryls]

Love the picture with Lexi. Sometimes they are trying to be helpful. Take a peek at my avatar. Laverne was very much into stitching herself. Rosey seems to think stitching is a spectator sport. She prefers the chair next to me for now. She's a smash up against you and snuggle cat and not a lap cat (at least for now, but this week she has cautiously started crawling on top of me for a few minutes in bed so hard to know if she'll be taking up cross stitching)

Carole

[fccs]

And the feline interruptions.

Definitely

Mabel, that is priceless!!! That face!!!