It’s that time when we start to plan out the year and plot out all those wishlists of lofty goals for our crafts. Mine are no less mental than normal and I’m already laughing heartily inside at all the items I want to tick off my list this year. In a nutshell, though, it all comes down to wanting to whittle down some older WIPs/UFOs while still having the flexibility to add some new projects into the list to provide continued interest and motivation.
I’ve just created a planning document mapping out all my SAL due dates and details, and information for upcoming face-to-face stitching groups … all I need to do now is to not let life take over and to actually remember to fill them in each month 😉
Anyway, here are my lofty goals, along with piccies to make it more interesting (while also giving me a visual kick in the pants as to how long some of these pictures have been around for without changing in the slightest) {hanging head in shame}.
WIP start/finish stats:
Stitching/needlework:
45 = Number of WIPs/UFOs @ 1 January 2019 (!!!)
Crochet:
6 = Number of WIPs @ 1 January 2019
Cross Stitch goals
- Quaker Diamonds by Rosewood Manor – I’d love to finish this one
- Egyptian Garden Mandala by Chatelaine – Entirely finish the stitching of at least one full corner (ie one full page of the chart)
- Red Lace Sewing Case by The Drawn Thread – add the felt/beads and do the finishing … and finally gift it to the intended recipient
- Three Kings by Mill Hill/Jim Shore – finish the three kings in the centre
- Quaker Christmas II by ByGone Stitches – finish the Let There be Peace on Earth motif in the centre
- Progress on at least three other WIPs/UFOs
- Ronald McDonald House charity XS
- 19 in 19 – Start a new HAED and stitch 19 colours on it
- 19 in 19 – 19 new starts
- 19 in 19 – 19 finishes
- 19 in 19 – some progress on 19 existing WIPs carried over from 2018
- Stitch a charity quilt block
- Stitch 12 Christmas ornaments
WIPs as they look today:
Egyptian Garden Mandala by Chatelaine as at 24 Nov 2018 
After: Three Kings by Mill Hill/Jim Shore 
Quaker Diamonds by Rosewood Manor
Quaker Christmas II by ByGone Stitches 
Before: When Witches Go Riding by The Prairie Schooler 
Mia mermaid by Nora Corbett
Before: Paris by Country Threads 
Cottage Etui by CA Wells 
Pyramid Etui by CA Wells
Apricot (Blue) Elegance by Cindy Valentine 
Topiary Tree Bookmark by Textile Heritage 
English Garden Sampler by Teresa Wentzler
Schwalmwork Pinkeep by Moss Creek Designs 
Raphael’s Raspberries by Forget-Me-Nots in Stitches 
Nature’s Resting Place by Stoney Creek
Noah’s Ark by Teresa Wentzler 
Mediterranean Village Scene 
Butterflies and Hearts Needleroll by Lorri Birmingham
Hussif by Martha Schmidt (class kit) 
Before: Finch Song by Shepherd’s Bush 
Frog longstitch
Bluebeard’s Princess Mirabella by Mirabilia 
Before: The Tea Room by Country Cottage Needleworks 
Before: Celtic Summer by Lavender & Lace
Sailor’s Valentine by CA Wells
Embroidery (non-XS) goals
- Travel Cord Buddy by Michelle Marvig – I’d like to finish putting this together
- Hearts & Berries by Marg Low – I’d like to finish putting this together
- Make a Christmas Wish by Marg Low – I’d like to finish putting this together and framed before Christmas
- Stumpwork – choose one old stumpwork UFO and make some progress
- Start a new project from Inspirations magazines
- Make some progress on one of the 2018 patchwork retreat projects
WIPs as they look today:
Make a Christmas Wish by Marg Low 
Hearts & Berries by Marg Low 
Berry Delightful Bag 
Wool hot water bottle cover 
Beaded Fish
Oriental Poppy by Jane Nicholas 
Pomegranates and Beetle by Jane Nicholas 
Honesty and Heartsease by Jane Nicholas
Stumpwork Goldfish (EGA Group Correspondence Course) 
Dragonfly by Jane Nicholas 
Stumpwork Thimblepip by Jane Nicholas
Goldwork Pea 
Before: Hussif by Monica Hunt 
Beehive needlebook
Summer Fruits pincushion 
Bullion knot facecloth
Crochet
- Make a 1920s-style hat for the Napier Art Deco Festival
- Complete three crochet projects from “Crate Crochet”
- Start a shawl
- Finish my Atlanticus (mandala) blanket
- Restart my Spice of Life blanket
- Start a Briar Rose blanket
- Start a top (clothing)
- Start a crochet hook case
- Start a blanket for Brenda & Nigel
- Make a charity blanket for SPCA
- Start the Nuts About Squares CAL
WIPs as they look today:
Quilting/Sewing
- Make a small pincushion
- Start a queen-sized bed patchwork quilt for myself
- Start the Piece and Plenty BOM quilt
- Make a sewing machine cover
- Make a summer nightie
- Make a top (clothing)
- Choose three Pinterest projects to try (eg Project bags, Purses/pouches)
Stitchalongs/Challenges
- JCS Christmas Ornie Facebook SAL
- WIPocalypse
- Hallowe’en ornie SAL
- Gifted Gorgeousness
- Stitch from Stash on Facebook
- JK’s Groupies (AU/NZ) on Facebook – “19 in 19” (my choices are 19 new starts, 19 finishes, and use 19 colours in a project)
- JK’s Groupies (AU/NZ) on Facebook – monthly challenges
Feather Stitching 
Can’t wait to see more.
What a great array of different projects! You will be busy, but not bored this year! I’m so glad I’m not the only one who sets ‘goals’ on stitching knowing they won’t get fulfilled!
Wow, that’s a tonne of goals! Some of the cross stitch look closer to completion so hopefully you will get some finishes to inspire you.
You will have to join Rachel’s new fully-finishing SAL to help you actually FFO some of the smalls too.