WIPocalypse – March 2026 – Feather Stitching

My needles were on hiatus during March, so there’s little to show – I almost didn’t bother posting (hence the late publishing), but I think it’s good to remind me that at least I made some progress.

Sea View by Luca-S – I used this one as my focus piece for a Facebook group challenge in March. Not much stitching was done on it, but progress is progress 🙂

Stitching question

Which of your current WIPs do you consider your most difficult piece to stitch?

That would have to be Chatelaine’s Egyptian Garden Mandala. I absolutely detest the fabric I chose for it – the fabric is tightly woven with metallic threads in it, and it’s so difficult to see the holes for stitching. I’ve had to stretch it tightly on a huge cobbled-together Qsnap frame which worked for a while, but I stupidly added some treasures and beads as I went, assuming I could keep growing the frame and working outwards – I’ll never ever do that again! It’s such a chore working on this piece, I really struggle to give it any love. It’ll be amazing once (if ever) it’s completed, though.

1 thought on “WIPocalypse – March 2026”

I’m sorry to hear that the fabric you chose for Egyptian Garden is causing such problems. I love that chart and so very nearly bought it when it was released. At the time I was working on Alhambra (which I still am, as it has been years since I took it out and worked on it) so I didn’t cave. Looking at your progress has me feeling very close to wanting to cave.
For the beads and treasures that you have already attached, get a piece of felt and layer it over the top of them, then you’ll be able to use your frame without damaging them or messing with how they are attached. There might be a little movement, but it will come up well after the finished piece is washed and ironed.
Or if your q-snap attachments are too tight on the tubes, you can use hoops and again cover with felt to protect stitching and embellishments. I prefer the hoops with rubber outer rings – they are often found as hanging frames for embroidery, but the hanging part unscrews and you’re left with a great hoop which is easy to use and not harsh on your work.

Nic says:

11 April, 2026 at 3:05 pm

I’m sorry to hear that the fabric you chose for Egyptian Garden is causing such problems. I love that chart and so very nearly bought it when it was released. At the time I was working on Alhambra (which I still am, as it has been years since I took it out and worked on it) so I didn’t cave. Looking at your progress has me feeling very close to wanting to cave.
For the beads and treasures that you have already attached, get a piece of felt and layer it over the top of them, then you’ll be able to use your frame without damaging them or messing with how they are attached. There might be a little movement, but it will come up well after the finished piece is washed and ironed.
Or if your q-snap attachments are too tight on the tubes, you can use hoops and again cover with felt to protect stitching and embellishments. I prefer the hoops with rubber outer rings – they are often found as hanging frames for embroidery, but the hanging part unscrews and you’re left with a great hoop which is easy to use and not harsh on your work.