January 24, 2026

New Lovelies to Stitch



 I would be a bit embarrassed to share my collection of charts waiting to be stitched. But as others have said, half the hobby is stitching and the other half (or more) is collecting things to be stitched. 

My collection includes dozens of leaflets as well as full collections of three no longer printed magazine series. Everything is stored in plastic totes on bookshelves.  It brings me joy to look through these once in a great while, and choose a new project. 

In 2025 I started just one new counted project, and that was Pretty Little Los Angeles from Satsuma Street. I did not purchase one chart in 2025, in fact. 

Unlike many stitchers, I do not enjoy starting new projects much at all. I don't like kitting them up, either. I realize that makes me quite odd!  I just enjoy stitching, and many of mine seem to take a long time to complete.  I wish I had more of a spirit to quickly start a new project, but I instead plod along on my established ones. 

I also did several stamped projects in 2025, and they have been a nice thing to do rather than counting. I turn to those when I want to stitch but I don't want to count or look at a chart. 

At one time I had about eight to ten WIPs. Some of them were close to twenty years old, but now I am down to just three of them. My oldest one was started in 2023, I think. 

With that being said, I received a gift certificate for Christmas for a designer I enjoy, but her company only sells needlework charts.  I thus had to buy some charts, and it was a great activity for me! 

On a side note, I used to call them patterns, but someone complained vehemently online in a stitching group about this "error"  that so many of us seem to make. I am now trying to call them charts. But really, does it matter? Not to me.  I feel that communication is the part that matters, and we all know what is meant by calling it a pattern. 

So out of curiosity, do you call it a pattern or a chart in regards to counted cross stitch. I truly don't judge either way, just wondered! 


The gift certificate was for TinyModernist, and I ordered these beautiful charts. 


This is "Woodland Christmas Cross Stitch". I am not sure if I will do the whole piece, or break it into ornaments. Knowing my stitching habits, I will probably stitch the whole piece.  I love the look of this one.




















I also purchased this beautiful "Mini Christmas Banner". I love the colors in the design, as well as the fabric. 









Another purchase was "The Magic of Christmas". I will most likely change it to a lighter fabric due to my eyesight. I do adore this color, however. 








Just for fun, here they are in a beautiful arrangement of color and design. 




I hope to stitch one of these in the upcoming months. 

If you have time, please let me know if you call it a "pattern"or a "chart".  I also would appreciate suggestions for fabric colors for the Magic of Christmas, since this one is so dark for my eyesight. '

Thanks for stopping by today. 

























10 comments:

  1. I use “chart” most of the time, but “pattern” maybe 20% of the time. To me they are interchangeable so I don’t know why anyone would scold for using the word “pattern”. Guess some people just like to impose rules that don’t exist! Anyway, your selections are lovely, and as a hopeless serial starter I admire your ability to focus on a project or two at a time. Happy Stitching!

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    1. I agree with you regarding chart vs pattern. I wish I were more of a serial starter, but I am just too lazy to gather stuff. :)

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  2. Hello, Sue! You sound very much like me--I am pretty much a monogamous stitcher. I usually have a larger project going as well as a monthly ornament. To have as many WIPs as some of these stitchers would make me crazy :) I like the charts that you ordered--some very cute ones in the bunch. I call them chart and patterns--can't imagine why anyone would care--you're right! Hope you enjoy this last week of January!

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    1. Thanks for your comment. I do plan on starting an ornament soon as I love your challenge (forgive me if that is not the right word) of doing an ornament a month. I am a slow stitcher but I will strive to get to one soon. I hope you too have a great last week of January.

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  3. Good heavens…..pattern or a chart….I use them both interchangeably. But I think I’ll start using pattern exclusively from now on. 😂 I tell you what situations such as this EXACTLY why I deleted my social media accounts.
    You have chosen beautiful pieces, gorgeous! In fact I had never seen the forest ornaments….beautiful! The Santa Coming to town I had seen before…and of course being a Santa lover, I adore it. I bet he’d also look good on a light minty green. I stitch many Christmas things calling for a dark blue on a light minty green and it always looks great (in my humble opinion). Keep smiling and being your inspiring self Sue! And I, like you have all three magazines start to finish too….and lots of patterns. 😊 it’s great to every now and then set and look through all of them and select new patterns to start. I love me some patterns!!!!

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    1. Thank you regarding 'chart' vs 'pattern'. I love your way of thinking, just stick with "pattern". Thanks for the minty green idea, I may just look into that. Your kind words and compliment mean much to me, and I am so glad you are visible here on this blogging platform. I get what you mean about social media, and I have cut back some lately myself. Happy Monday!

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  4. Greetings Sue: Congratulations on getting your 20 works in progress down to three, I am a one at a time stitcher, I call them both charts and patterns, there is no difference to me. I am sad to hear that someone complained that he or she corrected you on the calling of a chart or pattern, maybe she or he has not much of a life.
    Love your stitching choices, looking forward to seeing your progress.

    Catherine❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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    1. Thanks for that! I think as you do regarding a complaint about chart vs pattern. - so silly. Happy Stitching!

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  5. Correction Sue: 8-10 projects not 20, I am goofy, so sorry.

    Catherine

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    1. It is fine! Many folks do have twenty or more,. I am too lazy for that.

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