If you enjoy stitching gifts for family and friends, you may be familiar with that awful feeling that you are not going to have time complete the project in time for the recipient’s birthday, Christmas or other great occasion.
This can be stressful, and can potentially lead to panic-stricken evenings, rushed work, a bad temper and mistakes. This is not a good accompaniment to a gift that is supposed to demonstrate friendship and love.
One stitching friend of mine started making a wedding sampler for her sister – and by the time she had nearly finished the project, her sister was marrying for the second time round!
The key to getting projects completed on time is to plan ahead right from the start. This means borrowing some tips from time management skills, and applying them to your hobby, but without losing the fun element to your stitching, of course.
Here are some tips:
1. Give yourself plenty of time. This is stating the obvious, of course, but if you rush to meet a deadline, then you may lose that enjoyment that comes from a relaxed evening of stitching.
2. How much time will you need? We all overestimate the amount of spare time we have – so when considering how many hours will be needed - double that time.
3. Consider the design in detail. In estimating how much time you need, remember that some parts of a design get completed quickly; other parts take longer. Your stitches cover the fabric quickly when you are stitching blocks of the same colour, and only have a few colours to use. Time needs to be added for designs that have lots of subtle colour changes (eg. four shades of green for some foliage – so lots of counting to do). Remember too that French knots and exotic stitches take longer to do. The few extra seconds per stitch soon add up.
4. Write up a stitching plan. No, I don’t mean spreadsheets or flow charts. Just some target dates for various parts of the project. Then you will know if you are starting to lag behind.
5. Stitch in small chunks – a small amount frequently, rather than whole days of catching up. You can give yourself mini-targets – ‘I’ll finish stitching that teddy bear’s head this evening and then watch TV’ perhaps.
6. If you are planning to use professional framing services for your completed work, then you will have to add on extra time to incorporate that.
Ultimately, it is important to stitch a gift with love, and not in haste. So – what if you really cannot finish the gift in time? Tempting though it may be to think up excuses or even avoid seeing the recipient, it’s best to confess! In my experience, people do not mind too much if they receive a present late. After all, it’s the thought that counts.
If you have any associated tips, do share them with us.
Happy Stitching!
Iona
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Mo Bertucci 10.10.08 at 11:03 am
I have a horrible story to share ~ i had just moved from way up North to a hot climate. I found a great shop for consignments, they looked over my stuff and accepted them, then the owner asked me if i would want to stitch up about 35 ornaments. A teacher from a school was wanting to buy some for all of her co workers for Christmas. I had a 5th grader, a 1st grader and a toddler. But I had a great supportive husband. I thought I had plenty of time. After a couple weeks she added on 11 more to the order. People kept asking me, well, how many have you finished? It wasn’t like that I discovered. It was easier to do the same thing on each and then start another part and complete it on all, like that. Like an assembly line of one. Problem was, I was getting stressed, and cranky, and afraid I wouldn’t get them done. When it was two weeks away from Due Date, I finally realized, I couldn’t get them all done. I had finished most of each one. It was a horrible moment in my life. I had to tell them I couldn’t finish the job, and the owner was totally understanding and paid me anyway, but I did not completely finish the whole job. Since then I have balked from taking on any huge projects, and if anyone asks me, how much longer on a project, I get this flashback. It’s now the 10 year anniversary of that moment. I remember it whenever I take on a cross stitch project…thankfully, it didn’t ruin my love or enjoyment or relaxation of stitching. So everyone out there, take heed, be realistic about what time you have to complete a project.
Iona 10.12.08 at 5:43 am
Thanks for sharing that story, Mo. It demonstrates how awful you can feel when you get behind with your work. I do sympathise with you. I’m sure we’ll all learn from your cautionary tale.
I’m glad it hasn’t ruined your love of stitching!
Warm regards
Iona