People's Choice SAL - New Starts

Hi all!

It's the first Saturday of the month (and of the New Year) so it must be time for Jo from Serendipitous Stitching's People's Choice SAL. Continued thanks to Jo for hosting this unique SAL which will have a different theme each month.

This month's theme is so appropriate for January as it's New Starts and, let's be honest, who doesn't love a new start (or more) especially at the beginning of a new year? There's just something so enjoyable about opening a kit, or finding the right threads and fabric, and putting in that first little x.

Having shown my planned 2019 new starts on 1st January I didn't want to repeat myself here so decided to go in a different direction, and ask 'what kind of new starter are you?'

I came up with four general (and by no means exclusive or exhaustive) categories of new starters:

1) the One (or two or maybe three) At A Time stitcher who has just finished their previous project

2) the stitcher who picks up a new start as and when they feel like it but still keeps their number of WIPs relatively small (say 5-10)

3) the stitcher who joins in with new-start SALs or has a period of new starts etc. but who is still comfortable with the number of WIPs they have (maybe 10-25 ish?)

4) the stitcher who has 'new-startitis' and wants to stitch all of their stash 'now' so quite happily allows their WIP pile to grow and grow and grow

In no way am I intending this to be critical or judgemental, just a bit of fun. Each stitcher is different and it's that diversity which makes blog reading so interesting; we all encourage each other along no matter what or how many projects are on the go.

So, will any of you admit into which category you fall, or perhaps into which category you wished you belonged? Here's my 'confession'...

For my first few years of stitching I was definitely in the first category, then fell into the second, before completely skipping the third and falling head-long into the fourth. By strictly-imposed self-restraint and planning I've sort of been in category three for the last two years but that will change this year as I refuse to work on any current WIPs and treat myself to a year working only on new starts. Given the opportunity, though, I would feel quite at home living permanently in category four and start everything in my stash without considering the long-term consequences. Sometimes I curse myself for being far too sensible!!!

It's not very clear, but here's a little bar chart I made of my new starts each year from 1993 to 2018. Hmmm, bet you can't guess when I had my crazy startitis years??!!

Now it's your turn. Like I said, I'm not intending this to be judgemental, just a bit of fun, but you don't have to say if you don't want to.

Finally, as this is supposed to be a post about 'new starts' I definitely can't leave without at least one picture! This is a project I would love to be able to start (and finish ha,ha,ha!!) in the next few years:

Spring Owl by Artecy (the other seasons are also available here!)

And this is a project I'm holding off from purchasing because I know that once I do own it it will become a new start straight away and then I'll regret not having a lot of time to dedicate to it:

Harry Potter's Magic Shelf by LoLaLottaShop (etsy)

Like I said, sometimes I curse myself for being far too sensible!

I hope you've enjoyed my New Start post; I will enjoy reading your confessions if you've chosen to share them!

Take care,
Rachel x