How Do You Decide What to Make Next?

I always enjoy checking out Hannah Handmakes’ podcast, in part because I know I couldn’t talk about cross stitch for so long as consistently and well as she does, but also because she comes up with interesting topics that are important to consider.

A somewhat recent episode was about how you decide what to stitch next, and it’s a really great question. She gives a long answer (you can listen or read about in on her website) with various considerations, such as if there’s a holiday coming up you want to make something for, if you want to use your stash of patterns or supplies, how much time you have, etc.

She ends up by saying she doesn’t have a good answer, and I wouldn’t either.

For one, I don’t actually do a lot of cross stitching for all that I write about it. I probably finished two or three projects last year (though I do have a couple of fun things on the go, and lots more I wish I had time to do).

I think my answer, though, would be similar to what I would say when it comes to deciding what to knit next. Sometimes you want something specific for the season (like I really want to knit some pants right now since I’m always cold and think that might help), or you might have a ball of yarn you want to use so you go hunting for a project that will suit it. In the case of cross stitch maybe it’s you really want to make something with bright colors, and you’ve always had a thing for whales, so off you go to find a project that satisfies that need.

Because I’m a blogger and write craft tutorials (mostly knitting, crochet, cross stitch and sewing) I also think about skill level a lot and what I can do to help people who are new in a craft to be inspired to try it. I’ll build on techniques in my projects in a way most people probably don’t think about consciously, but that makes sense to me in terms of teaching.

What about you? How do you decide what to make next?

[Image by Alina Kuptsova from Pixabay]

This one has such a peaceful, dreamy feel to it. The Printable Young Lady Sit in a Hammock Reading Her Book pattern from EmbroideryAndMind is a digital download for hand embroidery, and Etsy lists it as including 4 PDF files. The listing is currently marked 60% off, bringing the price to AU$3.30 from AU$8.25, and the shop is also tagged as a Star Seller with a 5 out of 5 star rating.

What I like most here is the mood of the design. From the listing images, it has that quiet, storybook look with a young woman reading in a hammock under a branch, which makes it feel less like a generic floral sampler and more like a little stitched scene. It is the sort of pattern that would be lovely for anyone who enjoys hoop art with a calm, cosy feel, especially if you like embroidery projects that look decorative and thoughtful once framed up. That description is based on the listing images and title.

This also feels like a good option for stitchers who enjoy having some creative freedom. The listing images say you get a photo of the finished design for inspiration, instructions for transferring the printed pattern onto fabric, and DMC colour code suggestions for up to 6 colours. It also clearly notes that this is not a full step-by-step tutorial, and encourages buyers to use their own colours and embroidery stitches to suit their taste. For some crafters that is a plus, because it leaves room to personalise the project a bit rather than following a rigid recipe.

Another useful detail is that the design is offered in 6 different sizes, according to the listing images, so there is a bit of flexibility depending on how large you want the finished hoop art to be. That is always handy when you are trying to match a pattern to a hoop you already own rather than buying yet another one for the stash.

Have you read?