At Stitch Chat on Friday, January 10, 1997, we talked about Projects from Hell ... what makes them so hard to get back to ... techniques to complete them. Here are a few tips to get that project back on track, and turn it from a UFO (UnFinished Object) into a completed piece:

1.	Try using the Rotation system. This means to have several projects going at once, and to work on them in rotation. Some folks work on one project for 10 hours, then switch to the next one for 10 hours. Others stitch on one project from Sunday through Saturday, then switch to the next project the following week. I've heard of Stitchers having as many as 10 projects going at once! But by switching the project you're working on at even intervals, the tough pieces get worked on regularly, and smaller projects are completed more quickly. Best of all, you never get tired of any one project, so it doesn't become a UFO. For more details on the Rotation System, read my Tips and Techniques letter on the subject.
2.	Throw out the Projects from Hell. What??? TOSS it? One Stitcher put it this way ... with each project she works on, she learns something. If the project becomes a Project from Hell, but she's learned the lesson that she intended to learn from it, then she feels ok about throwing it out! Another Stitcher recycled her project from hell. TOSSing it is certainly a possibility around here-as is making something else out of it. I had the Project from Hell for about 7-8 years-it remained my only fully qualified UFO until New Years. My resolution was to DO something with it-so New Year's Day I pulled it out-it was a sweater made of gorgeous yarn, but I hated it. Now I have the yarn to use in something else! Along this same "recycle" line, how about using a partially stitched piece in a crazy quilt or a collage of needleork stuff-that way you can cut out or cover up the parts not done! On this same theme, if stitching is done for relaxation (rather than for profit), and the Project from Hell keeps you from relaxing, then it's defeating its purpose. Be nice to yourself. Get rid of the extra stress it's causing you. Alternatives to throwing the Project from Hell away is to donate it to a charity or your child or swap it at an EGA or SOXS swap, etc.
3.	Try to begin charts only at your current skill level. Does this mean never try new, more difficult charts? No, of course not. We'd never learn new skills that way. But if you are a beginner, and picked up, say, a large Teresa Wentzler piece that has lots of blended colors and specialty threads, you may find that you bit off more than you can chew. (Though I've heard stories of Stitchers that started just this way!). But do try to learn only one or two new skills with each piece you stitch. That way you learn well, you see growth, and you don't get frustrated with a piece that's too difficult. Take baby steps; grow a bit at a time.
4.	Stitch with Other Stitchers! When you stitch with others, you will likely find that as a group, you represent all stitching levels. You learn from those with more experience, you teach those with less experience. Some Projects from Hell became that way because of mis-counted stitches ... meaning lots of frogging (rip-it, rip-it, rip-it) needs to be done before progress can be made again. I learned of one group where you temporarily give your Project from Hell to another Stitcher, who does the ripping, and then she gives it back to you at a point where you can stitch without errors once again! There are several ways to find other Stitchers to stitch with. Check with your local x-s shop, e-mail others in your area and see if you can get together, join a class, etc.
5.	Take a Class. Speaking of which ... I saw a very interesting listing in the local community college's Adult Education catalog. The idea is that you bring your personal Project from Hell to the class ... whether it be crochet, x-stitch, needlepoint, etc. The instructor has experience in all these areas, and will help you get over your mind-block, and get back to the fun of the project. Even though everyone in the class will be working on different projects, you all get a chance to stitch together and learn from each other's mistakes. Neat idea!
6.	Chat Online! Yes, find a needlework chat online, and joine in the conversation. Tell the chatters about your project. We Stitchers are a pretty nice bunch, and helpful, too. If we don't have an answer to your questions, we have lots of resources of folks with experience. Ask your question and we'll try to get it answered one way or another!

Copyright © 1997-2002 by Margaret M. Davaz, aka CameoRoze

Written for the purpose of informing and stimulating the creativity in other lovers of counted cross-stitch. Permission is granted to redistribute this article in its entirety for noncommercial use provided that this copyright notice is not removed or altered and that no portion of this work is sold either by itself or as part of a larger work without the express written permission of the author.