Goals

[Sibille Kreideweiss]

I work with goals - can't help it, but every time I pick up needle and thread I set myself a goal for this hour, hours, day or weeks. I also have some principals, which help me to move things along a bit faster. Because I always have different projects on the go, I do this with every single one.

For example: When I'm close to finish stitching for that day or the hour, or have to interrupt, I never put a design away without finishing the thread I'm working with. Even if it is still 3/4 to go.

Or, depending on the design, I set myself a goal to finish a certain area, be it a Hardanger motif, a part of needleweaving, a certain colour in a cross stitch design, e.g.

Is that a weird thing to do? Or are others doing just the same.

I myself found this goal setting much more helpful. I'm not obsessed, so if I see I make too many mistakes I just stop for the day and do something else.

Happy Stitching

[Sibille Kreideweiss]

That's a fantastic goal.

ANNA KOUSI said:

This is a really interesting discussion! As an amateur stitcher the only goal I have set to myself is "allways finish what you have started!" Everyday I try to make time for my stitching and I focus only to what I am doing. Allthough sometimes I want to try something new e.g. a new stitch etc. But I really don't like unfinished work!

And that's how I am at work and at my obligations at home!

[sharonb]

True that is a great goal that many people forget to have!

[merrilyn]

I also found this an interesting topic and may try and put some in to practise with my ufo's and attack one at a time

[ANNA KOUSI]

To be honest the hardest point is when I have completed almost the 3/4 of a project. It is almost complete in my mind but still there is work to do! And at the same time I am  thinking of what I am about to do next or even after the next!  Thank God, I know that I won't enjoy the next one if I have the first one unfinished! So that's how the goal is set: finished what you have started and enjoy the next!

Since there is a lot to learn- so many new stitches- I have decided that when I finish what i am doing now, I will stitch only small projects e.g. biscornu.  I think by doing so, I could "break" my big goal (learn) into small goals!

[Sibille Kreideweiss]

I have that feeling too some times, but I push myself over this hurdle and carry one. I look very much forward to the last stitch done, and here we go, project nearly completed.

ANNA KOUSI said:

To be honest the hardest point is when I have completed almost the 3/4 of a project. It is almost complete in my mind but still there is work to do! And at the same time I am  thinking of what I am about to do next or even after the next!  Thank God, I know that I won't enjoy the next one if I have the first one unfinished! So that's how the goal is set: finished what you have started and enjoy the next!

Since there is a lot to learn- so many new stitches- I have decided that when I finish what i am doing now, I will stitch only small projects e.g. biscornu.  I think by doing so, I could "break" my big goal (learn) into small goals!

[sharonb]

Yes this happens to me too- you should have heard me when I was trying to finish the diamond quilt. At this part I think you just have to push through.

ANNA KOUSI said:

To be honest the hardest point is when I have completed almost the 3/4 of a project. It is almost complete in my mind but still there is work to do! And at the same time I am  thinking of what I am about to do next or even after the next!  Thank God, I know that I won't enjoy the next one if I have the first one unfinished! So that's how the goal is set: finished what you have started and enjoy the next!

Since there is a lot to learn- so many new stitches- I have decided that when I finish what i am doing now, I will stitch only small projects e.g. biscornu.  I think by doing so, I could "break" my big goal (learn) into small goals!

[Janet M. Davies]

I have found if I am doing a repeating pattern I do not complete one whole repeat first. But do bits from each repeat section. Once I do a complete repeat then it seems boring. So for example I do all the leaves and then all the flowers and then the bugs. I don't do a leaf,flower and bug all at once.

I agree that quite often once the main componants of a design have been stitched it is 'over' in out heads and we have to push through to stitch what we already know is there.