Stitching Blogger's Questions

Do you have a system for organizing freebie charts in your stash? If so, what is it? Do you print out copies of all of the freebies that you find on the web (that you think you might actually stitch) or do you maintain electronic copies of them until you are ready to stitch them?

I usually will save the internet freebies in the hard drive and will print them out when I am ready to stitch. And will delete the freebies from hard drive once after I've print them out. I regularly 'weeding out' the I-don't-fancy-it-anymore patterns as I could find lots and lots of internet freebies every month.



How do you decide which stitching blogs are worth repeat and/or regular viewings? Are there certain things you look for in particular? Are there things you wish there were more of? Less of? Is your blog a good example of what you like to read?

I prefer stitching blogs with mostly craft stories. I also keep a list of my needlecraft buddies from Yahoo Groups I joined on the sidebar. I always wish for more crafting stories, tips, magazines & books reviews, beautiful pictures and regular updates of course. My blog is far from a good example of what I like to read as I do not update regularly and never do any magazines/books reviews (so far).

Stitching Bloggers' Questions

Do you use your needle, a seam ripper, or something else when you have
to frog stitches? Why do you use the method that you do?

I usually use a needle to frog stitches coz it rips the stitches a lot easier than the seam ripper especially on smaller count fabrics. At times, the seam ripper does come handy though.


If you had $500 to spend on stitching-related items, what would you buy?

I would buy everything on my wish list - the charts & books, fabrics, complete set of the overdyed flosses, embellishments and etc. Or else I would've purchase the storage system for my flosses & fabrics, a magnifier lamp( I could stitch over one thread with ease) and a recliner for me to sit and stitch. However, If I had the money few days ago, I would tag along my hubby to Paris and spend the money on French needlecraft magazines, linens and French designers charts. DH will take care of the air ticket

Stitching Bloggers' Question

Have you had a happy dance yet this year? If so, tell us about it! (Or just point to the entry that talks about it.) If not, when do you predict it will be?


Oh yes! Just had my 1st happy dance of 2007 last weekend.

Stitching Bloggers' Questions

How many different brands of “complete” embroidery floss sets do you own? How do you keep track of it? (i.e., spread sheet program, index cards, palm pilot, etc.)

None of them are complete. I only have almost complete DMC set. My Anchor collection consists not more than 50. And overdyeds collection is variety - handful of Six Strands Sweet, several GAST, WDW, NN, Crescent Colours & some silks.

I printed out several copies of a DMC embroidery flosses list (from DMC official website). One copy I used as my shopping list and the rest I sticked unto the flosses boxes for easy reference.

Since my Anchor flosses are used for stitching certain charts only e.g. Forever Friends bear, Newton's and Wordsworth; I usually kit them up together with other stitching stuff (fabric, needle & chart). And I have only one flosses box to store them after I finish stitching. The same goes to my overdyeds collection.



How did you decide on the title of your stitching blog? Was it random, or does it have a special meaning to you or about you?

Lil' Honey Collection is decided way before I jumped on the blogging bandwagon. I started needlecrafting in January 2002 and not long after that, I was pregnant with Hanie (my eldest darling princess) developed more & more interests in needlecraft. Since then I've been actively sewing & stitching during my leisure time. Hanie, her name is pronounced as 'honey'. I love to call my finishes , the 'Lil' Honey Collection' as my earlier needlecraft projects were always been inspired by her.

When I wanted to start blogging, I simply put 'Lil' Honey Collection' as the title of my blog. And I always get a pat on the back from Hanie every time she sees my finishes. She would say something like "It's beautiful, mom", "I like it!", "Wow!", "Good job, mom" etc

Stitching Blogger's Question of the Week

Do you stitch “over one?” If so, describe your experiences. If not, have you considered it?

I've done"over one" in 28ct linen. Initially, it was tricky to count the thread. Once I got the hang of it, it was quite fun actually and was eager to see it finished. I also have made few "over one" projects on 22ct hardanger cloth. If I had to compare, I prefer to stitch "over one" on linen as I think that it is much more neater.

Stitching Blogger's (s') Question(s) of the Week(s)

What cross-stitch magazines or other publications (as opposed to blogs) do you read on a regular basis? What do you like about them? What do you not like? What would your perfect publication include?

I read/purchase several craft magazines monthly and The World of Cross Stitching (WOCS) is the XS magazine that I buy on regular basis. I wouldn't say it is perfect but WOCS is just what I look in a XS magazine - contains small, medium & large charts, tips and nice freebies. My intrepretation of perfect publication might not be a perfect one for others as my personal preference would include charts that I'd like to stitch for my kids (e.g. Pooh, Barney, Elmo & Mickey), charts for my hubby - golf and stuff, specialty stitches charts, insects & garden charts especially the buzzing bees and nice freebies e.g. coaster, fridgie, mini frame, buttons & etc

I recently started to purchase Papercraft Inspirations magazine. I can say this the perfect papercraft magazine for me. I like everything that comes with it - projects, tips, ideas, gallery and freebies

Do you have an organizational system for your patterns? If so, how do you organize them? If not, have you considered organizing them?

Yes, I do have an organizational system eventhough it is not as organized as it should be Basically, I have 5 differents folders namely - regular XS, specialty stitches, freebies, magazines (charts) and the last one is for my WIP. I don't separate them by 'designers' as I don't really have a very large collection.

Stitching Blogger's Question of the Week

With the exception of your online stitching friends, do you have any other stitching buddies?

I used to have a stitching buddy, she is the wife to friend of DH actually. She lived nearby and we did have tea together and talk about stitching, unfortunately she has moved to another city last year. Nevertheless, I have met up with several of my online stitching friends (from Yahoo Groups) and I'm really glad that I found more stitching friends in blogging world *wink*

Stitching Blogger's Question of the Week

Have you done any charity stitching, been in one, or would like to organize one?

Yes, I have done once - 'Stitching For Love' project. I stitched a quilt square for a little girl.

Stitching Blogger's Question of the Week

Have you ever just quit a project while in the midst of it? (We’re not referring to UFOs here, rather projects that you know that you’ll never work on again.) Why? What did you do with it - throw it out, give it away, put it away?

Yes, I had experienced twice . 1st piece is a free-style embroidery table cloth I started in my teenage years. The reason I stop was I've always deter satin stitches embroidery and the pattern requires satin stitches. Initially, I thought that I could overcome the problem but... hmmm. I still keep the piece in my stash cabinet though *wink*. As a reminder, perhaps. 2nd piece is my 1st XS kit. At time of purchase, I wasn't really into XS and I was sort of 'influenced' by my sis-in-law. There is no DMC flosses in the kit, instead the pattern calls for a different type of flosses (not 6 strands flosses or perle cotton). And being a non-experienced stitcher, I can tell you that it is my worst stitching ever *LOL* . Halfway thru' , I gave up but still keep the piece in my stash cabinet. Another reminder, perhaps *wink*

Stitching Blogger's Question of the Week

What is the most challenging specialty stitch you have ever stitched?

I think I have not try out all the specialty stitches yet, but so far the trickiest is the rhodes butterfly. I always miscalculate and won't get a nice butterfly at my 1st attempts. However, I still love to do the rhodes stitches - heart & butterfly rhodes. These stitches are beautiful to my eyes.

I shall add here, as for free-style embroidery, I'm avoiding satin stitch coz I've never embroider a neat row of satin stitches : )

Back to Blogging & Stitching Blogger's Questions

Hi ! I'm back to blogging. The internet connection was not very good for the past weeks hence I didnt' really have the mood for blogging. Anyway, I managed to do some stitchings though the stitching pace was slower than usual. I've missed 2 SBQs and would to answer them today.

Q1: Which way do you stitch (/// and then \\\ or \\\ and then ///)? Can
you (or if you haven't done it before, do you think you could) change
the way that you stitch temporarily if it is asked of you?

A: I stitch /// and then \\\ and I don't have a problem if I were asked to change the way I stitch temporarily to \\\ and then /// (had done it once). Honestly, I felt a bit different during the first few stitches, after that everything went as usual (just like the way I usually stitch).

Q2: Do you stitch for events like weddings, engagements, or other things
that might not last? If you have been unlucky and the two people broke
up, what happened to your stitched gift?

A: I never stitch for such events before. If such an unlucky things happened i.e. broke up/divorce (that's life), I do hope one of them will still value the stitched piece and I won't mind if they ripped off some of the lettering. By the way, I'm currently stitching for my cousin who celebrated their 1st anniversary this month and will hand it over to her when I'm in Kuala Lumpur next month. This is my 1st time stitching for such events :)

Stitching Blogger's Question of the Week

What do you use to hold your fabric while you stitch? A hoop, a Q-Snap, a scroll frame, something else, or do you stitch in hand? Have you always used just the one thing or have you tried one or more of the others? Which do you like best? Why?


I use a hoop to hold the fabric when stitching(I have a set of three hoops). I would love to try Q-Snap or scroll frame but at the moment I haven't see any in Miri LNSs. Will look for it when I'm in Kuala Lumpur. Sometimes I do stitch in hand especially for small projects. But I prefer using the hoop coz it makes my stitching faster and neater.

Stitching Blogger's Question of the Week

What’s the largest project you’ve ever done? What’s the smallest?

The largest project I've ever done - I shall say the 'Days of the Week' bellpull which I have not done with the finishing touch and don't have the updated pic as well. The finished bellpull size is approx. 8"W X 40"H.

The smallest project I've ever done - I did lots of small projects actually. Most of them are stitched cards, apart from them I shall say the smallest project I've ever stitched is the scissors fob.

scissors fob

Stitching Blogger's Question of the Week

How often do you wash your fabric for each project? Do you wait until the very end until to wash it or do you wash it more than once?

Yes, I will wait until the very end to wash the fabric for each project. I'll hand wash the fabby gently before the finishing off. I never try machine wash coz I haven't stitch anything wearables except for baby booties. As for stitched pieces using the overdyed materials, I won't wash them unless I can see some spots which I'll give them 'in situ treatment'. I will usually be extremely careful when stitching using the overdyed materials *wink*

Stitching Blogger's Question of the Week

What do you do with the framed stitching that you keep? Do you hang it up and leave it in one place, never to move it? Or do you have a rotation, where you have one place for stitched pieces and switch them out according to mood or season? Maybe a mixture of both?

Well, I don't have many framed pieces actually. So far, what I have are those small in size and I simply put them on the dresser. I have wallhangings as well and hang them ocassionally. If I were going to hang the framed pieces, i would definitely leave them in one place and never to move them (we have issue with holes in the wall). Let's say, if I would like to remove the framed pieces from the wall, I will replace them with the wallhangings or family photos.

Stitching Blogger's Question of the Week

Have you hand-dyed your own fabric? Why or why not? Would you like to try to do so?

This question made me rummaging through my fabrics collection coz I remembered I did coffee-dyeing before. It was merely experimental when I coffee-dyed the fabric last time. Coffee-dyeing & tea-dyeing will give an antique & country look to the fabrics. I think samplers and country stitching (e.g. Jeremiah Junction designs) will look great on these coffee/tea-dyed fabrics. I have't try using the dye (colourant) yet. I've actually bought a purple colour Dylon. Planning to dye some fabrics with the Dylon colour after I finish my UFOs.

Stitching Blogger's Question of the Week

What is your most unique/interesting stitching quirk? (This could be something concerning the way you stitch, how you organize your stash, etc.)

This is such an interesting question :) I remembered when I told my stitching friends that normally during my 1st & 3rd trimester of pregnancies I will become less productive in needlework, some of them asked me why. They said stitching is supposed to help us to minimise the stress. And couldn't anwer them coz I didn't really know the reason why I will become less productive during those periods. Anyway, there are few of my friends experienced the same thing during their pregnancies.

Recently when I took an online survey regarding needlework, I realised why I experience this kind of situation. I actually regard needlework more likely as a way of expressing the creativity & artistic in me rather than a way of minimising my stress/dealing with mood swings. In another word, when there are too many things bogged my mind, I would 'leave' my needlework projects for another option such as listening to music, web browsing, window shopping and etc. This also explains why at times I stitch/embroider/sew more than usual e.g. several projects done in a week. My stitching time is quite volatile, I have nothing like 'regular daily/weekend stitching time'. It actually depends on my mood. So, it is nothing peculiar that I stitch less during pregnancies since the mood is like roller-coaster. Yeahhh, I found the reason is a bit amusing but I guess, everyone has a different stitching quirk.

Stitching Blogger's Question of the Week

Have you ever done a color conversion? If so, what did you think about your results and would you do it again? If not, would you like to try someday?

Yes, I have. Most of the time the results are satisfying and suit the colour scheme of my choice. At times, the results are not as good as what I expected but this never stop me from doing the colour conversion for the next projects.

Stitching Blogger's Question of the Week

What do you do when you have some sort of obligation stitching to do, but don’t want to do it?

When I joined a Round Robin (RR) early this year, I sensed kind of obligation stitching after receiving the 1st piece of RR to stitch. There were reasons to such feeling since it was my 1st time joining a RR. I didn't really know what to expect and I am kind of stitcher who stitches small patterns on small pieces of fabrics. When I first got to stitch on a bigger/lengthy fabby, I said to myself "OMG! i never stitch on such a lenghty fabric" (other members wanted to make a bellpull/banner out of RR). I started to worry but I was OK then, since my friend provided an easy to stitch pattern. When another friend's RR piece came to me, it was another lenghty fabby. I was OK with the fabric size but it was the pattern she provided that worries me. Frankily speaking, the pattern is so lovely, it just that I never stitch such a big pattern *LOL*

With datelines coming ahead, made me worry not to finish stitching on time. What I did was, I spent most of my stitching time with these RR pieces, eventhough my feeling at that very moment was close to 'I don't want to do it'. I guess I simply wanted to finish it quickly and didn't want to bother with it anymore. I even cut my browsing/blogging hours to ensure I had enough time to finish stitching. My WIPs were totally been ignored *LOL* The only thing that stopped me from stitching was when the required floss was misplaced. I seldom have the opporturnity to go stash shopping, missing floss means I have to wait for the right time to go to the LNS. Grrrr !

Anyway, I managed to deal with these kind of obligation stitching. It is not as bad as what I think initially.

Stitching Blogger's Question of the Week

Do you think that you stitch neater on Evenweave than you do on Aida cloth? If so, why?

Yes, I think I stitch slightly neater on evenweave compare to my stitching on aida. The reason is I become more careful with the counting and the tension of the floss when stitching on evenweave. And it is a lot more easier to do fractional stitches on evenweave.