Friendstitch 2025

The Friendstitch Winter Gathering took place this past Saturday and it was very enjoyable. The event is put together by Cecilia from Heart in Hand and Elizabeth and Marsha from Bent Creek, but unfortunately Cecilia was ill this year and couldn't make the trip from Ohio to Georgia to share the hosting duties. She was missed, but Elizabeth and Marsha did a great job. Teri and Tina from Shepherd's Bush were guests, and it was fun to get a walkthrough of their shop in Utah--makes me want to visit someday! They provided a chart to be stitched on a mesh bag, which I haven't tried yet, but that looks like it should be pretty easy and quick.

Here are a few photos from the event box (which I kept without peeking for a few weeks):

This bag is from a previous event, but we got a couple more buttons this year, to add to those that have come in two other boxes (if there were any before that I would have missed them, but I don't think there were):

I did the pre-stitching for this one, but I didn't try to do the finishing along with Mona Bost's video segment. We got everything we need to make an easel, which I am excited to try so I can add that skill to my somewhat limited (but lately rapidly expanding) finishing repertoire.

I stitched three of the models this year, including the two versions of the same design, Winter Gathering Hillsides, which the ladies named Bright Bluffs and Pastel Peaks. Here they are side-by-side:

Here is the framed model of Pastel Peaks:

I also stitched the framed model of Snow Folk, which is really cute. Here are my photo and a photo of the framed piece that Elizabeth sent:

They also showed Snow Folk stitched on blue linen and finished into a drum, which was adorable; if I stitch it for myself, that's probably the way I'll have it finished. If I stitch the Hillside, it'll definitely be with the bright palette, as I always prefer bright over muted.

Sadly, they announced that there won't be a Friendstitch next year, but they plan to be back in 2027. There is a LOT of work behind the scenes for these retreats that goes on for months, so I don't blame them for stepping back and taking a breath next year. Maybe that means 2027 will be even more awesome than usual, as they hit it totally refreshed!

Last Monday I did end up finishing the final Hands on Design ornament, but I think I'll wait to share close up photos of the finishes until next week, so I have something to post. I've made some progress on the first Nora Corbett model and it will be my focus for now, so I won't have any new stitching photos while I work on that.

Hope everyone has a great stitchy week!