Hello stitchy friends,
Let’s talk about something that every stitcher runs into sooner or later: finishing.
We pour hours into a cross stitch project, enjoying stitch by stitch, color by color, until that last X is in place. We take a deep breath, admire our work, and feel that little burst of pride. Then comes the next question: How am I going to fully finish this?
And that’s where the fear of perfection sneaks in.
We start thinking:
- Should I frame it?
- Do I finish this as a pillow?
- What if the edges aren’t straight?
- What if the ribbon does not match exactly?
Suddenly, instead of celebrating a finished piece, we are stressing over whether the FFO looks perfect, Instagram worthy, “good enough” to display or give as a gift.
You all have heard me say, “I would rather have a finished project than a perfect project”, and this is were this philosophy resonates.
Because let’s be honest, most people are not going to notice if your ornament bow is slightly crooked, or if your framing skills are museum quality. What they will notice is the love, time, and story, behind each stitch.
I have had pieces sit in a drawer for months (okay… sometimes years) because I was waiting for the “perfect” way to finish them. And do you know what? Those projects brought me zero joy sitting there unfinished. But the minute I popped one into a simple frame, or even just displayed it on a clip board, it came to life and it brought me joy! And each time I practiced finishing, I gained confidence to finish another.
So let’s give ourselves permission to finish in whatever way works for us. It does not have to be fancy or perfect. But I promise you, it will bring you joy.
So if you have a stack of stitched but not fully finished projects waiting for their “someday,” this is your sign; pull one out, do what you can with what you have, and set it free. You’ll be glad you did.
Happy stitching (and finishing!),
~Annie
The Proper Stitcher
Please note that Strive for Joy is a new release for Needlework Marketplace 2025. Strive for Joy is an original design by Annie Turner, The Proper Stitcher. Copyright 2025.
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