Oh my gosh! I thought I was the only one to have issues with the taste of water. When I watch “When Harry Met Sally” and the food ordering I laugh because I’m that way and I eat all the potatoes first, all the meat. My son was blind at birth and there would be food textures that turned him off to certain foods. He hated ice cream and popsicles. A lot of times we work so close to a project that we see the imperfection, but if we put it away for a while and bring it out we are in love with the piece all over. I find myself holding my finger on the back side of my stitch so I can catch a knot quickly. Planning and watching your achievements is a great way to feel good about yourself. I tell myself every year I’m going to do a stitching journey along with my daily calendar. ❤

A cross stitch planner is the best way to keep track of our craftyness.

It's really sweet to see the love that this community has for each other, whether you've been friends for days or years. Surprise gifts are always the best and the fact that it was a planner that you genuinely were sad to not have anymore makes the gift even sweeter! Not to mention the power of the internet as we say goodbye to garbagemcgarbageface! Side note: Water DOES have a taste! I can't stand Dasani water because it feels very metallic to me, yet it's fine for others. Happy stitching this weekend!

You had me laughing today! I also have issues with water taste, microfiber taste, and “functional OCD tendencies” (the latter actually served me very well in my science career)…and I can not touch smooth unfinished wood….can’t even watch someone else chew a popsicle stick…much less touch one to my own mouth…😂 LOVE your message! We sometimes forget this is a hobby which should bring us enjoyment. It shouldn’t give us angst because our projects, our stitches, our materials, our number of WIPs, or our quantity of haul isn’t the same as someone elses. Many of the old samplers had really odd things including skewed stitches and we still love them…❤ Thanks Caroline! Lori

You have the gift of making your viewers feel as though you are sitting across the kitchen table, drinking coffee and having a visit! Your finishes look great, you’ve been so productive and they have been beautifully stitched! Thank you for the reminder about comparing. I need to write that in a planner! Thank you also for the stitching tips. They are so helpful to us, especially if we don’t have a face to face stitching community.

Great video Caroline! Congrats on your finish, it's going to make such a statement when framed and on your wall, excited to see it. Your wall display behind you is so lovely. Take care, your floss tube is so inspirational, thank you.

I started watching during the advent SAL and am addicted! Thank you for sharing and yes; use the things and be kind to ourselves🌸

Caroline great video once again. The planner looks lovely. I’m going to give you a new name. Today’s video was not only for cross stitching but for those of us who compare ourselves to others. So here’s your new name my dear: Caroline is a cross stitcher/Psychologist! Nice thing is she does not charge for her services! LOL 🤣🤣🤣

The planner is lovely! And we must all use all the things! 😉

Water does taste different. When my grandparents were alive I thought their water tasted better in the summer rather than my 'home' water... Happy Stitching.

I’ve never used a planner before but enjoy seeing what others have been up to with theirs.

A few things you mentioned in your video that resonated with me.. I grew up in a big city, the water was fantastic, I moved to a small town outside of the big city and the water tastes weird, my husband thinks I'm crazy. Textures are a big thing for me too, you mentioned microfiber and I said 'yep its gross.' I also cannot stand 'playing' in the sand and a few other texture related things. As for advice on stitching - always stitch on what makes you happy, if you aren't happy Stitching, that may reflect on the quality of your stitches. Also, don't stitch on what everyone else is stitching on, just because 'they' say it's the latest cool SAL. I guess it goes back to stitch what makes you happy using the tools and materials you feel most comfortable with. Great video and an amazing finish! ✨️ sparkle n shine ✨️ Julie

Dear Caroline, enjoyed your video again tremendously! I am so happy for you about the garbage and I am looking forward to the framed Hibernation day! Yesterday I finished watching the video report by Carmen of your Retreat in October. It felt like having been there!! Thanks for all your giveaways, now this planner! Staying tuned for your finishes!

Love spending Friday night with you. And I say better late then never regarding the planner!

I have the same bucket list! I want to go to the Royal School of Needlework and take ANY class and view and drool over the samples 😀❤️ You’re bang on with water has taste. I’m VERY particular 😂

Fabulous finishes! A planner is another wonderful tool for a stitcher. I wish I had kept track of my stitching over the years.

Congratulations on the great finish on Hibernation Day! And how fun to have it in the hands of your favorite framer already, too! I use a 5-year month at a glance calendar book. I keep events in a digital calendar (appointments, birthday reminders) and make brief notes in the box for each day in the book (what I'm stitching, starts, finishes, details of materials). Also, my daughter bought this calendar for me and I think that makes me more likely to use it regularly. I'm on year 3 of the 5. I'm working on my SAL releases for February so I can start the SALentines SAL on the 14th! Happy stitching!

Another great video! I'm stitching with Roxy floss for the first time and LOVING it !! Adding a planner to my cross-stitch journey would be amazing. Happy Stitching!

Great tips and explanations, Caroline. You are so right we can be so critical of our own work, and we are always thinking someone else's work looks flawless. Thanks for the reminder to not compare but enjoy the process AND to step back when we look at our work. Life is short. We need to enjoy the process more and be less critical of ourselves! I might need to stitch that and hang it in front of me, lol. Happy stitching.

Last year was the first time I used the Book of Days, and I have never been consistent, but I DID IT! So this year, I got Lori's book and love it! It's much better in design and layout, and yes, I am keeping a daily record. Last year I had 31 large and small finishes. Before I had always beat myself up for wasting time, but now I realize that I am really having fun! Thanks for the lesson on comparison...I have felt bad about not stitching on 46 or 56 count...but I am happy on 36-ct or 40-ct. So off I go to being happy!!

Thank you Caroline another great Flosstube chock full of info. I will look up the Jean lady cause i have stitched on linen but find it difficult compared to Aida. Sorry not Canadian, my sister WAS married to a Canadian he was a philanderer… 😂 …❤I’m all Southern. Great talk about not being so critical about our own work, I needed it!! Over an Out for now, Hugs, Jeannette

I found your channel when The Giddy Stitcher gave you a shout out on her most recent vlog. I'm so glad she did! I love the idea of a planner ... I've never used one for project planning and tracking, though I don't dare do life without one! Enjoyed sitting and stitching while you chatted. I'll be back! :)

Oh Caroline, I laughed out loud when you said about the taste of water, I live in South Wales and we have the softest cleanest water in the UK, however fluoride is added to the water and I have to filter, water should not have a taste, water is water! I'm with you. My husband doesn't understand but humours me. I love your explanation, Stitching is my hobby, if it's good enough for my standards the that's good enough, can I improve? yes and I'm working on that, but I try not to get my undies in a tangle, this is my chill time. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in your room of doom. Take care x

Hi Caroline :) Great advice, I couldn’t agree more with you about comparing your own work with someone else’s. Congratulations with all your finishes! I love seeing your stitching :) P.S. water does have taste 😁😁😁

I so enjoyed seeing all of your "lost" stitching and hearing all of your tips and tricks. Also it's nice to know I'm not the only one holding a sock up and untwisting my yarn. 😃 Good luck with your room of doom. 😵‍💫

Welcome to the world of worriers and overthinkers. I love you ‘just use the things’. I need to tell myself that too. Maybe the planner will make me do it.

Happy in the Hammer to see you this evening. Lots of great chats about things....thank you always for sharing. Oh it was funny to hear of your aversion to microfibre....that's me....I cannot touch it all or anything like it. If, Lord help me, I have to pick it up, I may put on gloves or wrap my hand in something & then I may just throw it out, yup, mmm hmm, I would.

So enjoy your videos! I agree with another comment, feels like we’re just sitting in the same room and chatting. Love the planner!

Perfect start to the weekend!! Thanks for the video! I’m glad you’re using your planner and not “saving it for good”. I didn’t order mine soon enough to get one - won’t make that mistake again! Your finish of Hibernation Day looks fantastic. I can’t WAIT to see it framed. It’ll probably be the last little push I need and I’ll end up ordering it!! I love the sentiment on it. Have a wonderful weekend! 💜

I’m kicking myself for not having grabbed a copy of the planner. Once again great to watch your video.

Caroline, you have such a way with words & such beautiful advice.

Congrats on your finishes & all the best on the new starts. A lovely planner would be great to keep track of crafts. Yes I am the same about taste of water & the feel of micro fibre cloths. Thank you so much for your videos. Happy stitching!😊❤

I love Lori Sucks’ creation. I use mine all the time.

What a great video! Thanks for all the tips & tricks. Your stitching is AMAZING!! Planner. Thanks for sharing ❤️

Hi Caroline. Great podcast again. I keep saying I’ll get a planner but still using my old school notebooks!! Well said re competing. I’m with you about water. I can tell when the filter needs changing and when the kettle has been boiled more than once. We have 2 boilers at church and one definitely tastes differently to the other. I guess we have a discerning palette. 😁🤔😏💐

Oh boy, loved your advice on perfection. Before cataract surgery, I had your exact vision. Held my work close as I could to see any count up to 56. Post surgery with no corrective lenses I can see forever, not so much closely, though. OK, I am 78, but my Reader glasses are chained to me. No magnifier is needed yet. That said, it takes a bit longer to achieve better stitches. I have given myself a bit of grace on my perfection, not much, but a bit. Here's to good clear water!😂❤

Whoa, never used a planner, but have wanted to for years. Thanks Caroline.

I love my planner. It’s fun to look back on, I also love stickers a big kid at heart.

Great job on all your finishes. Loved the tips, tricks and advice on perfection. Planner

Great video! Love all your finishes. Great planner.

Hi Caroline, just opened my KZfaq, & there you are! Yea! 😊 You and I are very much the same, saving things for “good”,and not being perfect, lol. Planner.

Great finish on the Hibernation stitch. I love to use a planner and like you don’t love the cutesy stickers but do enjoy doing some. I had the same number of finishes as you did. Yay us!!

I love planners! It's fun to use different coloured pens and doodle.

Hi! Great video. I would love to have a copy of Lori’s planner. As you have said - “Use all the things!” Your finish of Hibernation Day is beautiful.

I appreciate you & this video! Love the message you’re delivering & the tips you shared. The planner is beautiful, glad your rediscovering youth when filling it in 😉 I’m with you, water does have a taste & I’m specific with mine as well!

Oh, I missed out on that planner. And I totally agree on water tasting different from different places. My granny was never happy with the water at our house. We also go to the mountains at home ( Slovakia) for me and the water from the Wells there tastes fresher, cleaner and ice cold each time.

Such great advice, Caroline!!! Thanks for taking the time to explain to those who may be afraid to ask someone. ❤️

I have never used a planner. I think it would be fun to keep track of my stitching. Love your finish of hibernation day.

Great video as always! I have a tip I saw someone stitch but not turn your needle. Turning your needle can cause your thread to twist. So you go down with the tip but when you come up you come with the eye of the needle. I have tried it and it works, I do it on 18ct when I want my stitches to be really neat. But like you said we have to be happy. Half the time I’m too lazy for all these rules. Even counting stitches I never did it before for some reason I decided to do it this year. But it does take the fun out of it a little. Stitching is supposed to be enjoyable not have all these little rules. But to each their own. I have also started to use a planner to keep track of eveything. I also had the same feeling you did. Wow sorry for the long reply usually I am of few words. Happy just fun stitching!!

Yeah to 4 finishes!!!

Thank you for another great visit. Congrats on your starts and finished in Jan. Started the year off with a bang!! Caroline, you are so gracious with your time and sharing this cross stitch love. And I appreciate the way you so fully encourage us. Your response to Isabel (and all of us) was quitet kind. I agree with you that comparison truly is the theif of joy. As long as we love what we're doing, we have found the key to happiness. Sew Me Sarah is another flosstuber I enjoy who is also turning 50 this year. She's doing 50 things this year as a way of celebration. She's using all kinds of prompts, etc. and is doing it with a friend. Might be some videos for you to enjoy. 😊 Thank you, Caroline. Happy stitching. Planner

Love your flosstube! You are so generous! I need to use a planner and do all the things!!!

Excellent video! I'm a real beginner and I was takin' notes. Many thanks.

I love seeing all the ways Cross Stitchers use their planners. All different and so unique. Beautiful stitching Caroline. Love watching your videos! ❤👌

Thank you for your floss tube. I agree water tastes different. I moved and immediately called and had a water filter installed because the water was different.

I missed out on getting that planner before it sold out everywhere, but it looks like a nice one. Always enjoy your friendly chats and stories on both channels.

You explain everything so well. Always like to hear about tips. I learned something new again today. Thank you. I might have to start a planner but no stickers.

Beautiful projects. Thanks for sharing!

The cover of the planner is pretty.

Hi Caroline - so bring in Lori's stickers - they are not for a particular year or designed for a planner in particular, so it would be ok. On to Isobel's letter to you - I think I got her name right - apologies if I am mistaken. She has done needlepoint so she probably did it with the piece in stretcher bars - which probably means using a lap frame or floor stand - like I did. That is what you need for using a laying tool. I do that most of the time even for a small cross stitch piece because I like my threads to lay side by side. A laying tool works best if you have two free hands - one for stitching and the other with the laying tool to use while stitching.

Oh my I thought I was the only one that have little picky stuff that drives other people crazy but now I can see Im not thanks Caroline. Jajajaja I hope I can keep up with a planner too, maybe this one will help.

I taught quilting for 30 odd years - and people would ask the same question... why doesn't it look like yours? My answer has always been: don't forget we all start at the exact same place - first piece of fabric, first stitch... get to know your 'hand' first and foremost, and know that no two people do anything the exact same way; make sure the project is one you really love or you won't finish it - you will never notice the little mistakes; and all the rest will follow... and if it doesn't - you may have to take some stitching out like the rest of us! And in the infamous words of Elanor Burns... a person running fast will never notice! Find the Joy, is what I say! One more... is when I am stitching 'stick-stab' with my Q-snap - I find myself pulling my thread sort flat away from where it just came up out of the intersection. When I put it down into the next intersection, I just hold the tip of my finger on the thread, right near where it came out and hold it flat till it curls over to go down... no extra tools - a bit longer for the stitch and not for all threads. Sometimes I find the threads are not quite the same thickness even though they are the same brand.

It's so nice to see other people getting excited about using a planner! I love them use them keep them for years (forever in my lifetime hehe) Was good to see you today, Caroline :)

I thoroughly enjoyed stitching with you. Your vision is like mine. That is the reason I can’t use one of those cool frames, it would be too far away to see.🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m happy for you that you received such sweets gifts. The generosity of the stitching community is amazing. Happy Stitching! - Valerie

You can just do the July one in red and white for Canada Day -- I changed them up too because I live in Tucson and we start school in August and don't go camping until September, when monsoons are less likely...

That planner is very cool. I've also kept all the things and now I have so many things that need to be used, it's a shame really.😢😮😊

I always love your videos! You explain things wonderfully! I have a video of my version of beginning 1 strand... I'm not a good video person but was asked by a friend to show her how I start... Water... you are so right.... it always has to be cold, too!!! I feel the same way about smalls, I just love to stitch them, they rarely get ffo'd!!!

Very informative video! I would love a PLANNER, yes, for my own tracking of information, but mainly for my daughter. So in the future she will have that information available to her about the pieces I’ve stitched.

Thank you. Just plain thank you.

Thanks for the pep talk! Our stitching only has to please ourselves, and the giftee if a gift. Most of my gifts go to non stitchers, so they aren't critical, but also might not appreciate the work it takes. Thanks for keeping us sane! The planner looks awesome, I will need to order one next year. Did I miss your garbage update? Hope it is better

Awesome video. Well explained tutorial. Thx for the ref link. Love your Planner.

It would make my heart so happy to win the giveaway!

Loved your advice to Isabel, not sure if that is spelled correctly, sorry! Don’t know if she stitches in hand or with a hoop/QSnap, but depending on the fabric, that can help the stitches look more even. Planner. I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week! 🙏🙏🙏

Caroline! Greetings from warm Dallas, Texas! Another great video, as always. I’m thinking a planner might be a fun way to track my stitching! Looking forward to seeing you in April!

What a lovely afternoon break. Watching your floss tube is always such a treat. I need to purchase a planner and get on that train too. Lol

Water totally has a taste!

Great video. Like that planner. 🙂

Caroline you are so generous. Thanks for all your advise. Would love to use a planner. Have a great weekend.

Omg!! I can’t believe i suffer from “don’t mess up your planner syndrome” like you!! I just threw out a perfectly good 2023 planner. I was afraid my penmanship would be messy, i would record something that later i would want to white out, blah blah blah🤮it is a true syndrome after all. You are so fortunate because you are 50. I am 64 and realized it’s time to get over “IT” lol and would love to write in a planner!!

Congratulations on already reaching 8 of your fifty! I have an X-Stitch Journal from It's Sew Emma that has room for 50 projects. So far, the 2023 Holiday Countdown is the only one logged, but I'm n page 21 of 25 so I'm closing in on it. Jean Farish is such a good teacher. I'm pretty sure she has tutorials on Pin Stitch and Loop Start also, but they may be included in one of her long Flosstubes so they're harder to find. Caroline, did you tease us with good news about Garbagey McGarbageface and then forget to tell us? I am suspected ADHD too, so no judging here! I'm re-listening in case I zoned out briefly and missed it.

Great video, as usual. I have never used a planner for my cross stitch but would like to give it a try and that one is beautiful.

I would love that planner…

A planner is always very handy….wonderful!❤😊

I am so happy to start my weekend visiting with you. I totally agree about the back being neat and tidy. I am proud of my backs being as tidy as the front. 😊 planner

Congratulations on all of your finishes. I would love to be able to record in a planner my wips and new starts. It would be nice to see my progress on paper.

Yah a planner!! So much fun!! Love your flosstubes!!!

I use Ravelry to keep track of my knitting prijects, but I need some kind of planner for my cross stitching, spinning, and other projects. I'm even trying to track yarn in/yarn out, so I can get a handle on my stash and work on decreasing it.

I really enjoyed your video! Greetings from a fellow Caroline ;) Planner

I have been wanting to try a planner

Good to hear of your increase in finishes. Will it become a pattern? Regardless, like so much to listen to you talk about stitching. Need to go back and listen again. Missed , other than spoiler(!), hearing about the garbage.

OMG! great video! But you forgot to tell us about the trash issue. Been wondering what happen with all that.

Planner! I may be late but I am trying.

Sadly, being very late on the uptake, I did not get a planner this year. Silly me! Found a notebook. It is what it is. 😂😢😂

I know what you mean about the taste of water. I found out that bottled water is different from brand to brand is because of the plastic the bottle is made of. Enjoy your chat. 🦋

I’m stitching more than ever and could use a planner to keep track. I used to railroad or let my needle spin as you do years ago but now I do what Jean Farish does. Periodically I take the needle off, straighten the threads again. Run a damp sponge over the threads and thread the needle again. Question: I just started the Jeanette Douglas spool design. If I just snip the threads at the bottom and use the cards like thread drops, the floss is about arms length. It’s not a big deal for this project because I’m doing one thread so do a waste knot but when I do two threads I usually do the loop start. I guess my question is do most Roxy users just snip the bottom and use that length and not loop if using 2 strands? You forgot to update us on the garbage.

Hopefully, there will be one for 2025!?! (planner) 🙂

Hi! Can I ask what is the design on your wall , the one with a blue fabric and the beautiul rose colours? I was distracted during all the videos looking at it. I think I found love ❤

Is Evertotes a brick and Motar store, one may visit?? Or just online? I would love to visit London Ontario.

I have never had a proper planner. I use note books. This year I purchased the Book of Days and I am not thrilled with it.

I hesitated on grabbing that planner and then regretted it and am not loving the one I got instead.