Why am I counting stitches?????
Question:
I have a slightly different approach to this; I call it redundency. I always try to find ways of finding mistakes, *before* I have done too many stitches wrong. Checking and rechecking the count, even over hundreds of stitches, tends to reassure me there is no mistake in the count. I think you’re on target with this: reassurance. I know that is the reason I count some things. Even towels (as another person mentioned). Yep. I have the same number this time as last time – so didn’t lose any! <very big grin
I do that with some laundry, flatware [my garbage disposal is carnivorous 
], and dishes. — Seanette Blaylock X/USA/H+/-/-/1C(HFM Felix)/1B/Cat-a-Tudes "Priorities", Janlynn/XNCr/-/-/-/S/-/-/-/ Bombeck, Jeff Foxworthy/CHOCOLATE!
Response:
<snip Checking and rechecking the count, even over hundreds of stitches, tends to reassure me there is no mistake in the count. : I think you’re on target with this: reassurance. I know that is the : reason I count some things. Even towels (as another person mentioned). : Yep. I have the same number this time as last time – so didn’t lose : any! <very big grin The two things I count are steps in a stairwell (yup, still the same as the last thirteen hundred times I counted!) and train cars (at least there’s a different number every time!). I’ve gotten my kids counting train cars, too. Go figure! Joan X/USA/H–/Y16,Y14,X13/1H/XKCrNC/H/:-D~ trying to :-X/?/G-/W+/D/M/B/b/R? S/K/E-/1F/Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Noah Wyle, George Clooney/Who has time to read anything but rctn?!?/DQ’s & chocolate-covered orange jelly sticks Those who are so proud of keeping Joan M. Erickson an orderly desk will never know the Chester Fritz Library, UND thrill of finding something they Grand Forks, ND 58202 thought they had lost forever. Gem of the day — Ann Landers
Response:
Hi all; I got rhythm!!! A while back I thought of a neat ideal. I was going to take an old calculator, mount the display up on my stitching station where I could see it, put the calculator key board on a board with a trigger switch and put this on the floor. Of course I was going to remove all the keys except for the number (1). Then connect a multi cable between the floor switch and the display. With everything up and running I could tap my foot each time I did a stitch. The display would show me how many stitches I had done. I was also going to put a cancel switch up by the display so I could reset to (0). Though I was a genius until DW asked me what was going to happen when she started playing some of her foot-stompin, rock ‘ roll tapes. "Up in the mornin n’ off to school". Nuff said. Back to the drawing board. Happy stitching Remove backstitch to e-mail Fred Kuhn Et in Arcadia Ego
I have a slightly different approach to this; I call it
redundency. I always try to find ways of finding mistakes, *before* I have done too many stitches wrong. Checking and rechecking the count, even over hundreds of stitches, tends to reassure me there is no mistake in the count. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — Jim Cripwell. I think you’re on target with this: reassurance. I know that is the reason I count some things. Even towels (as another person mentioned). Yep. I have the same number this time as last time – so didn’t lose any! <very big grin And I do think "rhythm" has something to do with it. I sometimes catch myself humming melodies to the counting (like when the clock strikes and I’m bound to count the hour). Put all these things together and it equals one nifty personality trait! Dianne
Response:
The reason that I asked the question in the first place, was that
I was doing hundreds of stitches for the background and they were all the same color, so why was I catching myself counting stitches. There was no reason to count! Maybe it’s because I am an amature. Go figure. Fred Kuhn I’m an habitual "counter". It’s not your "amateur" status <grin, it’s your personality! Dianne
I have a slightly different approach to this; I call it redundency. I always try to find ways of finding mistakes, *before* I have done too many stitches wrong. Checking and rechecking the count, even over hundreds of stitches, tends to reassure me there is no mistake in the count. — Jim Cripwell. Treat the earth well. For it was not given to us by our parents, but lent to us by our children. Author unknown.
Response:
I have a slightly different approach to this; I call it redundency. I always try to find ways of finding mistakes, *before* I have done too many stitches wrong. Checking and rechecking the count, even over hundreds of stitches, tends to reassure me there is no mistake in the count. — Jim Cripwell.
I think you’re on target with this: reassurance. I know that is the reason I count some things. Even towels (as another person mentioned). Yep. I have the same number this time as last time – so didn’t lose any! <very big grin And I do think "rhythm" has something to do with it. I sometimes catch myself humming melodies to the counting (like when the clock strikes and I’m bound to count the hour). Put all these things together and it equals one nifty personality trait! Dianne
Response:
Fred, I once read that counting obsessively can be considered "compulsive behavior." In fact, I believe Piers Anthony (author of the Xanth series) mentioned it having this. Frankly, I wouldn’t worry about it, if I were you. There are alot more dangerous compulsions out there. Human beings are creatures of rythym, and rythym is another form of counting. Does it hinder you while you stitch? Does it help you relax? Please don’t think that I’m hinting that there is something "wrong" with you because you count your stitches. Hell, if that’s "wrong", well, we should all have only that wrong with us!
I tend to count some laundry items [DH's socks, his underwear, my underwear] and occasionally do dish/glass/flatware censuses, just to be sure that nothing got eaten by machinery or broken and discarded without being mentioned to me. I only count each category once, during putting-away stages of cleanup, so I think I’m probably OK here. 
— Seanette Blaylock X/USA/H+/-/-/1C(HFM Felix)/1B/Cat-a-Tudes "Priorities", Janlynn/XNCr/-/-/-/S/-/-/-/ Bombeck, Jeff Foxworthy/CHOCOLATE!
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Little of topic, I count empty beer cans <just to check no one nicked one Does that make me paranoid ? John, checking for nicks in your beer cans? Yes, that’s paranoid. Now, if some one had stolen one, that’d be a different matter all together! Hehe Nicked = Stolen, but then you knew that <putting on best "stupid American" expression No! You don’t say! <grin Edie aka The Ambitious Wench "Barkeep–what is that gentleman on the floor having?" "A Pan-Galactic Gargleblaster." "Good. Gimme one."
I’ll take one too….. So how ya been Wenchie?
Response:
The reason that I asked the question in the first place, was that I was doing hundreds of stitches for the background and they were all the same color, so why was I catching myself counting stitches. There was no reason to count! Maybe it’s because I am an amature. Go figure. Remove backstitch to e-mail Fred Kuhn Et in Arcadia Ego – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hahahaah FRed had to laugh! I am not buying patterns but make my own , thus i am in constant Status of counting , in my Weaving i count and calculate Warp threads , i have a 48 inch wide loom and sometimes work withnthreads that are 10-20 an inch ,,, you may calaculate that ,,, als i have to calculate shrinkage and such , so i find myself counting ALOUD , i do double check myself and do it once on paper once on my small [ solar] calculator . In knitting after guaging and swatchin I hAVE TO CALCULTE every single st and so on in sewing one has to add seams and darts Is this a common phenomena and how do you stop? But in this Sort of embroidery On camnvas i have learned an abcuent old `trick` which i willingly share ith you , ON the printed / drawn cvhart i draw COLORED lines RED every 10th line , green every 5th line , so the whole work is checkerd , than when working on the material I pull a Red sewing thread [ careful take only Fast colors ] with needle through this imaginary 1oth line and a green thread through the 5th line , now i can rest and stop counting so `hystericly` works for me !!!! All the best mirjam
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Little of topic, I count empty beer cans <just to check no one nicked one Does that make me paranoid ? John, checking for nicks in your beer cans? Yes, that’s paranoid. Now, if some one had stolen one, that’d be a different matter all together! Hehe Nicked = Stolen, but then you knew that <putting on best "stupid American" expression No! You don’t say! <grin
I remember your up bringing — Sober I`m looking at the man in the Mirror, I`m asking him to change his ways. <MJ I`l change when find a honest Woman. <JSS – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Edie aka The Ambitious Wench "Barkeep–what is that gentleman on the floor having?" "A Pan-Galactic Gargleblaster." "Good. Gimme one."
Response:
Hahahaah FRed had to laugh! I am not buying patterns but make my own , thus i am in constant Status of counting , in my Weaving i count and calculate Warp threads , i have a 48 inch wide loom and sometimes work withnthreads that are 10-20 an inch ,,, you may calaculate that ,,, als i have to calculate shrinkage and such , so i find myself counting ALOUD , i do double check myself and do it once on paper once on my small [ solar] calculator . In knitting after guaging and swatchin I hAVE TO CALCULTE every single st and so on in sewing one has to add seams and darts Is this a common phenomena and how do you stop?
But in this Sort of embroidery On camnvas i have learned an abcuent old `trick` which i willingly share ith you , ON the printed / drawn cvhart i draw COLORED lines RED every 10th line , green every 5th line , so the whole work is checkerd , than when working on the material I pull a Red sewing thread [ careful take only Fast colors ] with needle through this imaginary 1oth line and a green thread through the 5th line , now i can rest and stop counting so `hystericly` works for me !!!! All the best mirjam
Response:
Hi Dianne You might have something there about a personality trait. When I’m at an intersection and 175 cars(I count) go by before I can pull out into traffic my DW says that I turn into a Gorilla. Not sure what I look like when I’m stitching. I think that I will put a mirror up on my stitching station and find out. Happy stitching. Remove backstitch to e-mail Fred Kuhn Et in Arcadia Ego
The reason that I asked the question in the first place, was that I was
doing hundreds of stitches for the background and they were all the same color, so why was I catching myself counting stitches. There was no reason to count! Maybe it’s because I am an amature. Go figure. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Fred Kuhn I’m an habitual "counter". It’s not your "amateur" status <grin, it’s your personality! Dianne
Response:
I count too, not only crosstitch but other things, I think it has to do with either being a rythmic person, or maybe it is a compulsive obsessive disorder, who knows. I have noticed that when I for example take towels out of the dryer that I will count them….not conciously, just kind of like, one…..fold, two….fold….and so on. I do this with many things. When it begins to irritate me I notice it and make a concious effort to stop and sometimes ask myself why I was just counting. But I think it can be helpful when counting crosstitch, I can also count to high numbers and not be sidetracked into forgetting my place.:-) Lynn Dianne Lewandowski schrieb: The reason that I asked the question in the first place, was that I was doing hundreds of stitches for the background and they were all the same color, so why was I catching myself counting stitches. There was no reason to count! Maybe it’s because I am an amature. Go figure. Fred Kuhn I’m an habitual "counter". It’s not your "amateur" status <grin, it’s your personality! Dianne
– Stitch-Frau WIP:Hand charted poodle face, two German landscapes, Eye glass case (for me!) "….and I’m sure the sewing done by these pricked fingers will last a long time, so much goodwill went into the stitches." - Little Women by Alcott
Response:
The reason that I asked the question in the first place, was that I was doing hundreds of stitches for the background and they were all the same color, so why was I catching myself counting stitches. There was no reason to count! Maybe it’s because I am an amature. Go figure. Fred Kuhn
I’m an habitual "counter". It’s not your "amateur" status <grin, it’s your personality! Dianne
Response:
Little of topic, I count empty beer cans <just to check no one nicked one Does that make me paranoid ?
John, checking for nicks in your beer cans? Yes, that’s paranoid. Now, if some one had stolen one, that’d be a different matter all together! <grin Edie aka The Ambitious Wench "Barkeep–what is that gentleman on the floor having?" "A Pan-Galactic Gargleblaster." "Good. Gimme one."
Response:
Little of topic, I count empty beer cans <just to check no one nicked one Does that make me paranoid ? John, checking for nicks in your beer cans? Yes, that’s paranoid. Now, if some one had stolen one, that’d be a different matter all together!
Hehe Nicked = Stolen, but then you knew that — Sober I`m looking at the man in the Mirror, I`m asking him to change his ways. <MJ I`l change when find a honest Woman. <JSS – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – <grin Edie aka The Ambitious Wench "Barkeep–what is that gentleman on the floor having?" "A Pan-Galactic Gargleblaster." "Good. Gimme one."
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Little of topic, I count empty beer cans <just to check no one nicked one Does that make me paranoid ? John, checking for nicks in your beer cans? Yes, that’s paranoid. Now, if some one had stolen one, that’d be a different matter all together! Hehe Nicked = Stolen, but then you knew that
<putting on best "stupid American" expression No! You don’t say! <grin Edie aka The Ambitious Wench "Barkeep–what is that gentleman on the floor having?" "A Pan-Galactic Gargleblaster." "Good. Gimme one."
Response:
Being used to buying patterns which indicate size ie. 120 x 120 stitches, then using 10 point mesh my brain tells me the pattern will be 12 x 12 inches. Buy the yarn and away we go. Lately I picked up a pattern that was 12 inches in dia. and was going to need a 2-1/2 inch boarder. No problem for someone on the ball. Buy 24 x 24 inch 10 mesh canvas, yarn, a 1/2 doz. needles, find the center, continental stitchys here we come. While I was finishing the main pattern with my brain out in the twilight zone somewhere I mentally figure 6 x 6 x 3.14 x 100 = 11,304 stitches. I must be nuts. Then I figure 8.5 x 8.5 x 3.14 x 100 = 22,686. Now I know I’m missing a stitch or two. Would you buy a pattern that indicated that it needed 22,686 stitches?? Ahh 22686/150=181.5 hours, not including rip-outs!!! This means that I’m only half done or I need a math refresher course. Oh well at least the background is all one color so it should go pretty fast. As I was completing the third row on the top of the background I found that I was mentally counting stitches. Is this a common phenomena and how do you stop? I can’t see much sense to counting background stitches all of which are the same color. Happy stitching and a happy healthy new year!!! — Remove backstitch to e-mail Fred Kuhn Et in Arcadia Ego
Response:
Fred, Never thought of counting stitches. I think it would discourage me from trying osme of the big pieces i enjoy having as WIP’s to go back to. Happy Stitching Norma
Response:
As I was completing the third row on the top of the background I found that I was mentally counting stitches. Is this a common phenomena and how do you stop?
Fred, I once read that counting obsessively can be considered "compulsive behavior." In fact, I believe Piers Anthony (author of the Xanth series) mentioned it having this. Frankly, I wouldn’t worry about it, if I were you. There are alot more dangerous compulsions out there. Human beings are creatures of rythym, and rythym is another form of counting. Does it hinder you while you stitch? Does it help you relax? Please don’t think that I’m hinting that there is something "wrong" with you because you count your stitches. Hell, if that’s "wrong", well, we should all have only that wrong with us! Edie aka The Ambitious Wench "Barkeep–what is that gentleman on the floor having?" "A Pan-Galactic Gargleblaster." "Good. Gimme one."
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – As I was completing the third row on the top of the background I found that I was mentally counting stitches. Is this a common phenomena and how do you stop? Fred, I once read that counting obsessively can be considered "compulsive behavior." In fact, I believe Piers Anthony (author of the Xanth series) mentioned it having this. Frankly, I wouldn’t worry about it, if I were you. There are alot more dangerous compulsions out there. Human beings are creatures of rythym, and rythym is another form of counting. Does it hinder you while you stitch? Does it help you relax? Please don’t think that I’m hinting that there is something "wrong" with you because you count your stitches. Hell, if that’s "wrong", well, we should all have only that wrong with us!
Little of topic, I count empty beer cans <just to check no one nicked one Does that make me paranoid ? — Sober I`m looking at the man in the Mirror, I`m asking him to change his ways. <MJ I`l change when find a honest Woman. <JSS – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Edie aka The Ambitious Wench "Barkeep–what is that gentleman on the floor having?" "A Pan-Galactic Gargleblaster." "Good. Gimme one."
