A Year of Creativity and Growth with "Flower Field": A Review

Reflecting on a Year of "Flower Field"

The 2024 "Flower Field" cross-stitch project was my creative cornerstone for 2024. What began as a daunting idea—a year-long stitching commitment—slowly transformed into a journey of self-discovery, small victories, and quiet moments of joy. Each stitch represented more than just progress on a piece of fabric; it became a celebration of perseverance, mindfulness, and creativity.

Throughout the year, I experienced the full range of emotions, from excitement in January as the first rows of flowers appeared to the heavy weight of falling behind mid-year. But even in the most challenging moments, the project reminded me to embrace small steps, trust the process, and let go of unnecessary pressures. Stitch by stitch, day by day, the "Flower Field" grew into something truly special.

As I look back, I'm excited to share my journey with you—not just the triumphs, but the struggles and lessons learned along the way. Whether you're considering starting your own "Flower Field," embarking on another year-long project, or simply curious about the mental health benefits of crafting, I hope my reflections inspire you to take the leap.

Early Reflections on "Flower Field"

When I started the "Flower Field" cross-stitch project at the beginning of 2024, I was filled with a mix of emotions. There was a lot of nervousness about the longevity of the project. Would I be able to stick with it for an entire year? Could I actually finish it? I wasn't entirely sure, and those doubts lingered in my mind. But alongside that apprehension, there was this bubbling eagerness—I couldn't wait to see more rows of flowers appear, watch the piece come to life, and see it evolve into something vibrant and beautiful.

In those early days, I'm proud to say I did really well with sticking to my goal of stitching once a day. It's such a small task, only about ten minutes a day, but committing to that consistently was an accomplishment in itself. I even got into the habit of taking daily photos, which I'm so glad I did in hindsight. Each day, I snapped pictures of my dice rolls, the individual flower I'd stitched, and a larger photo of the piece in its entirety. These little rituals became part of my process, and it was so satisfying to see those small moments of progress.

Sharing those photos on social media added another layer of joy. The occasional comments and feedback I received were so lovely and encouraging, and they motivated me to keep going. But after a few months, I started to feel overwhelmed by the extra mental load of capturing and sharing those three steps every single day. Eventually, I decided to let that part go, and honestly, it was the best decision. It lightened my mental load and allowed me to focus more on the stitching itself, which is where the real magic happens.

Looking back at those early stages, I can see how much this project gave me—not just in terms of a beautiful piece of art, but in the small joys of stitching something unknown and watching it unfold. It never negatively affected my mental health; in fact, it was quite the opposite. It felt like a daily dose of happiness, a little ritual that kept me grounded and excited. Staying on top of this daily task was easier than I thought it would be, and I'm so grateful I gave myself the chance to start this journey.

Mid-Year Struggles and Perseverance

By the time August rolled around, the "Flower Field" project began to feel heavier. I found myself falling behind more often, sometimes going two or three days—or more—without stitching a flower. This meant I had to "catch up" by rolling the dice multiple times and stitching several flowers in a day. That pressure started to weigh on me, and guilt began to creep in, affecting my mental health in small but noticeable ways.

Despite having come so far, I couldn't easily see the light at the end of the tunnel. The project, which once brought so much joy and excitement, started to feel like a burden. And to make matters worse, the encouraging feedback from my followers on social media seemed to dwindle. I began to question the point of it all.

The end of August was a particularly tough moment. On the last day of the month, I had to stitch six flowers (I think) just to get my "first-day-of-the-month" photo somewhat back on track. It was exhausting, and I felt like I was drowning in my own expectations.

By the end of September, I was nearly an entire month behind on stitching. It was clear that something had to change. Midway through October, I made the decision to scrap the process of taking photos every time of the dice, the individual flowers, and the full piece. I realised I needed to focus solely on stitching itself and let go of the additional pressures I had placed on myself.

That decision felt freeing. One afternoon, my youngest daughter and I sat down together, rolled the dice repeatedly, and entered the missing numbers into my spreadsheet.
Then, I set to work stitching everything I had fallen behind on. Over the course of two weeks, I stitched 61 missing flowers. Each flower I completed lightened the burden I had been carrying and gave me renewed hope and optimism about the project.

By the final day of October, I had caught up entirely. That accomplishment was a turning point for me. It showed me that I could do it—that even when the journey felt overwhelming, I had the ability to persevere and see it through to the end.

Finding Joy in the Final Stretch

As the year drew to a close, the "Flower Field" project became easier to manage. I managed to stay on top of stitching my flowers almost daily, and if I missed a day, I always caught up the very next day. At most, I only ever had two flowers to stitch at a time, which felt manageable and kept the momentum going.

Watching the end of the project unfold was an amazing experience. Each completed flower brought me closer to the finish line, and the anticipation of seeing the final piece kept me motivated. During December, I faced the challenge of deciding how to actually finish the piece. After much deliberation, I settled on adding a board-like sign with "Two Little Kits" stitched onto it. In hindsight, it felt like the obvious choice, and I'm so glad I went with it.

In those final weeks, I often found myself simply gazing at the piece. I would search for small errors, notice patterns with the flowers I hadn't seen before, and marvel at the combinations of flower patterns and colours that stood out as my favourites. It was a time of reflection and pride—seeing how far I'd come and what I'd created over the course of an entire year.

By the Numbers

On the final day of December, I went over my spreadsheet (hooray for being a bit of a number nerd & saving all those dice rolls!) and pulled some fun stats out. I wanted to share those with you, too!

• The flower pattern I stitched most was #8 at 26 times.
• The flower pattern I stitched least was #11 at just 7 times.
• The colour I stitched most was #8 at 27 times (maybe my dice are loaded? 🤣).
• The colour I stitched least was #16 at just 8 times.
• The only time I rolled the same number in a row for 3 consecutive days was for flower #18, on October 5th, 6th and 7th.
• We only had 12 days of snow in the year, and all at the beginning of the year.
• The combination of #17 (flower) and #4 (colour) was stitched the most times at 6 total!
• There are five special flowers that were decorated with sparkly thread. Those were:
  • My daughters' birthdays
  • My husband's birthday
  • My birthday
  • Our anniversary

Reflections and Encouragement

At the start of this project, I felt so daunted. I had never successfully completed a year-long crafty project before, and the idea of sticking with something for 366 days seemed almost impossible. But as the year went on, I realised how much this little ritual of daily stitching meant to me. Even on the tough days, completing a flower—even just one—felt like a small victory. It reminded me that progress doesn't have to be big or fast to matter. Those small moments added up to something beautiful, both on the fabric and in my mental health.

"Flower Field" gave me so much more than a finished piece of art. It brought me a sense of accomplishment and consistency that I hadn't experienced before. It also inspired my youngest daughter, who decided to start her own year-long project for 2025. She's drawn 20 flowers, picked 20 coloured pencils, and is creating her own flower field on paper. Seeing her excitement and creativity blossom because of my project has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. 😍

If you've ever thought about trying a year-long project—whether it's stitching "Flower Field," "Flower Meadow," or something else entirely—I wholeheartedly encourage you to give it a go. Yes, it's hard, and yes, the long haul is a slow burn, but it's absolutely worth it in the end. You don't have to do it perfectly. You just have to start, take it one step (or one stitch) at a time, and let yourself enjoy the process.

If you're curious about diving into a year-long cross-stitch pattern, I've written a blog post all about them. You can check it out here: A Cross-Stitcher's Guide to Year-Long Projects.

A New Beginning: "Flower Meadow"

As 2025 began, I embarked on a new year-long project: "Flower Meadow." This piece is a natural extension of "Flower Field," but it brings fresh designs and colours into the mix. So far, as of writing this, it's going really well! I've taken the lessons I learned last year to heart, focusing on enjoying the process and not putting unnecessary pressure on myself. I'm excited to see how this new piece unfolds and where the journey takes me.

Final Reflections and Gratitude

Looking back, my journey with "Flower Field" has been one of growth, perseverance, and joy. It started as a daunting challenge but turned into a year-long celebration of creativity, discipline, and mindfulness. The project taught me the value of small, consistent efforts and the beauty of watching something evolve over time.

If you're considering creating your own "Flower Field," here's what you can expect: a beautiful, unique piece of art that reflects your personal journey. Since this is a DIY project, you have the freedom to make it entirely your own—choose colours you love, add personal touches, or even adapt the design to suit your style. The possibilities are endless.

Beyond the artistic satisfaction, there are incredible mental health benefits to achieving your goals. Crafting daily, even for just a few minutes, can be a powerful tool for mindfulness and stress relief. If you're curious about the connection between crafting and mental health, I've written a blog post about it that you can read here.

For anyone ready to start their own journey, you can find the "Flower Field" pattern in my shop.

Finally, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported me along the way. Whether you purchased the pattern, shared your own "Fields," or left encouraging comments, your kindness and enthusiasm meant the world to me.
Here's to another year of stitching, creating, and finding joy in the little things.