I’ve just started to work on my oldest UFO, it’s a grand age of 42 years old!! This embroidery is my Monthly Challenge for February. I started it my Lyre Bird when I was 8 years old to match a cockerel I embroidered when I was 7, there’s more of the story here. I want to stitch sufficient for it to be considered finished without being tempted to add too much which will contrast with the stitching of an 8 year old, a fine line!
When I looked at the embroidery it’s mainly couching that needs stitching, I found some gold threads in my workbox which are possibly a little on the shiny side but will suffice as I don’t really want to buy lots of new threads for this project. Luckily I can just see the transfer markings still and even luckier, I found a photo on the internet of the original Needlewoman magazine with the embroidery on the front!!
I’ve started couching the gold thread around the body and wings, some of the felt had obviously shrunk a touch as it had come away from the stitching so I caught it down again with the couching threads.
The lyrebird now has two legs, though he needs claws embroidering so I think I’m going to have to get some gold stranded cotton for that. The tops of the legs are meant to have French knots on but I’m tempted to use gold seed beads and maybe introduce a few beads on the rest of the bird.
The sad thing is that I don’t think it will take more than a few hours to finish it, and just for that it sat for over 40 years in my sewing box! Has anyone else got such an aging UFO just waiting to be finished?
Linking up with Kathy for Slow Stitching Sunday and Super Mom No Cape for Vintage Embroidery Monday, why not have a look what everyone else is stitching?
thecraftycreek 
He is adorable! Just love his tail feathers.
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Thanks Sarah, I still like the design and the colours even after all these years!
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It looks like this will be so beautiful when it’s finished – which should be fairly soon! Are you planning on framing it? I love the design and colours.
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Thanks, I’m planning to take it to the framer on Otley market and have the cockerel framed to match at the same time, they can hang in my sewing room 🙂
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How lovely! I have a tapestry I began over 25 years ago. It was to go in my bedroom when I was a teenager, sadly I don’t really like the design anymore but I can’t part with it. I fear it may forever be a UFO!
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I have to confess I binned an unfinished tapestry years ago as I decided I really didn’t like it enough to ever finish it!
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Thank you for posting this! It has made me feel better knowing I’m not the only one that has UFOs that are over a decade old! Your bird is beautiful. Love the colors!
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A grand, old age indeed. It’s a lovely, cheerful design 🙂
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Thank you, hopefully soon it will no longer be a UFO 🙂
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Truly a lovely work of stitchery, went back and read the post on the cockerel, what a talent with needle and thread at age 7.
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Thanks Deborah, I was lucky in having a very encouraging mum 🙂
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I think it is wonderful that you are finally finishing it. You started stitching at a young age. How wonderful that it is still a part of your life and that you saved it all those years. I have a WIP that has hung around for many years also. Now that I think about it, I must have it over 30 years. Wow. Enjoy your stitching.
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Now that takes the cake for the oldest UFO! So excited to have it out and enjoying the fresh air 🙂
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