Remember this redwork runner? Oh yes, it’s been a long time since I mentioned this particular embroidery project!

This past May, it reached the point where all the chain stitch on the runner was complete – the Hungarian braided chain stitch is all that’s left to do on the unfinished portion of the runner.

The project’s been nagging me lately, in a quiet way.

I keep the Hungarian Redwork Runner folded up in a mesh project bag, along with a little needlebook with the requisite needles, a pair of scissors, and the two types of thread I’m using on the runner.

The bag sits on the first table I see as I walk into my workroom. It’s on top of a stack of books.

For a while, I tried to hide it underneath the stack of books, but it didn’t take well to being stacked upon.

So, it rests on top of the stack. I can’t miss it when I walk into the room. It stares at me with a Pathetically Longing Look.

It reminds me.

And so, day after day, I walk into my lonely little workroom where it’s just me and a lot of threads and fabrics and projects, and I see that mesh bag, and I say, “I know. I know. I’ll get to you!”

But it doesn’t respond. It just gives me a Knowing Look.

And I pass by.

Last weekend, when I entered the room, I just couldn’t take it anymore.

Stop looking at me like that! I cried.

And I snatched that mesh bag. And I gripped it in my grimy little claws. And I thought, Oh, you Torturing Fiend! I could closet you, and you wouldn’t know what hit you!

But then….

But then….

Something Magical Happened.

I unzipped the bag.

I felt that lovely piece of linen.

I saw those thousands of red stitches on pristine white.

I saw the organized needlebook, the sharp scissors, the easy threads.

And I saw the Look of Reproach on its patient, unfinished face.

And I gave in.

Over the next hour and a half, I finished all but a few squiggles and swirls on one unfinished section of the runner.

Then, I laid the runner out and counted the number of individual side elements that need finishing. The arrows point to three of the side elements. And the center section in the photo above? It’s actually finished now, except for one tiny corner.

There are eight side elements that need finishing with the Hungarian braided chain stitch.

If I figure a generous hour and a half per section (it does take some time to get around those swirls), that’s about 12 hours of stitching left.

If I allot four hours a week to the runner, I can have the embroidery on it finished before the end of November. And then, in December, I can do the finish work on it – the hem and decorative edge.

And one thing that I’ve found very helpful in keeping the speed up, especially with the Hungarian braided chain stitch (where it’s nice to have two hands free to work the stitch) is this sit-on hoop stand. Initially, I worked the project in hand, without a hoop, but I’m finding I can move along on it faster with two hands free using the 8″ sit-on hoop.

When 2014 comes to an end, it will be nice to add this project to the finishes for the year. So that’s my plan!

And who knows? In typical fairytale fashion, the runner may even grace the Christmas table…and then live happily ever after, of course.

You can find the rest of the articles pertaining to this project listed chronologically in the Hungarian Redwork Runner Index. There, you’ll find the pattern, information on the fabric, stitches, and threads used, as well as information on transferring the design to the runner, and progress reports.