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The Captain’s Craft CoveOctober 18, 2026

Kathy’s Rock Star Finish, and the Chart That Ate My Stitching Week

By Anne Conrad

Kathy’s finished cross-stitch, “Totally Rocking Halloween” by Michaela Learner — a rock-on gnome with a microphone stand, a black cat in a witch hat, a jack-o’-lantern and a lantern on yellow mottled fabric, the haunted-house needle minder still in the corner
Finished! Kathy’s “Totally Rocking Halloween” by Michaela Learner — work in progress last week, rock star this week. Finishing by Anne, method still to be determined.

I had big plans for today. A full stitch day, I’d told myself. Total stitches stitched today: zero.

Kathy, meanwhile, finished a rock star. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

In my defense, the week wasn’t a total loss — I put 1,499 stitches into the big cruise piece, which brings me to 13,770 — and since I’m not stitching the background, that’s 20.7% of everything I actually have to stitch. A fifth of the way there! The rest of my craft time went into charting our Alaska anniversary sampler, and let me tell you, a chart can eat a week the way a toddler eats cake: completely, and with crumbs everywhere.

Kathy’s finish — and he’s fabulous

Remember the work in progress from last week’s post? Kathy has finished him. “Totally Rocking Halloween” by Michaela Learner is officially off the frame: rock-on hand in the air, tongue out, microphone stand at the ready, and a black cat in a witch hat riding shotgun. Even the haunted-house needle minder is still on duty in the corner — continuity matters in this house.

The stitching is Kathy’s. The finishing, as always, is mine — I do all the FFOs (fully finished objects) around here, and I have not yet decided how this one gets finished. Frame, hoop, something else entirely — he’s a rock star, he’ll tell me. Watch this space.

My marathon: one-fifth down

Here’s where the big piece stands this week:

Anne Conrad’s “Magical Cruise” cross stitch in progress on pale pink fabric in a scroll frame with pirate-print guards — the cruise ship stitched in the left ear, suitcases stacked at the top, and the compass rose taking shape below
13,770 stitches in — 20.7% of the real work. The ship is sailing out of the left ear, the suitcases are stacked, and the compass rose is holding down the bottom. Slow and steady.

And Kathy’s already picked her next project

Kathy makes hay while the needles are flying — the gnome was barely off the frame before she’d picked her next project. Next up is “Christmas Magic” by Primrose Cottage Stitches — a whole sampler of NOEL, Rudolph, hot cocoa, and one very large DECEMBER. From a Halloween rock star straight into Christmas. No surprise for this house.

The “Christmas Magic” counted cross stitch pattern cover by Primrose Cottage Stitches — a framed Christmas word sampler with NOEL, Rudolph, Santa, hot cocoa, JINGLE BELLS and a big DECEMBER 25
Kathy’s next project: “Christmas Magic” by Primrose Cottage Stitches.

That’s the craft room for this week — one finish, one marathon at the one-fifth mark, and one brand-new start waiting in the wings. See you next Sunday!

— Anne

Pattern credits: “Totally Rocking Halloween” by Michaela Learner; “Magical Cruise” counted cross stitch chart by Tilton Crafts; “Christmas Magic” by Primrose Cottage Stitches, designed by Lindsey Weight.

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