I use Pinterest as a wishlist for the patterns I come across and may want to stitch some day. I also have a list of chart I own, WIPs and finishes. I try to update the lists when I make buy, start or finish something, but I don’t always remember. I am trying to not buy too many thing before I actually have plans to stitch it. The cost of purchasing stuff from other countries can be quite high, so I have to make a large purchase for it to be worth the shipping and import costs. I generally prefer to buy and work from digital charts, and try to buy them directly from the designer. I hope that this brings more money to the designer as it eliminated the cost of another distributor. So, buying paper charts online is expensive and by waiting I can hope that the designer decides to release the design digitally. 

I have decided I don’t like charts with text on them. Some text may be OK, and sometimes it is possible to just not stitch the lettering. Alphabets in samplers are fine, and occasionally I like cultural references or information on the patter, like names, or the text may be for a special occasion. However, I want the text to be subtle or well intergrated in the design. This means that have very little interest in popular designers like Lizzie Kate.

I like designs that reference other cultural subjects, locations and so on, but I like that they are the designer’s own interpretation and that someone seeing it has to have knowledge of the original to get the reference. I also don’t normally like designs that only reference the movie based on another work, I generally like designs that reference the original work. I also deviate from this rule every now and then, but then at least there has to be some personal interpretation.