Round and round and round and round….
Here we are, riding life’s conveyer belt through the final days of 2022 and into the tunnel of mystery which is 2023. While there were some choice moments scattered throughout this leg of the journey, overall I am going to issue 3 stars out of a possible 10, and I will not be leaving a tip for the driver. Seeing as there are no exits from this ride, all I can do is tighten my seatbelt and brace for whatever’s coming next.
In my last post, I shared my progress on the embroidery journal that I began on my birthday this year. If you’re with me on Instagram or the Embroidery Journaling group on Facebook, hi and thanks for following along! [EDIT TO ADD: Welcome to all who arrived here via The Stir-Crazy Crafter!] Here’s where my hoop stands this morning, as I write this post:
Many folks have reached out to me, asking where I found the design or if I could share it with them. I tried explaining how I created it so others could imitate, because my pattern was a hot mess, but gradually understood that not everyone has the bandwidth or the know-how to execute on my instructions. So, by popular request, I created a cleaner version of the chart, and I am pleased to bring it to you now. Introducing…..the Spiral of Life!
Choose a size:
If you’re embroidering on this, you will probably want to print it as large as you can—my hoop has a 12-inch diameter. The documents above, printed at 100%, will print something better suited for a 9- or 10-inch hoop; if you want a larger hoop, you can either wrangle one of those documents (using your printer settings or by manipulating it with a PDF reader) into whatever size you like, or (for something easier but less customizable) you can print one of these documents and follow the instructions to create a two-page pattern that leaves your spiral with a diameter equal to the long edge of your page instead of the short one:
Is that confusing enough? Reach out if you have any questions or feedback about the patterns. Hopefully, that will get you started! If you are new to embroidery journaling and need guidance getting going with your project more generally, check out the Stir-Crazy Crafter—they have all sorts of kits, tips, trackers, and tools to help you begin a stitch journal of your own.
If you *do* create something using this design, I would love to see it! Shoot me an email, or tag/DM me on Insta @smrt783 so I can cheer you on and follow your progress.
Now, I don’t want cost to be a barrier to any kind of maker, so this chart is free for non-commercial use! That being said, capitalism is real and living costs money, so if you wish to show appreciation for my effort with currency, I will happily accept contributions via Venmo and/or PayPal! I assure you that I will use every last cent to create art, and you will forever have my gratitude:
Good luck in your artistic and creative endeavors—I hope that you unearth piles of inspiration and joy in the new year! May 2023 be a year of curiosity and exploration for us all.
Cover photo by Bogomil Mihaylov on Unsplash