Have You Ever

felt like a project is cursed?  I never have before but I'm beginning to change my mind.  Now I love this design. Quaker Gone Tropic is such a fun design and I've had plans to stitch it ever since I first saw it.  I took a lot of time changing the threads from the silks to Threadworx cotton.  I even started it over when I didn't like the first color I had chosen for the large central motif.  I'm stitching it over one on 25 count lugana and I love the color of the fabric.  So what's the problem?  The problem is that I can't count!  There, I've said it.  I plain can't count.  it's either that or I can't follow a simple graph.  Now the graph is very simple and straightforward.  It should be very easy to follow. But me, in my inimitable wisdom, have decided to stitch the motif vertically instead of horizontally.  I thought the colors of the overdyed threads would flow better that way.  The problem is that I keep losing my place on the pattern.  I keep dropping down to another portion of the pattern and stitching that. Then I wonder why it's not working.  I guess I'm going to have to use a line marker to mark my place vertically.  Last night I was ready to chuck the whole thing out the window but I have decided that I will NOT be defeated by a cross stitch pattern.  Oh no, not me.  So if you hear strange babbling coming from my house, just ignore it.  It's only me going a little bit crazy here in Phoenix.