The Irene Continues...

I would like to take this time to wish everyone a happy holiday season, no matter how you celebrate.  My family and I had a wonderful time hosting Christmas in our new house. The weather cooperated and there were no blizzards to contend with while everyone drove here.
As always, when you are hosting, there is a lot to do, but at the end of the day, I would treat myself to some stitching to unwind and relax after a busy day.  I did quite a bit over the last week and can now see the circular part of the design taking shape.  It is always fun seeing a pattern emerge as you stitch and this rug is now exception.  I have decided to do each circular element in its 

entirety before moving on to the next one.  I think this is making it both easier and more fun for me instead of breaking the rug into top and bottom.  I think I would get confused if I stitched everything from the middle upwards first then do the middle downwards after.  When stitching it around the circle, I can also easily remind myself to turn the stitches the opposite way for design elements in opposite corners.  I have never turned so many stitches in a stitching project before, and I think it is working out well because I am trying to keep the lines going as a line rather than looking like a "railroad track". Since I know words can sometimes not convey what I am trying to say, here is a photo depicting what I mean:

In the image on the left, you will see how my stitches look. Usually, I stitch with the stitches slanting to the right.  When stitching a line travelling from the bottom left towards the top right of your work, the line will appear as a straight, unbroken line. (top right of illustration)  When stitching that same line travelling from the bottom right towards the top left, when the stitches are still slanting towards the right, the line then looks like a "railway track" to me. (top left side of illustration)  If I decide to stitch that same line and turn my stitches to slant towards the left, the line then becomes a straight, unbroken line again. (bottom left side of illustration)

Since I am stitching this in Petit point, this really shows up when stitching lines. It would not make a difference if stitching the pattern in Cross Stitch or French Knots.  Most of the time, I don't need to turn my stitches and many people never turn them (it is not usual to turn them), but I felt the rug would look better if I did. 
I have decided that since it is Boxing Day and all of my company has now left, I am going to give myself a stitching day.  I am eagerly looking forward to seeing more of the rug take shape!