As an older needlework person, I have heard this sad complaint many times. I too used to do good work and people would praise me for it. But I have had to change my ways to doing needlework plus accept my ability to achieve perfection. So I don't do any of the larger projects I used to do plus no more working on black materials. Because I am an avid gardener, I love any floral type patterns and now instead of the large bouquets, only do one flower, but in detail, or perhaps only a few flowers also in finer details. Perhaps if you are interested in a type of pattern, you could try a simpler or smaller more detailed version of them.
I also don't spend as long a time as I used to because there seems to be a cut off point in which I start to do poorer work. My eyes are okay but I still use some form of magnification.
Last of all, my greatest challenge was NOT to have a LARGE reserve of cross stitch patterns but to only select when I had nearly finished another. I gave my patterns to a young person interested in needlework. I would have to live past 200 to finish them.

I can't do the big ones I stitched 20 years ago, either. I get sloppy. Did a fairly challenging "primitive" style last year, based on the hymn, & called "New Mercies.". It took a 1st place at the county fair. I think the secret is that I took a whole year to stitch it, didn't stitch too long, & did small pieces that were different in between. I find that once in a while is often enough now for " Big."

I am so relieved to read about your issues because I have noticed the same about myself. I have this adorable Halloween picture that I stitched around 20 years ago on 32 ct linen. When I put it up the other day I noticed how beautiful my stitches looked compared to what I do now. It made me sad because like you I love stitching and planned to do catch up once my Olivia starts Kindergarten. I'll probably give some away myself and put the ones I really love out of sight until one after another they get stitched. Old age bites, everything gets taken from a person.
I agree, that the key is to do smaller projects and not to stitch for extended periods. I seem to get edgy after a couple of hours. When my hands begin to perspire it's time to quit. Despite all the aids I noticed that daylight is best.
jl, I realized all this after I ordered The Garden of Delight! LOL

I have a lot of catching up to do. We've been so busy and also sick with a cold.

I saw Seinfeld on Letterman the other night - too funny. He said he had made a bucket list and decided that the whole thing was pretty pointless so he replaced the "b" with an "f"! Hard to believe that he is 60 already. I might have to steal that idea!

Thank you for your replies. Now I really don't feel so bad. I think I am doing too many patterns and need to take a break from it for a while. I did knit some baby stuff for my granddaughters. One just recently got married and it will be a while before she starts her family and the other just graduated law school, so it will be a while for her too. I decided to take a break from cross stitching and made each of them booties, hat and sweater and a small blanket and made them each a bigger afghan for the crib. I decided that we never know when our day will come and I really wanted my great grandchildren to have something made by me. So I have that all done and in a box set aside for them when needed. I did the cross stitch pattern "Fairy Grandmother" and want to do another one so that each of the granddaughters have one for their nursery. My husband does work working and he made the frame from cherry wood. Again thank you all for your replies, I greatly appreciated hearing from you.

I noticed the threads are a little different, and regular sewing threads also, not just floss.
I came across Thread Heaven in a craft shop a few years ago. It's a little blue box, maybe 1x1.
After I thread my needle, I just run it through, and wow what a difference. I don't get knots and twists like before. I use it with all my sewing projects.

Thank you mgyspt for telling me about Thread Heaven. I will try that. Nice to know that I am not the only one that thinks that floss and thread and fabric has not changed over the years. Three of you commented that you felt the same way about your work as I did. That tells me that it cannot be
just a quirk, all four of us seem to have the same problem and nothing we do seems to correct it. It is very disheartening to spend so much time and money to do something you are passionate about and the end result is not what it should be. I will let you all know how the Thread Haven works.
Thanks again

I think I'll try it as well. I'm working on a Christmas stocking, it's stitched with four strands of floss. I can't wait until it's finished. It's slow going because I am trying to achieve uniformity. The person it's intended for is very discerning. ):

Learn to roll the needle between your thumb and forefinger 'til the strands appear nearly strait & flat. Lest twists on top, fewer slip knots & messes below. Tex, you may need to use a laying took with 4 strands. Any large yarn needlecwill do, but it's a two-handed job. You've got to get the tool under the stitches & flatten them before you pull the floss all the way through with the other hand.

jl, what would be do without you? You have all the answers. A laying tool? I'll never get this done in time for Christmas. That means that I'll have to start over, doesn't it? I've never used one. I hope that I can grasp the concept.
I wish my Garden of Delight would arrive. It's so simple - 25 ct Lugana (recommended fabric) and two strands of DMC!!!!
Thanks for the tip, jl, I know that you are right.

I want to thank Labybug0727 for her tip to try Thread Heaven. I got some a couple of weeks ago and it really does work. It was not available in my local stores so I had to use the internet to find. For some reason even on the internet it is not readily available. I found it in two places and one place wanted as for one box as the other did for two boxes. I tried all of the advice from everyone else about how to keep my floss from twisting and knotting and I appreciate all the of the advice. But for whatever reason Thread Heaven really does do the trick. Thanks everyone for your comments. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.