I did the same thing and have been learning new tricks to do. They have this thing now called You Tube (giggle) that has so much info. I am currently working on 16 count and the next two will be on 20. Do delve in and enjoy. I am totally re-addicted.

First, welcome to our chat! We are a group of stitchers who enjoy sharing information, our projects and concerns. We sometimes get a bit silly! I returned to stitching after retirement and have been addicted ever since. I can't stitch as fast as I use to because of problems with my right hand, but will never finish my stash if I live to 150! Keep sharing, and let us see your wip or finished projects. Linda

Welcome to both the chat and back to stitching. I believe you will find it is like anything else you haven’t done in awhile. You will be rusty at first but it comes back quickly. You will find most of us complain about a few things: 1) French knots 2) backstitching and 3) confetti. But we do it even though we aren’t thrilled by it. Believe it is known “as
suffering for our art.” Feel like you are getting stuck? Pop on here for help. Lots of ladies and gents with great advice and hints. Enjoy your return and make sure you keep us posted on your projects. We love pictures.
Kris

Welcome back, cmtaylor! I don't have quite the situation you describe. I've stitched almost my entire life in one form or another. I'm retired now, too, and my husband and I are each into our hobbies much more now then ever before, he's into ham radio, I'm a stitcher. Here's a few things to remember: partial stitches are no different than regular cross-stitches, there's just less of them to do; if fabric counts smaller than 14 are hard on your eyes, invest in a good magnifier, there are a lot of them out there in floor models, table models, clip on your glasses types, etc., invest in one (or more) that you think will work best for you; some patterns will include special diagrams for special stitches, bead placement, backstitching, etc., some don't, I find studying your patterns closely before you start will help immensely as you progress through the pattern. I'm sure there is a lot more to add, I just can't think of anything more right now! 😊

Kris, you forgot ripping, the bane of our existence!

Oh silly me....
4) frogging
Ugh.

I took a long hiatus. But I am back to stitching and enjoying it. I have found that my old patterns had a great deal of 1/2 stitches and annoying recommendations. My new patterns (Thank you ESC) are all whole cross stitches. As far as counts smaller than 14- I bought an Ott neck LED magnifier . The magnifier works well for me.
I am not as quick as I use to be, but the enjoyment is still there.

I have had a short break, but then life caught me. We had a baby and by the time she was about 18 months old, we adopted a boy and a girl (hard-working, then mom died in an accident and both fathers took off). Our adopted girl is 47 and just got married this August! Her half-brother was born with neurofibromatosis ("Elephant Man" had a type of this but he sadly had the type that caused distortion of his bones and tissues, a hit at the booths at village fairs that displayed "freaks", but who was not accepted by the world in general).
Our son's numerous office visits took time, but I won the county fair needlework contest (I did counted cross stitch, counted cross stitch, needlework, and others). Then I went for an extended vacation from the world. We lost our boy Joe, the sweetest, bravest, most loving man. He was even a deacon in his church and taught the children's classes. He was killed by someone he loved. Then, 2 weeks later, my close friend died from a surgery gone wrong.
My vacation from life ended last year. It was a rough 8 years. I was a hermit and my own medical issues were worse. DH walked in with a bin from the garage. He asked if I wanted it. Stitching pulled me back into living. Rescuing very old or sick dogs (the founder of our rescue group says my home is like hospice, geriatric care and help for the ill or wounded dogs).

Robin Williams (yes, THAT Robin W.) donated generously and helped so much. He knew why we cried and why we offer care to old, sick, tired, or injured dogs refused by other rescues). I take my bizarre humor and my personal philosophy from my dear dad, from Robin and from all my friends. When some lady came to me and said, "How could you have time to stitch? I heard you have a son who is ill." I smiled at her and gently answered her with, "Yes, my son is very ill. But have you ever waited for a doctor, let alone an entire group of doctors?" She laughed with me and told me that she had so much fun looking at what I did. My hiatus is over. I am back into it all, and the basics remain, new stuff fun to learn.

Hi, I too have just recently picked up my long lost cross stitching after I retired from 28 years of teaching. I discovered my collection of patterns continued to grow while I was working, but my actual stitching. Now that I have more time and my daughter is grown I can have fun stitching. Boy, am I. The hard part is deciding which of my many patterns to do.

Kristy you are not alone in deciding which to do. Firm believer that is why most of us have multiple WIPs going.😄

That is about the same time as me. There are new tricks to learn. My favorite is "Gridding". I don't know how I ever did it before without it. Plus at 20 years later there are these great tutorials to learn by. The one I am struggling with is confitti stitches. I really don't like it as much, very tedious.