I like to have an easy, no stress, easy to see project on hand if I'm having a rough day. I just finished one, so my new start is the Stitching Quaker from Primrose. I'll also have the Stitching Quilt ready too, in case I want to switch back and forth.
FABRIC: 32 ct. light ash grey lugana
It's been a very busy week so far with only a little extended stitchy time. I decided to work on some of the other projects I've got waiting. I've been working with my floss organization for a year now and I decided I really like the way it works, so it's time to finalize it and make it "pretty".
I have a complete set of DMC in IKEA storage boxes with Pip and Chip plastic floss drop chips. There are four boxes.
When I kit up a project, I pull floss from the working rod first. If there isn't any there, I pull the skein from the inventory set and put the empty plastic chip in a "to buy" bucket. When I see a good sale or coupon I grab the "to buy" bucket and replenish the inventory. This has worked so well I'm going to make it permanent.
There are 2 problems.
1. The paper tags rip (and are quite large) and I have to punch all the holes by hand every time in both the key ring and the paper tags and label everything.
2, The other problem is the weight. With 2 1" binder rings on every floss color, it adds up.
I tried several different options to replace the tags, but decided to use the Annie's Keepers floss drops. These are small and light and don't take up much room on the curtain rod.
I also purchased the DMC labels from Pip and Chip to put on the plastic drops as they are permanently hung on the curtain rod. I'm still using a binder ring to hang the drop, but only one, so that cuts the weight in half.
I originally planned to stitch it 1/1 on 20 ct. Aida (Bellana). I got a gorgeous piece of fabric from Hobby House. It was Through the Looking Glass from Tabby Cat.
Although it looked perfectly fine 1/1 on the 20 ct. I would prefer to have more coverage to see the delineations between the geometric patterns, so I tried 2/2 on 32 ct. antique white Lugana and I much prefer the coverage.
I'm using the called for DMC flosses.
You have to change thread color every 5 stitches or so, so it is labor intensive. (Good thing I use the pin stitch!) I may stitch just one month, or I may stitch 4, 6, 8 or 12... who knows? I'm thinking 4 would be perfect to use as a gift.
Here's the first month (August). I do love it. I might do just the single month on the 20 ct. to keep for me if I give the 32 ct. version as a gift.
I decided to restitch the scissor fob from the Patriotic Scissor Pocket pattern from The Scarlett House. The pattern suggested it could be done 1/1 on 28 ct., if desired.
I had stitched it 1/2 on 40 ct. previously so the transition to 56 ct. wasn't as bad as I thought.
I wanted the sampler to say something about friends. I looked for quotes I liked, then decided to look for cross stitch patterns about friends. I lucked out. I found a sampler called Friendship Sampler by Lizzies Little Loops on Etsy and purchased a copy. I used the charting of the text for my header.
I also wanted some stitching motifs on it so I looked through my charts stash to see if I could find some that were the correct scale. I had just finished stitching the Stitcher's Rules, Stitcher's Trio, and the special Grand Opening chart from Primrose cottage. I incorporated some of the individual motifs (spool, scissors, & hearts) with some minor changes. This is what I stitched... I will most likely run a border down the sides to a footer at the bottom with the date, but we will see when it comes back to me.
I started doodling in MacStitch to create my band. I wanted something repetitive and easy to stitch. I had to come up with something the works for 8 inch and six inch bands and that would work on 14/28 or 16/32 ct. fabrics and still stay under the inch requirement.
I picked the floss colors I wanted to use. I chose multiple, saturated colors that are found in my home decor. I plan to put the band sampler directly in front of my stitching spot in my sunroom so I can see it all the time.
After creating the repetitive pattern I decided I wanted to embellish it with some backstitching to provide another opportunity to use the multiple colors.
Our Discord group (Stitching N Friends 22) is doing a band sampler in round robin style. A list is made of all participants and the round robin mailing route is established.
Each person (the owner) picks out a fabric and floss colorway to use for their sampler.
The owner then designs a band either 6 or 8 inches wide by .50 up to 1.00 inch tall (maximum) and stitch it at the top of the fabric.
(Note: Space for a header might have been left at the top above the owner's band if the material is long enough to fit all the bands. Headers/footers can be stitched after the sampler has made the whole circuit and is returned to the owner. This is optional.)
The owner stitches running sttitches at the beginning, center, and end of the band to the bottom of the fabric which delineates where the others should stitch their bands.
The owner stitches their initials in front of the band outside the starting running stitches and their state initials after the band outside the ending running stitches.
The owner then mails the fabric, floss, and any stitching instructions to the the next person on the list. (They always mail in the same order.)
The recipient stitches the band they have designed on the sender's fabric with the sender's floss starting 3 squares/t6 threads down from the owner's band.
The recipient then mails the band off to the next person on the list, continuing the sequence until a band has been stitched by every person on every band sampler and the sampler is returned to the owner by the last person on the list.
Here is a diagram of what the finished sampler will look like:
I've been keeping up with this SAL. I just love stitching it every month. I will miss it when I finish it.
Today I fully finished Thread White and Blue using the directions provided by Cathy Habermann during the Spring Mingle workshop. It a nice little pincushion, perfect for my patriotic display.
The kit Includes the following:
I've been using mini charm packs to make the patchwork fronts. The lining and back from my stash coordinate with the patchwork. I plan on self-binding the edges .
I'm stitching it on 32 ct. Raw Natural Belfast linen.
The called for flosses are: Weeks Dye Works: Aztec Red*, Capri, Cayenne, Deep Sea*, Mocha, Terrapin, Whitewash (*2 skeins suggested)I probably won't stitch the needlebook as I have several other projects in the works at this time.
I spent a while digging through my fabric stash to pull some backing fabrics for the stitches from the "Rules" series from Primrose Cottage. I will leave them out on the table for a bit to see if I'm still happy with them before starting the FFO's. I plan to just flat mount them. I can then either put them on a board, or just display as is.
4th of July Rules, Autumn Rules, & Stitching Rules
I'm finally kitting up "Ladybug Picnic" from Hands on Design. I got the chart during the Nashville Market, but haven't had the chance to start it.
Fabric is: 32 ct. lugana, Cadenza from Grace Notes fabrics.
Floss is the called for.
I can't wait to start!
I stitched American Ewe on Friday 7/11 and American Alphabet on Saturday 7/12. Love stitching Primrose Cottage patterns to relax. Both are stitched on 32 ct. light taupe lugana with the Color & Cotton Floss provided.
I found the frame at a local thrift shop. I was going to paint it, but decided to keep the green.
Our Discord group decided to do a Christmas in July stitch. I chose Mount Vernon Christmas from Plum Street.
Fabric: 36 ct. Oracle linen
Flosses: Called for
Loved stitching them and I finished just before the 4th. A win for sure!
Stitched on 32 ct. taupe lugana.
DMC flosses.
There is a small error I didn't frog, but I still love it. The colors are amazing!
