Smalls SAL - February 2021

The last Friday of the month has been and gone and here is my smalls stitching for the Smalls SAL hosted by Mary of Mary's Thread.  Other than my Valentine stitching which I have covered in earlier posts, the focus of my smalls stitching in February has been Day two of the 12 Days of Christmas. I am doing these as a SAL with Needlecraft Haven and on the FaceBook page 12 Days of Christmas Cross Stitching. 

Second Day

The Twelve Days of Chrismas - Jardin Privé

Fabric: 28ct Zweigart Vintage Country Mocha linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads for red version

Second Day

The Twelve Days of Chrismas - Plum Street Samplers

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart White linen

Threads: DMC 415, 932, 3750, 3820

I need to decide how I would like to finish the Plum Street Samplers designs as I don't want to get to the end of the year and have all twelve of them to complete at once!

I have one other small design which I am in the process of fully finishing as my design for Martina's Stick 6in 2021 and I will show this  in a couple of days.

Until then, take care everyone.

An update on Samplers

I'm currently stitching on two samplers; Just Nan's Winter Blues and Hands Across the Sea Samplers' Mary Stead 1824. I'm enjoying switching between these and my 12 Days of Christmas projects.

As I'm working to Jo's suggested schedule for Winter Blues on the Just Nan Facebook page, I've now completed bands 13 and 14. There are only five weeks of this project left and this is how it now looks. I'm pleased that I'm keeping to the schedule as it's good to see progress on this sampler rather than having the chart sit in a file.

Winter Blues - Just Nan

Fabric: 28ct Zweigart White Cashel linen

Threads: Suggested DMC and Kreinik threads

Embellishment pack included with chart

I started Mary Stead 1824 in September as part of @Senoritastitches September Sampler Soiree on Instagram. I put it away in October and only took it out a couple of weeks ago. I'm now on the final section and I should be able to complete it this coming week.

Mary Stead 1824 - Hands Across The Sea Samplers

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Light Mocha/Mushroom linen

Threads: Recommended DMC

Have a good week.

Gifted Gorgeousness and Fully Finished SAL - February 2021

As often happens with me, my Gifted Gorgeousness and Fully Finished Gallery SAL items are mostly the same items. Hosted by Jo and Rachel respectively, details of how these SALs operate can be found here and here.

Each year, Needlecraft Haven has a Valentine/Friendship exchange. This year we stitched a design of approximately 50 x 50 stitches or 2500 stitches to finish anyway we wanted. I chose to finish this free Janie Hubble design as a pincushion/scissor holder. It and a stitched card were sent to Christine. The pincushion is sitting on the backing fabric. Unfortunately this free chart is not available at the moment as Janie Hubble's website is being redesigned. 

Love - Janie Hubble

Fabric: 32ct Antique White linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

My card design is from Just Nan's Heartfelt Trio. I have now completed two out of the three designs. The other is Happy Birthday which I stitched and showed in last month's Small SAL.

Forever Friends (Heartfelt Trio) - Just Nan

Fabric: 28ct pale Blue linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

I will show what I received in our Needlecraft Haven Valentine exchange in a later post as it is still in the mail to me.

This free humbug design from Jean Farish was stitched with gifted fabric from Clare and thread from Angie (Needlecraft Haven). As I mentioned in an earlier post, I think this would look better if there was more contrast between the fabric and thread. Oh well, I know for again.

Vintage Hearts - Jean Farish

Fabric: 28ct white evenweave

Thread: Dragon Floss-Friendship

I also stitched this free design from The Drawn Thread and finished it as a small pillow. I didn't have the suggested Gloriana silk threads so I used what I already had.  Two of the pink threads used in this design were gifted by Clare and Justine (Needlecraft Haven). The small piece of fabric that you see is what I used to back it. This is all I have left of this Liberty Lawn fabric but I intend to buy some more as I like it so much.

All you need is Love - The Drawn Thread

Fabric: 32ct pale lilac linen

Threads: DMC 814, 819, Soie d'Alger -3023, 3025, 2114

Weeks Dye Works - Moss

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop 2021

Jo has organised the Secret Stitching Sweetheart blog hop again. Each participant receives a photo to post online from a secret stitcher. We hop around the blogs of those taking part to see who received our photo and to reveal ourselves as the Secret Stitching Sweetheart. 

To find out who has taken part and to visit their blogs, Jo has listed all the participants here.

I have received this beautiful Valentine alphabet.  It is exactly the kind of thing that I would stitch for myself. I'm looking forward to finding out who stitched this as I want to know the name of the design and designer. I think I will have to get this design for myself!

In some last minute Valentine stitching I made this scissor fob. This is a free design from Jean Farish and can be found here. Her blog post also has a YouTube video link showing you how to complete the fob. If I stitch this design again I will choose a darker fabric or a darker thread to provide more contrast.

Vintage Hearts - Jean Farish

Fabric: 28ct white evenweave

Thread: Dragon Floss-Friendship

Have a lovely day everyone.