A month of Stitching

What a wet and stormy month January has been. On the plus side it has meant that I have had more stitching time than usual as I've been indoors. This will probably be my most productive month for the year.

I completed stitching Just Nan's Winter in the Square. 

Winter in the Square- Just Nan

Fabric: Zweigart 28ct Light Mocha Cashel linen

Threads: Proposed DMC threads

Embellishments: Winter Sheep Gold Visions charm - to be added 

There was further stitching on Frosty Forest. Not alot but some. Unfortunately I need to rip out the bottom border as it is two threads too high. I can't face doing it just yet.

Frosty Forest - Country Cottage Needleworks

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Pearl Grey Belfast linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Note: Gifted from Clare

My sister asked me to stitch her some dog themed coasters. Woof Spoken Here is an ideal size for the coaster I have. This was a free design from Stitchy Kitty. Her website page is no longer available so I can't provide a link to the design.

Woof Spoken Here - Stitchy Kitty

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Cream linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads. Substituted DMC 422 for 3828, 

605 for 3806 and 3362 for 3345

I need to restitch this Lizzie Kate design on 36ct linen. As you can see from the photo below, it is too big for the coaster. I thought I might be able to squeeze it in but it doesn't work.

Dogs Leave Pawprints - Lizzie Kate

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Antique Ivory linen

Threads: Proposed Weeks Dyes threads except DMC 334 for Sky 

and some DMC 801 for Kris's Bon Bon

For a number of years I've pulled out Little House Needleworks's Needle and Thread Scissor Bed/Pin Pillow to stitch but always ended up putting it away again. This time I looked at the invoice that was enclosed with it and discovered that I had bought it in June 2012! That was the incentive I needed. I kitted it and I've stitched the mattress coverlet. I just need to stitch the scissor fob now.

Needle and Thread - Little House Needleworks

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Natural linen

Threads: Suggested Crescent Colours and DMC 754

In 2022 I started the Cottage Garden SAL by Wiehenburg Designs. When I saw it on DJ's Blog (Tickled Pink in Stitches) I had to have it. Her finished project can be seen here whereas I have only just finished Part one of this 12 month SAL.

Cottage Garden - Weihenburg Designs

Fabric: 

Threads: Proposed DMC threads

For the past few years, I've been stitching blocks from the 1920's Farmer's Wife Quilt book.  When I started this English Paper Piecing project I had planned to make a King size quilt. Since it has become something I work on between other projects I have lost momentum. Therefore I've decided that I will make a lap sized quilt as given the speed at which these blocks are being completed, I think it is the only way that I will finish something with this fabric. Here are my latest two completed blocks,  Homemaker, Homeward Bound.

1920's Farmer's Wife quilt blocks - Homemaker and Homeward Bound

Fabric:Laundry Basket Quilts, Blue Sky by Andover

Easter Treasure Blog Hop 2020

Jo of Serendipitous Stitching is again hosting the Easter Treasure Blog Hop. This is an opportunity for those taking part to display some Spring and/or Easter stitching and a letter of the alphabet which will form part of a mystery phrase. Please visit Jo's blog here to see the list of all those who are taking part and visit their blogs to collect your letters to find out what the mystery phrase is.

This year for the blog hop I have stitched a free design from Lizzie Kate called Celebrate Spring.
You can find this design on Lizzie Kate's blog here. I have finished it as a flat ornament to hang from a small frame. When things are back to normal I'll buy a couple of small hangers. In the meantime it will have to stand on the mantlepiece.

Celebrate Spring - Lizzie Kate
Fabric: 28ct Permin Natural Linen
Threads: DMC 3687, 597,720,3354, 580, 307, Blanc, 310, 3836

My Letter for the mystery phrase is

P

Please visit the Wicked Stitcher at http://primpair.blogspot.com/  for the next letter in the mystery phrase.

Happy Easter!
                     

Gifted Gorgeousness with finishes - September

2017 has so far been the year of 'smalls' for me and this month's Gifted Gorgeousness is more of the same.

I have three finishes to show and it would have been four if I could have found one project that I had 'safely' put away. I think that this missing piece is telling me in no uncertain terms that I need to reorganise my crafting materials. Some labelled storage boxes would help rather than my current method of putting stuff in folders and hope that I remember what I put where!

But on to my finishes. First up is Lizzie Kate's 'Dog leave paw prints'. This is the fourth time I've stitched this. This one is a gift for a dog-mad cousin who I will be visiting shortly in Canada. It is sitting on the fabric that I used for mounting.

Dogs leave paw prints - Lizzie Kate
Fabric: Zweigart 32ct Belfast Light Mocha (I think)
Threads: Recommended Weeks dye threads except for Kris' Bon Bon
which was replaced with DMC 898

We had a Holiday Exchange at Needlecraft Haven where you received from your partner a Christmas design with fabric and threads to stitch and complete as you wish. Christine of The Alchymyst's Study sent me the materials for this 'Joy' design (a copy can be found here) which I stitched and finished as a mounted flat fold. As usual, when trying a new to me finish, I used Vonna, The Twisted Stitcher's YouTube finishing instructions.

Joy - La Comtesse & Le Point De Croix
Fabric: The Crafty Kitten 32ct Murano Moondust 
Threads: Anchor 19, 876, 879, 1042, 1086

Finally, I stitched 'Promises' from Just Nan. Yes - another Just Nan design!
This has been finished as a wedding card as I will be attending a wedding whilst in Canada.

Promises - Just Nan
Fabric: Zweigart 28ct Cashel flax linen
Threads: Recommended DMC threads and beads

 If you are unfamiliar with Gifted Gorgeousness where we share gifted crafty items, pop over to Jo of Serendipitous Stitching to learn more and find out how to take part.

Midnight Cow

I finished Lizzie Kate's 'Midnight Cow'. I enjoyed stitching this design. This was probably because it was for my sister who keeps a small herd of cattle and I knew she would like it.

It has been framed with a black mount and black frame but I won't see the finished framed piece until December. In the meantime, here is the finished stitching.

Midnight Cow - Lizzie Kate
stitched on 28ct Jobelan Dark Red
using recommended Sampler and DMC threads

When the cows come home

Or in this case when Lizzie Kate's 'Midnight Cow' comes home. Now that I have a short term work contract until the end of July, very little stitching will be done. Therefore my Alpine Seasons Garden has been put away until August as I don't like working on it in short bursts (one hour or less).

As a result, this Lizzie Kate design is perfect for travelling with me so that I have something to hand if I feel like stitching in the evenings. Based on recent experience, I am quite tired in the evenings, so it is more likely that I will content myself with reading during the week instead of stitching.

I hope that you are getting more stitching time than I am at the moment.

Midnight Cow - Lizzie Kate
stitched on 28ct Jobelan Dark Red
using recommended Sampler Threads and DMC

One, Two, Three ...

That's the number of pieces I've worked on during the past week and I think it is my limit for the number of different projects  I can work on in a given week. When I start something, I just want to work on it to the exclusion of anything else.

Some more progress on Alpine Seasons Garden:

Alpine Seasons Garden - Chatelaine
stitched on 32ct Belfast Summer Khaki linen with recommended threads

with a close-up of the corner. There is some metallic thread in this section and  I love the way it catches the light.

I've finished the base of the basket and have started to fill in the bowl on Bluebird Thread Keeper. I am doing this as part of the Blackbird Designs SAL at Needlecraft Haven.

Bluebird Thread Keeper - Blackbird Designs
stitched on 32ct unbleached natural linen using suggested DMC threads

Finally, the rear end of Midnight Cow by Lizzie Kate. This is my sewing group project, so I will only be working on it twice a month. As it is a relatively straightforward design, I have this idea that I will be able to talk and stitch without making too many errors. Well, one can but hope. :)

Midnight Cow - Lizzie Kate
stitched on 28ct Jobelan Dark Red using recommended threads

Finishes

Well, I finally made myself sit down and finish off some stitched projects. It was a slow process but I got there in the end. Two of these I can't show yet as they are for exchanges but the other two I can as they have been received.

First up is my double sided ornament of Anna and Elsa from Frozen. These were free mini projects from the Crafty Guild. I knew I had to finish these, sooner rather than later, as the tastes of a 2 year old girl can change quickly. Thankfully, Disney's Frozen is still popular.

Else - Crafty Guild
stitched on 28ct white evenweave

Anna - Crafty Guild
stitched on 28ct white evenweave

It was the birthday of a dear friend during the week so I stitched Lizzie Kate's 'Dogs leave paw prints'. This is the third time I've stitched this, so I think most of my dog loving family and friends have now got one. 

Dogs leave paw prints - Lizzie Kate
stitched on 28ct Permin Sandstone

Since it was St Patrick's Day last Tuesday, I baked a Porter Cake for my sewing group which met on Thursday. Most of the ladies were surprised to be served a cake which included Guinness but it was successful. Everyone took a second piece of the cake as well as a copy of the recipe I had used. Since I don't often bake, I was very pleased that they liked it. No photo of the cake as I never thought to take one.

I'm away for a few days next week but when I get back, I will be stitching on Alpine Seasons Garden again. It has been neglected during the past two months.