Just Nan SAL 2014 April update

So near to completion and yet so far! I am on band 21 of 23 of Just Nan's Patience Sampler. There have been plenty of specialty stitches in this project which have been fun to do. I'm still not a fan of the recommended linen but if you don't try something different, how will you learn these things.

If you pop over to Zeb's blog, Keep Calm and Cross Stitch, you can see and find links for other updates in this SAL.

JN's Patience as at 27 April 2014
Stitched on 30ct Legacy linen

I forgot to say

I was so pleased with the items that I received in my recent exchanges, I forgot to show what I had stitched for my exchange partners.

For my Needlecraft Haven partner, Christine, I stitched this Spring sewing pocket found at Createand decorate

Spring Bunny Sewing Pocket -  Terry Loewen
Stitched on 28ct Natural Cashel linen

and for my Friendly Stitcher's partner, Thoeria, I stitched this needlecase for Stitcher's Day. The pdf for this free design can be found here.

Coeurbroderie2 - sablaise.over-blog.com
Stitched on 32ct natural Belfast linen

I enjoyed choosing each of these designs. For me, one of the things I like about exchanges (other than the surprise of receiving something beautiful from another stitcher) is that I HAVE to finish my stitching as something. I'm not very good at finishing my stitching for myself. Left to my own devices, a completed piece of stitching is often put in a drawer and just taken out to be admired now and again. In contrast, the stitched gifts I receive are displayed in a basket where I can see them every day.

Is not finishing stitching for yourself a common affliction or am I in the minority?

Needlecraft Haven Easter Exchange

I know I seem to have been busy stitching for exchanges recently. Here is what I received from Alison at Needlecraft Haven. There was a chocolate bunny included, but he didn't last long :)

Easter card and beaded egg ornament - Needlecraft Haven Easter Exchange

Due to postage problems, I'm waiting on my exchange stitching to arrive, so I'll not post a picture yet.

I'm so lucky to have received ...

... these beautiful exchange gifts.
The first is from the Spring Exchange at Needlecraft Haven. Dusty sent me this lovely bag as well as a notebook, ribbons, tissues and a metal Eiffel Tower charm.

Neeedlecraft Haven Spring Exchange 2014 from Dusty

Close-up of stitched centre. Design: Spring Basket by Lizzie Kate

My second exchange piece was this lovely stitched pocket from Theoria (My Little Corner of Cyberspace). This was part of the Stitcher's Day Exchange at Friendly Stitchers.  

Sewing pocket  front - open

Sewing pocket back - open

I am so pleased to be the recipient of these beautiful pieces of stitching.

Just Nan 2014 March SAL update

Where has the month gone? As I mentioned in my last post, I had only managed to stitch one and a half rows on JN's 'Patience' sampler. Since then, ... I've still only managed to stitch one and a half rows in March. Oh well, something is better than nothing. It's another step nearer to completing this project and the main thing is, I'm happy with how it is turning out. I have plans to frame this piece.

March update - Just Nan ''Patience' sampler

Busy, busy, busy ...

I think I've fallen into the trap of trying to do too many things at once and making little progress on any of them!

Since I had little opportunity for stitching last year, I seem to have been trying to make up for lost time, particularly in regard to sewing exchanges. I've had three on the go at once - perhaps not one of my better ideas. I posted two of my exchange items at the beginning of this week. One is a Spring themed item for my Needlecraft Haven partner and the other is a Stitcher's Day item for my Friendly Stitchers's partner. I will post pictures when the items have been received. I'm also doing an Easter exchange and I've started stitching an Easter card and Easter shaped ornament for my Needlecraft Haven partner. I have until the beginning of April to complete that.

In the meantime I am making progress on pieces for myself. First up, Just Nan's Patience Sampler - I've only stitched one and a half rows since I last showed it. Hopefully I will be able to get a better photo next time.

Just Nan Patience as at 18 March 2014

I've made quite abit of progress on my quilt. I finished machine stitching the green/yellow squares and still have to finish machine piecing the red/yellow/burnt yellow squares. However, I got enough done to do a provisional layout to see what it will look like when finished (see below). What I have learnt from this design is that trying to get points right, is enough to make you want to pull your hair out! While not 100% perfect, they are almost there.

My Animal Farm Quilt - taster layout

I'm ready to sew

After cutting 463 pieces, it's time to get the sewing machine out and start joining the pieces together on this quilt top. Hurrah! Given that the animal panels have been my inspiration, I'm thinking of calling this quilt 'My Animal Farm'. With all those triangles, getting the points right will be important. As a relative novice, I found a useful tutorial on making practically perfect pinpoints by Anjeanette Klinder. It can be found in her blog, here . I wonder how much sewing I will have completed by next Saturday.

463 pieces of fabric waiting to be stitched

Just Nan SAL 2014 - February post

In my mind, I'm a quicker stitcher than I actually am in real life. So despite thinking that I would have Just Nan's Patience sampler finished, I have only passed the half way point. I'm more used to stitching on the recommended fabric now but I wouldn't rush to buy it again. I'm very happy with the look of this sampler and wish I could take a photograph that does it full justice. About halfway through Row 6 I lost my rhythm and ended up removing and restitching the same section of the row about 4 times! Thankfully I got it sorted in the end. To see the progress of others in the Just Nan SAL 2014, just click here.

Just Nan 'Patience' as at 28 February 2014

My next big quilting project

I went into town yesterday and bought material to go with a 2 metre animal motif fabric that I got last year in a remnant sale. I'm looking forward to starting this in my patchwork group. When finished, it will be a quilt for a single bed. It will keep me busy for the next few months.

Single bed quilt material

Valentine Exchanges

Okay, it is a little late in the day but I still want to share the lovely gifts that I received from two Valentine Exchanges I took part in.
Firstly, I received this lovely gift from Kate - a friendship stocking (Plum Street Samplers), sweets, tea and a small candle.

Friendly Stitchers Valentine Exchange from Kate

I sent Kate this hardanger heart along with some tea and soap. I only took a photograph of the heart. This free design can be found here.

Hardanger Heart - Lee Albrecht

At Needlecraft Haven, you stitched your partner a heart or friendship themed scissor fob and enclosed 3 small gifts. I received this lovely set of heart themed goodies from Ursh.

Needlecraft Haven Valentine Exchange from Ursh

I sent my gifts to Jacklyn at Needlecraft Haven and again I only photographed the stitched piece. This was a 2011 Thanksgiving freebie from Dragon Dreams. I altered the wording to another phrase I preferred.

2011 Thanksgiving Freebie - Dragon Dreams

I really enjoy taking part in exchanges. I love the challenge of finding what I think will be the 'right' chart to stitch for my exchange partner and of course, there is also the delight of waiting on that parcel to arrive and seeing what you've received. Win - win!

Quick and easy pincushion

Well that was the idea - something quick and easy. I decided that a hand stitched hexagon pincushion would fulfil both criteria, but I didn't take account of the fact that I'm a slow stitcher. However, after a couple of days, here is my new pincushion. Since it is just for me, I stuffed it with orts and scraps of material left from other projects rather than fibrefill. From doing this project, I've learnt that I need to be more precise in making my hexagon templates.

Hand stitched Hexagon Pincushion
Design source: Discovering Patchwork, BBC, 1977

January Just Nan 2014 SAL Update

Here is my progress on Just Nan's Patience Sampler. I expected to complete the first band and I probably would have, if I hadn't miscounted the positioning of the centre piece after the first rose! So after some frogging, here it is.
I'm stitching on the recommended 30ct Liberty fabric and I'm still undecided as to whether I like it or not. I feel that the fabric holes are 'big' compared to 32ct. Silly I know, but as I usually stitch on 28ct or 32ct linen, it just feels different. Still love what I have managed to stitch though.

Just Nan 'Patience'
Stitched on 30ct Legacy