A patchwork basket

Thursday night was patchwork night and there was a good turnout at our group because Patricia, our tutor, was showing us how to make a basket block. It took me three attempts to get the basket handle lying flat and in roughly the right position! I had to keep reminding myself that Patricia said this was the easiest basket block to make!

Basket block (untrimmed)

I've decided that I will make three more of these and make a small to medium sized cushion.

Next Thursday, we will be making other variations on the basket block, one of which is called the Durham basket

Smalls

It looks as if this could be the year of 'smalls'. Over at Friendly Stitchers and on various blogs, stitchers seem to be favouring smalls over larger pieces of stitching.

I'm going through a smalls phase as well. Given that I had limited time for stitching during the latter part of 2015, I'm stitching smalls because I want to see some quick finishes. Originally I thought that I would only show finished finishes but I've thrown that idea out the window. For the past week I've intended to get my sewing machine out but I haven't done it. So if I stuck with my original idea, I would be sharing very little stitching.

So here is what I've been doing over the past two weeks. I've admired this design from Little House Needleworks for a long time and it was a joy to stitch. I've looked at different finishes of this design online and I think I will do a flat ornament.

Season's Greetings - Little House Needleworks
stitched on 32ct Belfast natural linen
with recommended DMC alternative threads

I started this Blackbird Designs Bluebirds scissorkeep back in April 2015. Now I just need to finish the second bluebird and add my initials. I didn't want to undo my stitching to change 2015 to 2016 so I've left the year unchanged. I don't think I will use this as a scissorkeep as it is larger than I thought it would be. It might be finished as an oval shaped flat ornament.

Bluebirds - Blackbird Designs
stitched on 32ct Belfast unbleached linen
with recommended DMC alternative threads

Until next time, enjoy your stitching or craft of choice and thanks for reading.

Another year almost over

Just taking a moment to wish everyone a Happy New Year. May 2016 bring you what you wish for and if you make resolutions, that you are able to keep them.

Here is my last stitched piece for 2016 which is 'Winter' by Prairie Schooler. I stitched this as part of Needlecraft Haven's four seasons SAL.

Winter - Prairie Schooler
stitched on 16ct Flax with recommended DMC threads

Memories of Autumn

With Christmas almost here, it seems odd to be casting my mind back to Autumn but I haven't been able before now to share what I sent and received in the Needlecraft Haven Autumn exchange.
The exchange was for a pincushion and my partner Dusty and I stitched each other a biscornu.
This is the lovely biscornu I received from Dusty accompanied with autumnal themed napkins.

Needlecraft Haven Autumn Exchange 2015
received from Dusty

 I stitched and sent this autumn design that I found on www.palkolap.blogspot.com.

Autumn - www.palkolap.blogspot.com
stitched on 28ct Cashel Platinum,
DMC threads- white, 350, 400, 831, 3822, 3828 

Prairie Schooler seasons

Throughout 2015, Clare has been running a four seasons SAL at Needlecraft Haven. To date, I hadn't shared my stitching with you so I thought I'd remedy that. Let me show you, Spring, Summer and Autumn from Prairie Schooler. Only Spring is fully finished and the other two seasons are just stitched. These designs were in The Gift of Stitching, Number 25, February 2008 (now discontinued).

Now all I need to do is stitch the winter design and finish off it and the other seasons so that they too can sit on a mini easel.

Spring - Prairie Schooler
stitched on 18ct Flax aida

Summer - Prairie Schooler
stitched on 18ct Flax aida

Autumn - Prairie Schooler
stitched on 18ct Flax aida

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

Back again!

"Back again!" - When my niece was learning to talk, this was a favourite expression of hers when visiting her Granny. She always exclaimed it with such joy.

With work and holidays, I've had little time for stitching over the summer but I decided it was time to come back again and share what little I had.

During June/July, Friendly Stitchers had a biscornu exchange. My partner was Gillie and I received this lovely biscornu and skein of thread from her.

Biscornu and thread from Gillie
Friendly Stitchers Exchange

For Gillie, I stitched a Teresa Wentzler freebie, Peacock Tapestry ornament. I love how rich the colours are in this design. It caused a lot of conversation in my sewing group as the big debating point was whether or not to include a charm or button in the centre. The consensus was no and I decided that I preferred it without a charm too. Sadly I did not get a good photograph of the finished biscornu. I like this design so much I intend to stitch it for myself. Maybe I'll get a better photograph of the finished piece then.

Peacock Tapestry ornament - Teresa Wentzler
stitched on recommended fabric and threads

My LHN chart win from Clare

Last month, Clare (Aimetu's Stitching) held a cake bake for Multiple Sclerosis. Sadly I don't live close enough to order a cake but Clare offered LHN's Baked Goods in an online raffle to those who made a donation. I'm pleased to say that I won and Clare raised £300 for the charity.

Thank you for this chart Clare, I'm looking forward to stitching it.

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

101 Magpie Line

A friend sent me a video link of Janie Hubble describing her vision of an emporium for stitchers. I found it interesting and thought I would share the link to 101 Magpie Line. Below the video, there is also a link to a survey where you can share your thoughts with Janie Hubble to help her develop this concept.

It's May Day

Traditionally, lily of the valley is sold everywhere on streets in France on the first of May and is one of the symbols of springtime and of good luck.

I haven't stitched any lily of the valley designs (yet) but I fancied a quick and easy project yesterday so I made this small card needle holder and I'm pleased with the result. 

Card Needle holder - closed
Heirloom Wedding Sampler free pattern
- Victoria Sampler
Stitched on 28ct Cashel, colour unknown with DMC 842

Card Needle holder - open

I used this free design from The Victoria Sampler as the 23H x 23W stitch design was the perfect size. 

This idea is not mine. I received one of these as a Christmas exchange gift in 2013 and have copied the idea.

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