Ready for quilting

Recently, in our wider family, a baby boy was born. This was just the excuse I needed to make a quilt. Originally I planned to make a scrappy design but when I saw this finish from Rita Norton, there was no going back.

So after converting my dimensions from inches to centimetres, here is my quilt (or play mat) based on Rita's design ready for the quilting to commence. The finished size will be 100cm x 120cm. I just love those bears.

Fabric: Moda Big Sky, Bears-Teal and Mustard; Makower Linea Zinc;

Makower linen texture Sunflower; Makower Essentials Tiny Dots light cream;

unknown brown/grey fabric and

Makower Linea Ebony for backing

Smalls SAL - March and Needlecraft Haven Monthly Challenge

For the second time I've been able to combine these two stitching updates.

The Smalls SAL 2018 is hosted by Heather and the Needlecraft Haven's monthly challenge is provided by Christine.

This month I kept to a simple finish and completed this free design from Cuore e Batticuore as a card.

Christmas Joy - 

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Belfast Vintage Blue linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads but snowflakes were

stitched with 1 strand of DMC E5200, pearlescent thread

Easter Exchange

It's Easter and time for the Needlecraft Haven Easter exchange. The exchange gifts included a stitched item, a sweet treat and a card. I received an exchange parcel from Clare and she sent me this exquisitely finished egg ornament, these sweet treats and a card. (I see the card is missing as it is sitting on the mantle). Thank you so much, Clare.

My Needlecraft Haven Easter exchange gifts from Clare.

I sent an exchange parcel to Dusty. For this I sitched the upper half of Tralala's 'Duo Printemps' for the card. Along with the chocolate I included a chicken shaped key/scissor fob. As for my ornament ... well ... I really wanted to try something different in a finish. After much searching I finally found what I wanted on Pinterest. A 'cuckoo clock like' finish from La Bottega Della Nonna appealed to me and inspired by motifs from Gazette94, I made an Easter themed hanging ornament. I was pretty pleased with the finish and I've included an photo of it hanging to show it off better.

Easter exchange gifts for Dusty

A hanging Easter ornament inspired by

La Bottega Della Nonna and Gazette94

I hope you all had an enjoyable Easter weekend and that you are not tired of the sight of chocolate eggs.

Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop

Hurrah, my Internet connection is letting me load me pictures this morning. So, a belated welcome to the Easter Treasure Hunt Blog Hop organised by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching. Each blog taking part features some Easter and/or Spring themed stitching and a letter which will spell out a mystery phrase. Hop over to Jo's Easter Treasure Hunt blog post to start your search to find where to collect all the letters for the phrase. When you know what the phrase is, return to Jo's blog and leave a comment with your answer.

My Easter stitching isn't quite finished so here is a Spring design that I finally finished as an ornament recently.

Spot of Spring - The Drawn Thread

Last, but not least here is my letter 'R' for the mystery phrase. If you 'hop' over to Tickled Pink in Stitches you can collect your next letter.

Gifted Gorgeousness - March and Stitcher's Day exchange

It's time for Gifted Gorgeousness (GG) again, which is organised by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching. You can find out more about GG and how to take part here.

Most of my stitching during the past month has been for exchanges. The Stitcher's Day exchange at Friendly Stitchers is completed for me as I have sent and received.

My partner was Meari (Meari's Musings) and I stitched this scissor fob from The Sweetheart Tree as well as this hardanger matchbook needle case. I added Meari's initials and the year on one side of the fob. Unfortunately it was difficult to get decent photos of these, but at least I have a photographic record of them.

The Sweetheart Tree - Stitcher's Favorite Fob

Fabric: 32ct Belfast Flax linen

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Embellishment: Beads from own stash

 Hardanger matchbook needle case

I received this beautiful and handy thread keeper with two gorgeous Sparklies threads from Chris (no blog).

Thread Keeper with threads from Chris

Happy St. Patrick's Day

This year I decided to do some St. Patrick's day stitching with this Celtic knot design biscornu.

As for celebrating the day? Since I don't like Guinness it will be a glass of wine this evening to celebrate.

Celtic knot (top) - Designer unknown

Fabric: 28ct Cashel White linen

Thread: Carrie's Threads - Irish Kiss

Celtic knot (bottom) - Designer unknown

Fabric: 28ct Cashel White linen

Thread: Carrie's Threads - Irish Kiss

In time for next winter

Winter is nearly over and I've just finished knitting myself a bobble hat. It was my first time using double pointed needles. I found that they took a little getting used to; but I got there.

Before I started knitting I read a number of comments from other knitters who made this hat. They suggested making the rib as well as the body of the hat longer. Therefore I decided that my first knitting of this pattern would be a test version. So I bought some inexpensive wool from B&M (in the UK). I made the hat slightly larger than the pattern suggested and it took less than one 100g ball (250 metres) of wool. Next time I will follow the pattern dimensions as I think I would prefer a slightly smaller hat. Nevertheless it's lovely and comfortable to wear.

PondHopper Hat - Alicia Plummer

Variegated grey double knitting wool from B&M (1 x 100g ball)

Needles - 4.5mm and 5.0mm

PondHopper Hat - Alicia Plummer

Variegated grey double knitting wool from B&M (1 x 100g ball)

Needles - 4.5mm and 5.0mm

Smalls SAL - February 2018 and Needlecraft Haven Monthly Challenge

It's my first time taking part in the Smalls SAL 2018 hosted by Heather, Stitching Lotus. Having stitched a number of smalls in 2017, it seemed logical to take part in this year's SAL.

My smalls finish for this month fits both the Smalls SAL and Needlecraft Haven's (NH) monthly challenge*. Since this is February it will not be too big a surprise that my stitching has a love theme.

Love never fails - The Primitive Hare

Fabric: 32ct Belfast Vintage Country White linen

Thread: Le fil Atalie - Carmen

*If you are unfamiliar with NH's monthly challenge, it works like this. Christine, one of the members of Needlecraft Haven, runs our Monthly Challenge. At the start of the month she posts up a freebie chart she has found online for us all to stitch. We can use any thread, fabric and finishing. When completed, we send a photo to Christine and on the last Sunday of the month she reveals the Gallery showing all our different finishes. Until the Gallery is open, we cannot show our finished item anywhere else.

Gifted Gorgeousness - February 2018

My first gifted gorgeousness of 2018 is a recap of the gifts I've received and sent this month; as well as the ornament I used in the Secret Stitching Sweetheart blog hop.

From Julie my Needlecraft Haven friendship exchange gifts:

Needlecraft Haven Friendship Exchange 2018

from Julie

 The card and mug rug I sent to Christine (threads not photographed)

Un peu d'amour et d'amitié - Le Chalet des Pérelles

Fabric - 32ct Belfast white linen

Threads: Recommended DMC

Mug rug with the friendship quilt block

For me, a heart using a gifted design (now only available for purchase, here) from Abi Gurden of Bee's Needleworks. The fabric was gifted by Clare in a previous Needlecraft exchange. The heart was used in the Secret Stitching Sweet heart blog hop organised by Jo.

Heart of my heart - Abi Gurden (Bee's Needleworks)

Fabric: 28ct white evenweave

Threads: Caron Impressions 038 Morning Mist, DMC - 221, 223, 224, 3840

Embellishments: Mill Hill 00168 beads

A friendship exchange

Yesterday was opening day for Needlecraft Haven's Friendship exchange. The exchange was organised by Clare (Aimetu's Stitching).

I received my parcel from Julie of Julie's Stitchyknitter Journal. Her parcel had a purple theme as the flower for February is violet. This was ideal for me as purple is my favourite colour. In addition to some purple variegated threads and a friendship saying on slate, I am now the proud owner of Miss Violet, one of Julie's knitted rabbits.

Friendship exchange gifts from Julie

My partner was Christine. I stitched a friendship card, made a patchwork mug rug and included some threads. The chart for the card is a free design from Le Chalet des Pérelles and can be found here.

Un peu d'amour et d'amitié - Le Chalet des Pérelles

Fabric - 32ct Belfast white lined

Threads: Recommended DMC

Mug rug with using the friendship quilt block

Everyone made and received a lovely variety of gifts in this exchange.

Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop

Happy Valentine's Day and welcome to this year's Secret Stitching Sweetheart Blog Hop. This is organised by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching.

Here is my Valentine stitching from my secret stitcher. I hope my secret stitcher visits my blog soon so I can find out who you are.

Join me in visiting Jo's blog to follow the links to see what other bloggers have received. Of course, I will be looking to see who has received my stitching.

A birthday gift for me

It was my Birthday recently and I received this lovely blackwork bookmark from Clare of Aimetu's Stitching. I'm a keen reader so it will get used.

Birthday gift from Clare

Thread: Weeks Dye Works Deep Sea