Happy New Year and Wrapping up 2018 finishes

First of all, Happy New Year. I hope that 2019 does not fly by as quickly as 2018 did. Last year just passed so quickly. We had a number of visitors throughout the year, especially during the summer and I think that, coupled with our own travels meant that time passed quickly.

I'd like to show you the quilted cushion cover that I finished just in time for Christmas. The design is Daybreak from Jaybird Designs. This was a trial run before I make the cushion with some daschund print fabric that I bought in the summer. I'm so glad I did as the finished cushion with border is approximately 50cm (around 19.5 inches) square! Ideally I want a cushion cover that is around 45cm (18 inches) square so I have reduced the templates to get closer to that on my next cushion cover. I didn't do the maths upfront because I lacked confidence that I would get it right because Daybreak is a hexagon design. I only made the necessary adjustments to make it a square when I got to that point and then I wanted my border. I felt it needed a border to finish it.

Daybreak - Jaybird Designs

My final finish of 2018 was a first for me - a pair of knitted socks! Many thanks to Julie (Julie's Stitchyknitter Journal) for her encouragement and Winwick Mum's easy to follow Sockalong instructions and YouTube videos. I've already got wool line up for my next two pairs of socks. I learnt a lot about using variegated wool while knitting these which I will hopefully use in the future.

Berger de France - Goomy 50, shade Imprim Prun

Gifted Gorgeousness - December 2018

Here's my final Gifted Gorgeousness (GG) post for 2018. As Christmas approaches, it's been a busy month for gifting and receiving. The other participants in this month's GG can be found on Jo of Serendipitous Stitching's blog post here.

Here is a collage of this month's stitching that I gifted:

On the left:

 Mitten Men - Just Nan for Deb

I believe in Santa - The Primitive Hare for Julie

Top down on right:

Oh Christmas Tree - Little House Needleworks (TBC)

Il Neige - Francoise Prax for Gill

Wee Snowman - Hand in Heart Needleart for Clare

From Deb (no blog) as part of Needlecraft Haven's Christmas Exchange, I received this ornament;

while Clare (Aimetu's Stitching) sent me this beautiful felt stocking to put out for Santa tonight.

Finally, Deb instructed me in how to make this Christmas wreath for my tree. I look forward to making more of these next year.

Wishing you all a Happy Christmas.

Needlecraft Haven Christmas Exchange 2018

I love a Christmas exchange so there was little chance that I would not take part in Needlecraft Haven's. Christine organised this secret exchange for us. All but one of the participants received their ornament by 1st December, which was our opening day. We therefore delayed posting pictures of our exchange gifts until the final one had arrived.

Deb (no blog) sent me this beautiful 'Stitchmas' tree ornament with ribbon and snowman fabrics.

Needlecraft Haven Christmas Exchange 2018 - from Deb

I stitched this snowman for my partner, Gill (no blog) and I also included some charms that I thought she would like. Until now I hadn't stitched any of the designs from the book 'Miniatures au point du croix' as miniatures but just as standard projects, two over two, Since I enjoyed stitching this design as a miniature, I've decided to complete some more designs from Francoise's book in miniature as she intended.

Il neige - Francoise Prax from Miniatures au point de croix

Fabric: 32ct (I think) White opalescent linen. Stitched one over one

Threads: DMC 498

Winter knitting

You can tell it's getting colder as the knitting needles come out.

I recently finished this snood for my sister. I call it 'Mary's Sampler Snood' as it was knitted with a selection of stitches that I like. Fortunately my sister likes them too. I don't think the photo does it justice but it was the best I could get.

Snood - knitted with my choice of stitches

Wool: Rico Design - Ito Iro

Having admired the sock making of Julie (Julie's Stitchyknitter Journal) for a number of years I've taken the plunge and have started knitting my own socks. I'm using Winwick Mum's basic 4ply tutorial and here is my progress so far. It looks small but it fits. I've tried it just to be sure. The fun and games will start when I get to turning the heel.

Basic 4ply socks - Winwick Mum

Wool - Bergere de France goomy 50, Imprim Prun

Until next time, I'll leave you with another Christmas song. This time it is Chris de Burgh and 'A Spaceman came travelling'. As a teenager, I was a big Chris de Burgh fan and saw him play at Dublin a couple of times.

Online Advent Blog Hop - 7 December

I'm taking part in Jo of Serendipitous Stitching's advent blog hop. This link will take you to all those taking part.

The Christmas design I wish to share with you today is the one that got me back into cross-stitch when I stopped working full time. It is Victoria Sampler's Jingle Bells Christmas Tree Farm. I fell in love with this design and had to have it. It was stitched quickly as I wasn't busy with other craft projects as I am now.

Jingle Bells Christmas Tree Farm - Victoria Sampler

Fabric: Zweigart 28ct Smokey Pearl linen

Threads: VS Accessory Pack

The theme of this year's Advent Blog Hop is "My favourite Christmas Song". It was hard selecting one but in the end I opted for a more modern song. I use the word 'modern' loosely as 'Fairytale of New York' from the Pogues featuring Kirsty McColl was released in 1987, reaching number 2 in the UK singles chart. My favourite lines from the song are:

"I can see a better time

When all our dreams come true".

which I think captures the hope that many of us feel at this time of year.

I hope you enjoy listening to it.

'Fairytale of New York' - The Pogues featuring Kirsty McColl

Gifted Gorgeousness - November

It's Gifted Gorgeousness time again. This is a SAL hosted by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching where we show crafting that we are gifting to others or that has been gifted to us. Full details are here.

I have at last finished the cardigan for my mum and it is in the post on its way to her. I liked this design and I have plans to knit this again but next time it will be for me.

Flat Collared Cardigan

Stylecraft Alpaca Tweed

A Halloween Exchange

At Needlecraft Haven we had a Halloween exchange and I stitched this Just Nan design for my partner, Dusty. Thankfully, although my parcel to her got damaged in the post, my ornament was undamaged.

Pretty Wicked - Just Nan

Fabric: Crafty Kitten 32ct Belfast Lavender Haze

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

I received this lovely pack of goodies from Deb (no blog). Needless to say the chocolate didn't last long. I think the socks must have been scary as we had no 'Trick or Treaters' come to the door this year.

Needlecraft Haven Halloween Exchange 2018

Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop 2018

Will it be Trick or Treat?

Smell My feet - La-D-Da

JCS Halloween Collection, 2008

Fabric: Crafty Kitten 32ct Belfast Lavender Haze

Threads: Suggested DMC threads 

It's time for the Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop organised by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching. Follow the blog hop to collect a letter to complete a mystery phrase. Comment on Jo's blog with the correct phrase and you could win the chart for JBW's Smiling Jack-O-Lantern and some other goodies.  A list of all the blog participants can be found here. 

This year I have the letter N:

Source: Heypik

Hop over to http://janalynmarie.blogspot.com/ to collect your next letter in this spooky blog hop.
Before you leave, this little chap would like to say 'Hi' in his own way:

Boo - Val's Stuff

JCS Halloween 2012

Fabric: Crafty Kitten 32ct Belfast Mottled Sage

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Happy Halloween!

Gifted Gorgeousness - October

I'm a little late but it's time to show my Gifted Gorgeousness for October. This is organised by Jo of Serendipitous Stitching and if you are not familiar with Gifted Gorgeousness and how it works, full details can be found here.

I'm still knitting the cardigan for my mother. Between family visits, a deep cut on my right forefinger and burning my left hand, I've had limited time to knit. Nevertheless, I've now only got the neck band to knit, then sew it together and it will be finished. Since I could, I've laid it out as if it were a finished item in the photo below.

Flat collared cardigan

Stylecraft Alpaca Tweed in Duck Egg

When finished, the WIP shown below will be gifted to a friend who owns a dog kennel. I think she will like 'Noah's Welcome Mat' by Plum Street Samplers (PSS). Here is the link to the PSS blog post showing the finished design with a link to a pdf copy of the chart.

Noah's Welcome Mat - Plum Street Samplers

Fabric: 32ct Zweigart Belfast Platinum 

Threads: Suggested DMC threads

Gifted Gorgeousness - September

Gifted Gorgeousness (GG) is the brainchild of Jo (Serendipitous Stitching) where we show our gift related crafting (made and received). You can read about how GG works here.

Between holiday visitors and the hot weather I've done very little crafting during the past month. However in the past week, I've knitted on the cardigan for my mum. I'm now on the second sleeve and once that is done, I will start sewing it together to add the border for buttons.

I love the basket stitch on the sleeves but I really have to concentrate to ensure I make the increases as instructed while keeping the pattern. It doesn't help that I sometimes forget to change my row counter at the end of each row.

Flat collared cardigan

Stylecraft Alpaca Tweed in Duck Egg

In Needlecraft Haven's 2017 Valentine Exchange I received some DMC threads as part of my exchange from Clare (blog post here). Using these, I stitched a  free friendship design from Passione Ricamo (found here). I'm undecided as to how I will finish this but as it has been stitched for a few months I thought that maybe by posting it, it will give me the necessary push to finally finish it.

Amitie - Passione Ricamo

Fabric: 40ct Edinburgh Natural(?) linen

Threads: DMC 776 and 777

Until next time, I hope you all find some time to spend doing what you enjoy.

Gifted Gorgeousness - August and Smalls SAL

Gifted Gorgeousness is the brainchild of Jo (Serendipitous Stitching) and if you are not familiar with this monthly blog post, you can read all about it here.

As it continues to be very hot, very little stitching has been done here. In addition we have had visitors most of the past month, so there hasn't been time for it either. Nevertheless I managed to stitch this small card for a wedding greeting later this month. It's taken from Told In A Garden 'The Bookmark Collection'. This is a delightful collection of small designs by Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum.

Two Hearts - Told In A Garden

from The Bookmark Collection

Fabric: 28ct Cashel Natural (I think)

Threads: Recommended DMC threads

As mentioned in the previous post, I received this summer themed card and gifts from Justine. Hopefully the sun will stay so that we can get to the beach in September when the new school year has started. We tend to go then as it won't be so busy during the week.

A Summer Exchange

Over at Needlecraft Haven, our summer exchange this year was slightly different. We stitched a summer themed card for our partner and included a summer recipe and a sweet treat.

I received this lovely card and delicious chocolate from Justine. I haven't tried the strawberry recipe yet but I will. I thought the tissue paper was pretty so I've included it in the photograph as well.

For Justine I stitched a free summer design from Il Telaio Povolaro which can be found here. I stitched it using Weeks Dye Works 4141- Clam Shell on Crafty Kitten 32ct Murano Moondust. Unfortunately I forgot to take a photograph of my finished stitching.