Sharing my life and love of cross stitch. Thoughts about this and that.

Monday, November 23, 2009

After spending part of Saturday assisting at the newest class for our Citizens Emergency Response Team, including an outdoor disaster exercise (I declined to be moulaged - made up to look injured) which was cut short when a trainee had a real emergency and was taken by ambulance (eventually) to hospital, I stopped by Stitch Niche (my local LNS) to give Kathy a copy of the Be Grateful freebie (scroll down). I stitched the less hectic variation while watching Christmas movies Saturday night on 14ct Fiddler's light using a single DMC Color Variations thread - 4090 (left), I  think. I don't keep up with those numbers. Took longer than it should because I started with 3 strands, then dropped back to 2, then frogged and went back to 3. Haven't stitched with 3 strands in a long time. It also would have been quicker except I realized about 1/2 way through "Be Grateful"  I was off 1 stitch starting the B so  had to frog and start over. Good grief! Looks okay, but would be better in darker shades - maybe GAST Autumn Leaves? (right) Don't know what I'll do with it. Sure wish my camera was working!!

Friday, November 20, 2009

Ornament Finishing: Ladder Stitch Tutorial


Ladder Stitch


Used to stitch up the seam left open for stuffing. Description and photos. Very good!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Happy Harvest Freebie

Happy Harvest Freebie from The Cross Stitcher Magazine.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Thanksgiving Freebie


Size: 66w x 32h
  • 14/28 ct - 4-5/8 x 2-1/4 in
  • 16/32 ct - 4 x 2 in
  • 18/36 ct - 3-1/2 x 1-3/4 in
Stitching suggestions:
  • Want a tiny bit quicker stitch? Try the variation below. Actually, I think I like the variation better! Click here for alternate chart.
  • Lay your threads out on different fabrics before you decide which to stitch on and choose the most pleasing to your own eye
  • Stitch with a single overdye or silk
A freebie to say thank you for visiting my blog. Happy Thanksgiving fellow stitchers!!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Chanukah Menorah Freebie



Chanukah / Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 11th.

Size: 66w x 38h
  • 14/28 ct 4-5/8 x 2-5/8 in
  • 16/32 ct 4-1/8 x 2-3/8 in
Stitching Suggestion - Be Creative!:
  • Stitch on french blue, denim, white, ivory, antique white fabrics
  • Choose your own blues or other colors
  • Substitute gold or silver metallics for the back stitch "frame" and flames
  • Use a DMC color that is reminiscent of tallow for the candles
  • Stitch candle holder in 762 or white on darker fabrics
Can be used as a small decoration, ornament or card insert. Please post a comment and link to your blog or web album if you stitch this!

Happy Hanukkah and Shalom.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Actually Stitching!!

Finished the Bastin piece in 4 days (I went back and added an extra 1/2 cross to the flower colors to make them stand out better!), then partially designed, stitched and finished a calendar cover insert between Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Love the result! The center Eiffel Tower design I thought I had found on a French site. Wish I could remember where so I could give due credit! The rest is me filling in the rest of the space. I'm hoping the words translate as: Things to Do. It's stitched on 14ct Ivory Aida. I sealed the cut edges with Fray Check. Nothing lasts forever anyway. Here's hoping it's appreciated by a 14-year old!

A big THANK YOU to Mylene for correctly identifying the Eiffel Tower as being from a freebie offered by Blackbird Designs!! Here's the link: Souvenir de France

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Finally stitching again - Nice freebie site with tutorials


I finally completed this Janlynn Flower of the Month freebie last week! Sorry my camera isn't working so this image is from that website. Stitched on 32-ct potato linen. Haven't decided whether to make into ornament, put in small circular frame, or maybe make a 2-year calendar cover out of it. If the cover, then I'd have to add fabric to top and bottom to fit. If you haven't seen instructions for that simple project, read through the 123MB posts here.

I have wanted to stitch this Marjolein Bastin design for years. It only came in a kit, and I don't care for kits. I had posted a ISO post on the 123MB for just the chart with intent to purchase or trade, and was amazed to receive not only the original chart, but in its original kit (minus threads and fabric) as a PIF! Thank you! Thank You, Carry!! I started it Saturday and am already about 1/2 way through. I don't know if it's because I'm stitching on white 32-ct linen, or because I decided to stitch with just one thread over 2 (which has worked well for me with other florals), or simply the difference between the visual printed or .jpg image and the stitched version, but the colors just aren't as vivid nor are they the same shades as those pictured either here or on the glossy print part of the kit. What appears to be dark greens behind the flowers are actually 413-414-3799 dark grays. The blue in the flowers are the 341 cornflower series. The lightest "blue" is really 762 silver and barely visible. What appears to be white, is in fact white. The vase colors are 930-932. I'm seriously considering going back and adding an extra top cross to the single threads in the hopes that the colors differentiate a LOT better and hopefully stand out more. I've already done that with the few 3345 & 3347 green stitches, as well as the yellow and golden flower centers already. Or maybe I need to add some back stitching - even less thrilled with that idea. Like I said, I have to admit at present I'm somewhat disappointed in the design color choices as well as my stitching choices.

Cross Stitch Pro: Here's a site with many freebie of charts and instructions for making check book covers, book marks, a new no-sew vase cover and no-sew flat fold, etc.!! (06-13-2011 Link no longer works and am unable to google site so it may have been taken down. If you can connect, please let me know.)
Photobucket