YOP Week #10

It's been a good week for "finishes" again! I finished my first sampler ever and I have plans for more!

It still needs a 'final finish' but I was pleased with how it turned out and I enjoyed stitching it. This was a free pattern from Blackbird designs on their website and I used the called for colors and I stitched it on 14 count Aida that I had coffee/tea dyed.

My other finish was a 'final' finish of a little pillow I had stitched last year from another free pattern that I don't remember where I got. I tried the new method (for me) of sewing all 4 sides and then making a slit in the back for stuffing and then gluing a piece of felt or felted wool over the hole. It was also the first time I used trim which didn't go too well. I stitched it wrong and had to undo the entire pillow and start over. Even then I didn't leave much of the trim showing and on one part it doesn't show at all. It was a learning experience and hopefully I'll get better at it.

here's the back...I copied Celeste Creates method, and pin with buttons.....the backing fabric has little pumpkins on it. I call these little pillows "bowl fillers" as people will stitch a bunch of them and put them in a bowl of some sort. I don't have enough yet for a bowl so I'd better get busy! LOL!

The other items that received some love this week were my Brill shawl although it was 5 steps forward and 10 steps back. I have to pick up over 400 stitches and I thought I was doing pretty well as I had almost 100 when I realized I was almost halfway and I knew that wasn't going to work out! So, I had to rip it out and start over and pick up 2 stitches in every stitch of the trim in order to get the required number. I am putting a stitch marker every 20 stitches so it will be easier to count and keep track of as I go along. I remember Betsy Makes mentioning that this part was a bit fiddly and trying, but after that it was home sailing.

I did work on When Witches Go Riding too ..................I had to redo the 2nd cat after I found a mistake so again....5 steps forward and 10 steps back! But it is an enjoyable stitch and really gets me in the spirit of the season!

I have made categories related to my cross stitch as there are many different types that I am interested in stitching. They are, 1) red work, 2) samplers, 3) seasonal, 4) holidays, 5) smalls and maybe 6) gifts If I deem anyone worthy enough....lol!

I have my red work in progress......and I need to get back to it..............this is the first time I have used silk thread and it is a dream to stitch with but expensive so not sure I'll be using it very often.

The next project I am thinking of is a combination of a holiday and a sampler.......I have yet to order it.

I haven't figured out the rest of the categories but I'm sure I have them laying around here somewhere! Last year I was gifted some cross stitch patterns already kitted with the pattern, floss and fabric but the fabric was linen and after that black cat I did on 40 count linen I swore never again. But then I watch podcasts where all these people are stitching on 40 count linen and even 46 and 56! What? Well, I've picked up a few clues by watching these podcasts and my problem was not in the seeing so much as the irregularity of the weave. First of all black is the hardest to see and secondly I was stitching in hand and everyone that stitches on linen uses a stretcher of some kind...hoop, scroll bar etc. So, I have decided I will give it a go again as I have quite a bit of linen in my stash that was included in kits and I hate to waste it. Here's the kit I have and it is beautiful......the gal that sent me the majority of these things was so generous and I can't believe she gave me so much. There had to be hundreds of dollars of materials patterns and fabric! It was an awesome gift and I appreciate it more and more each day!