Stitchin’ Questions

Posted on November 22, 2010 by Heather

There is a new stitching meme making the rounds. Andie started it, and I have seen Erica and Lindsay answer it. And, now it is my turn:

1. What are you stitching at the moment?

Well, I’m working on several things. (You know me.) But the piece under my needle at this particular moment is Mill Hill’s Snowflakes from the 2010 Holiday collection.

2. How many finishes have you had this year? Small? Medium? Large? Extra Large?

I have finished two large projects, two that I would consider medium, and eleven small so far.

3. Do you think you will finish any more in the next month and a half before the end of the year?

I’d like to finish up another three or four small designs before Christmas.

4. If you could buy 1 thing for yourself what would it be? (Doesn’t have to be stitching)

Well, if I could buy anything reasonable, I’d get myself a new heavy-duty ball winder. But, you know, I mustn’t want that too much, since it isn’t even on my wish list. I guess the real answer would be more books. I really, really love to read.

5. What is the best thing you have ever stitched?

The best? Hmm, I’m not sure whether to define this the most complicated piece I’ve done, the one I like the best, or the one that I had the best time stitching. I suppose, if I had to pick something, today it would be my Chang Er from Pin Stitch.

6. Do you like making lists?

Goodness, me, yes. 🙂 Do I follow them or even remember I have them? No…

7. Do you stitch in rotation (how does it work?) or OAAT?

I stitch whatever strikes my fancy, whenever the spirit moves me.

8. What is the next thing you plan to stitch?

After finishing up my holiday stitching, I’d like get back to Enchanting Lair’s Kitchen Blessings and Victoria Samplers’ Christmas Treasures.

9. What is your fave ONS? And why?

I shop at ABC Stitch (mostly for the sale section) and Stitching Bits and Bobs (when they have a general % off sale).

10. Do you have a stitching chair?

No, like Sheldon Cooper, my location is left side of the couch. I have a tabletop Daylight lamp and all my supplies on the end table.

11. Do your children/pets get into your stitching things?

So far, Baby Man has been very good and not really touched anything. I’m not sure how long that will last.

12. Do you participate in any stitching forums?

I occasionally post on The Wagon, TWBB and Mirabilia Stitchers. Most of my forum time is spent over on Ravelry.

1 Comment | Posted in Cross Stitch, Media & Politics | Tagged

Sewing Up a Storm

Posted on November 21, 2010 by Heather

Well, not really. But I did get out the old needle and thread to finish up this guy:

Vintage-style Puppy Toy

You may remember that I originally shared a picture of him back in April. I ordered the eyes almost right away, but I was unhappy with how his head looked, so I kept putting off finishing him up. A few days ago I hauled him out of my mass of stash in the closet, unstuffed him, and tried to fix his forehead. I didn’t do quite as good a job as I would have liked, but he still looks cute.  I’m also a little disappointed with his eyes. I used 15mm eyes, but I think 12mm eyes would have looked a little better. Regardless, he is still a really cute little guy.

Another view of the cute puppy

I also got out my sewing machine and made a couple of pouches. This one…

Blue Button Pouch

and a very small one out of car and road fabric that has disappeared into Baby Man’s mass of cars. This is a super easy pattern from Lazy Girl Designs, which I discovered thanks to Erica. (Yes, I’ve been copying borrowing a lot of ideas from her lately. She’s a creative woman, what can I say.) I can see a bunch more of these in my future, including a larger car one for Baby Man, as per his request.

You know, I actually do enjoy sewing. But I need so much room to spread out the sewing machine, self-healing board, iron, etc., etc. and a small-ish condo with an active toddler in residence just isn’t the place to do that all the time.  Hopefully, though, I can figure out a way to do things in batches. And, uh, not misplace what it is I want to work on. (Don’t ask.)

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Almost Finished

Posted on November 20, 2010 by Heather

Happily, I’ve made a good deal of progress on a bunch of Christmas gifts. That means I’ve been able to work on a few other projects. One is a Christmas gift, but it is for my mom to give to her friend. Another is an ornament for an exchange I am taking part in. The third? Well, it is for me. 🙂

Santa Banner from Rico Designs

This is a Rico Designs kit, which even included the hanger! How’s that for a complete kit!It was a remarkably quick stitch, even though the gold thread was a pain to work with. The cotton floss included in the kit is Anchor, and it was actually very nice to work with. In the past, I’ve found that Anchor knots so easily, but I didn’t have any problems with this kit. This is actually finished, but I’m going to add some Christmas greenery to the bell-pull hardware once I get around to ironing this.

Holiday Polar Bear from Mill Hill

I’m sure I’ve said it before, and I know I will say it again, but I love Mill Hill’s beaded ornament kits, be they the Treasured Diamonds or these perforated paper kits. They are so quick to stitch up and they look fabulous. This will be going to someone as part of an ornament exchange. I can only hope the recipient likes it.

Keep a Little Secret from Just Nan

I may have also mentioned before that I have a weakness for peacocks. I picked up this kit back in the spring, and I’ve been meaning to get to it ever since. It comes with a small bit of wool felt, which is no good for me, but thanks to etsy, I have been able to find some synthetic felt that is almost the same colour. (Yes, those are my unfortunately initials.)

I still have eleventy-billion projects to finish up before Christmas, not to mention a pair of anklets to knit for a lady in the States (this time in exchange for a book I’ve been coveting). However, I am done my Christmas shopping, so I am feeling pretty good about the whole holiday season right now. How about you?

1 Comment | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged ,

Ornament of the Month – November 2010

Posted on November 19, 2010 by Heather

The first month of my self-imposed ornament of the month club has gone well. I’ve finished up Holly Leaves by Jemini Designs from the 2000 Just Cross Stitch ornament issue.

Holly Leaves by Jemini Designs

It is stitched on 28 ct. Silvery Moon Cashel (on a perfectly sized peice from the sample pack I got at Gitta’s Getaway in the spring). I used Vicki Clayton’s silk for the leaves (no colour name since it came from one of her detritus packs), DMC for wrapping the large beads, and Mill Hill beads for all of the beading.

My plan is to randomly pick ornaments, like for my sock club, but I know I’m going to be very busy next month. So, I’ll be hand picking another quick stitch, maybe 2002’s Five Gold Rings by Meg Shinall.

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A Tea Tin Pin Cushion

Posted on November 18, 2010 by Heather

I absolutely forgot all about sharing this! A week ago Wednesday I took a class at my LNS’s stitching night, and this is what I made:

Tetley Pin Cushion Tin

Isn’t this a super cute little pin cushion tin? It uses just a little bit of fabric, some foam, and one of these Tetley Tea tins. The drawback? Tetley tea costs $5! The plus? I’ve actually started drink tea again and there are a lot of great flavours to choose from. (I am very picky about my tea. I like green tea and a few varieties of Chinese teas, and that is about it.) So, you can bet that I’m going to be making a few more of these.

And guess what is inside: my burgeoning button collection!

I’d also like to public say thank you to Erica of Erica’s Places for the very generous and very appreciated RAK she sent me today. 🙂 You made my day, Erica. Thank you so much for being such a wonderful person.

7 Comments | Posted in Crafts | Tagged

PlanetJune CAL

Posted on November 17, 2010 by Heather

I’m sure most of you are aware of my great love for PlanetJune crochet patterns. I’ve taken part in a couple of her CALs, and I’m planning on taking part in the newest one focusing on her Christmas designs.

This time around the CAL is a contest. All you need to do is make one of PlanetJune’s patterns (see above, and several are free), post about it, and let June know. All particpants will receive a discount code for a future purchase, and you just might win a $10 gift certificate to PlanetJune’s shop. You can read all about it here on June’s blog, or here at the PlanetJune Ravelry group.

Last year I made a whole bunch of the Christmas pudding ornaments, so I don’t think I will do any more this year. I’m leaning towards the poinsettia (a free/donationware design) or maybe the little PocketAmi set. Although, I’d have to buy that pattern and my crafting budget for the month is shot. 🙂


(Images of PlanetJune Christmas patterns belong to June.)

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A Plan for Socks

Posted on November 16, 2010 by Heather

I’m really intrigued by the idea of sock clubs. Fabulous yarn and a pattern written especially for it arriving in my  mail box every month? Yes, please! Unfortunately, non-wooly sock clubs are few and far between, and the shipping costs to Canada are often prohibitive.

Now, I’m sure most of you who knit know that the Yarn Harlot created a self-imposed sock club for herself this year. And, let’s be honest, I have more than enough sock yarn to do the same for myself. So, yesterday, I put the final touches on my 12 in 2011 self-imposed sock club.

Winding some Blue Moon Fiber Arts Sock Candy

Most of my sock yarn is in balls, but I did need to wind up my two skeins of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Sock Candy. The swift was made by my dad, and works really well. I figured it was best to wind them now, rather than when I got around to knitting with them.

Final two balls of yarn ready, and my ball winder from Knit Picks

And here are the two balls of yarn ready to go, along with my Knit Picks ball winder. The winder gets the job done, but it is a little janky. If there was one piece of my knitting equipment I would replace, my ball winder is it.

12 in 2011 Self-Imposed Sock Club

And this is a box with all the yarn matched with their patterns. I’ve got all the patterns listed in my Ravelry queue in slots 1-12 (link requires Rav membership to view). At the beginning of each month, I’ll just run the random number generator to pick which one to work on.

How’s that for an ambitious plan? For comparison, I made six pairs of socks this year.

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