Threadworx and Needle Necessities

Posted on July 27, 2014 by Heather

A few weeks ago I ran out of some Needle Necessities thread while I was working on Enchanting Lair’s Love. Unfortunately, Needle Necessities was discontinued a few years ago, but Threadworx arose to take its place.1 The colour names are different, but there are supposed to be near prefect matches between equivalent colourways. Given that I had half a heart stitched, I figured this would be a good time to see if this is actually the case.

Love, designed by Enchanting Lair -- Threadworx and Needle Nessicities used for centre hearts

Love, designed by Enchanting Lair — Threadworx and Needle Necessities used for centre hearts

So, looking at this picture, can you tell me which heart was stitched half with Needle Necessities and half with Threadworx?

It is the one in the bottom left.

Heart comparison

Heart comparison

Ignoring the fact that my stitches aren’t perfect, the heart looks pretty good. You may notice that there is slightly more colour variation in the top part of the heart (stitched with NN), but the colours themselves match fairly well throughout. Changes in the ratio of colours is something I would expect when moving to a new skein of a hand-dyed colour within a brand, so I don’t view that as an issue.

Would I mix Needle Necessities and Threadworx again? Absolutely, assuming I ran out of thread. This is a vanishingly small sample size, but I’m still pleased by the results. If you’d like to learn more about the Needle Necessities to Threadworx conversion, check out this page.

Which Stitch do You Stitch: I’m still collecting information about how people stitch. If you haven’t voted yet, please head over here and take my poll. Thanks!

There are many rumours and a lot of speculation about what when on with regards to Needle Necessities and Threadworx. I’m guessing a lot of us have heard at least a couple of stories. I’d prefer not to spread any (possibly untrue) rumours here.

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Blue Butterflies for My Feet

Posted on July 25, 2014 by Heather

A week and a half ago or so I whined about how I’ve had to cut back on knitting and other things for a little while to allow the nerve in my elbow to heal a bit. Thankfully, things seem to be progressing well, and I’ve been able to pick up my knitting needles again–but only for a couple of hours a day. I’m trying to be careful and restrained.

Kai Mei

Kai-Mei by Cookie A.

Over the past couple of days, I was able to finish up my latest pair of socks. It is yet other pair of Kai-Mei (my third), designed by Cookie A., and found in her book Sock Innovation. The yarn is one of my favourites, Panda Cotton, in colourway Faded Jeans.

Kai-Mei

Kai-Mei

This is one of those patterns that look really complicated, but it is actually very easy. The butterfly lace pattern moves across the foot thanks to some well placed decreases and increases. And, the lace pattern itself is extremely easy to knit. For this pair, I actually brought the lace pattern down further towards my toes than I had done in previous pairs because I like how it looks, and because it was fun to knit.

If I am careful, I should be able to get at least one more pair of socks done this summer. I’m trying to be very aware of when I begin to feel a pinch or twinge in my elbow or two smallest fingers. That is a sure sign it is time to stop knitting (or even typing! Whaa!).

6 Comments | Posted in Knitting | Tagged , ,

Sitch from Stash – July Check-In

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Heather

It’s Stitch from Stash check-in time again!

Stitch from Stash 2014 buttonWhen I signed up for this challenge, I really hoped that I would be able to hold off on all spending for the majority of the year. But, that didn’t happen. My will power is not particularly strong, and a good sale will easily convince me that I need something new. At the same time, though, I am being much more careful about how much I spend, and I am careful to think about whether I really need something or if I just want it.

So, what did I buy this month? Fabric to replace the aida in a kit, a pdf copy of the Just Cross Stitch Halloween issue (a real need!), the latest Cross Stitch and Needlework, and something for my upcoming giveaway (which doesn’t count). That brings my total for this month to

$30.64

Which, yes, is over the $25/month budget, but I do have enough banked to cover the overage. Thank goodness!

Lily of the Valley Fairy - Mirabilia (WIP)

Lily of the Valley Fairy – Mirabilia (WIP)

Everything I worked on this month was from my stash, with the exception of a gift (which I actually purchased last month). The project I put the most work into this month was Mirabilia’s Lily of the Valley Fairy.

Close-up of Lily of the Valley Fairy

Close-up of Lily of the Valley Fairy

Smalls SAL –Don’t forget, the check-in for the Smalls SAL is coming up soon. I don’t know if I will have anything done, but I sure will try. Check-in day is July 30th!

6 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged , ,

11th Blogiversary

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Heather

Eleven years ago today I began this blog1. Back then it had a different name (Reflections in the Pond), dealt with a different subject, was hosted at a different URL, and used a different blogging platform (Movable Type). But, even after all those changes, this is essentially still the same blog. The majority of my posts from over the years can still be found in the archive, although some of them were migrated over to my other website.

cupcake

Life was a bit different eleven years ago: I had just got engaged; I lived in London, ON; I worked at EB Games; I didn’t knit, crochet or sew; I played a lot of video games. So much of that would change. We didn’t actually get married for a couple of years, but we were soon to moved to Toronto, where I eventually ended up doing research and analysis for a large telecom company. We had a son a few years after that, and then I became a stay-at-home mom and took up knitting and a few other crafts. Somewhere in there, this blog migrated from being about my life to being about my crafts.

Enchanted Dreamer by Mirabillia - Completed in 2003 and made into a pillow

Enchanted Dreamer by Mirabillia – Completed in 2003 and made into a pillow

I’m actually surprised that this is my 11th blogiversary. I thought it had been only 10 years. And, to be honest, I wanted to use this occasion as sort of demarcation line to step things up a bit around here. But, it seems I’m a year ahead (or behind?) of myself. And, I’m also mired in everything that goes along with moving from one city to another. So, my blogiversary giveaway will be delayed for two months, until September 21st or there about. Also, come this fall, you will see some different types of posts. I’ll be doing some reviews, talking about techniques, and a few other surprises.

Egyptian Sampler by Teresa Wentzler - Started in 2003, and still not done!

Egyptian Sampler by Teresa Wentzler – Started in 2003, and still not done!

Hopefully you will all still enjoy my posts. I’m going to continue to share my stitching and other projects. With luck, I will have even more to share once my lovely new craft room is set up.

I actually started writing posts in November 2002, but they were off-line and added to the blog only after it was set-up online.

12 Comments | Posted in My Life, Site News | Tagged

Flashback – 1998

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Heather

A few days ago I shared some stitching pictures from back in 1996. Now, I’m sure I did some stitching in 1997 (I was well known for working on little ornament kits during university lectures), but I couldn’t find any pictures. The next year I have any images for is 1998. I’ve pulled out a few of my favourite projects to share.

Spitfire

Spitfire

Back then I was still dating my high school boyfriend (thankfully, not for much longer). I stitched this really great Spitfire design for him. And, since I am petty, I made sure I got it back after we broke up. It now hangs in my dad’s bedroom. 😛 If I remember right, it was the largest design I had actually finished. (I’m pretty sure I was working on several other big designs at the time.) To be honest, I still really like it because it is a really well designed piece.

Heather and Harebell, Textile Heritage Collection, 1998

Heather and Harebell, Textile Heritage Collection, 1998

This is also the first year that I know for sure that I went to the Creativ Festival. Back then it was called the Creative Sewing and Needlework Festival, and there were a lot of needlework vendors there. It was during that visit (probably for the fall show) that I purchased the kit for the Heather and Harebell Pouch. While I may share a name with the shrub on this little pouch, the main reason I bought the kit was because I loved the little leaf bead. And, all these years later, this pouch still floats around in one of my dresser drawers. (Okay, to be honest, I may have gone to the Festival and bought the kit in 1997 and not stitched it right away, but I’m pretty sure I did stitch this up quickly.)

Cat Shadow Box, Designs for the Needle, 1998

Cat Shadow Box, Designs for the Needle, 1998

Here’s one last little oddity from back in 1998. This is a kit that I picked up at a small craft shop near my aunt’s house. It was stitched in three pieces, and then assembled by wrapping the finished pieces around cardboard, and then everything is glued (!) into the frame. It is actually a cute technique that I think could be improved upon to produce some really lovely designs.

Do you have any project pictures back in 1998? What do you think you were stitching all those years ago?

 

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Flashback – 1996

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Heather

I have been far too quiet lately, and I apologize for that. Our moving date is about a month away, and I know that things aren’t going to get better until September. So, rather than let my blog languish, I thought I would share some of my old finishes. (Thank you to whomever suggested this in my comments a few weeks go. I’m sorry that I couldn’t find your name again.)

I’ve only been able to find pictures dating back to 1996. That was the year I graduated high school/started university. I also met my husband that year, although we didn’t begin dating until about five years later. Stitching wasn’t my main hobby back then. Instead, I spent a lot of time playing video games. (I love rpgs! Back then I was probably playing some JRPGs on my Playstation and Ultima 7 on my computer.)

January Banner, Cross Stitcher magazine, 1996

January Banner, Cross Stitcher magazine, 1996

1996 was also the year that I started buying cross stitch magazines. The U.S. Cross Stitcher magazine was the first one I discovered, and they were running a series of monthly banners. I thought I would stitch them for myself and store them in my hope chest.

February Banner, Cross Stitcher magazine, 1996

February Banner, Cross Stitcher magazine, 1996

I never got beyond stitching these two because I soon discovered more complicated designs. I’m pretty sure I was already branching out because I had added some blending filament to some of the white areas on the February banner. Unfortunately, I don’t have any more pictures from back then, so I have no idea what else I was working on. I think I had already discovered Teresa Wentzler by this point.

What were you stitching back in 1996? Did you also read Cross Stitcher (U.S.) magazine? Do you remember the banner series?

6 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged ,

Ulnar

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Heather

For the past couple of years I’ve been experiencing pain in my elbow, arm and fingers. Some times it is so bad I can hardly stand it, but it is most often a dull ache that I can ignore. After ultrasounds, xrays and several doctor visits, I’ve been told that it is a problem with my ulnar nerve. That is a nerve that runs from the front of the shoulder attachment area (just above your boob) all the way down your arm to your two smallest fingers, passing through your elbow. Guess where I have been having pain. Yep, all along where that nerve runs. (Believe me, I was very happy to find out those “chest pains” were just a tweaked nerve.)

So, on the plus side, I don’t have arthritis or anything particularly nasty. On the negative side, I’m on a doctor-imposed break from knitting so we can see if this problem clears itself. If not, I may have something called Ulnar Nerve Entrapment, which is like carpal tunnel syndrome, but in your elbow.

Boo.

Unique Sheep Green Sheep Cotton Bamboo Fingering

Unique Sheep Green Sheep Cotton Bamboo Fingering

I’m also not able to knit with fabulous yarn like the one above. It is Unique Sheep Green Sheep Cotton Bamboo Fingering in colourway Enfys (Welsh for rainbow), and one day it will become the shawl Now in a Minute. My husband gave it to me for my birthday back in May, and it has been taunting me with its loveliness ever since. I can’t wait until I can cast on it with.

Now you know why my posts have dropped off a little bit–less knitting, and even a bit less cross stitch since that involves my elbow a bit too. Hopefully my crafting will be back to normal soon, but then we have to start packing move!

7 Comments | Posted in Knitting, My Life |