Stitchers Questions – Part One

Posted on November 29, 2013 by Heather

I found these great stitching questions over at Bonnie’s blog, and I thought it would be fun to answer them.

1) Which fabric do you most prefer?
I really love Belfast, but I usually buy Lugana.

2) What is your favorite fabric count?
32 count is my go-to. But, if something has a lot of beads, I often use 28 since the beads sit nicer.

3) What colour fabric do you most enjoy stitching on?
It depends on the design. White is nearly always good. Confederate grey is probably my favourite colour. I also really like most of the colours from Enchanting Lair since her hand-dyeds are crazy. I really, really don’t like crazy hand-dyed fabric. I think most of it is too loud, and makes the design look dated.

4) What is your favorite fibre?
I like plain ole’ DMC. I also enjoy stitching with Dinky Dyes and Gloriana.

5) How many of the 450 DMC Colours do you own?
You mean 472, included the variegated? I have all of them, including the newly released colours.

6) Of your last 5 projects — how many used DMC/Anchor as the main floss?
The last five projects I’ve picked up include: two Christmas gifts (DMC for both of them), my Torah piece (DMC), Into the Deep from PR (DMC) and Ink Circle’s Namaste (DMC).

7) Of the last 5 projects, if you didn’t use DMC/ANCHOR — what did you use?
I wish I could remember all the projects I worked on. I know that the Victoria Sampler 12 Days of Christmas bellpull uses a bunch of different silks, and I used some Watercolours for the Dragon Dreams coin purse. Other than that, I don’t remember.

8) What needles do you prefer?
Bohin 28

9) What is the UGLIEST design you’ve encountered?
Oh… Well, I won’t name names, but I really think the super primitive designs are not great at all. Especially when they sell for $8 and you could easily stitch them from the picture.

10) What is the most BEAUTIFUL design you’ve encountered?
Oh, goodness. There are many beautiful designs. But, if I had to pick one, it would be Teresa Wentzler’s Rapunzel.

 

I’ll post the rest of the questions tomorrow. If you decide to answer the questions too (or if you already have), leave a comment so I can check them out!

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2014 Smalls SAL

Posted on November 28, 2013 by Heather

Smalls: pin cushions, needlebooks, book marks, biscornus, ornaments, etc. I think there isn’t a stitch around that doesn’t, at least occasionally, enjoy stitching smalls. In 2014, I’ll be hosting  the Smalls SAL, and I hope you will join me!

SmallsSAL2014

Rules

Just like the Ornament SAL, the rules are simple.

  1. Stitch a small every month. You get to decide what a small is for you. 50×50 stitches? 100×100 stitches? It’s up to you. You just need to be able to get it done by the check-in day. (WIPs that you complete in time for the check-in are great too!)
  2. Post a picture of your completed small (stitching done, but the actual finishing is optional) on the last Wednesday of every month.
  3. Hop over here to my blog and add a comment to the current month’s check in post to get an entry into the end of the year draw.

Also, please consider using the above graphic to link back to this page so other people can find out about the SAL and join in the fun.

Dates

The dates for check in are as follows:

  • January 29
  • February 26
  • March 26
  • April 30
  • May 28
  • June 25
  • July 30
  • August 27
  • September 24
  • October 29
  • November 28
  • December 31

Prizes

There will be a draw held on January 7th, 2015 for all the participants in the SAL. To enter, just leave a comment on the check in posts with a link to your ornament of the month. For every month you post your pictures and leave a comment you will get an entry into the draw. And I would love it if you would link back to the Smalls SAL page. (It’s permanent home is at this location.)

What will the prize be? A surprise, of course! But it will be stitching relate! If you’d like to donate something towards the prize please send me an email. (And thank you very much!)

Need a Reminder?

Want to make sure you never forget a check in post? Sign up for my mailing list, and I will send out an email every month after I post up the check in post. Don’t worry, I will never sell, share, trade or otherwise abuse your email address. Heck, I’ll be doing the mailing list manually!

If you signed up for reminders for the Ornament SAL for this year, you will need to sign up for reminders again. As I promised, I will be deleting all emails from the 2013 list as soon as I draw for the prize.

Participants

Interested in joining up? Just add you link to the list below. If you can’t get the form to work, please send me an email and I will add you manually.

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Ornament SAL – November Check-In

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Heather

It is the penultimate check-in for our 2013 Ornament SAL. And, ladies, we have all done so well with our stitching. Whether you’ve posted a design (or two!) every month, or only joined in occasionally, I have appreciated the company enormously. Knowing that I must have something done to post every month has been a great motivator, not only for stitching an ornament, but for all my stitching. And, I’m so glad many of you want to continue into next year. (More on that later.)

logo_stitchinglotus_2013_ornament_sal_200x231

My next-to-last ornament for this year is Just One Bite by Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams, from the 2013 Just Cross Stitch ornament issue. I stitched it more or less as charted, but added some Swarovski bicones in the corner motifs. And, I think he turned out really well. I can’t wait to hang him on my Christmas tree. (How great is it that he doesn’t require additional finishing? Except a cord, which I haven’t gotten around to making yet…)

Just One Bite, designed by Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams

Just One Bite, designed by Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams

So, what did you stitch this month? Please fill in the form below so we can all visit you blog. Don’t forget: each month you leave a link, you get an entry into the end of the year giveaway.

Next Check-in: The last check in for the Ornament SAL will be December 30th. Feel free to post a little early if you’d like, but the form won’t be up until the 30th. I’ll leave entries open until January 5th, and do the draw shortly there after.

Next Year: I will be continuing the SAL into 2014, but changing the theme slightly to smalls. All the information will be posted tomorrow, so please check back.

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Stitching the Torah

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Heather

Religion is a bit of a tricky thing for me. I’m very open-minded with regards to what other people believe, but I’m a bit confused about what I believe. I’m actually in the middle of a project that involves exploring many faiths, mostly through reading their holy books. So, as you can imagine, when I found out about the Torah Stitch by Stitch project, I knew it was something I needed to do.

Torah Stitch by Stitch kit

Torah Stitch by Stitch kit

In a nut shell, Torah Stitch by Stitch is an attempt to recreate the entire Torah (Jewish holy book) through cross stitch. You needn’t be Jewish, or even religious, to participate. You don’t even need to be an expert stitcher. After submitting an application and paying a small kit fee, you are provided with instructions, your charted section of the Torah, aida cloth, and black DMC. You’ve got six months to complete your section, and there are areas where you can personalize it using a prescribed colour palate.

My section is Genesis 21:19-22.

Close-up of my stitching

Close-up of my stitching

The project currently has 420 stitchers, but ultimately needs 1463 panels stitched. I know that the resulting scroll will be amazing! I think I have a bit of a soft spot for the project because it is being organized by textile artist who lives and works in Toronto.

If you’d like to participate, head over to the Torah Stitch by Stitch site and read all about it. Remember, you have six months to work on your panel, which is piles of time for expert stitchers like all of you! And, you don’t need to be Jewish, Christian, or any kind of religion. Opening yourself up to other faiths is an excellent way to get to know both the people you share this planet with and yourself.

Thank you to Lynn of Kearnel’s Korner for first posting about Torah Stitch by Stitch! You can see her panel in progress here.

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Emerging Mermaid

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Heather

All nine parts of the Passione Ricamo Mystery SAL Into the Deep have been released, and I’m still chugging along. I’ve been working very hard on getting Christmas gifts done, so I haven’t spent too much time on my mermaid. Still, she is beginning to emerge.

Into the Deep, designed by Passione Ricamo (WIP)

Into the Deep, designed by Passione Ricamo (WIP)

I decided to skip around a little bit. Originally, I was stitching each part as it had been released, even though I was behind. But, because I had left so many loose ends near her torso, once part 9 was released I decided I should tackle it just to keep things tidy. So, hopefully she will soon have a face.

I’ve tried to promise myself that I won’t do anymore mystery SALs, but I understand that there may be a new PR one early next year… I don’t know if I will be able to restrain myself. lol!

 

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Lotus Case

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Heather

Ugh, I really did not enjoy stitching the case for my new phone. But, at least it has turned out nicely.

Lotus iPhone Case, from a design by Joan Elliott

Lotus iPhone Case, from a design by Joan Elliott

The design is a small section of the Wonderful Waterlilies candle wrapper from the special edition magazine The Ultimate Joan Elliott Cross Stitch Collection. I left off the backstitching because I couldn’t actually fit it in! It turns out that my case was defective, and the holes in about 90% of the case weren’t actually punched all the way through. I could have sent it back, but the postage would have cost more than the case itself, so I powered through… and ended up putting the needle through the tip of my finger many times.

Yuck. That doesn't look nice at all.

Yuck. That doesn’t look nice at all.

So, the finish was hard won, but I don’t even like it. Unfortunately, the case isn’t very well made, and the rough plastic on the corners is picking up dirt (and dye from my jeans!) really easily. So, after all the blood and tears, I’ll probably end up replacing it soon. 🙁 Oh well, at least the lotus is pretty to look at for the time being.

I have learned a lesson, though: Don’t ever buy the cheapest stitchable iPhone case on eBay.

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Sweater Sampler

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Heather

When it comes to new projects, my willpower is almost non-existent. Every time I see something cool, I want to give it a try. For example, Jacqueline Fee’s sweater sampler from her book [amazon_link id=”0892725338″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Sweater Workshop[/amazon_link]. It is the knitting equivalent of needlework sampler, full of different types of ribbing, increases, decreases, colourwork, etc.

Sweater Sampler - front

Sweater Sampler – front

It’s kind of odd looking, isn’t it? But, it was really fun to knit. I used Knit Picks Brava in colours Freesia and White, and just a little bit of Bernat Satin in colour Teal for a touch of swiss darning. This was the first time I’ve used Brava, and I am really impressed by it. Although I’m not a big fan of using acrylic for garments, I will definitely consider it in the future. (At US$2.99 for a 100g ball, it is a steal, even though I have to pay shipping up to Canada.)

Sweater Sampler - back

Sweater Sampler – back

I have made a few garments in the past, so very few of the techniques in the sampler were new to me. But it was still interesting to learn new ways of doing things, and to learn some good reasons for using different techniques the next time I made a sweater. For example, I learned that I really like the way twisted rib looks and works (e.g. it doesn’t really pull in at all), so I will probably use that on the next sweater for the little man. I also like the cardigan border that is worked in the sample, and will consider working it into another pattern someday.

Sweater Sampler - colourwork and bind-offs

Sweater Sampler – colourwork and bind-offs

Beyond the instructions for the sampler, The Sweater Workshop also includes over 20 different sweater and cardigan patterns, all using techniques from the sampler and having the same basic instructions that are heavily influenced by the EPS system from Elizabeth Zimmermann. There are also some cute smaller projects, like the very cute infant vest.

This is the second sampler I’ve knit this year (the first being the Lace Sampler from Kate Atherly). I think I’ve discovered a new love!

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