TUSAL – October

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Heather

I knew my streak of posting TUSAL pictures on time couldn’t last. The proper day was Friday, but I was wrapped up in working on this and that. So, I’m behind, but my little ORT jar is pretty full.

TUSAL - my little ort collector

TUSAL – my little ort collector

There is DMC satin floss from my canvaswork project, lots of floss from ornament stitching (How’s your October ornament doing?), and lost and different bits from the Passione Ricamo mystery SAL.

My big ort jar

My big ort jar

Here’s my jar so far for the year. I think I’m doing pretty good. I look like I’ve been pretty productive, even if I don’t feel that way.

If you are interested in learning more about the Totall Useless Stitch-Along (TUSAL), check out this post on It’s DaffyCat. Happy stitching!

Comments Off on TUSAL – October | Posted in Cross Stitch, Memes & Collabs | Tagged ,

Skip to My Lou

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Heather

We are still deep in a very mild autumn, but I’m not trying to kid myself. I know that the cold weather will make an appearance soon. If I’m not wishing for the heat to be on my Thanksgiving (October 14th), I’ll eat my hat! And, of course, cold weather means that I will need more hand-knit socks!

Skip to My Lou, designed by Rea

Skip to My Lou, designed by Rae Jean

The pattern for this pair is called Skip to my Lou, designed by Rae Jean for the Summer 2013 edition of Interweave’s emagazine Sockupied. I used my favourite sock yarn, Crystal Palace’s Panda Cotton, in colourway Baby Blues.

Toe, instep and sole

Toe, instep and sole

I really, really love the texture in these socks. They are very squishy thanks both to the lace rib stitch and to the garter stitch on the heels and toes. I’m just hoping that the wind won’t go whistling though the mesh! Still, they are super cute.

I’ve already cast on my next pair. Surprise! I’m going to try my hand a colourwork again. Hopefully I don’t have as many issues as last time.

Comments Off on Skip to My Lou | Posted in Knitting | Tagged , ,

Peeks of Christmas

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Heather

I don’t know about you, but I’ve jumped into Christmas stitching (and knitting) with both feet. It is time to get cracking since there are only 83 days left until Christmas. (More than half my shopping is done. Yay!)

Mystery Peek 1

Mystery Peek 1

I’ve just finished up my first stitched piece, but I don’t want to share it and potentially spoil a surprise. If you know what it is, please don’t share it in the comments!

Mystery Peek 2

Mystery Peek 2

The fabric is a one-of-a-kind from Silkweaver from way back just before they were bought out or whatever it was that happened. I’ve been saving it for this piece, and I think it turned out wonderfully. Now I just have to find time to frame it before Christmas.

So, how is your Christmas stitching going?

3 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged ,

Stripes of Temperature

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Heather

Did you know that as of today we are 75% of the way through the year? (Also, it is only 84 days until Christmas, and I’m thinking about the little man’s Halloween costume thanks to 100 Days to Christmas.) This means that I am also 75% of the way through my Temperature Scarf!

Temperature Scarf through October 1st, 2013

Temperature Scarf through October 1st, 2013

It is complete up until October 1st, with all the ends woven in. Seeing all the temperatures laid out like this, I’m a bit surprised by how it is turning out.  I expected to see a lot more pink (the two shades of pink cover average temperatures between 25°C and up), and also more of the purple shades at the beginning of the year (they cover temperatures of -6° and below). Our winter was warm this year, and our summer was cold. And the autumn has been very warm so far. I’m going to be putting on sandals when I pick up the little man from the bus. Sandals! On October 2nd! And I’m not on vacation. The mind boggles.

This has been a fun and interesting project to do this year, but I’m also glad that the end is in sight. Rows and rows on linen stitch just isn’t all that interesting. And I think the resulting scarf is going to be a bit long. (Says the woman who wants to knit a Doctor Who scarf next year.)

Tomorrow: mystery stitching!

3 Comments | Posted in Knitting | Tagged , ,

Pumpkins for Cathey

Posted on September 27, 2013 by Heather

This post is in honour of Cathey of Pumpkin Patch & Co, who is currently fighting cancer.

pumpkins

Happy blogoverasy, Cathey. And best of luck and piles of good wishes for a fast, full recovery!

Image courtesy of stock.xchng

1 Comment | Posted in Cross Stitch, Site News |

Ornament SAL – Septmeber Check-In

Posted on September 25, 2013 by Heather

It is time for the ninth check in for the Ornament SAL. We’ve made it to September, and we’ve only got three more months to go until the end of the year. Yay for us! Even if you haven’t managed to stitch an ornament a month, I hope the Ornament SAL has at least provided a little bit of encouragement for you. I think there is a good chance that it will continue into 2014.

Now, on to this month’s ornament:

Not a Creature Was Stirring, designed by Dragon Dreams

Not a Creature Was Stirring, designed by Dragon Dreams

This month I stitched Not a Creature Was Stirring, which is yet another design from Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams. It is stitched on a silvery-grey evenweave of some kind, with the fibres being as per the pattern. The design comes from the 2001 edition of the Just Cross Stitch ornament issue.

So, what have you stitched this month? Please leave a link in the form below. For every month that you leave a link, you will get one entry into the end of the year draw. (Well, the draw will actually take place in early January 2014, but you know what I mean.) Also, please take some time to visit some of the other participants. We all love blog visitors!

The list will stay open for about a week, or until I remember to close it! Next month’s check in will be on October 30th. Maybe I should offer extra entries for Halloween ornaments in October. What do you think?

7 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged , , , ,

Mermaid and Fishes

Posted on September 24, 2013 by Heather

I love Passione Ricamo designs, even though I’ve never really stitched one. (There was that abortive attempt at last year’s mystery SAL, but that didn’t go well.) However, after a few setbacks, I’m finally moving full steam ahead on the 2013 Mystery SAL Into the Deep.

Into the Deep, designed by Passione Ricamo (WIP) - I work in hand, which is why it is so wrinkled.

Into the Deep, designed by Passione Ricamo (WIP) – I work in hand, which is why it is so wrinkled.

So far I’ve finished parts 1-3, sans beads, and I am working my way through part 4. Part 6 was just released the other day, so I’m a bit behind. And, of course, there is a bit of a story as to why. I’ll boil it down for you though: I had everything ready, including a lovely piece of hand-dyed fabric. Then, the day before the SAL was released I decided to measure the fabric again. It was way too small. (Oh, the wailing and gnashing to teeth was a sight to behold.) And so I waited several months before I could get a large enough piece of fabric.

Fishy

Fishy

I’m stitching on 28 count Cashel in colour Confederate Grey. This is actually one of my favourite colours of fabric since it looks so nice with so many designs. For example, The Castle by Teresa Wentzler:

The Castle, designed by Teresa Wentzler

The Castle, designed by Teresa Wentzler

And also Mirabilia’s Emerald Mermaid:

Emerald Mermaid, designed by Mirabilia (Nora Corbett)

Emerald Mermaid, designed by Mirabilia (Nora Corbett)

 

Don’t forget: tomorrow is the Ornament SAL check in day. I can’t wait to see what you’ve stitched this month.

2 Comments | Posted in Cross Stitch | Tagged , , , , ,