Virgin Queen’s Stitching Wallet – 8 – Blackwork Needle Case

Blackwork has always intrigued me and I’m in awe of people who manage to end up with the same design on the back as well as the front of their work.

I myself have worked several designs in this stitch over the years but have still never managed to achieve this, but I am getting better. 

Practice makes perfect, so they say!

The needle case of the Etui has two different panels, one with flowers and acorns and another with what looks like carnations.

With only the two thread winders and the scissor fob left to stitch I’m nearing the part I’m dreading most…..the construction, so keep everything crossed for me that I can master it.

Project stitching time to date – 58 hours 20 mins.

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

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Christmas Stockings X 3

Good heavens, where has that month and a bit gone!

I just love this time of year, the lead up to Christmas, putting up my tree and enjoying special time with friends and family,

 so much so that time spent blogging got over looked................ 
 but I still manage to find the time to stitch!

I came across this lovely chart for miniature Christmas Stocking used as table settings while browsing on  Pinterest and knew I had to make some.

I’ve changed to colours of mine to match my décor.

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

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Virgin Queen’s Stitching Wallet – 8 – Apple and Carnation Panel

The Apple and Carnation panel is now finished.  

The second row of apples and flowers took another 6 hours, 30 minutes.

And then I spent a further 5 hours  30 minutes working on the Carnation border.

So, that’s all the pieces of the wallet stitched and it’s now onto the bits that go inside.

First up is the Blackwork needle case which I've already made a a start on.

Project stitching time to date – 65 hours 50 mins.

  Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

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Virgin Queen’s Stitching Wallet – 7 – Apple and Carnation Panel

The next part of the panel is done.

It’s a Blackwork border all stitched in Cream double running stitch.

I’ll own up……….there was fair bit of frogging going on while I was stitching this!

Project stitching time to date – 53 hours 50 mins.

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

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Virgin Queen’s Stitching Wallet – 6 – Apple and Carnation Panel

I’m now working on the last of the larger panels of Virgin Queen’s Stitching Wallet and this one forms the front and bottom spine.

At the start of the project you are given the choice of stitching with one or two strands of thread.  I decided to go with one thread as it looks more delicate but now I’ve got to the flowers on this part, I wasn’t happy with the way the petals looked.

They weren’t full enough for me so I decided to make mine fuller by filling the gaps that should have been left……not a major change I know, but I’m much happier with the finished look.

So this border of cross stitched Apples, satin stitched Flowers, together with the stems and leaves have taken a further 6 hours 30 mins.

Project stitching time to date – 50 hours 40 mins.

  

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

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Virgin Queen’s Stitching Wallet –Part 5 – Bargello & Centre Bank Panels

I’m really loving working on this stitching wallet!

I don’t know if you’re like me, but when I stitch in the evening, I find it so hard to put down.  I keep telling myself just on last leaf or just one last flower, you know how it is. Right?    

So last night it was turned 11:45 before I finally gave in.

Please excuse the fact the sides don’t look straight, they are I promise…….it just need a press.

Apart from the two Bargello ends, which are stitched with two threads, the rest is done with just one, making the whole thing look so delicate and pretty.

The centre panel has taken 14 hours 40 minutes in all.

Project stitching time to date – 43 hours 55 mins.

  

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

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Virgin Queen’s Stitching Wallet – Part 4 – Bargello & Centre Back Panels

The centre panel of my Virgin Queen’s Stitching Wallet is stitched in one piece, together with the two ends that fold in to keep everything in place inside. 

I decided I would start with the Bargello panels first.

Again, this stitch is a first for me, despite the fact that I’ve been stitching in one form or another for more than 50 years.

It’s basically simple, a series of upright, flat stitches (over four threads in my case) that are worked in mathematical patterns to create bands of colour.

Right-hand Panel

Left-hand Panel

Project stitching time to date – 29 hours 15 mins. 

 Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

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Virgin Queen’s Stitching Wallet – Part 3 – Grape & Rose Panel

The second section of the first panel is now finished and this part consists of the grapes, delicate foliage and a twisted border pattern.

As you can see, the stitches used are all very simple (I’m pleased to say).

 Most is worked in double running stitch, with back stitch used to outline the overall shape of the piece, but a first for me was Queen Stitch, I’d never heard of that one!

Also known as Rococo stitch, it consists of four laid stitches that are couched into place, forming a diamond shape.

 And the finished Grape & Rose Panel

Project stitching time to date – 19 hours 15 mins

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

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Virgin Queen’s Stitching Wallet - Part Two – Grape & Rose Panel

Fourteen and a half hours in and things are coming along nicely.

Wednesday and Thursday evenings were a little tedious, spent transferring the design to the linen with tacking stitches, but it was a necessity, in order to make sure the pieces fit with ample gap between to allow for construction later.

Mine was placed slightly different to the suggested arrangement because my linen was wider, thus leaving me a nice sized piece left over for a later project.

Now on to the fun bit!

As mentioned previously the project is stitched with ‘Gloriana’ stranded silk, the colours as follows:-   Vanilla (3) Narcissus (4) Spanish Moss (48) Granny smith Green (53)  Desert Rose (106) Cinnamon (151) Ollalieberry (153) Denim Blue (155)Old Gold (169) & Antique Black (211) and the edges of each panel are outlined with DMC No12 Pearl Cotton in Beige-Grey.

The first panel is divided into two sections, the roses and the grapes.

Following the tacking lines, using back stitch, I edged the panel, removing the tacking as I stitched.

The Foliage and Roses were then stitched using a combination of double running stitch and cross stitches.

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

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Project stitching time to date – 14 hours 30 mins

Virgin Queen’s Stitching Wallet - Part One

And we’re off!

Over the last couple of days all the supplies that I ordered (with the exception of the lining material) have arrived......... Yah!

I can now finally begin my winter project and I’m feeling quite excited about using ‘Gloriana’ Hand Dyed Silk threads for the first time too, the colours are so vibrant.

I’m not so sure about the colours of the felt I ordered though,  but it's no big deal, I can review that when I come to use it, after all the stitching is finished.

It would seem that all the pieces are stitched with the Linen in one whole piece and separated later when you’re ready for construction, so my first job, having already having edged the fabric so that it doesn’t fray during the stitching, is to mark all the pieces out on the fabric, using a running stitch.

It’s 32ct Linen, so I need my trusty lamp and magnifier, which I can’t seem to do without these days, especially as I’m stitching in the evenings.

Progress was slow for my first evening of stitching and I only actual managed to get the outline of the first panel in place but hopefully things will speed up a little one my eyes get used the fine work again.

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

Please feel free to leave a comment if you stop by,

I'd love to hear from you. 

A Place For Everything……………

And everything in its place!

Well that’s how it’s supposed to be, right,  but I’m not the tidiest stitcher in the world and whenever I start a new project, inevitably I can’t find my embroidery scissors or gold plated needles.

My ambition for some time has been to stitch an Etui to keep everything together, especially after following the wonderful work of   Janet Granger on her blog.

She has made a few Etui’s over the years, all beautiful in their own way and they have made me want to make one myself all the more, but I felt I’d be  a little bit out of my depth tackling something  so technical and have kept putting it off.

That was until a couple of weeks ago when I was doing a bit of online shopping (craft supplies) and came across a book from Inspirations called ‘Willing Hands’,  that was going to be available at the end of October. 

The book, by Betsy Morgan, has projects for 7 counted thread embroidery Etui’s and 1 stitching wallet……….there had to be something in there I was capable of stitching!

4 weeks sooner than expected look what dropped through my letter box this morning.

I want to stitch every single project in there!

My first choice is the Elizabethan Casket on the front cover but I think I need to walk before I run and start with something that’s a little more straight forward.

So,  my first project is going to be.................

Virgin Queen’s Stitching Wallet.

1 hour later and I’ve been back on line and ordered all the  required materials and am now counting the minutes until it all arrives and I can get started.

Patience is a virtue!

Patience is a virtue!

Patience is a virtue!

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

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A Bit Too Close To Home

It’s quite rewarding being able to make items, whatever they be, for the Facebook group   Helping Hands, and knowing that I’ve been able to make a small difference to other people while still enjoying my passion for crafting.

I started making heart shaped cushions back in 2015, when a very good friend of mine had to undergo a mastectomy and up until that point I hadn’t realised that something as simple as a cushion could bring so much comfort to someone after their surgery. 

I made two for my friend, and then two smaller banana shaped ones, that she said were more comfortable to use when she was driving.

That was the start.

Since then I’ve made more than a hundred, all of which have gone to Broomfield Hospital in Essex, and that have been given to unknown women who have gone through something that I hope I never have to face, please god.

But in recent months, another special friend of mine has found out that her family carry the BRCA2 gene.  Fortunately she was tested and was clear, but she has already lost one of her sisters to this awful disease and another is undergoing chemo at the moment.

 These latest four special cushions have been made for Donna with love in every single stitch.   Needless to say that we are all praying for a good outcome.

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

Please feel free to leave a comment if you stop by. 

Helping Hands Are Never Idle

If you have time to spare and are looking for a worthwhile cause to occupy you, why not why not pop across and join our Facebook Group over at Helping Hands.   
There you will find a group of like minded people who just love making things for others.  There are various projects  all over the UK and abroad that you may be able to help with.

In a bid to use up some of my many odd balls of wool, as well as the Octopuses, I’ve been crocheting preemie baby clothes for Princess Alexandra Maternity Unit in Harlow, Essex.

So far I’ve managed six little cardigan and hat sets and 4 tiny hats.

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

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I'd like to be under the sea………..

In an octopus' garden in the shade!

I’d like you to meet  ‘Billy the Squid’ and ‘Octopussy’

These little guys are the first two I’ve made for my Helping Hands Project  and  they will be heading to Princess Alexandra Maternity Unit, in Harlow Essex, along with the other items I have made.

They use them to comfort the preemie babies. 
Apparently they hold onto the tentacles and it reminds them of being in the womb  and holding the umbilical cord.   Amazing, isn't it.

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

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The Songbird’s Garden – Part 3

When I started stitching this series back in Nov 2018  I had intended to stitch one a month and to do them in order, but I’m now wondering why I set myself such a task.

I’m now asking myself, does it really matter if I don’t stitch part 4 next …………and the answer to that was a big fat no. 

It's not as though I’m stitching them for any reason other than the fact that I love the designs by Vinniey P. S Tan, and as yet I’ve no idea what I will do with them when they are all finished, (and I will finish them all) so after this one it’s a lucky dip to see which I stitch next.

Anyway, for now I have just finished No. 3 in the set and this one is ‘Winter’s Wisdom’.

It was stitched on 36 count ‘Tin Roof’ Linen with Overdyed threads from Weeks Dye Works.

Golden-crowned Kinglets

Conifers

See the entire series at   Cottage Garden Samplings ;

Weeks Dye Works  Floss shades: 

Blackboard, Chestnut, Clockwork, Collards, Havana, Kohl, Molasses, Oak, Palomino, Saffron, Sage, Schneckley, Snowflake, Pimlico, Taupe and Teal Frost

Happy Crafting!

(Whatever you passion may be)

Sue

X

Please feel free to leave a comment if you stop by.