All Year Round Stitch-a-Long – May

 Just four more segments to go on the ‘All Year Round’ Sal and May is the final one for Spring.

This features the common blue butterfly as it feeds on the nectar of Anemone Blanda which is better know as the Winter Windflower.

I also stitched on Mary Allcorn 1764.

I completed the band of flower vases and the band of Satin Stitch.

 I used two strands of threads for this because I wasn’t happy with the coverage of just one and was much happier with the results.

Finally I made a start on the most prominent alphabet on the sampler, stitched in Algerian Eyelets over four threads and also the band of tiny Algerian Eyelets below it, stitched over two threads.

That’s about it for now.

I still have to sort out what I plan to stitch for the virtual  ‘Cross Stitch Camp’ this year and get the latest badge stitched, as well as stitch my May ornament for 12 in 25, so enough to keep me going until the end of the month, so until then,

Happy Stitching!

Sue

x

 Project Details

All Year Round Sal - from Cross Stitcher Magazine

Designer - Amanda Butler

Fabric - 18ct Aida - White Zweigart

Threads - Anchor and DMC's Standard Cotton Threads

Mary Allcorn 1764

Designer – Hobby House Press

Fabric – 36ct

Threads –Gloriana Silks and Classic Color Works Belle Soie Silks

Jelly Bean Jubilee – Brenda Gervais

Wishing everyone a very happy Easter.

 

Why, when there’s holiday stitching to be done, do I always bring it down to the wire?     Well, if I knew the answer to that, I wouldn’t be writing this, Lol!

I purchased Jelly Bean Jubilee by Brenda Gervais last year and only managed to get two of the designs stitched before the Easter weekend. 

This year my plan was to  finish the rest, but with Easter being early and not starting on them as soon as I had hoped,  I still only managed two of the remaining five!

 Jelly Bean Garden,

‘Hop, Hop, Hippity, Hop

I decided to make them stash busters and used scraps of 36ch mystery linen and Roxy Floss Co threads for both of them. 

I’ve also done some more stitching on the band sampler from ‘My Stitching Box’ from Jeanette Douglass, adding another four bands.

My Sewing Box

Started 29/2/2024

Designer -  Jeanette Douglas

Fabric – 32ct Murano Evenweave – Antique White

Threads – Called for Classic Colouworks Belle Soie, NPI Silk, Gloriana Silk & Rainbow Gallery Splendor

Beads – Mill Hill

 

Happy Stitching!

Sue

x

‘Souvenir’ Band Sampler Sal – The BIG Finish!

 Well, I had a total disaster with the last part of the band sampler.

Why I never noticed it last week I’ll never know, but when I went to start cutting my threads this week I realised I’d stuffed up my Kloister Blocks. 

I worked down the left side just fine, but when I began the right side I managed to work my satin stitched in the wrong direction.

No problem I though, I hadn’t started cutting, so I could simply frog them and re stitch the Hardanger.  

But what do I go and do……as I’m cutting the stitches to pull them out I somehow managed to through the fabric.

My first thought was that was weeks of work wasted and I was ready to throw it in the bin, but I left it for a day or two and went back to it to see if I could salvage it.

What I ended up doing was cutting off the fabric below the last flower band.  I then carefully hand stitched another piece to the bottom and re-stitched the Hardanger over the seam. 

I fully finished it on 26th April and it didn’t turn out too bad but I’m sad you can see the seam on either side if the point.  At least I didn’t have the scrap the whole project.

Thank you Thea, for the fun project.  It was my first Victoria Sampler Sal and I can’t wait for the next one!

Happy Stitching!

Sue

x

‘Souvenir’ Band Sampler Sal – Part 15 – Victoria Sampler

 We are getting very close to an end with the ‘Souvenir’ stitch-a-long from Victoria Sampler.

This week we have created the pointed end to our bell pull and introduced some Hardanger Kloister Blocks  into our stitching as well as some Algerian Eyelets.

Hardanger is usually stitched with Perle cotton thread but as I didn’t have any, I decided to try doing mine with the Weeks Dye Works thread that I’ve been using for the rest of the design and use three strands, which seemed to be about the right thickness.

I also added some small seed beads at the end.

Happy Stitching!

Sue

Stitches so far:- 

Cross stitch, Back stitch,  Lazy Daises,  Rhodes Heart, Colonial Knots,  Bargello,  Satin Stitch,  Hem stitch, French Knots. Blackwork, Double Running Stitch, Honeycomb Stitch, Silk Flowers, Double Rice Stitch, Double Herringbone Stitch, Bullion Knot, Algerian Eyelets, Hardanger Kloister Blocks.

 Threads

Weeks Dye Works,

Classic Colorworks,

The Gentle Art

Madeira Glissen Gloss

Anchor

DMC

Beads

Mill Hill

Brass Charm

Silk Ribbon (4mm)

 

 

 

‘Souvenir’ Band Sampler Sal – Parts 13 & 14 – Victoria Sampler

I really thought I had posted last week’s  ‘part 13’ of the band sampler but apparently I hadn’t, so today you have two for the price of one!

Last week we stitched a double herringbone band worked in two colours.  This was a new stitch to me, but once I had done a couple of stitches and remembered the spacing, it was quite simple to do. 

I did mine with one row of DMC and the other in Glissen Gloss Metallic thread. 

Part 14 was also a stitch I hadn’t done before,  Bullion Knots.

It was a band made up of a combination of back stitch, lazy daisies and a bullion knot Rose.

Umm,  I think I need a little more practice with the bullion knots!

Stitches so far:- Cross stitch, Back stitch,  Lazy Daises,  Rhodes Heart,

Colonial Knots,  Bargello,  Satin Stitch,  Hem stitch, French Knots. Blackwork, Double Running Stitch, Honeycomb Stitch, Silk Flowers, Double Rice Stitch, Double Herringbone Stitch, Bullion Knot

Happy Stitching!

Sue

Xxx

‘Souvenir’ Band Sampler Sal – Victoria Sampler

This week was Part 12 of the band sampler and I’ve made a few changes again, to fit my autumn theme.

The chart shows a girl wearing shorts, watering the flowers while little birds watch on from the bird house.

 I gave my little girl long trousers and had her cleaning up the fallen leaves, watched by two sweet little Robbin Red Breasts, who are waiting on the bird house for any grubs that might be unearthed. 

Happy Stitching!

Sue

‘Souvenir’ Band Sampler Sal – Part 11 – Victoria Sampler

 

Week 11 is done and I’m pleased to say it wasn’t so challenging this week’s part.

Just simple cross stitch, lazy daises and back stitch…oh and I added a few French knots, so my little girl has curly hair!

 Happy Stitching!

Sue

Xxx

 

Stitches used

Cross Stitch, Back Stitch, Colonial Knots, Lazy Daisies, Hem Stitch, Assisi, Double Running, Honeycomb Stitch, Rice Stitch.

Threads

Weeks Dye Works,

Classic Colorworks,

The Gentle Art

Madeira Glissen Gloss

Anchor

DMC

Mill Hill Beads

Brass Charm

Silk Ribbon (4mm)

Band Sampler Sal – Part 10 – Victoria Sampler

 I’m really enjoying stitching this Band Sampler and despite the fact that I’ve stitched in one form or another for around 60 years, I love that I’m learning new stitches.

Last week it was a Honeycomb stitch trellis but I was unable to complete the part because I was waiting for an order of silk ribbon.

Well, it arrived and before I made a start on this week bands, I stitched the flowers for last week.

I wanted to make mine look like Sunflowers, in support of Ukraine because Sunflowers are their national flower.

There were two bands to add to the sampler this week.

The first was a backstitch vine with some cross stitches or beads.  I used metallic thread and added colonial knots to mine.

And the next band was rice stitch, which is new to me.

You’re never too old to learn new things, right!

In this case it was double rice stitch, which I did with standard thread and Gold metallic Glissen Gloss.

Happy Stitching!

Sue

Xxx

 

Stitches used

Cross Stitch, Back Stitch, Colonial Knots, Lazy Daisies, Hem Stitch, Assisi, Double Running, Honeycomb Stitch, Rice Stitch.

Threads

Weeks Dye Works,

Classic Colorworks,

The Gentle Art

Madeira Glissen Gloss

Anchor

DMC

Beads - Mill Hill

Brass Charm

Silk Ribbon (4mm)

Band Sampler Sal – Part 9 – Victoria Sampler

Each Friday evening a wait eagerly for the next part of the band sampler to be posted on the Facebook group and see what new stitches we will be attempting.

This week it was a Honeycomb stitch trellis.

I had a little practice on a scrap of fabric first, before stitching on my sampler and think I managed it fairly well, for a first go.

Over the top of the trellis we are to add silk ribbon flowers, but I couldn’t finish mine right away because I had to get an order off for the ribbon, so there will be another little update in a day or two, so watch out for it!

 Happy Stitching!

Sue

Xxx

Stitches used

Cross Stitch, Back Stitch, Colonial Knots, Lazy Daisies, Hem Stitch, Assisi, Double Running, Honeycomb Stitch

Threads

Weeks Dye Works, Classic Colorworks, The Gentle Art,

Madeira Glissen Gloss, Anchor, DMC

Beads

Mill Hill

Brass Charm

Band Sampler Sal – Part 7 – Victoria Sampler

 This week, we have added the second side to a little river bank scene, with another tree and a little girl and her dog sitting be the bulrushes in the river.

I’ve stitched my tree with Colonial Knots again, as I did with the first, but then had to put on my ‘big girl pants’ and attempt the French Knots for the little flowers.  I don’t why it is, but for some reason I have real trouble stitching them. I also used tiny Satin Stitches for the Bulrushes.

Happy Stitching!

Sue

Xxx

 

Stitches used

Cross Stitch, Back Stitch, Colonial Knots, Lazy Daisies, Hem Stitch, Assisi, Double Running, French Knots, Satin Stitch.

Band Sampler Sal – Part 6 – Victoria Sampler

The Ladies over at Victoria Sampler excelled themselves this week with the latest part of the ‘Souvenir’ Band Sampler, bringing in Assisi and double running stitches into the band.

It was a sweet little tree which I did with colonial knots (I think I’m obsessed with doing these) and the tiniest little squirrel ever.  He is stitched 1 over 1 and carrying a diddy gold acorn.

There was also a gap left for us to add some text, so in my band I went with ‘Autumn’ and added some 1 over 1 leaves and a little acorn charm.

 Happy Stitching!

Sue

Xxx

 

Stitches used

Cross Stitch, Back Stitch, Colonial Knots, Lazy Daisies, Hem Stitch, Assisi, Double Running,

 Weeks Dye Works,

 1121 – Straw,  1183 – Artichoke,  1224 – Amber,  1227 – Bright Leaf,  1273 – Grape Vine,  1321 – Williamsburg,  2200 – Kudzu

 Classic Colorworks,

Colonial Copper,

 The Gentle Art

7042-  Raven

Madeira Glissen Gloss Rainbow

114,   25.

Anchor

872,  1018

Mill Hill Beads

Brass Charm

 

Band Sampler Sal – Part 4 – Victoria Sampler

Well, that was scary!

I’ve just finished part 4 and to say I was worried is an understatement.

In all my years of stitching, I’ve only ever done cut work on one other occasion and then it was very minimal.

Today, we were introduced to hem stitch and I was proved right to be worried, because things didn’t go to plan and I managed to cut one extra thread.

Luckily I saved the day by adding an extra bar at the ends and it’s fine…………..no one will ever know, so don’t go telling everyone will you!

I’m loving how this is growing week by week and way we are introduced to new stitches as it progresses.

Happy Stitching!

Sue

xxx

 Stitches used so far

Cross Stitch, Back Stitch, Rhodes Heart. Colonial Knots, Barjello, Hem Stitch, Lazy Daisey

Weeks Dye Works

1121 – Straw,  1183 – Artichoke,  1224 – Amber,  1227 – Bright Leaf,  1273 – Grape Vine,  1321 – Williamsburg,  2200 – Kudzu

Classic Colorworks,

Colonial Copper,

The Gentle Art

7042-  Raven

Madeira Glissen Gloss Rainbow

114,   25.

Anchor

872,  1018

Mill Hill Glass Beads