Stitching round-up

Ugh. For some reason this past month every crafty thing I try to do goes wrong D: Also I'm back to my normal stitching speed (which is to say, super-slow), so I feel like I've got absolutely nothing done...

I have finished the sampler tote. After I had miscounted the border and had to un-pick it all. I seriously need to stop watching Miss. Marple whilst stitching. I just need to attach the stitched patch to the tote, which I am leaving in my mums capable hands as I am certain there will be a disaster if I attempt it ^^;

I have also made a little progress on my tapestry cushion front. I've forgotten to take a progress pic as I've tidied it away again but I managed to complete one small leaf. I feel more determined to finish this now I was stitching it for my room (which is now all pretty).

Because I was getting a little frustrated with cross-stitch (couldn't concentrate, kept going wrong etc.) I decided to do a quick stitch to get me back in the mood. I was excited for the latest issue of Cross Stitcher magazine as the free-gift was a wooden keyring kit...

Let us use the word 'disaster' again...

It is hard to stitch on wood! It is very slow going too - originally I was filled with the naive enthusiasm that I could stitch this in a day. That quickly turned to bitterness! (Quite dramatic today, no?) My stitches look messy - it was only when I got to the right-hand side that I had developed something of a technique. That was when I ran-out of blue thread. How I didn't throw the thing across the room I don't know as I had a major strop *lol* I don't have any colours that are remotely similar to this blue so I was torn with buying another copy of the magazine or un-picking and starting again with a blue I have lots of :/ After more stroppiness I'm going with un-picking and starting again ^^

Because I have an ever increasing 'to-do' pile, I thought that I would start taking one of the smaller projects into work so that I can have a bit of a relax at lunch. I've decided to start with a project for my room called 'Coming up roses'. The design is stitched on 28ct pink evenweave and I'm using DMC threads. Once complete, the stitching will go in a wooden hoop that I'll hang with a ribbon. It will be very pretty ^^ Here's where I'm up to so far..

Finally...this weather! What's happening at all please? I have a cold house (even with the heating on) so sometimes my fingers are too cold to stitch :( So I thought I would start knitting my heart jumper ^^

This is one full ball of wool! I love how super chunky knits up so quick.

This is the second time I've knitted this piece...I got to the end of the ball yesterday afternoon when I thought  it was a good time to decide that I hate my cast-on row. My usual method of casting-on, what I like to call 'the gun-method' does create something of a baggy edge. Normally this doesn't bother me but yesterday it massively bothered me D: So there was nothing for it but to unravel and start again... I didn't know any other cast-on methods so I had to learn a new one - I went for the 'cable method' and it does make a much nicer and neater edge. It takes much longer but the end effect is much better. I then knitted this up in the evening watching Harry Potter ^^

Hopefully I'll be less dramatic next week and will actually get some more stitching done :)

♥

TUSAL March 2013

Better late than never right?

I've hardly done any since my last TUSAL post :(

Hopefully I'll get into my stitching again and I'll have more to show next time ^^

Blackwork Welcome Sampler complete

Finally my blackwork 'Welcome Sampler' is complete...

This was a pretty heart-breaking stitch :( I had to stitch the left hand border four times... The first two times I just couldn't see where I'd gone wrong so I had to unpick the whole thing. The third time I found where I'd gone wrong but still had to unpick most of it...

But it's finished now and I'm pleased with it. I'm actually going to finish this off (for change!) once I've found a simple black frame. I'm then going to hang it in my (purple) porch...

After getting quite upset with that sampler, I decided to go for an easier sampler - 'The Sampler Tote Bag' from the Cross Stitch Guild. I'm stitching the design on a patch that will then be sewn onto the tote bag rather than stitching straight onto the tote itself.

The design is stitched on 20 count linen using three strands of thread. I love the muted colours. They remind me of those used by The Historical Sampler Company.

I would've liked to have stitched more but I've been decorating my bedroom and came across some unexpected problems so it took a lot longer than I thought it would :(

I'm also feeling the urge to start something a little more.... epic in scale...something I can really get into...but I've got so many little-stitches that I want to do...I'm so undecided.

I'm finding it difficult to keep track of my threads. So I decided to get an app to help - I had one for the iphone which was really handy so I thought I'd get one for my current phone. After looking at a few different apps I decided to go for the Cross Stitch Guild app. Awesomeness. Not only can I keep track of my threads, I can also convert them. I can keep track of fabric, kits, books, WIP's, UFO's and more *____* It would be super awesome if there was a similar thing for computers...just thinking of all the lists and organisation makes me excited :D

♥

Secret Stitching Sweetheart

Happy Valentines Day!

Here's the photo I received!

It's lovely ^^ Thank-you so much ♥ 

~Please make yourself known~ ^^

Here's a link to Jo's blog, the sweet lady who started all the fun!

♥

TUSAL February 2013

I am taking part in Daffycats Totally Useless Stitch A Long 2013.

I missed out on January so here's my February photo...

I am ridiculous. That is all.

♥

First try at blackwork

I have finished 'Welcome to counted threads'...

I'm pleased with how it's turned out. I especially like the four-sided stitch border. I feel like I should've pulled a bit harder but I'm always so concious of keeping a nice even tension when stitching it was hard to pull D:

I think I'll use this technique again as it's so pretty and would look nice as a border.

My threads finally arrived on Saturday but they stunk of smoke D: So I've had to do some febreezing and Cliniqueing of them...I'm quite impatient so I decided to start the  'Welcome blackwork sampler' from 'Itch to Stitch no.91'. It is stitched on 28count antique white evenweave using DMC for the black and Madeira Metallic 10 for the sparkly red *__*

I started the black-work bit yesterday and this is how it looks so far...

I originally started with just one thread but it was too delicate so I unpicked and started again with two threads and it looks much better as it stands out nice and bold against the gothic lettering.

This is my first try at blackwork...it's a little boring (not the biggest fan of backstitch anyway) but it is so pretty that it balances out ^^;

I should have this finished this week then I think I'll have a little break from stitching to practice some more crochet as I don't want to forget how to do it *lol*

♥

Kitten complete!

I have really levelled up my stitching speed...the kitten is already complete!

He is so cute x3

He was just such a joy to stitch! He reminds me of my dead kitty Lilly (may she rest in kitty heaven)...she was white and black but they have the exact same kissy-mouth :)

I have decided to further level-up my stitching my doing some of the 'Welcome to' kits from the Cross Stitch Guild. I decided to go for 'Welcome to Counted Thread'. The instructions are a load of rubbish - if I didn't have the Cross Stitcher's Bible (which includes this chart and full instructions) I would've been a bit lost. This is my first time stitching on linen...it's ok, no great difficulty and no great revolution.

Here's where I'm up to so far...

I love rhodes stitch! (the blue and red squares) I hate queens stitch! (purple mess). I need to do some more queens stitch *grrr* and then a four-sided stitch border.

I'm getting very impatient waiting for my new threads to arrive. I have lots of other things I can be doing/finishing..but I really want my new threads D:

♥