A Patriotic Finish

 

Design: Remember Me from Romy's Creations

Link:  (20+) Romy’s Creations | Today's Monday's freebie is "Remember me".. | Facebook

Started: Friday, May 30, 2025@ 12:15p.m.

Finished: Monday, June 2, 2025@ 6:55p.m.

Fabric: 28 count linen in the color tan/white gingham 

Fibers: Called for DMC white, 310, 312, 321, 950 & 3852

Notes: This was a fun and quick stitch! I think I want to fully finish into a small cushion!  A trip to Hobby Lobby may inspire me! I think my fabric choice was perfect!

🌸 Spring Yearns for a Spring Urn Finish! 🌸

Design: Spring Urn, a free design by Ewe & Eye & Friends

Link: Newsletter-April-2025.pdf

Started: Sunday, April 27, 2025 @2:15 p.m.

Finished: Thursday, May 29, 2025 @9:30p.m.

Fabric: 28 count linen in Dusty Green similar to DMC 523

Fibers: DMC stranded cotton as called for with the exception of 3740 for the coiled flowers.  I used DMC Flower Thread number 2724.

Notes: This took much more time to complete then I anticipated.  I stitched a total of 27 days on it.  There were a few days I just didn't stitch on it. I wanted to stitch it so I could include an image of the design on a daily entry on my Facebook group "Needle Free For All".  The chart is a bit of a challenge to read but I did accomplish that with a good deal of accuracy.  I love how this turned out.  I had never stitched Kam's coils before and they are certainly not perfect but I love the effect they have in the hanging flowers on the left.  The alphabet did not come with the chart so I winged it on my own!  I love the primitive feel.  I would like to make a cushion with it, I think.  I believe a trip to Hobby Lobby is in order to see if I can find another option.  I mean when is a trip to Hobby Lobby not appropriate? I went out on the front porch to photograph this on this rare day of sunshine this May day and I hung it on my mailbox and thought it looked darling there. Fun, fun, fun!

A sweet free design finish!

 

Design:  Forever In My Heart "Snowflake 2001 Needleroll"

Link:  November 2024 newsletter Newsletters | Fiberworks

Started: Monday, November 18, 2024

Finished: Tuesday, November 26, 2024@1230

Fabric: Zweigart 28 count Lugana in Navy Blue

Fibers: Waterlillies by Caron in Pearl, Kreinik #4 Braid in color 032.

Notes: The free design calls for beads.  I did not like the way the beads looked so I used the Kreinik braid to stitch small Smyrna crosses over 2 threads.  This gave the piece some sparkle and I really liked how it looked. For the center I used a single earring I had that was missing it's mate.  I cut the back off and centered and stitched the clear nylon thread I have, to attach it to the lugana.  I love how this looks.  The photos I took did not do it justice.  I asked my very talented little sister to photograph this project and she did a much better job.  Thank you Ginger! Love you bunches!

A Sweet Wing free Christmas finished!

 

Design:  Sweet Wings "Merry Little Christmas"

Link:  Gallery 1 — Sweet Wing Studio

Started: Monday, November 11, 2024

Finished: Monday, November 18, 2024@ 1130

Fabric: Silkweavers Limited Edition 28ct Quaker linen color is similar to DMC 3753

Fibers: DMC blanc, 931, 3362, 3862 and GAST Lexington Green

Notes: I was having a stitching malaise and nothing sounded appealing.  I joined Sweet Wings Patreon and decided a small free design of hers sounded fun. Enjoyed this bitty stitchy!

A small Christmas finish!

Design:  Cross Eyed Cricket "Wreath" 

Link:  No link, a free handout from 2000

Started: Saturday, November 2, 2024@ 1614

Finished: Wednesday, November 6, 2024@ 1341

Fabric: Brittney 28 count in color "Bone"

Fibers: Old Willow Stitchery "Solitude Green", GAST "Dried Thyme", Rainbow Gallery "Very Velvet" in V231 and SJ Designs Glass Beads size 11/0 #154 "Sweet Cream"

Notes: I started this and was half way done when I realized I was off and the wreath would not meet correctly.   I could not figure out where I went wrong and I pulled it all out and gridded the fabric.  I was a quarter done and realized I was not going to have enough of the Old Willow floss.  So I started looking thru my floss and found a GAST color that was virtually the same so I started toggling between the 2 so it would appear to be the same color.  That was successful as now I can't tell you which is which.  I loved the Very Velvet's texture and look, but crossing my stitches made the bow look bad.  So I decided to give couching a try.  I had never couched in 40 years of stitching but I am really pleased with how it looks. The beads show up with a green cast but they aren't they are a yellow/white color.  I am not sure how to finish or if I will ever fully finish this.  I really like it. 24 years ago I picked up the free handout at Just Needlin' which is no longer in business, unfortunately.   

 

Freebie Fondling Folic!

Danger Will Robinson! Danger!  Gangs of freebies are rioting, at least at my Lilac Thicket.  I pulled out the stitched freebies I could find and lined them up to get mug shots.  Some are still available and others are not.  Gosh this was fun fondling them in a very disturbing way if I was a non-stitcher!  

Spring Storms, Stitching and Stash

 

This is the progress report on Eva.  Last evening I finished the broom under her posterior.  I thought my progress was rather slow but then when writing this entry, I saw I had started this a little over 3 weeks ago!  Not bad considering how many times I have had to rip and restitch. 

Stitching has been going smoothly now.  I am going to start on that backward "C" shape above the broom.  The spots in the broom are for beads, lots and lots of beads.

I did receive the Barbara Ana chart I spoke about in the last post.  I really like it.  I also received the new tablet I ordered with a Christmas gift certificate and $14.00 of my own money.  I am learning how to navigate it.  I did purchase Pattern Keeper but am not using it as of yet. The photo above is taken with the new tablet.  It is a pretty good picture.

We had our first big thunderstorm of the spring season move thru during the night on the 13th/14th.  Hubby asked me to take him to work so our Jeep wouldn't get hail damage sitting in the parking lot at the office.  It was safely ensconced at home in our garage. 

I did find a new Italian blog call "It's 5 o'clock".  There are some cute free designs there. Love this camping Santa design!  Look at the reindeer in the tent.  Really darling. Here is the link to that blog: Il est cinq heures....... (il-est-5-heures.blogspot.com)
I am wishing you all the happy spring stitching your heart desires.  God Bless!

Design: Eva designed by Nora Corbett

Link to design: Nora Corbett Eva (Bewitching Pixies) - Cross Stitch Pattern - 123Stitch

Started: Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Finished:  

Fabric:  Picture This Plus 28 count Lugana in color "Haunted"

Fibers: As called for

Happy, happy fourth finish for February!

 

Project particulars

Design: Happy Spring designed by Heart in Hand

Link to design: Happy_Spring_Bird_Free_Chart.pdf (shopify.com)

Started: Sunday, February 18, 2024 @ 4:45 p.m.

Finished:  Monday, February 19, 2024 @ 3:45 p.m.

Fabric: R&R Reproductions 28 count hand dyed linen in "Blue Wave"

Fibers: Note: Fibers are no longer available

                        Old Willow: Vampire Kiss and Churned Butter

                        Dye is Cast: Pine cone and Willow

This free design came in the Heart in Hand newsletter 4 days ago and I thought I would stitch it as I have a Nora Corbet design that should be in the mail tomorrow.  I had finished Stitch until your heart is content which was completed yesterday and I wanted to fill the time as I wait for the mail.   I had fun choosing my fibers and fabric for Happy Spring. That is my favorite part of any project.  I love the Old Willow and Dye is Cast fibers and I dearly wish they were still available.  The Vampire Kiss floss is such a delicious red.  It reminds me of a cordial cherry color.  I feel so accomplished with 4 projects being finished this month. Now, what do I want to pick up to keep my hands busy?

Baby Jesus has arrived!

 

Baby Jesus, a free design from Lavender and Lace, is at last finished.  We had a few disagreements and I did have to rip out a significant amount of stitches.  I also had some problems doing the back stitching on His head.  Plus in a couple of spots I got maroon colored pencil dust from my working copy onto the white floss.  I was afraid it might not wash out, but it did.  I used Great Value blue dish soap and washed and rinsed a couple of times and it did come out nicely.  The piece was pressed dry on a bath towel before the beads and metallics were added and it looks fabulous.  I am not sure how I will finish it but that it fine for now.

Project particulars

Design: Lavendar and Lace complimentary 2004 design (Baby Jesus)

Link to design: 2004 Christmas Design (tiag.com)

Started: Saturday, December 23, 2023.

Finished: Wednesday, February 7, 2024 @ 8:20 p.m.  

Fabric: 32 count Kiwi Illusion's Southern Sky

Fibers: Called for DMC, Mill Hill beads & Rainbow Gallery Treasure Braid

WIP Lavender & Lace

 

Heaven forbid this Lavender and Lace 2004 Complimentary design takes 9 months to be born.  It would seem I can find a million piddly things to keep me from working on this.  Ugh.  

I have been toying with the idea of darkening Baby Jesus's skin to more accurately portray his mid east heritage and then I pooh poohed it.  I recently saw a YouTube video of what Jesus would look like according to hints in the Bible and based on what average Mid Easterners look like today.  It was startling.  It then asked would I still follow Him.  The answer is yes. It isn't what He looked like that makes me love Him and believe in His teachings. This is a link to that video.  (1561) A.I. Reveals What Jesus Looked Like? You'll Be Amazed! - YouTube

Project particulars

Design: Lavendar and Lace complimentary 2004 design (Baby Jesus)

Link to design: 2004 Christmas Design (tiag.com)

Started: Saturday, December 23, 2023.  

Fabric: 32 count Kiwi Illusion's Southern Sky

Fibers: Called for DMC, Mill Hill beads and Rainbow Gallery Treasure Braid

Lavendar and Lace free design start!

 

2004 Christmas Design (tiag.com)

I started on a Lavendar and Lace complimentary design on Saturday, December 23, 2023.  The fabric I am using is 32 count Kiwi Illusion's Southern Sky.  I am using the fibers and beads that the designer calls for. The free design can be downloaded as a PDF at the link posted above. Here is an image of the design as stitched by Cheryl Buckler on perforated paper. 

Three working projects!

Rosewood Manor's Something Blue is a gorgeous sampler which I have barely started.  The fabric is a lovely blue frome Picture This Plus in 28ct Alchemy color.  It will use 15 skeins of Weeks Dyed Works in the color Parchment.  The design is 288 stitches by 177 stitches.  It is a stunning sampler design.  I have the right upper most flower completed.  I will work on this when I just want to stitch one color rather than other pieces that have multiple colors.

The Steady Thread is having a year long stitch along.  It is a blackwork project and each week a different blackwork pattern is released for a hexagon cell.  It is a gorgeous piece and you choose your colors and the shape of your cells.  It has a gorgeous botanical theme to it and a wandering vine border. The photo below is the work of  Crocettando from her blog here: More advances on Prairie schooler Santa and blackwork. | Crocettando (wordpress.com)

I chose a large pink evenweave I had in my stash and am using black floss and the highlight color The Gentle Art in Red Grape for inside of my cells.  As you can see I am not very far along.  I am numbering my cells to match the correct cell pattern when it is released.  I think it will be a masterpiece when I am done. Read about this stitch along here: Modern blackwork embroidery charts and blackwork embroidery kits – The Steady Thread

I am currently enjoying The Stitching Book Club's July free design found in the July Newsletter here: @Stitchingbookclub | Linktree   It is called Stars and Stripes.  I am stitching it on 28 count white Quaker which was in my stash.  I am using DMC floss in 321 and 3712 the called for reds.  The blues I am using DMC flower thread in 2826 and 2800. I was unsure about mixing the 6 strand floss with the flower thread but they look great.  I wish I had the red in flower thread. 

So that is what I work on at the moment. Happy Stitching!

 

BraceletBook has been added to the Free Design Sites

Patterns | BraceletBook

The BraceletBook has been added to the list of the Free Design sites.  It features small designs for friendship bracelets but these could be used in many different ways.  There are also small rectangular designs which would be fabulous scissor fobs.  Lots of browsing awaits you at the BraceletBook.

 

April is finished before it has begun!

Palkó Sheet: Kalender2015 (palkolap.blogspot.com)

I interrupted my stitching on Patricia Andrle's "Gloria" to stitch up a free design I am going to post about on my Facebook Needle Free For All group the first of April.  In 2015 a German blog had a stitch along and all of the months have a chart which can be found on the above link.  I really liked the small design (43x43 stitches) but not the color floss the blogger chose.  The photo above is my version and the smaller photo below is the blogger's version.  

I wanted to use floss colors that I felt represented April in my own opinion.  "April Showers" is what I envisioned blue greys and a pop of floral colors.  I chose 28 count Zweigart cashel linen in the color "ice blue" (similar to DMC 3841). "April" is stitched in the now defunct Six Strand Sweets "Berry Twist" (similar to DMC 598 & 33). The rest is stitched in Classic Colorworks "Deep Blue Sea" (similar to DMC 322/334).  I had originally stitched the motif above the "P" in the Berry Twist but decided I didn't like it so I ripped it out and stitched it in the Deep Blue Sea.  I fell in love with it at that point.  You can see how the Palko Lap blogger stitched hers in the small photo below.  I think my choices are much more appealing.

My intention is to stitch each month and then make hanging pillow ornaments, one month as the front and another as the back.  I want to bind them together with a beaded edge and then each will hang off of a peg on a mug tree on my dining room table.

I stitched on this project March 13 (started at 9:00am), 15, 18 & finished at 8:15pm on the 19th of 2022. This was a wonderful project and I enjoyed stitching it.  I am still pondering the colors of floss and fabric for the month of May.