Sunday, December 03, 2023

Switching it up!

Happy Sunday stitchers! 

It's a day for rest, renewal, and stitching!  We hope you will join us as we slowly stitch creative projects using needles and threads.

I am switching up the projects in my sewing room this weekend. I have finished all the fall and thanksgiving things that I could, and it's time to put everything into hibernation until next fall (except for BOO which I want to finish this week).

I did finish one more sweet project. This is Melisa's Mini Pumpkin Sampler pattern stitched on 14 count tea dyed Aida. It was delightful to stitch! I wish I would have trimmed more of the edge so that there wasn't so much space between the stitches and the binding, but I have some ideas on how to fix that space - which I may or may not try next fall when I see it again! LOL

I love the little  piece of backing fabric I found - isn't it perfect?!? And I do enjoy putting little bindings (single fold, cut at 1.5") on these mini  stitcheries.

If you would have told me this time last year, that I'd be into cross stitch in such a big way in 2023 I would never have believed you. But here I am -  totally addicted! I attended the Jingle Ball virtual event this weekend and downloaded many free charts, and bought some fabulous new exclusive designs. I didn't enjoy the stitching rooms as the sound was not manageable for me in the rooms that I visited. But that's okay - the ballroom videos and chats with designers were great entertainment and well worth the $10 price of admission.

Of course I started a new Christmas project which is a free chart called Little  Quaker Christmas. This pattern by Susan Ache is still a free download over at Fat Quarter Shop. The thread listed is Aurifloss which I don't have, so I converted the colours to DMC floss and called it "close enough". The reds are kind of orangey, but I'm willing to give them a try.

I detested the 22 count linen fabric I had bought from Michael's and quickly started my stitching over on an old 14 count white Aida. Here is my start - a cute little Christmas tree. You can see how tiny it is compared to the needle minder that my friend Jackie gave me!

What are you stitching at the beginning of  December? Are you making any Christmas gifts this year? I hope you will link up your blog post below and share your plans and projects with us.


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10 comments:

linda said...

Your sampler is lovely, I do love cross stitch but but my poor eyes are not quite up to it now, I have made a few little gifts this year, I find it becomes addictive I can't seem to stop sewing little christmas trees haha. Have a peaceful Sunday.

Gretchen Weaver said...

Quaker Christmas is really cute, enjoy your stitching! Counted cross stitching seems to be undergoing a revival again, I see it appearing on a lot of quilting blogs. Happy stitching!

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

That's a sweet design! I haven't tried stitching on linen yet - stitcking to Aida because I can see where I'm supposed to stitch. :) Enjoy your stitching today, Kathy!

Kate said...

The mini pumpkin sampler is really cute. Enjoy your slow stitching today. It's good to take a day out of the hectic schedule that seems to come with the holiday no matter how hard we try to simplify the season.

CathieJ said...

I am trying to finish stitching a stocking for my grandson. It is stitching quickly and they won't be here until after Christmas so I may just get it completed in time. I love that Mini Pumpkin Sampler and that Little Quaker Christmas piece looks interesting. I think I might change those reds though. They do look quite orange. Sometimes the conversion isn't quite right.

The Cozy Quilter said...

Such a cute little Christmas tree. I can’t stitch on a smaller scale than 14 count anymore…
Looks like you will be slow stitching on this project for several weeks. Great holiday season stitchery!

Karrin Hurd said...

Beautiful cross-stitching designs and finishes!

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

Lovely finishes and neat new pattern to stitch. I love quakers! Yes to finding the exact right size fabric to stitch on.

cityquilter grace said...

thanks for the link....i've done a few of those quaker stitchery patterns and i like them all!

Melisa- pinkernpunkinquilting said...

Aaah your mini Pumpkin sampler is adorable,Kathy. I am so touched that you stitched it. Thank you so much . You made my day. I love the Christmas Quaker too. It is on my stitching agenda. Have a wonderful week and happy quilting and stitching. Hugs.