Slow Sunday Stitching

Welcome to the weekly hand stitching party! Pick up one of your projects and enjoy some restful stitching with us!

Thank you to all who offered me organizational tips on last week's post. I haven't had a chance to put anything into practice yet because I have been struggling with a bout of covid. I haven't accomplished anything except staying alive, and putting a few stitches in some projects. I have been thinking about my stitching as medicine and have been so thankful for something creative to focus on (when my mind wasn't muddled and my head didn't hurt)! 

I would say to myself "time for my medicine" and pull out a project bag! I might or might not add some stitches, but it helped me to feel better just to look at it! I was able to finish up my October Square Dance block and felt very proud of that.

Until I really looked at the photo I took. 

Uh oh... there are some wonky covid stitches in there for sure! It's not quite as finished as I thought! Oh well, it was very helpful medicine for me this week, and the missing stitches can still be added.

I'm planning to skip the November block (pineapples) and go straight to the December Christmas ornament block.

What are you hand stitching this week? Do you find your slow stitching to be medicinal? Link up your blog post below and share your projects with us!

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Slow Sunday Stitching

Welcome to the weekly hand stitching party where you can visit with members of the Slow Sunday Stitching crew around the world, right from the comfort of your own home! 

I continue to be smitten by my adorable grandson, who is always doing something interesting with his hands! Look at his cute little self! The beautiful blanket was crocheted for him by my friend Janet and it is used for cuddles, especially to warm up after bath time.

He also has a lovely blanket made by my friend Louise and it is also used regularly. These blankets have really tempted me to learn to crochet. Can I afford to become obsessed with one more type of relaxing and beautiful hand stitching?!?

Which leads me to my question of the week:

How do you juggle various types of hand stitching that you enjoy? How do you decide which project to work on? I am feeling overwhelmed and having trouble prioritizing my time, which means that I have many UFOs of crafts laying around in various stages of unfinishedness! 

This leads to confusion and disorganization in my stitching room. For example, I want to make the pumpkin table runner that I bought as a kit at Spring Shop Hop. But I can't find the correct pattern book. I have located Volume 2 but I need Volume 1 so I can take this to work on at Quilt Retreat. I know I bought it, and I put it in a "special place", somewhere under the all the quilting, cross stitch, embroidery, Fat Quarter Shop boxes, embellishments, and yarn for knitting projects!!

If you have any tips on how you keep all your hand stitching projects organized, please share them in the comments below or in your blog posts. I appreciate each and every one of you in our stitching community, and thank you for all the things I learn from you! 💖

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October Flosstube

Welcome to the weekly hand stitching party! We invite you to settle in for some relaxation, visit our inspiring stitchers at the links below, and take some time to put a few stitches in one of your favourite projects.

I have been quite preoccupied with celebrating my grand baby's first Halloween and my daughter and I worked hard to create this photo op.

There are lots of hilarious and blurry photos. The pumpkin was tippy and not quite flat on the bottom, but we finally did finally get a good one. It was so much fun!

Another fun thing I did this week was to make a flosstube video showing the projects I worked on in October. 

I show 2 mini finishes, a few started projects, a wonderfully creative stitchy bag (made by fellow slow stitcher Deanna), and I opened up the Fat Quarter's 2024 Spooky Box. 

I look forward to making the Witchy Manor project (using the fabric bundle called Pumpkins and Potions) at my quilt guild retreat later in November. I am thinking of only making the top part and not putting all those HST blocks on the bottom. Such a fun treat box for quilters!

Here is a photo of one of my recently started projects. It is called "Look for the Beauty" by Bent Creek. It's a small start, and I am substituting a lot of the floss for other flosses that I have on hand. The bird was stitched in a Roxy floss colour called "Annie". I hope this project turns out okay using my leftover flosses.

I will always remember starting this project and stitching it on a beach in October on an usually warm fall day. It was very unexpected weather and I soaked up every sunny minute! 

Last night we turned our clocks back for the end of daylight saving time, so it will be dark at suppertime now. That's okay... I have this great memory to enjoy and lots of quilts to keep me warm through the winter.

Your turn now - what are you stitching this week?

We hope you will link up your blog post and share your projects with us.

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Slow Sunday Stitching

Welcome to Slow Stitching Sunday where we make time to slow down our lives, to breathe deeply, to pick up a needle and thread, and take some slow stitches. 

Today I am sharing a start and a finish! 

This is another one of Melisa of Pinker 'n Punkin's mini sampler projects. It is called Mini Apple Sampler and is a free pattern on her blog. 

I had so much fun digging around in my floss stash to  select just the right red flosses for the letters and apples. It probably took me longer to make these decisions than it did to put in the stitches!

It's a small little cross stitch sampler that I made into a wall hanging measuring 5.5" across by 4.5" high. I love the fall leaf print I used for the back. It took me way too long to hand stitch the binding, and I have no idea why. I couldn't get the start and finish edges to meet up correctly, even though I've done it hundreds of times before. Some days are just like that!

Here are the 3 mini samplers I have made from free patterns on Melisa's blog. I love these sweet little treasures!

Thank you Melisa for all the stitchy treats that you share with us!💗

I think my next mini sampler start will be the sunflower mini. But first, I have so many other projects on the go that I need some attention before I become obsessed with another mini sampler. I do love stitching those letters!

Now it's your turn! What are you hand stitching today? Do you have any finishes to share with us? We hope you will link up your blog post below.

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Slow Sunday Stitching

Welcome to the weekly hand stitching party! Make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, or pumpkin spice latte to enjoy while visiting the blogs of stitchers around the world. It's so inspiring to see what other people are creating with their own two hands.

I finished a quilt this week! The quilt top was made by my friend Gail, and the machine quilting was done by my friend Roxanne, so I actually just finished up the quilt with the hand stitched binding. Such a beautiful fall quilt for the community comfort quilt collection.

I also started a new cross stitch project called Spring Quaker by Primrose Cottage.  I know it's "out of season" to stitch spring in the fall, but this new start just happened!  I am using the variegated thread that the pattern recommended called "Blooming Crocus". It is so beautiful to work with and I am enjoying every stitch... not to mention that I just stitched the sweetest bird - so cute! 

What are you hand stitching today? We enjoy seeing your progress, and hope you will link up your blog below.

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Slow Sunday Stitching

It's Sunday and you know what that means... it's time for the weekly hand stitching party! We hope you will pick up your needles and thread or yarn and start putting in some stitches. 

In Canada we are celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend. I know it seems early for those who celebrate in November, but we really appreciate the earlier time of the year to enjoy a 3 day weekend to spend time outdoors with family and friends while the weather is still good.

We are mostly giving thanks today for the newest addition to our family! My grandbaby met his great grandparents this week and we are all over the moon with gratitude for this new life! He slept a long time in his great grandfather's arms - so sweet! 💗

Today I will be relaxing and hand stitching the binding that I am still working on. The quilt top was made by my friend Gail, quilted by my friend Roxanne, and will be finished by me - a great team effort for a charity donation.

This week I finished the project for the Stitches and Pages book club hosted by Katie the Novel Stitcher. We read The Violin Conspiracy, which was a very enjoyable novel for me. The pattern I chose is  "Music and Books" by Little House Needleworks. It is finished as a little wallhanging and measures 5 3/4" square.

Here is a nice grouping of some of the cross stitch projects that I have finished into little wall hangings over the past year. They are now hanging in various areas around my home - making me feel happy as I walk past them!

What projects are you hand stitching today? Please link up your blog post below and share your progress with us.

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Slow Sunday Stitching

Welcome to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts! 
Make yourself a cup of tea or coffee (or maybe a pumpkin spice latte) and join us to celebrate the experience of slowly stitching your way through life!

I have been savouring the experience of becoming a Grandma and did have time to do some stitching while watching the baby nap. Here I am doing my two favourite things at the same time! 

I started this project for the Stitches and Pages book club hosted by Katie the Novel Stitcher. We were reading The Violin Conspiracy, which was a very enjoyable novel for me. I chose the "Music and Books" pattern by Little House Needleworks to stitch while reading this book. 

Here is the finished stitchery which measures 4 3/8" square. I am pondering how to fully finish this. I might find the perfect frame, but if not, it will likely become a little quilted wallhanging.

I also sewed the binding onto a quilt this week. One side is stitched down and I will be enjoying some hand stitching on this today.

This week I made a video of the progress on my September projects - you can view it here.

What have you been hand stitching this week? Do you have a project to share with us? Link up your blog below and give us an update!

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Slow Sunday Stitching

Welcome to the weekly celebration of all hand stitched crafts! We hope you will join us in setting aside a few moments each Sunday for some relaxing stitching on your favourite project. Pick up a needle and thread, breathe deeply, and enjoy a little vacation from the responsibilities of your life. 

You won't believe it, but I have not taken one single stitch since last Sunday. Not one! 

But I have a good reason!

I have a new responsibility now... I have become a Grandma! This little bundle of joy weighed in at 8 lbs 1 oz and has brought so much love and joy to the world! I am soaking up every minute of being part of his sweet life, especially since I never thought I would have this privilege of being a grandparent!

I must get working on his birth sampler and his quilt. I have lots of plans, patterns and fabrics but haven't settled down to start anything. I was waiting to make sure he arrived safely and was well, and he is! My friend Louise crocheted the beautiful blanket (behind us on the chair) and little guy's great grandma has already made him a baby quilt. But every baby needs lots of quilts don't you think?

I do hope I can tear my eyes away from this amazing creation, and get back to some stitching. I have a comfort quilt to bind, and some samplers that I wanted to start in September but it's almost over! 

Have you met your September goals? Share with us your slow progress by linking up your blog post below.

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Slow Sunday Stitching

Welcome to the regular weekly practice of relaxing with some hand stitching! We encourage you to join us... all you have to do is take a deep breath, find your hand stitching project and put in some stitches. 

I am finishing yet another baby quilt for the baby boom we are having in my family. This one is for my niece's baby and it turned out so cute. It has a pretty flannel backing and will be very cuddly.

I also finished another cross stitch design - pattern by Lizzy Kate. I love the message on this little project and plan to finish it into a mini wallhanging for my office.

What are you hand stitching today? Are you making any progress that you can share? Link up your blog post below and tell us about your hand work.

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Slow Sunday Stitching

Welcome to the weekly celebration of all hand stitched crafts! We hope you will join us in setting aside a few moments each Sunday for some relaxing stitching on your favourite project. Pick up a needle and thread, breathe deeply, and enjoy a little vacation from the responsibilities of your life.

In a year that has had way more starts than finishes, I am so delighted to be able to share a finished quilt called "5 Cats and Scraps". This is a mystery quilt from Laundry Basket Quilts from the spring of 2021.

Every day for 2 weeks Edyta Sitar posted a different block pattern and by the end of the time we had 225 blocks ready to sew together into a quilt top. 

This quilt was made completely from my scrap stash (except for the backing). There are 5 fussy cut cat blocks that wanted to be in the quilt (hence the name) and they just blend into all the other scraps that are florals, geometrics, plaids, mottled, and reproductions. Every day of the mystery I just grabbed a hand full of scraps and started cutting and sewing. It was one of my most fun to make quilts ever and I am delighted that it is finished!

The finished size is 61" square and it was machine quilted by Roxanne Caughill using the Handiquilter design called "Field of Flowers".

Because this quilt is so scrappy, I was unprepared to love it as much as I do! This was going to be a donation quilt but I have fallen in love with it, so am uncertain now!!

I have no idea what I will be stitching on today. My sewing room is a disaster and I will need to do a big tidy up before I can even find some projects to work on! LOL

What are you stitching today? Do you have some September starts? Any finishes to share? Link up your blog post below and show us your slow progress.

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Slow Sunday Stitching

Welcome to the second September hand stitching party!  It's time to slow down and find one of your projects to stitch. Also maybe make a cup of your favourite beverage to enjoy while you visit with other stitchers and work on your own stitching.

This week I spent a lot of hours on a quilt repair project. This is a large queen size sampler quilt that my sister made as a gift to a special friend. It has been loved and well used by a family, and was showing wear and tear at some of the seam lines. My brother-in-law took this photo of me working intently on hand stitching all the open seams.

This is an example of some seams that needed repair on a square within a square block. It was very interesting to see which seams did not hold up over time. I used many ideas that I learned in an online class that Carole (From My Carolina Home) taught me... thank you Carole! The quilt is restored to working order and is back on the family bed. Mission accomplished.

I have also been putzing along on finishing the scrappy binding on my own quilt. I am on the 3rd side now and hope to finish it tomorrow.

In cross stitch news, I finally finished the August Square Dance block of bee skeps. The September block of little chickens has been started and I hope to finish it before the end of the month.

What are you hand stitching this week? We hope you will link up your blog post below and share your updates with us!

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Slow Sunday Stitching

Welcome to the first September hand stitching party!  It's time to slow down and find one of your projects to stitch.

I'm making headway on my knitted dishcloth. I think I've got the "bee" stitch figured out now.  And I am enjoying this yarn so much that I bought a much bigger ball of it. 

Another little cross stitch project has also been finished. This is "Summer Sucks" by The Witchy Stitcher. I enjoyed this project so much I couldn't put it down! I do hope those hot humid days of summer are done and that September brings us cooler more comfortable weather to enjoy.

I am gathering some new threads to start a sampler for "Sampler September". Isn't this collection of DMC floss so pretty? The pattern is called the Garden Cherry Sampler and I would like it to be my next new start. I can't seem to figure out what fabric to stitch it on because there are a few light colours that won't show up well on a light background fabric. This is my first floss conversion from Weeks Dye Works recommended threads to DMC, so maybe I didn't get all the colours correct? 

And lastly I am still working on the binding of the quilt I wrote about last week. I am "lollygagging and dillydallying" as my friend Barb would say!

What are you stitching this week? Are you being productive, or are you lollygagging? Dillydallying?

Link up your blog post below and share your slow progress with us.

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Slow Sunday Stitching

Hello stitcher! Welcome to the weekly hand stitching party where we hope you will get lots of inspiration and encouragement to help you on your stitching journey!

I started a new knitting project this week and challenged myself to try a new stitch from the Leisure Arts Kitchen Bright Dishcloths booklet. 

I was desperate for a distraction while at the hospital with my Mom this week. It was not an ideal learning environment, in fact is was quite  stressful - the long waiting hallway in the local ER where the elderly and sick wait for hours on end for health care while lying on uncomfortable stretchers . (**Sorry I should have mentioned that Mom is home now and feeling much better!) But I started this project anyway and couldn't know for certain if I was knitting the pattern correctly or not! But I do love the Estelle Sudz 100% cotton yarn and it did help to pass the time.

Many cross stitch projects were worked on this past month and I especially love the caribou I finished. This guy is part of the Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery SAL called Arctic Animals. The next step is stitching puffins, so I'm excited to start on that this week.

I recorded a video to share the projects I hand stitched in August. To see the video on my youtube channel click here. After I filmed the video, I realized I actually had quite a bit of  progress on many projects, so that felt great!

Today I will be hand stitching the binding on my Laundry Basket mystery quilt from 2021. It always feel so good to be nearing a finish!

What are you planning to hand stitch today? Are you starting new projects? Finishing some treasures? We hope you will link up your blog below and share your journey with us!

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