OhSewCrafty

The People's Choice SAL: Snow

Snow is a great theme for me since I like stitching Christmas year round!  As it happens, I have 2 recent projects that qualify. 

Victorian Carolers by Joanne Aston / Cross Stitch Gold is stitched on 34 count Ecru linen and has lots of negative space at the bottom, meant to be the snowy ground.  Well, that wouldn't work for me, since I used Ecru fabric, so I filled in all those stitches with DMC Etoile in blanc, which gives a nice sparkly snow effect, in my opinion.  

My other project with snow is Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Historic Handworks / JCS Ornaments 2020.  Santa and Mrs. Claus are standing on a lovely snowy ground, stitched with DMC 3865 and blending filament to give it a little sparkle.   (Well, they will be, after I stitch their boots next week, if all goes according to plan).  

Another pattern I look forward to starting soon, after I finish Fairy Rain, is the (blue) Christmas Angel by Joan Elliott, from Cross Stitch Collection, November 2012 issue (I have a digital copy through Zinio).  She too, stands upon snowy ground.  I have a beautiful piece of Under the Sea Hamlet opalescent Belfast for her.  It's a bit of an unconventional choice, but I believe she will pop on the dark fabric.  

The People's Choice SAL is hosted by the lovely Jo at Serendipitious Stitching .

Stitching HD: Victorian Carolers

• Pattern: By Joanne Aston for Cross Stitch Gold Magazine October 2016
• Materials: 34 count ecru linen, DMC cotton & Etoile
• Size: 7.6 x 8.7 inches
• Time to stitch: 33 days over 1.75 years

Presenting a full coverage finish!  

Oh this project is so much more than simply full coverage.  The backstitch is kind of insane, much of it over one thread.  There are french knots galore.  There's a hefty list of colors, and I added to the stitch count by filling in the negative space at the bottom with white Etoile.  It was meant to be stitched on white, but the ecru I used did not serve as snowy ground.  

I wanted to finish it last year and worked on it quite a bit in late December, but I burned out on the backstitch and punted.  Thankfully, I started doing the Daily 30 weekly challenges in January, part of that is 30 minutes per day for 5 days out of 7.  It was perfect for this piece.  I could handle the fiddly bits in 30 minute increments.  

As for materials, my choice of the 34 count ecru was ill advised.  First, the color issue as mentioned above.  Then, with all the fractional stitches, 28 count would have been better.  At least it's nice and petite on the 34 count.  And the french knots (1 strand, wrapped twice) provided great coverage for the empty stitches.  I really did not fancy making french knots in the middle of a cross stitch.  A lot of them are made between the cross stitches, which isn't too bad.  Really only basic materials are required for this chart, but it's highly detailed, intricate, lovely regardless.    

My favorite part is certainly the people.  3 children and their parents, persumably.  l love their clothes, and the hats & bonnets are cute.  The tree in the window is gorgeous with the popcorn strands crafted of light yellow french knots.  I suppose I would say this would not be the project for you, if you are averse to french knots.  And now my rotation is devoid of full coverage.  It feels strange.  I might start another of those full coverage stained glass Christmas ornmaments (I stitched one a few years ago, there are several in the book).  

Stitching HD: Vixen

• Pattern by Nora Corbett, Christmas Eve Couriers series
• Materials: Pewter Opalescent Belfast by Picture this Plus, DMC, Caron Waterlilies, Kreinik, Wisper, Mill Hill beads, and Swarovksi crystals
• Size: 5 x 7 inches
• Time to stitch: 4 days since May of last year

Presenting my final reindeer, it's the end of the era!  Yes, I know there's Rudolph but the poem by Clement Clark Moore mentions "8 tiny reindeer".  And that works for me, in terms of presentation.  I wanted an even number.  

Vixen was an easy quick stitch, the pattern doesn't call for too many colors, there isn't anything too fiddly, except for the Wisper tail.  If you're unfamiliar with Wisper, I will say that it's best to use very short lengths (less than 8 inches), to keep the thread intact so you get the nice fluffy effect.  But the tail is pretty small.  I love the colors on Vixen, the wreath around her neck and the huge bow, the orange beaded reins, and the blingy antlers, resplendent with crystals.  I quite enjoy stitching the reindeer, and I miss the series, a little.  I made my usual addition of the name to the bottom, so I can tell which is which.  

As for material, I used the last little piece of Pewter opalescent Belfast.  I got the whole series out of 2 fat quarters (or a fat half), each FQ folded along the center of both axes and cut carefully into 4 pieces.  The Umbria Waterlilies is used mainly for the border.  The 2 Kreiniks are silvery blue (snowy ground) and antique gold (border).  I managed to finish her with about 7 beads leftover of the Persimmon Magnificas (after using that one box for several deer).  There are Cinnamon red Magnifica beads too, in the border. I subbed in Swarovski crystals for the Mill Hill teardrop and bicones, they were much more cost effective and the exact same thing, as far as I could tell.  

My favorites part is probably the uptilted head, like she's contemplating her Christmas Eve flight.  Now to cut mat with 4 apertures and get those reindeer framed.  Not anytime soon, though.  Christmas is over 10 months away.  In the meantime, Im planning to start a new Mirabilia and maybe a Christmas piece, too.  

WIPcalypse: January 2022

Hello and welcome!  Well, I made some cracking progress in January, despite being away for a week.  

I started with Easter Bunny House, ultimately giving it 2 days and 1,472 stitches.  I finished the cross stitch on the top floor and backstitched it all, starting at the top.  I think it's coming out so cute, the face in the sun, and all the detail on the stove, table, clock, books, etc.  Finally I started working on the bunny that will be on a ladder, painting the exterior wall.  I extended the walls down a little too. Fairy Rain was a big focus for the month, as I want to finish her soon-ish.  She was loved for 4 days and 3,180 stitches.  Basically I'm working up and reached the top of the pattern, the regular cross anyway, though I need to go back and fill in her skin and her top, plus stitch her upper wings.  After that, I started backstitching from the bottom and actually finished all the backstitching on the bottom half, which was quite extensive, about 1,100 stitches with backstitch counted as half.  Quite a few ninja stitches too.    

Fata dell' Aurora had 1 day of attention and I did 1,330 stitches.  I'm working on her skirt down to the bottom of the chart.  She stitches quickly with long bands of color, though the hem involves more frequent color changes.  

Aladdin was called for WIPGO.  In 1.25 days, I met my goal to finish the cross stitching, and even started with the backstitch, with 1,787 stitches (backstitch counted for half).  It's coming along and will be coming out in early February for a focused finish, hopefully!  

Vixen was a January finish goal, also my January focus with Semisane Stitchers.  Over a few days, I did 2,883 stitches and finished it!  More details forthcoming in a finish post, need to take some decent photos of Stargazer too. 

As for my ornie WIPs, Elfie Whoo was finished in a half (partial) day with 655 stitches.  It's modified with some of my own color choices, and a yarn ply (unwinded) in lieu of Wisper, also personalized as my son's 2021 ornament.  Santa Claus Coming to Town had a little love, 402 stitches over a half day. Both are on 32 count Amber Linen (Wichelt).

Victorian Carolers was also a January finish goal, but something had to give with being away for 8 nights on vacation.  I gave it some limited effort, 30 minutes here and there for the daily 30 challenges. The backstitching is very painstaking, so the short sessions are ideal.  Overall, it got 1.25 days and 461 stitches (backstitch counted for half).  Not the greatest photo, the bottom is rolled up in the scroll, but I've completed about 6 of 9 backstitch colors (some of it was done the last few days of December too).

I finally buckled down with Alice, gave her 2.25 days, which was enough to finish the hookah panel (self charted) & border, and complete the March Hare with backstitch, 1,333 stitches. The border around March Hare was started (additional 212 stitches), but I didn't have enough time to finish.   

And now for the fun stuff, new starts!  I started 2 large projects, Santa's Workshop by Jim Shore / Mill Hill on Green Apple opal 32 count lugana by Silkweaver (vintage).  I started in the corner with the border because the border is extensive and I'd like to get it out of the way.  I got 1,006 stitches over 1 day.  Then I started Bellatrix by Bella Filipina on Dusk Belfast by Steel City Stitchers.  She was loved for 1 days and 1,630 stitches, started in the center becasuse it's all DMC, which I have in stash.  The top left corner is full of Kreinik and beads and a silk, the vast majority of which I ordered after starting.  I did not realize she would be so blingy!I also started some ornies, for the JCS SAL and others just because I fancied them.  Noel Angel by Rosewood Manor is on white opalescent Belfast and took 934 stitches, and 1.5 days to finish.  Frosty by Autumn Lane Stitchery on Haven Cashel by Picture this Plus, also had 1.5 days and 1,464 stitches to finish.  Triangle Treat by Blackwork Journey is on white opalescent Cashel was started with 611 stitches over a half day.  Chris-Minty by Queen Stitch given 1.5 days and 809 stitches.  Goodness & Light by Sunflower Seed had a half day and 500 stitches.  Both of those last two are on white opalescent Belfast.

Finally, I started a Things that Go Bump by Glendon Place, on Flash Cashel by Picture this Plus. It's a decent start of 902 stitches, which took 4.5 days, some of those being vacation days when I barely had the energy to lift the needle to stitch one thread.   The fact that I lost my Glocusent light, somewhere between home and Florida, did not help.  Lighting was insufficient and I had difficulty seeing the fabric.  This one was easier, being on 28 count.  The other fabric I packed is 32 count.

So I knocked out most of my goals, exceeding a few too! I'm excited by the progress on my WIPs, and I love all my new starts.  In fact, I hadn't touched some of the WIPs in so long, they were almost like new starts too.  

Question of the month: Describe your stitching style  I'm sort of a cross between a rotation stitcher and chaos wrangler. I do set out rotation goals in advance, with consideration as to when I'd like to finish certain projects, but I tend to switch projects every day or two, and the days I have planned for a particular project may be spread out over time.  Each day, I tend to choose projects according to challenge goals in my various FB groups (Daily 30, Magical Stitches Mystery, Stitchy Quest for the One Ring, Enchanted Stitching).  Also, it's not uncommon for me to work on 2 or more pieces in a day.  

Now for my February goals:

•1k each on Fairy Rain, Alice, Easter Bunny House, Bellatrix, & a possible Mirabilia start.  Or 2k, if the mood strikes.

•500 each on Triangle Treat and Witches Werewolves (new start)

•Finish Aladdin, Things that Go Bump, Victorian Carolers, and Santa Claus Coming to Town Ornie