Patchwork Pumpkin and Bittersweet September were originally released as part of the Ladies Prim Society Club. They are being released as Reward of Merit patterns.

If you missed out on these from the Ladies Prim Society, call and reserve yours soon….limited release. GO TO DYEING TO STITCH. NOW! You can give them a call at 757-366-8740.

Patchwork Pumpkin was originally released as Bittersweet Lane and was the Ladies Prim Society release for 2014.

Bittersweet September was the Ladies Prim Society Release for 2013.

What is the Ladies Prim Society you ask? The Ladies Prim Society is an exclusive club through Dyeing To Stitch, featuring Blackbird Designs and Heartstrings Samplery. Every 8-10 weeks you will receive a complete kit including any finishing supplies needed. The kits to are priced  between $35 and $40. Membership is closed for the 2015 calendar year BUT you can read more about the Ladies Prim Society and Dyeing to Stitch.

The third pattern being released is the start of a new series, the Garden Club.

In the next 12 months, our Garden Club series will reflect a cherished aspect of gardening. It might be a lovely basket of flowers, bees buzzing from flower to flower, or, like this month, an abundant harvest of cherries. In any case, you won’t have to worry about getting your hands dirty!

On the back cover, you will find our Basket of Cherries made up as a pincushion. But if you’d rather, you can wait and stitch all 12 projects into one large sampler.

One pattern will be released each month for a year. The picture above shows the front and back cover of the first pattern. All 12 pieces are stitched on 32ct. Weeks Dye Works linen. Each pattern uses a different color of linen. Basket of Cherries was stitched on 32ct. Cocoa. Each piece in the series is a 4" square. On the back of the pattern cover you can note the first three samplers of the series sewn together.

My plan is to stitch them all together as one piece. Two previous pieces offered in this manner (stitched on different fabrics then sewn together) were the Mystery Sampler (out of print) and Flea Market Souvenir  (out of print).

You can read the full article with even more pictures on Barb and Alma’s blog, Blackbird Designs One Stitch at a Time.

Occasionally the gals on the 123 Message Board point other stitchers to free cross stitch charts that are offered for our stitching pleasure. Here are some of the sites that offer legal free charts.

Better Cross Stitch

Better Cross Stitch – Cross stitch tips, articles and links. Free cross stitch patterns.  One of the designs I particularly liked was one called Chrysanthemum and is pictured below:

Fabric: 14 count
Stitches: 300 x 230
Size: 21 3/8 x 16 3/8 in
Colors: 59 DMC colors

The charts are in pdf format and are available to print in either black and white or color. Personally, I prefer black and white as they are easier on my eyes. Take the time to explore that many different subjects that are offered.

EMS Cross Stitch Design

Ellen Maurer-Stroh is another designer who offers some free charts that I love. Her Project 2010 – Flower of the Month pictured below is a particular favorite.

You will need to register before you can download the free charts. Again, you can print them in either black and white or color. These are available in three different formats – pdf, PAT for PC Stitch and zipped for machine.

Brooks Books Publishing

Brook Nolen of Brooks Books Publishing offer a series called Advent Animals. The series consists of 25 little animals that can be stitched individually as ornaments or as a calendar. Use your imagination. As of today, 15 have been released. You can download any or all of them. You can see the first six pictured below.

Jardin Prive

Jardin Prive is a French designer who offers some beautiful designs for us to stitch. One of my favorites is offered  in five parts as a Stitch A Long La Pensée Positive which is pictured below.

There are 5 separate charts available in several languages including English available for download as pdf’s.

Elizabeth Jane is chart #12 in the Anniversaries of the Heart series by Blackbird Designs and comes with a bonus pattern called “For Those Recorded Here.”

For Those Recorded Here by Blackbird Designs

Recently Louise Mae Glennon posted a picture of her finish where she had changed the colors of floss from the suggested pinks to shades of purple. I loved it and decided I would like to stitch it using the same colors.

Finished Piece with shades of Purple

Carrie’s Creations Threads used to stitch the piece

Carrie’s Creations threads used to stitch the house

Louise stitched hers on 32ct linen and the finished design measures approximately 5” x 9”. I will be using 28ct Monaco – my “go to” fabric. Just ordered the floss to stitch this! More to come once I receive the chart and floss.

The first three listed are the purples used for the flowers and borders (ie; purple, ultraviolet and aubergine) the colors bullfrog, and Olives were used for the leaves, chain links at top and vines.

The colors Toasted Marshmallow and Moose Drool were used for the flower icon in the upper left of design (tan color).

For the vase Carries Creation overdyed floss Dried Sage for the main color, for the top of the vase DMC #169, and for the checkered pattern in the vase Carries Creation overdyed Soot and DMC #543.

For the house Carries Creation overdyed Pina Colada for the main color, and Carries Creation overdyed Antique Gold for the roof and window panes. For the door steps and door DMC #169.
DMC #169 for the fence next to house.

For the patches of grass DMC #’s 3790, 832, and 3051.
For the birds Carries Creations overdyed Soot color.
For the anchor Carries Creations Green and Carries Creations winter wheat for the vine over it.