Pat's Cross-Stitch Corner

A Place to Share a Craft I Love

Sarah’s Marking Sampler by The Goode Huswife

By

When I first saw this small sampler displayed in one of the many cross stitching Facebook groups, I knew I wanted to stitch it. Only problem was I did not own the chart and it was OOP. Luckily, for me, a stitching friend offered to loan me her copy.

Sarah’s Marking Sampler cover

What exactly is a “marking sampler?”

A marking sampler is a small piece of cloth with the alphabet, numbers (up to ten) and possibly the name of the girl who made the sampler. … In Northwestern Europe, in the mid- to late nineteenth century, marking samplers were usually worked in cross stitch in a red silk, and later in a cotton thread.

From the Textile Research Centre

I selected a piece of 16ct Parchment aida I had in my stash along with the called for DMC floss. The finished piece would not be really large and framed could go on my sampler wall.

Floss colors used are DMC 610, 612, 645, 3011, 3021, and 3768.

Started Stitching: August 22, 2021
Finished Stitching: August 29, 2021

Sarah’s Marking Sampler Progress 8/28/2021

And it is now the stitching is finished. Now to decide on how to finish it – framed or pin pillow or something else.

Sarah’s Marking Sampler

A Bunch of Smalls

By

I decided to go through the stitching drawer to see how many smaller finishes might be in there that I could attempt to fully finish. There are a lot more than I thought so I pulled them out and put them in a smaller container. I selected five of them to work on. Four of them were by Blackbird Designs and one was a free Christmas Bonus Chart from the Linens and Threads Mystery Sampler for 2020.

I selected the backing fabric for each one and ironed on light weight interfacing to the front stitched piece and backing fabric. Since my eyesight is poor, I decided to mark the stitching lines on the back of the stitched piece to make it easier for me to sew.

Top Row: Left, Bonus Chart from Mystery Sampler; Middle, Basket of Cherries,; Right, Apple Orchard
Bottom Row: Both are Coxcomb Bouquet

Once they were all stitched together, I stuffed them with polyester fiberfill. I found the corners particularly hard to get the stuffing to stay put. I closed the bottoms with a slip stitch but next time I will try the Ladder Stitch. Sorry, no photo of that stage.

Next it was time to select the trims I wanted to use. I am very fond of the ruched ribbon trim and had used it once before on an earlier ornament so decided to try that for at least a couple of them. Vonna Pfeiffer, The Twisted Stitcher, has an excellent tutorial HOW TO: Rusche Ribbon.

I had some chenille trims from Lady Dot Creates that I also decided to try. While it turned out OK, I think this was a thinner chenille trim and even doubled and twisted it looked skimpy.

Left: Coxcomb Bouquet – Right: Basket of Cherries
Basket of Cherries by Blackbird Design. Backing fabric also by Blackbird Designs
Coxcomb Bouquet by Blackbird Designs. Trim by Lady Dot Creates (petit chenille)
Apple Orchard by Blackbird Designs part of the Garden Club series. Backing fabric also by BBD Hyde Park series.
Coxcomb Bouquet by Blackbird Designs. Backing Fabric from the Hyde Park Collection by BBD. Chenille trim from Lady Dot Creates
Bonus Chart from Linen and Threads Mystery Sampler 2020 for January Ornament

And as you can see, the basket will not hold them all so I need to get a bigger one. I have three of this size all filled with smalls.

Basket from 1803OhioFarmBaskets

Maryland Blue Crab

By

I first saw this chart posted in one of the many Facebook Cross Stitch groups I belong to. Maryland Blue Crab is the first of the Chesapeake Bay series by Ardith Designs.

Maryland Blue Crab chart cover

I had a piece of fabric in my stash in 16ct aida almost the exact color of the fabric used on the model. I selected Weeks Dye Works Jay Bird as the floss. It stitched up very quickly and now I need to decide how to finish it.

Maryland Blue Crab stitched

The fabric is much prettier than my photo shows.

I look forward to seeing what other designs she has for this series.

I sent this one off to Vonna Pfeiffer, The Twisted Stitcher to be finished.

Smallest Things Sampler

By

When I first saw Smallest Things Sampler by Heart in Hand Needleart, I knew I HAD to stitch it for two of my step-daughters who were first time gradmas.

Smallest Things Sampler Chart Cover

“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” The model stitched two over two on 32 Ct. legacy linen using Classic Colorworks and Weeks Dye Works. The stitch count is 80W x 84H so the finished size was only 5″ x 5.25″ which made for a quick stitch. The embellishments of a heart, flower and house buttons were included with the chart but I order two extra sets.

I selected 16ct French Country Mocha that I had in my stash to stitch it on and the recommended floss of which I had all but one of the colors.

Floss colors:

  • DMC 3053 or Classic Colorworks Eve’s Leaves
  • DMC 309 or Classic Colorworks Holly Berry
  • DMC 931 or Classic Colorworks Old Blue Jeans
  • DMC 761 or Classic Colorworks Rose Petal
  • DMC 3722 or Classic Colorworks Tennessee Red Clay
  • DMC 3052 or Classic Colorworks Weeping Willow
  • DMC 3045 or Classic Colorworks Ye Olde Gold
  • DMC 930 or Weeks Dye Works Blue Suede
  • DMC 3021 or Weeks Dye Works Grape Vine
  • DMC 822 or Weeks Dye Works Grits
  • DMC 611 or Weeks Dye Works Oilcloth

I decided to use my new favorite frame to finish these: Textured Gray Wood Frame that has a slightly greenish tint to it.

Tomayto, Tomahto

By

Tomayto, Tomahto by Cathy Haberman of Hands on Designs was an exclusive kit it offered by Julie Kursave through her Homespun Needlework (Cross Stitch and Samplers). It came complete with EVERYTHING you needed to stitch the two pieces and finish the entire project. THE KIT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

Tomayto Tomahto Kit Contents

The project could be order with aida or linen. I chose the aida as was easier on my eyes for stitching especially since one of the pieces was a dark red. The tray insert uses what looks like fiddler’s cloth. Stitching on the red was hard but I got it done with my trusty magnifying light. I finished stitching both pieces and now to sit down and read all of the instructions for finishing.

Tomayto Tomahto Stitched Pieces

The easy part was the stitching, now it is time to start the finishing process. The directions for finishing were excellent. First I laced the stitched piece to the matboard. Then assembled to two wool pieces that make up the tray.

Next came the assembling of the tomahto which was not as easy as it looked. Partly because it is small and the aida is heavier. Anyway, after a number of mistakes I got the piece assembled and placed in the tray. The small strawberry will wait until a later date.

Basket of Memories by Blackbird Designs

By

I wanted to stitch something special in memory of one of my favorite designers who recently passed away, Barb Adams who was half of the Blackbird Design team. I chose Basket of Memories which was her design.

Basket of Memories chart cover

I selected a piece of 16ct French Country Mocha aida that I had in my stash and Verbascum Clementine by Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss which is a lovely shade of peach (758 is the closest DMC #). I even found some of the perfect color buttons I had in my momma’s button box.

Rather than use a fabric for the backing, I used the same aida and stitched Barb’s name and the dates for her birth and death. It was a fairly quick stitch and once I finished the stitching and assembled the piece into a small pillow, I went in search of trim. Either said than done. Another stitcher suggested I check out LinenLark on Etsy. There I found the perfect ribbon 1/2″ wide in a pale peach color. I ordered it and it came fairly quickly.

Vonna Pfeiffer, The Twisted Stitcher, has an excellent tutorial on creating ruched ribbon which I followed. While working with a half inch strip of soft ribbon is very fiddly, I love the way it turned out.

I am very happy with the final result and will be using this for trim again in the future.

Basket of Memories front
Basket of Memories back

Our Home

By

Our Home Sewing Box is from the book For My Friend. I decided to stitch this small piece in memory of Barb Adams of Blackbird Designs who recently passed away. I choose a piece of 16ct Fog by Picture This Plus I had in my stash.

For My Friend cover
Our Home Sewing Box

Stitch Count: 82w x 88h
Recommended Fabric: 30ct Korty’s Special Blend
Recommended Floss:

  • CC Barn Dorn
  • CC Calico Kitty
  • CC Gingersnap
  • CC Polliwog
  • GA Apple Cider
  • GA Maple Syrup
  • GA Picnic Basket (I used the DMC 3031)
  • WDW Oak

If I stitched it again, I would use a different color than Calico Kitty as part of the variegation in it is too close to the Oak.

I started stitching on July 7 and finished on July 27. Had to wait until I got some more of the Calico Kitty floss as I ran out. I’ll probably finish it with a small frame.

My Home stitched project

I decided to finish this one as a small pinkeep using a piece of the Hyde Park fabric line by Blackbird Designs and some ruched ribbon trim.

Our Home Front
Our Home back.

Sampler Heart by Little House Needleworks

By

“Sampler Heart” was designed by Diane Williams and was a gift with the purchase of the new Classic Colorworks thread colors, Chesapeake Bay, Lighthouse, and Mariner’s Compass.

Sampler Hearts and Classic Colorworks floss

I bought it and decided to stitch it on 16ct Nessie by Picture This Plus using Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Nine Patch floss.

It really was a quick stitch.

Not sure yet how I will finish this one.

Autumn Owl Etching

By

Autumn Owl Etching by Cecelia Turner of Heart in Hand Needleart is the 3rd in the series include in Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher magazine.

The recommended fabric is 32ct Wren linen by Picture This Plus using Classic Colorworks floss. I stitched mine on a piece of 16ct aida I had in my stash. I changed some of the colors to Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss.

  • Sticks and Twigs
  • Colonial Copper/VMSS Kansas Cone Flower
  • Wagon Wheel/VMSS Soapstone
  • Muddy Puddle

There are four charts in this series, one in each of the 2020 issues of the magazine. I have stitched Spring Hare Etching and Winter Cardinal Etching. I still have Summer Catch Etching left to do.

All are quick stitches. Started stitching 5/27/2021 and finished on 5/30/2021. It will most likely be finished as a small pillow.

Autumn Owl Etching

I spent some time with my quilting friend and raided her stash for some small fabric pieces. Added a bit of black rickrack to the gold fabric and this is what I ended up with. Love the way it turned out. Backing is the same gold fabric.

Autumn Owl Etching finished as a small pillow

In My Garden by Blackbird Designs

By

In My Garden was first released as a Silver Needle A Little Help From My Friends pattern and later included in the Sewing Club book. Stitched on 16ct aida by Picture This Plus with called for colors. Sorry did not note which of color of fabric I used.

I started stitching this one on April 6 and finished on April 24, 2021. I am thinking I will watch Vonna Epperson Pfeiffer’s wonderful tutorial FINISHING: Cross Stitch into a DRUM PINKEEP with Vonna The Twisted Stitcher  in the hopes of attempting this myself. It could also be finished as a small framed piece. Time will tell.

Thread colors used in this one were:

  • WDW Carolina Cecil
  • WDW Chickpea
  • WDW Cinnabar
  • WDW Cocoa
  • WDW Dirt Road
  • WDW Driftwood
  • WDW Kudzu
  • WDW Stormy Night
  • WDW Tarragon
  • WDW Teal Frost

I LOVE the way Vonna finished this one for me.