Pat's Cross-Stitch Corner

Blackbirds by All Through the Night

January 30, 2022 By patgeary

I was first introduced to designs by All Through the Night in 2020 when I purchased three charts. Blackbirds is the 2nd one I have stitched.

I selected a piece of 16ct Parchment aida and three flosses by Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe -Charcoal and Blacksmith were both a really dark gray and I wanted to stitch the word cherries in Scrumptious Red. I started stitching on August 9, 2020 but did not get very far.

I picked it up again in 2022 and decided I HAD to finish stitching it which I did on January 30, 2022

Now I just need to decide how I want to frame it (red or black frame)?

I selected a red cherry frame for this one.

Home for Christmas by Plum Street Samplers

January 17, 2022 By patgeary

“Home for Christmas” is a cross stitch design by Paulette Stewart of Plum Street Samplers. The design is stitched on 36 count linen and the stitch count is 106 wide x 113 high. The kit contains the chart, 36 count linen, floss, and cotton fabric.

When I first saw this one pictured in one of my Facebook groups, I knew I wanted to stitch it. I believe I purchased it on the secondary market.

Since I normally stitch on aida, I switched out the fabric for a piece of 16ct aida I had in my stash. Unfortunately, I failed to note the color which is a mottled tan. I used the called for colors which were included but since I am stitching with two strands will use Victorian Motto floss or Gentle Arts Currant since I am running out of the called for Crimson.

My notes indicate I actually started stitching this on April 6, 2020 but I had only done the top border. I decided in January 2022 I had to do some more stitching on this one BEFORE I could start a new one.

Ran out of two colors of floss so I am putting this aside until my next floss order arrives.

Finished stitching this one last night (2/10/2022). I will probably frame it and add it to my Christmas wall in the craft room.

It’s now August 11, 2022 and I am finally getting around to finishing this one. Not quite sure if I am going to stain or paint the board but the finished project will join the Christmas wall in my craft room.

Bittersweet Acorn by Blackbird Designs

January 7, 2022 By patgeary

Bittersweet Acorn by Blackbird Designs was one of the retreat projects for 2021. It should be available at the Nashville Market 2022. I received it as a gift along with a piece of 18ct Wren by Picture This Plus. I switched out the fabric for a piece of 16ct Regency also by Picture This Plus.

The called for threads are all Weeks Dye Works – Cinnamon Twist, Cocoa, Cognac, Dirt Road, Oscar, Roasted Fig, Tobacco Road, and Swamp Water.

I started stitching this one on January 6, 2022.

No idea at this point how I will finish it. I think I will stitch this one again on a different count fabric (perhaps 20ct over 2) cause I like the way it looks.

I decided to finish this one using a small wooden board I bought from Hobby Lobby for half price. The boards were available in both a dark and natural color so I got several of them. I had purchased some Fall trim and added that to the edging. It was a bit stiff to work with so no bow or whatnot.

Love and Joy by Heartstring Samplery

January 5, 2022 By patgeary

I first saw Love and Joy by Heartstring Samplery on Brenda and the Serial Starter flosstube and knew I HAD to stitch it. The chart is ONLY AVAILABLE on the Heartstring Samplery website and ONLY as a pdf file.

I chose a piece of 16ct Natural aida I had in my stash and the called for floss Classic Colorworks: Tennessee Red Clay. My two skeins of floss were not in the least bit variegated, but I loved the color so used it anyway. Besides, it perfectly matched what I wanted to use as finishing fabric, Joyeux Noel Pearl by French General.

I liked this one so much, I stitched a 2nd one using the same fabric but Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Rose Red floss.

Christmas Ornaments

January 2, 2022 By patgeary

As the New Year begins, I have two more Christmas Ornaments I have completed stitching. The first one, Merry Christmas was a freebie I have had for some time but had no info on other than the chart. I decided to search and see if I could locate it to see if it was a legal chart and not a stolen one. I was able to find it after much searching.

Merry Christmas Designed by: Sandra Longan Miller can be downloaded for free.

The stitch count is 54w X 54h

Finished Size(s):

14/28 Count, – 3-3/4w X 3-3/4h in

16/32 Count, – 3-3/8w X 3-3/8h in

18/36 Count, – 3w X 3h in

Called for Floss: DMC

319, Pistachio Green-VY DK – Leaves and stems

644, Beige Gray-MD – Border squares

783, Topaz-MD – Merry Christmas

815, Garnet-MD – Berries

I chose to stitch this one on a piece of 14ct Opalescent aida and leave off the border. I used Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss – Kris Kringle Green, Victorian Christmas for the lettering and Cranberry Red for the berries. I will probably finish it as a small pin pillow maybe using one of the fabrics shown in the photo below.

Merry Christmas with possible backing fabrics

The second one I actually finished in 2021. Joy was another freebie from Misty Purcell of Luminous Fiber Arts from her newsletter. Again, I stitched this one on 14ct Opalescent aida with Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Victorian Christmas. I will also finish this one as a small pin pillow for my Christmas dough bowl.

Merry Christmas and Joy finished as pin pillows

Believe – A Christmas Pear

January 1, 2022 By patgeary

I first saw the finished stitched piece for Believe by Threadwork Primitives in one on my Facebook Cross Stitch groups and knew at first glance I wanted to stitch this one. I ordered the chart directly from Nan Lewis who is Threadwork Primitives.

I chose a piece of 16ct aida I had in my stash and used DMC 936 and 115 (a variegated cranberry red) and Crescent Colors Onionskin. I stitched two of them as gifts for Christmas 2022.

They will soon be on their way to Vonna Pfeiffer, The Twisted Stitcher to work her magic on.

Believe – Christmas Pear shows backing fabric.

A Merry Little Christmas

December 26, 2021 By patgeary

When I saw the chart A Merry Little Christmas by Bent Creek, my first thought was of my little brother and his Charlie Brown tree.

I knew it was one I had to have to stitch for Christmas 2022 as gift ornaments. The design is not large with a stitch count of 55×55.

I chose a piece of 15ct Queen Anne’s Lace fabric and used the called for colors:

DMC 640
DMC 869
DMC 3362
Blanc
Weeks Dye Works Bark
DMC 645
DMC 934
Weeks Dye Works Turkish Red

I stitched two of them for now and may do a couple of more perhaps on a smaller count fabric.

Now they will head off to Vonna Pfeiffer so she can work her magic on them.

A Merry Little Christmas shows backing fabric

Christmas Bells

December 19, 2021 By patgeary

Christmas Bells is a free chart offered by The Primitive Hare in 2016. While I saved the chart, I just got around to stitching it this year.

The recommended fabric is 30ct BOLEYN LINEN. Since I normally stitch on 16ct aida because of poor eyesight, I selected a piece of 16ct Friendship Green from Fabrics by Stephanie and a skein of Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Everglade (a deep green).

I will be stitching a 2nd time with the same fabric and another skein of Victorian Motto Victorian Pine Boughs. I will be sending these off to The Twisted Stitcher, Vonna Pfeiffer to work her magic.

And here they are after Vonna Pfeiffer worked her magic.

And here it is stitched on 16ct aida spritzed with an antique spray using Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Glorious Flag floss. And a small piece of backing fabric that is just the right size. I’ll finish this one as a small pin pillow and add some bells to it.

I added some ribbon trim and need to find some small bells to attach for this finish.

Library Pockets for Cross Stitch

December 10, 2021 By patgeary

I have to give another stitcher, Anna Williamson, the credit for this marvelous idea.

I wanted to find some way to provide some history on the samplers I stitch in case someone is interested after I pass (probably won’t be but it’s a positive thought). I found some 3 x 5 adhesive pockets and some printable 3 x 5 index cards to print information about all of my framed pieces. The pockets can be attached to the back where they can’t be seen if it’s a piece submitted for judging.

I checked on Amazon and found just what I was looking for so ordered them – Juvale 3×5 self-adhesive Index Card Pockets. Rather than order the Printable 3×5 index card sheets, I created a Word document using a table with four cells and margins that made each cell approximately 3×5.

All you have to do is peel off the backing and add it to the back of your stitched piece. You could also the person you would like the piece to go to once you depart this Earth.

Christmas Ornament #4 – April 2020

December 1, 2021 By patgeary

This was one of the bonus Christmas ornaments included with the 2020 Linens and Threads Mystery Sampler SAL. I stitched it on 16ct white aida using Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe threads in shades of Teal.

Primitive Teal
Weathered Teal
Robin’s Egg Blue

April 2020 Ornament from Linens and Threads

The backing fabric is from my friend’s quilting stash. I will be finishing it as a small pin pillow for my dough bowl collection. The ruched ribbon trim is made from Lady Dot Creations sequoia trim.