Pat's Cross-Stitch Corner

Two Hearts One Love

September 15, 2021 By patgeary

When I first saw this chart in one of my cross stitch groups I KNEW I had to stitch it for a dear friend who had recently lost her husband of seventy years. Two Hearts One Love is by Victoria House Designs, a new designer to me.

I chose a piece of 16ct Ivory by Zweigert from my stash and the called for DMC colors (152, 407, 950, 3012, 3046, 3722, 3781, 3782, 3790, and 3858). The stitch count is 125w by 150h which made the finished piece approximately 7 7/8 by 13 1/2.

I finished stitching this last night (9/15/2021) but forgot to not when I started, sometime the end of August. Now to decide on a frame.

I decided to try a new place to order frames from, The Rusty Roof on Etsy. The rabbet depth on their frames is not as deep as I like but since I was not going to use glass and most of them were for smaller pieces, I figured it would work. I ordered one of the distressed wood frames in the color Espresso.

I pinned the stitched piece to a piece of foam core covered with a light weight cotton batting. It just fits into the frame with just enough room to use the point driver to hold everything together. I will then cover the back with brown kraft paper than when spritzed with water, dries taut. Rather than adding hanging hardware, I am using a black wrought iron easle.

Sarah’s Marking Sampler by The Goode Huswife

August 28, 2021 By patgeary

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.

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.

A Bunch of Smalls

August 24, 2021 By patgeary

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.

Maryland Blue Crab

August 15, 2021 By patgeary

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.

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.

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

August 5, 2021 By patgeary

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.

“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

August 5, 2021 By patgeary

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.

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.

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.

For the Birds series Wall Hanging

August 5, 2021 By patgeary

The Loose Feathers For the Birds series was released in 2017. There are nine charts that make up the series, but I only stitched six of them.

It’s Spring Fever
The Light Upon the Lawn
She Sights a Bird
All the Hills Echoed (not stitched)
Sing a Song of Seasons (not stitched)
Pleasure of the Fleeting Year (not stitched)
Hear the Crickets Sing
The Summer Beaming Forth
The Last Ripe Berries

Once I had finished stitching them, I stuck them in a drawer and left them since I could not figure out how I wanted to finish them. Fast forward to 2021 and I decided I might like to finish them as a wall hanging. I asked advice from my dear friend who is a quilter. Off to the local quilt shop, Patchwork Plus, to select some fabric. You really have to visit the store to see the cast array of fabric offered, every color you can imagine. With the help of one of the “fabric ladies” I chose MARCUS FABRICS PAULA BARNES COMPANIONS LITE BLUE PERFECT PETAL which was perfect with the stitched piece. I bought all they had which was a little over 2 yards more than enough to complete this project.

I decided to lay the stitched pieces out with two across and three down with fabric surrounding the stitched pieces. The stitched pieces were trimmed to measure 8 1/4″ wide by 8 1/2″ high. I allowed for 1/2′ seams. The fabric strips were cut 3″ wide. The backing fabric will be the same as what I used for the separation strips.

I had to wait for the fusible interfacing to arrive from Joann’s before I could get anymore done. I used fusible Pellon Thermolam Plus for the back and just regular fusible interfacing for the front. The only way I could a picture was to lay the entire piece on the floor and stand over it.

Now it is off to my quilting friend who is going to do the binding for me.

Basket of Memories by Blackbird Designs

July 30, 2021 By patgeary

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.

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.

Our Home

July 27, 2021 By patgeary

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.

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.

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.

When This You See

July 26, 2021 By patgeary

When This You See by Blackbird Designs was offered in 2017 as a UNICEF Fundraiser by Gigi R. It is now OOP. The chart called for Picture This Plus Lupine fabric which I ordered in 16ct aida rather than the called for 32ct which I can not see well enough to stitch on. I also ordered some of the finishing fabric At Home (#2792-14 and 2790-14) also by Blackbird Designs.

The recommended floss is: Classic Colorworks Dublin Bay, Colonial Rose, Caramel, Gingerbread, and Ye Olde Gold.

I knew when the fabric arrived I could not see well enough to stitch on it so stuck it in a drawer. Fast forward to 2021 and I posted in the Fans of Blackbird Designs Facebook group to see if someone would be willing to stitch it for me and finish it in return for fabrics to stitch and finish one for herself. Shelley Heigert volunteered to help me. I absolutely love her stitching and finishing.