Pat's Cross-Stitch Corner

Sweet Summer, Come Again

April 2, 2021 By patgeary

The recommended fabric is 36ct Wren by Picture This Plus. The recommended floss is Weeks Dye Works.

Aztec Red
Bee’s Knees
Caper
Cayenne
Cocoa
Dirt Road
Dolphin
Oscar (DMC 3011) I used DMC as Oscar was not available
Parchment

I chose to stitch the Berry Basket on 16ct Lambswool with the recommended colors. It was a quick stitch.

Started: March 26, 2021
Finished: March 30, 2021

Berry Basket from Sweet Summer, Come Again

For the needleroll I chose 14ct Friendship Greene from Fabrics by Stephanie.

Needleroll from Sweet Summer, Come Again. — Needleroll from Sweet Summer, Come Again

I doubt my finishing skills will be up to a drum or a needleroll so they just may be finished as small pillows.

November 2, 2021. Sweet Summer Comes Again by Blackbird Designs joins the others in the dough bowl. I used the red Rhubarb and Ginger BBD fabric for the back of both of these. And the ruched ribbon trim is a dark olive color.

Sweet Summer Come Again finished as pin pillows

Spring Hare Etching by Cecilia Turner

March 26, 2021 By patgeary

As part of my digital subscription to Punch Needle and Primitive Stitcher magazine, I also had access to last years issues. The Spring 2020 issue contained Spring Hare Etching by Cecilia Turner. It looked to be a quick stitch and it was.

The model was stitched on 32ct Wren by Picture This Plus with Classic Colorworks floss, Sticks and Twigs and Tennessee Red Clay. . I chose to use 16ct aida Lambswool with Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss – Faded Barnwood (brown), Winter Rose (green) and Columbine (pink). JABCO heart button.

This is a companion piece the Winter Cardinal Etching I stitched earlier this year.

Started stitching: March 24, 2021
Finished Stitching: March 26, 2021

Now to finish it, probably as a small pillow.

August 2021 – I decided to go ahead and finish this one myself rather than send it off. I chose two pieces of Blackbird Design fabric I had for the trim and the backing. Happy with how it turned out although finishing projects is NOT my most favorite thing to do. I find that I have to actually mark a line on the fabric so I can see well enough to sew a straight line.

Souvenirs of Summer

March 23, 2021 By patgeary

According to an Instagram post on Alma’s Instagram account on March 23, 2021:

blackbirdalma

We reprinted an old favorite. Souvenirs of Summer will be shipping out to our distributors this week. Six patterns are in this booklet celebrating sweet summertime. Look for it in your favorite cross stitch shop in the next couple of weeks!

This book has been Out of Print for some time and contains six patterns from Blackbird Designs in salute of Summer. They are called Summer Jubliee, Patriotic Bouquet, Lake House Catch, Summer Song, Summer’s Souvenir and America. All coded for Weeks Dye Works and Gentle Art Sampler threads but a conversion chart for DMC is given as well.

Great news for so many.

Giving Thanks by Little House Needleworks

March 21, 2021 By patgeary

Giving Thanks chart #138 by Little House Needleworks was a Hoffman Distributing Exclusive at the Nashville 2015 Needlework Market. It was sent to me by a stitching friend in one of my Facebook groups. I had admired it when she posted a photo of her stitched project. A Bonus Chart is also included.

The recommended fabric was 32ct Winter Brew by R & R Reproductions. I chose to use 16ct Vanilla Latte from Fabrics by Stephanie. I used the called for Classic Colorworks floss except for Red Currant which I did not have. Instead I used Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Berry Wine.

Hazelnut
Red Currant
Roasted Chestnut
Weeping Willow
Caterpillar

It was a quick stitch. I started on March 14th and finished on March 21st for the main piece.

Not sure how I am going to finish it. Now for the pincushion

The pincushion was stitched on the same vanilla latte with the called for colors and finished with fabric by Blackbird Designs. The spool of thread button is from Just Another Button Company. And thank you, Vonna Epperson Pfeiffer, The Twisted Stitcher for your great finishing tutorial Finishing a Pillow with Handmade Piping and Accent Fabrics.

Now to find a small frame for the picture.

Took a while but here it is June 2022 and this one is finally fully finished.

La-D-Da Quaker

February 21, 2021 By patgeary

One of the cross stitching Facebook groups I belong to is Homespun Needlework, Cross Stitch and Samplers recently had a give-away for the chart La-D-Da Quaker by Lori Markovic. When I first saw the chart I knew I wanted to stitch it so entered the give-away and surprisingly won one of the three charts. I even knew that I would be stitching it with Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe threads although the model was stitched with Needlepoint Silk. DMC colors are also given. The model was stitched on 36count Parchment linen by Weeks Dye Works. Since the project uses all full crosses, I selected a piece of 16ct cream aida that I had in my stash.

My choice of fabric and floss is shown above although I will be adding/changing colors as I stitch.

Started Stitching: February 21, 2021
Finished Stitching: December 8, 2021

Colors Used: Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe threads

Border – Chestnuts
Lettering – Roasted Spice
Motifs -Roasted Spice – Russet – Arizona Sunset

La-D-Da Quaker progress 2/25/2021. — La-D-Da Quaker progress 2/25/2021

La-d-Da Quaker progress December 5, 2021

Easter Parade by Blackbird Designs

February 20, 2021 By patgeary

Easter Parade by Blackbird Designs was first published in 2005. It had been Out of Print for quite some time. In July 2019, it was reprinted and released to the delight of many stitchers. The Fans of Blackbird Designs Facebook group will be started an Easter Parade SAL (Stitch-a-Long) in March 2021. Come join us! If you are not already a member of the group, when you try and join you MUST SNSWER ALL THREE QUESTIONS to be approved.

I have had this piece kitted up for some time and just needed an excuse to start it.

Easter Parade by Blackbird Designs supplies

The fabric is 16ct Melody aida from Fabrics by Stephanie. The floss is a mixture of what is recommended and my substitutes:

Border: GA Berry Cobbler/ Cosmos Seasons 8063
GA Cidermill Brown
GA Grasshopper
GA Chamomile
GA Antique Rose/VMSS Concord Grape
GA Brandy
GA Butternut Squash/ VMSS Western Wallflower
WDW Cocoa/VMSS Faded Barnwood

Started Stitching: 2/20/2021
Finished Stitching: 3/12/2021

I have decided to finish this as a mounted piece I can display on a small easel and perhaps switch it out depending on the season. Vonna Pfeiffer, The Twisted Stitcher has an excellent tutorial on how to do this. See Mounted Flat Ornament

Pictured below is the stitched piece mounted on the backing board and the fabric I will use behind it.

Unfortunately I had to order some bigger pieces of backing board so the final finish will have to wait until it is delivered.

Backing board and fabric delivered. Finishing as a mounted flat piece was a learning experience but I am happy with the finished piece.

What Remains is Love by Blackbird Designs

February 16, 2021 By patgeary

Traditional Stitches, a Canadian shop located in Calgary is celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year. As part of the celebration, they are offering an exclusive design by Blackbird Designs What Remains is Love.

What Remains is Love by Blackbird Designs. — What Remains is Love by Blackbird Designs

The chart and kit can ONLY be pre-ordered through Traditional Stitches which will begin shipping sometime in March.

You can order the chart only or the chart plus fabric and threads. There is even a silk conversion being offered. Please note that all prices are in Canadian Funds.

What Remains is Love from Blackbird Designs ~ Traditional Stitches Exclusive Design

PS – I ordered mine last night!!!

April 2021– My chart arrived in the mail and I could not wait to get started stitching it. I chose a piece of 16ct Parchment aida from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe to stitch mine on. While I am using some of the recommended colors, I am switching some of the colors out for Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss I have in my stash.

CC Cinnamon Toast
GA Lexington Green
GA Mountains Mist
WDW Oilcloth/VMSS Moss & Ivy
WDW Oscar/VMSS Mountain Laurel
GA Rose Garden/VMSS Heirloom Red Cherry
WDW Schneckley
WDW Tarragon (DMC 3787) I used DMC since I ran out of Tarragon
CC Used Brick
VMSS Forever In My Heart

Started Stitching: April 24, 2021
Finished Stitching: May 21, 2021

I stitched this in memory of my son who died 10 days after his 50th birthday and my husband who died at the age of 102. Loved every minute of this one. Now to order a frame for it.

A Sister’s Love by Blackbird Designs

February 4, 2021 By patgeary

A Sister’s Love is one of the samplers included in the newest book by Blackbird Designs, Winds of Autumn Since I have both a brother and a sister, I am renaming it A Sibling’s Love.

A Sister's Love by Blackbird Designs. — A Sister’s Love by Blackbird Designs

The recommended fabric is 36ct Straw by Weeks Dye Works but I chose a piece of 16ct Stone aida by Fabric Flair I had in my stash. It has a mottled antique look which I liked. It is stitched with only four colors of Weeks Dye Works but I am going to switch out some of the floss for Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss.

Started stitching: February 2, 2021
Finished Stitching: February 14, 2021

WDW Blue Jeans/VMSS Forever Blue
WDW Charcoal/VMSS Victorian Pine
WDW Hazelnut
WDW Pecan

A Sister's Love progress 2/4/2021. — A Sister’s Love progress 2/4/2021

A word of warning when stitching the border, don’t get too cocky as there are additional stitches in a couple of places.

Watch out for the ones that have four stitches rather than three.

A Sister’s/Sibling’s Love by Blackbird Designs

Now that it is finished, I am going to wait until the place I order my frames from offers flat rate shipping as I now have four projects I want to frame.

And here it is framed ready for spacers and glass.

A Study in Blue by Sue Hillis

January 17, 2021 By patgeary

I bought the booklet, A Study in Blue by Sue Hillis once it was released to the general public. It had first been offered as part of a class taught by Sue. The booklet includes the charts for all of the projects pictured and detailed instructions for finishing.

A Study in Blue booklet cover. — A Study in Blue booklet

While Sue used a paper mache box for her project, I thought about using one of the LeHay Shaker boxes in blue. Later someone in one of the groups posted a box she had gotten from Ikea and I decided to order that and use it for mounting this project.

The Mallgroda Box with lid has an ash veneer and measures 9 ¾x4 inches. The cost is $19.99. It may or may not be available for shipping in your area.

I decided to stitch the project on 28ct Monaco with Gentle Arts Black Raspberry Jam floss.

A Study in Blue supplies. — A Study in Blue

I have not yet decided whether I am going to stitch the side band for the box or not. If I do, it will be necessary to make some adjustments as the box I am using is bigger than what the project is designed for.

Sue Hillis graciously gave us the following information for making adjustments.

Here’s the math when using the charts in my Study in Blue book. The designs were originally charted for the 7.25 paper mache round box. The chart for the box top is 109 stitches x 110 stitches. For the Ikea wood box, it makes the most sense to stitch it on 14/28 count so it fits better on the larger IKEA box.

14 /28 count—7.86”
16 /32 count—6.87”
18/36 count—6.11”

The strip that goes around the side of the box will need to have additional motifs added to the length to fit the IKEA box. The strip in the leaflet is 367 stitches long x 36 stitches high. The extra height required could easily be attained by adding a border above and/or below the alphabet to achieve the correct height.

14/28 count: 2.57”
16/32 count: 2.25”
18/36: 2”

It’s now July 2021 and I finally got around to adding the top stitched piece to the box. Trying to cut the matboard into a circle that would site in the top was a challenge. Not perfect but I am happy with the end result. If I can manage to cut a smaller circle to fit the inside of the box, I will line it. I also like the natural color of the box so am going to leave it.

Spoiled Dog by Stoney Creek

January 14, 2021 By patgeary

Spoiled Dog is in included in the leaflet Dog Bone Wisdom by Stoney Creek. It shows in the leaflet (lower right corner) as a repeating border on a towel. I knew I wanted to stitch it as a small wall hanging or mounted piece I could use on our front door.

Since the chart has fractional stitches, I chose 28ct Monaco and used as assortment of the called for colors and Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss for those colors I did not have in my stash. I cannot say this was a fun stitch with all the backstitching and fractional stitches but I did get it done.

Now to finish it. I already have the fabric that I used on a previous piece, A Dog’s Last Will and Testament.

I asked for some suggestions in how to finish this one as I wanted to use it on our front door as a small wall hanging. A stitching friend suggested I use the triangle corner method for the back which I did. My son cut a thin board to use as a dowel and it is hanging on the door with alien tape.