When I first saw the Summer Schoolhouse series by Brenda Gervais advertised, I was not that interested. The main reason is I like to know what a project is going to look like BEFORE I decide to stitch it. Once I saw Lesson #1 I decided YES, I need this. The only problem was the entire series was designed to be stitched on 28ct Mushroom Lugana with 1 over 1. I knew that would be impossible for me to even see but decided I wanted to stitch it anyway, Mine would just not be TINY. I signed up with Crazy Annie’s Stitchin for her autoship program and received Lessons 1 and 2 at the same time. The series consists of 4 charts with 6 projects and includes stitching and finishing instructions for all 6 projects.
4 Charts and Hornbook
And if you are interested, The Story Behind the Series. And the book that inspired the series, The Little Pretty Pocket-Book.
I decided to stitch each of the projects on 16ct Regency Aida by Picture This Plus and use the thread from the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe rather than the recommended threads.
Lesson #1
Summer Schoolhouse Lesson #1
Stitch Count: 140wx 103h
Design Size: 8 3/4 x 6 1/2
Started Stitching: August 14, 2017
Finished Stitching: August 26, 2017
Summer Schoolhouse Lesson 1 – Finished.
Lesson #2
Summer Schoolhouse Lesson #2
Stitch Count: Miss Polly Pinkeep is 63w x 89h and on Little Master Tommy Pinkeep 67w x 90h
Design Size: Miss Polly Pinkeep is 4 x 5 5/8 and on Little Master Tommy Pinkeep is 41/4 x 5 5/8
Summer Schoolhouse series Lessons 1 & 2.
Recommended threads and my selection for Lesson #1.
- WDW Sandcastle/VMSS Desert Grass
- WDW Flatfish/VMSS Mixed Wood Brown
- WDW Oscar/VMSS Mountain Laurel
- WDW Olive/VMSS Tea Leaves
- GAST Woodrose/VMSS Desert Rose
- GAST Mountain Mist/ VMSS Old Time Blue
- GAST Uniform Blue/VMSS Delft Blue
- CC Eggshell/Mocha Cream
- CC Used Brick/VMSS Cranberry Bog
- CC Cayenne/VMSS Prairie Rose
- CC Hazelnut/VMSS Spiced Cider
Lesson #2 adds these thread colors:
- WDW Peach/VMSS Flesh (1 strand)
- GAST Lexington Green/VMSS Lighthouse Blue
- GAST Old Hickory/VMSS Regal Brown
- CC Pebble Beach/VMSS Mocha Tan
Lesson #3
Summer Schoolhouse Lesson #3
Stitch Count: 113w x 106h
Design Size: 7 1/8 x 6 5/8
Started Stitching: September 8, 2017
Finished Stitching: October 29, 2017
Lesson #3 Summer Schoolhouse series
Lesson #4
Summer Schoolhouse Lesson 4.
Summer Schoolhouse Lesson 4 Hornbook
Summer Schoolhouse Lesson 4 Strawberry Emery Preserves
The whole series! An old fashioned school box houses the collection. Directions for finishing the school box are included with Lesson 4. However the box will not fit unless you have stitched the series on 28ct over 1.
Summer Schoolhouse Entire Series – An old fashioned school box houses the collection.
I will probably display mine in my long basket. I did order the hornbook kit in the hopes I can stitch it over 1 on 28ct. We shall see if my eyes cooperate.
October 2021 – These pieces have been languishing in the drawer just waiting for me to decide what to do with them. Framing each of the series would have been expensive so I looked for another way to finish them. After finishing the For the Bird series as a wall hanging, I thought that type of finish may work for this too. I laid the pieces out on the bed to see how they might look and decided yes. Then the search began for the perfect fabric. I tried the blue that I had used for the birds but it seemed a bit to dark. I had bought a piece of green fabric with dots that I thought might work. I did not have a big enough piece so off to see if I could get some more.
My son cut the dowel rod for me and I painted them with a basil green shade. And now the piece is hanging in my bedroom not stashed away in a drawer unseen.
