broderie

building houses and peeling pineapples

two or three weeks ago and a gathering of a few friends, after much chatter and 'sew and tell', this is what i have been doing!

building houses with spots and stripes, a traditional 14inch schoolhouse pattern drawn up by my friend trish. there is a place in the cupboard bulging with spots that i have collected over the years and so i decided a few spotty and stripey houses could be fun.

  

 

 
and as i am handpiecing, as usual, i thought the sky fabric was neutral and an appropiate design to use

give me a reason to draw round some templates, add the seam allowance and then get the scissors and cut, i am a happy girl, so when trish showed me her version of the old pineapple block quilt, i was off and running. i have put two together of the 8 blocks i have cut. these are mine

 

 

 

and this is trish's version that inspired me, it is a great way to play with fabric and both patterns allow you to get into the cupboard stash

 

i am looking forward to doing a red version !

this is a quilt my friend deb, in hobart, has done for one of her sons. flying geese in lovely blues and linens on crisp white

 
machine quilted by desley regan with a large meander

 

and these are some other things from the garden and in it that i have enjoyed recenly

 
this little old wild rose that pops through the hedge at this time of the year

 
all the agapanthus heads ready to burst into flower in the green part of my garden, blue and white, for christmas 

and these white roses, brought to me by a friend from her garden, went into one of my favourite vases

 

and many know how i love an unusual neck piece or brooch, i was lucky to receive this from my friend lyn from her her recent trip, with margaret to italy, hungary and france, i like it !

 
i am enjoying a saturday at home, love being at home playing with my stuff, watching and listening to the cricket and now i am going to do some preparations for christmas

enjoy your saturday !   

 

 

facts and figures and my approach

cross stitch - i have been promising a few of my 'tips' for want of a better name, for approaching cross stitch. there are rules, but they can be bent or broken to achieve some interesting finishes. nothing is locked in. if you have a chart or counted design, be it for embroidery, tapestry, sewing or knitting you can also cross stitch it.

a common thing i hear these days (i guess it is my age) that people cannot see anymore to do it or have not got the time !

the 'seeing' problem ! there are various magnifiers available these days and are really good in sorting out those threads in the fabric, you can use them in conjunction with your own glasses and they make the world of difference.

the 'time' problem ! well if you want to do anything badly enough, you can make the time and it was never intended that it be finished tomorrow ! though some can ! cross stitch is a very comforting style of embroidery, a quiet time method of enjoying you own time and thoughts.

any design can be stitched on any count fabric, sometimes the fineness of the stitchery is very attractive, but the same design can also be stitched on a larger count fabric and the same pleasure in the finished item is achieved. i will start with a list of the common fabrics available from fine to big counts.

36 count edinborough linen or permin linen = to 18 count aida = 1 strand of floss

32 count belfast linen or permin linen = to 16 count aida = 1or 2 strands of floss

28 count cashel linen or permin linen = to 14 count aida = 2 strands of floss

25 count dublin linen or permin linen or floba = 2 or 3 strands of floss

18 count permin linen or floba = 5 or 6 strands of floss, perle 5 cotton or 2 strands of perle 8 cotton

14 count floba or klostern = experiment = 6 to 8 strands of floss, 2 strands perle5 or 3 of perle 8 cotton, 2 strands of appletons crewel wool, soft cotton

to find out the count of a piece of linen, pin out an inch measurement on the cloth and count the number of threads between the two pins. that is the linen count e.g. 28 so there will be 14 stitches to the inch because you are stitching over two threads both horizontally and vertically.

to find out how much fabric you require for a design, look for the stitch count of the design or count it out. example 165 x 230 (horizontally and vertically)

so it is 165 x 2 = 330 divided by the count of the fabric 28 = 11.78 inches (yes inches) and 230 x 2 = 460 divided by the count of the fabric 28 = 16.42 inches. so that is the design size stitched on 28 count linen or 14 count aida. but you need to add 3 inches all the way round for a border, so to 11.78 inches + 6inches = 17.78 inches and 16.42 + 6 = 22.42 inches. so you would need to purchase a piece of 28 count linen or 14 count aida that was 45cm x 70cm = 45cm off the length of the bolt and half the width 70cm (if you needlework shop will cut half widths) i always did !

edit: when working with linen you x by 2 because you are stitching over two threads of the fabric.

edit: if you are using aida follow the above, however there is no need to x the stitch count by two, as each square of the weave in the fabric is your stitch.

and if you have checked all your figures a couple of times you can be confident that the piece of fabric is right for the design! i never start in the middle !!!! take the top left hand corner of your fabric, measure in 3 inches and down 3 inches and start at that point, just like reading a book or fold the fabric in half depending on whether it is a horizontal design or vertical, measure down 3 inches from the top and start, middle top of design. i find that this method just works better for me, the design takes on it structure and pattern better and you don't have to work, up, down, backwards and sidewards as you do if you start in the middle, just be confident with the size of your piece of fabric before you start. remember the old 'rule' measure several times and cut once!!!!!

 

the same recipe applies to all counts and you do not have to stitch the design you have chosen on the specified fabric (you can break a rule) or the colour they suggest ! you be the artist and choose your own to suit your needs.

obviously, the smaller the count of the fabric, the smaller the design will be because there are more stitches to the inch.

i prefer to stitch on linen, but if aida is your choice because you can see it better, then that is ok too. the pleasure of doing the stitching is the important aspect!

if you working from a kit, then you assume the supplier has given you the correct amount of fabric, but it is also a good idea to check the stitch count of the design and apply the same method as described above.

this is enough to take in today as it is all words, i will be back to discuss washing and general care and some warnings about some threads soon and if you have a specific problem and i can help, email me, i am happy to help.

 

winner advice !

the name drawn out the hat to receive my giveaway during the cross stitch posts is

chrissie poole !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

after contact has been made with chrissie, i will show you what is to parcelled up and sent to her, congratulations and thanks to all of you who have looked and admired the pieces i showed you.

i think in these days of hustle and bustle and no time for anything, let us slow down a bit and do some more cross stitch !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i will be back tomorrow with my tips .

more saturday cross stitching

chooky blue is hosting another cross stitch saturday, here are a few more of mine, but if you go over to chooky blue you can see some links to others taking part.

thanks to all of you who have visited in the past week and left comments, i will pick someone out on 'monday at midday' to win the giveaway that i offered last week.

 
one friend dropped off 'molly'

 
another dropped off 'richard', both shepherds bush stocking patterns to be made up. it was one of those moments in life that happen we call coincidence or is it? my mother was molly and my brother was richard and these two stockings arrived on my table the same day to be made into stockings for members of their families!

these patterns are from a range from homespun elegance, these three jolly old boys have been with me for quite a few years, they live up high on top of a bookcase during the year

 

 

 
these were all stitched on klostern fabric (seven stitches to the inch) good for ailing eyesight and they are free standing, look great on a shelf of mantelpiece during the festive season.

i will be back with some tips on cross stitching in the next few days, i know i said that last post, but i will !

more cross stitch

well over the weekend i discovered many of my started cross stitch pieces, it was a happy wander though some of my 'stuff' ! i knew i had them and more too and it also made me realise i must justify what i keep and not keep, so much !

 
this a completed one done many years ago, in the learning process, it was a kit from either permin or danish handcraft guild, it is done in fine wool on a woollen fabric

 
this one is nearly finished, so close, i don't know why really that i have not completed it, i think just life got in the way

 
these two are from danish handcraft guild, christmas advent calenders, both started, must be finished, easy stitching though now as they are both done on 18 count permin linen

 

and this is my prairie schooler marathon started about 4 years ago and the inspiration for those who started with me, but have now finished, mine still needs alot more work! funny about that! i will have to join father christmas and dasher here and get on with it !

 

many of those that took part in the cross stitch show over the weekend, links in the last post, said that they do not do so much cross stitch now because of eyesight problems. these are a great help for all close work, they come with 4 x different magnification lenses and just fit on your glasses

 
also looking at some of the comments left by other bloggers about cross stitch etc. i thought i would do a post later in the week explaining my approach and about stitching and caring for these textiles, not that i think i am a know all, but just have some information that i could share !

remember also if you leave a comment on this or the previous post, i will make a draw and someone will receive a giveaway !!!!!!!!!!!!! 

cross stitch display

 

these words and cross stitch go so well together, it is not something you finish in a day or a few hours, it is a time for slowing down and thinking - this picture has come out so dark and i can't seem to get rid of it now, my apologies, the words say 'along the way- take time-breath-laugh-ask-adore-see-share-sing-try-touch-hear-believe-be free'

this post is mainly pictorial, however there are quite a few other blogs displaying cross stitch this weekend and i have tried to copy and paste the list, but you know it has not worked!!!!!!!!!!!!

if you go to chooky blue who was responsible for organising this, i am sure she will have a list of others taking part.

 
love monograms

 
so simple alphabets

 

 
both these from the range of shepherds bush hearts

 
and this is just one of the shepherds bush range of needle rolls

 
i think this was a lanarte kit 'needlework shop'

 
this is 'for the birds' by the drawn thread

 
this one by the sampler company was stitched by my cousin, little did we know then that the words would be so true. sharon inserted my initials, but it was wrought by her. how we wish she was still with us.

 
all of these are a project i started many years ago when i had my shop. this is to celebrate christmas 'prairie schooler' style. for those of you who now the brand, they always produced alot of christmas patterns and one year i decided it would be good to stitch as many as one wanted on a single piece of fabric. it was a big project and barb has just completed hers and it is now ready for making up into a banner her family and grandchildren will enjoy for years!

 

 

 

 
you will all agree i am sure that there are many cross stitches on thislarge project, but everyone worth it ! and guess what mine is not finished, but it was the inspiration for many hours spent for quite a few customers. it is stitched on floba 18 count in perle 5 thread, the piece of fabric was 140cm wide and approx 80 cm in depth

i have done many myself over the years, so many still not finished, i found these two and a bag of others today when i was on the hunt !

 
this is a charlotte design

 
this is the 'fox and the hare' by barrick samplers

 
and this is just one bag with projects waiting to be finished, i can't remember how many shepherds bush christmas stockings i have personally stitched over the years, many, a couple more here in the bag. this is one that a friend has just finished for her grand daughter

 

i will be back over the weekend with more and some advice (for those who may need it) and i have decided that i will have a giveaway of some charts and supplies, so anyone who leaves a comment on this post or the next will go into a draw.

also, if you click on 'embroidery' or 'xxxxstitch' in my labels on my side bar you may see others i have put on this blog over the years, i was always fortunate in having willing customers, family and friends to also stitch samples for me and to see so many beautiful pieces of come to life from all the charts that passed my way

keep stitching in the meantime

 

when you're 21

last month a friend's daughter celebrated her 21st birthday and this lovely eva rosenstand cross stitch sampler, given a different treatment, was given to her to celebrate the event and poppy loves it !

 
this is the only photo i have of it taken with a mobile phone, her mothers reflection in the corner, it is like a pictorial signing of her work! it was stitched on permin 18count linen with two strands of dmc perle 8 cotton. the perle cotton gives the whole picture a lovely glow and of course is easier to stitch with on the larger count linen.( you could also use dmc perle 5 cotton on this count linen.) well done mitali, it is gorgeous! we also used brighter, more primary colours than the original suggested ones, a great result.

and for those of who still enjoy to cross stitch, it does not have to be done on fine linen always to achieve a good result, specially when the eyes are not what they used to be!

my friends in hobart have a new member of the household since they have returned from their travels and i don't think this little boy knows just how spoilt he will be, and what a good home he has found.

 
this is roly !

 

 
it is hard to tell where roly finishes and his sheepskin starts! i think he is already ruling his new home from what i hear. his mum was a schnauzer and dad was a cav/poodle cross, so he has turned out to be a pretty boy, you can say that about dogs i think, can't you?

just a footnote, or i should say kneenote ! thanks to all those who have emailed me or left comments about having knee surgery, your stories and advice is most welcome !

 

 

time, pleasant hours spent !

since being home from my interstate visit there has been quite a bit to catch up with and some enforced rest and repair, some medical tests and reports. 'i am ok', my favourite response to the question 'how are you' and yes i am ok, need two new knees, but i have a 'good heart' and paper to prove it, so that is good news!

the last week of october brought about gatherings at home of sewing groups and friends and being spoilt by everyone, i was ok, but spoilt ! thankyou to all of you. no dramas now! this post is a bit about everything of how time is spent.

 
my front little room looks out on these very old roses, a lovely window view

 
some in a vase where i sit with my laptop

 
also some on the shelf to look at while i was getting the ironing basket emptied (i notice it is full again)

 
these lovely vintage buttons adorn marilyn's newest 'teatowel' cushion

 

i have also been knitting, this little jacket for a new baby nearly finished

 
and this quilt that i started in hobart has been getting some more attention

 
and i have chose this fabric as the back for my half square triangle quilt, i so often make up backs from bits in the cupboard, but i decided that this fabric would suit all the scrappy front

 

and jean over at linen and raspberry has got some of her beautiful samplers that she has worked in cross stitch on her latest post and it made me think of all the time spent in stitching over the years, happy times, pleasant times, comforting times, sad times, etc., so here are some of the hours spent i am talking about

 
this is a sampler by 'long dog' stitched by a friend, thelma, who now has parkinsons disease and finds stitching all too difficult to do now. thelma stitched many samples for me when i had my shop, a friend made through stitching!

 
and this one 'rose for grandma' stitched by sharon, my cousin who left us all too soon a few years ago. sharon spent many hours of her short life stitching, hours that brought her great joy and comfort.

 
and this was an old 'semco' kit, stitched by my mother in 1985 while i was overseas, i know it brought her much joy and comfort, she died in 1986. so keep stitching i say and don't forget the cross stitch, you are never lonely with a bit of cross stitch or any stitching.

outside in the garden, melbourne has been refreshed by the recent rain, fortunately no flooding for me, just a good watering from the skies above and it makes so much difference

 

 

 

 

 

 
the bird bath filled from water falling out of the sky, happy times, has not happened in this city for along time and in the yarra valley where it was devastated by fire earlier, the race meeting at yarra glen has been cancelled due to flooding over the weekend.

 
i always look forward to the 1st of each month and changing the many calendars in this house, another of my quirks, love a good calendar! the first tuesday in november in melbourne, australia is a public holiday for the melbourne cup and that is tomorrow, a big day in the sporting life of this city. i used to go often, many years ago, but tomorrow i will enjoy it all on television spending the time stitching! and just to finish off this framed box of stitching necessities i have in my little front room! that is where i started this post, i spend many hours of my time in that room!