April - Nautical Year - Sand, Sea & Cross Stitch

I finished the April block today on Nautical Year.  It was already partly done so was a very quick stitch.  I am stitching this on 18 count cream aida using some of the charted DMC and subbing out some of the colours with silks from my stash.

Here's where I picked it up at:

Here's the April block finished:

And the whole piece as it is currently:

Keep stitching and smiling

Transfiguartion - Class Schedule SAL - January Block

On 1st January I started on Hydrangea Autumn Fog by Chatelaine.  I've had this project partially kitted up for quite a while and following Martina's passing it felt like a good time to start.  Here's the progress I made:-

I'm stitching it on a 28 count Jazlyn in Sunset Sky from Crafty Kitten.  I'm using most of the charted threads but I am subbing out some of the less variegated threads with the DMC alternative.  I have to say if I hadn't reached a point where I couldn't really carry on until I got a new thread and the beads then I would have found it extremely difficult to put down.  That thread and beads did however arrive today so who knows how quickly I will be getting back to this.

I then worked on the January block in the Class Schedule SAL from Armada Designs.  This block was Transfiguration the cat representing Professor McGonagall and the rat having been partially transformed into a cup.

I stitched the outlines for all the blocks for this last year.  I am stitching it on 32 count Murano in Black Hole which was the July 2017 Year of Neutrals fabric from Jodyri Designs.  I am really enjoying seeing how others have made changes to the pattern to make it there own but at the moment I am just stitching it as charted.  I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next.

The next project I picked to stitch on was Nautical Year from the book Sand, Sea and Cross Stitch.  On my goals list I thought I had 7 months to complete but I found I had already completed July, August and November - so that was a quick 3 goals knocked off the list.

Here's my starting point for April.

I'm stitching it on 18 count cream aida and I am subbing out a lot of the charted colours for silks and cottons in my stash.  

Thanks for stopping by - next update should be April complete and working on another one of my goals (unless that Chatelaine drags me back to it!).

Keep stitching and smiling

November & Beginning of December 2016 - Catch Up

These are the projects I have been working on since my last update.

I had a new start on Royal Orchid - Tiny Treasure Diamond - Mill Hill - as kitted.  This is what it will look like when finished.

This is the progress I made - not very much at all.  I cannot stitch in hand except for on plastic canvas or perforated paper so I need to get myself a little hoop to put this in - the fabric is only 5 x 5 inches so it will need to be a little hoop.  Also the finishing instructions on this are wild - it's going to take some concentration to work those out.

Another new start was Butterfly Lace from Cross Stitcher magazine.  I am stitching it on 28 count Jazlyn in Mushroom from Zweigart with the charted DMC.  Here's what it will look like then it's finished.

And my progress

My third new start was A Year at Hawk Run Hollow from Carriage House Samplings.  I am stitching this 1 over 1 full crosses on 20 count Bellana in Wild Porcini from Jodyri Designs.  I have stitched the border in a hand dyed thread called Nevermore also from Jodyri Designs.

I worked on Learning Sampler from Northern Expressions Needleworks and am really pleased with the progress I made.  I now have the first 9 bands finished!

I worked on Stained Glass from Love Thy Thread.

I also worked on Nautical Year from the book Sand Sea and Cross Stitch.

I had a finish - Needleworker from Little House Needleworks.  I started this on 1st June 2016 and finished on 4th December 2016.  I stitched this on 32 count Belfast in Light Sand.  This was my first time working on linen and although I didn't love it I didn't hate it either.  It is stitched with the charted floss.

I also had a second finish!  Twisted Band Sampler from Northern Expressions Needlework.  I had such a small amount left to stitch on this that when I pulled it out I couldn't believe I hadn't finished it before.  It was the Queen stitch band that had stalled me though but I pushed through and got it finished.

I don't know if I will get another post in before Christmas so I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy holiday season.

Keep stitching and smiling.

Nic

xoxo

October 2016 Stitching

These are the projects I've been working on over the past month.

In This House - Love Thy Thread (No longer available) - stitched on 22 count Oslo in Nebula from Crafty Kitten with DMC Variations 4025 - 3 over 1 tent stitch.

Before

After

Spring Mandala from Ink Circles - no before picture as this was a new start.  Stitched on 20 count nougat aida with DMC conversion - 2 over 1 full crosses.

Tango Owlet - Mill Hill - finished on 02.10.16

Things Unseen - Lizzie Kate.  Stitched on 28 count Jazlyn in Just Peachy from Crafty Kitten with charted threads.

Before

After

Nautical Year from Sand, Sea and Cross Stitch.  Stitched on 18 count cream aida using a mixture of DMC and threads from my stash.

Before

After

The Towpath from Gecko Rouge - stitched on 18 count aida with kitted threads.

Before

After

12 Days of Christmas from Satsuma Street - another new start.  Stitched on 32 count Murano in Ivory.  Border stitched with Dinky Dyes Silk in Shiraz.

Spirit of Christmas - Lavender and Lace - stitched on 20 count aida in nougat with DMC 2 over 1 full crosses.

Before

After

August from Cricket Collection - stitched on 28 count Brittney in a custom dye from Jodyri Designs with charted threads.

Before

After

So that's all the stitching from October.  I'm really pleased with the progress and variety.  Also I think I will blog this way from now on summarising the month unless I have a finish when I may do a stand alone post.

Keep stitching and smiling

Catching Up - 26.09.16

The first thing I need to tell you all about is that I have had to give up working on the KLT Frog SAL.  Unfortunately my stitching time has become more limited than I would like and I couldn't guarantee that I would be able to keep up with the schedule for getting the frogs stitched.  It's not something that I gave up lightly as I don't like to let people down when I have made a commitment but unfortunately due to health and work issues something had to give.  The project has been passed on to another model stitcher so I am sure you will still be able to see update pictures in the KLT Charting group.

I've been working on a few different projects over the past weeks and months that I haven't posted about here, so I thought I would do a quick round up with before and after pictures.

I'll start with the new projects I've started which obviously won't have before pictures.

Tango Owlet by Mill Hill - stitched on the perforated paper in the kit

Harry Potter Pillow Sampler by Clouds Factory - stitched on a 32 count Pearl Grey Murano

The next ones were WIPs I continued to work on.

Nautical Year from the book Sand, Sea and Cross Stitch - stitched on 18 count cream aida.  I have substituted some of the charted threads with hand dyed cottons and silks from my stash.

Before

After

Pumpkin Passport from Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery - stitched on 28 count Opal Jazlyn in Nimbus from Chromatic Alchemy

Before

After

Angel of Love by Lavender and Lace - stitched on a custom dyed piece of 28 count Brittney from Jodyri Designs.

Before

After

Sleeping Beauty's Castle from Chatelaine - stitched on 28 count Jazlyn March 2012 Ltd Ed from Crafty Kitten.

Before

After

Keep stitching and smiling