Split the Needles: August 2013

Monday, August 26, 2013

Working Weekend

Hi there,

I am trying to wrap up the projects that I really want to get finished by THIS Christmas. Once I get past the finishing deadline I sort of relax because it's pretty much out of my hands by then. So October is a relaxed stitching month for me if you follow that convoluted logic.

This is what came out of my bag this weekend and got done.

The wreath cracker - 2 more after this!

Then my Whimsey and Grace star that I practiced my basketweave on. It's hard to see white on white

I want to have it finished like another star I did a long time ago. I know it was long long ago because this is 24 count

Here's the side view - I like the gusset

and then I finished the little French Hen. Holding on to these so they will be finished together :)

This coming week 3 more easy ones in the lineup.

Happy Stitching,

Linda

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Super Finish

What can I say? This is a super finish from Colleen at Needle Works! It was a long wait but well worth it.. Here's a close up picture of the top

and a side view

And in the almost finished section...

The "wreath" golden cracker...I only have 3 left

and the French Hen- just the hay and tiny bit of background

and THEN because I couldn't resist...my first Ewe and Eye canvas...I see this in one of my girls' kitchens. Just out of the box!

Happy Stitching!

Linda

Friday, August 16, 2013

So You Think It's So Easy?

Hi there,

I am once again trying to perfect my basketweave! There is more to it than you think! First you have to realize what direction you are going in with relation to the weave of the canvas. Here's the weave. Notice that the threads of the canvas are either on top or underneath each other. Also here is an upside down star - an error by the painter...Couldn't figure that out for a while.

When you stitch UP the canvas diagonal you cover the horizontal thread on top and when you go DOWN you are covering the vertical.

But you're not done. Just as important is tying off the thread mid-line. If this is done incorrectly you will end up with little pinpoints of light showing through. And they are noticeable!

Here is how to end a horizontal thread...end the thread on top of the canvas directly to the left of the last stitch.

And here is how to end the stitch going down...once again on top of the canvas but now going straight down from your last stitch.

And I think I've found the perfect white

Have a great weekend and happy stitching,

Linda

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Another Little Gem

Hi everyone,

I am still slogging away at finishing my firecracker. It's going to be wonderful when it's finished but I am so over it! Ever feel that way about a big project? I treat myself every other day to a TINY project - the kind that are so easy to finish!

Here's the cracker..Almost there...I may never do criss cross hungarian or any variation thereof again

And here is the little gem - took 2 days. It's the second of the 12 days of Christmas by Rebecca Wood. For a while I thought it was #1 - shows you that I don't know my partridges from my turtle doves! This background is at least Nobuko :) The eye is 3 strands of black floss crossed over one thread. Perfect!