Sunday, July 20, 2014

Cross Stitch Revival

I've been itching to start a cross stitch project and I've got three on the table from which to choose.

I've had this pattern for a while. I bought it the same time I bought the "Little Bit" bear cub pattern that I made for my father-in-law:


 When I go to their house and look at it on the wall I have two reactions:

1. I am utterly charmed and enchanted by this little guy. Somehow, his personality seeps through the stitches.
2. The person who stitched this was utterly insane.

And this is the pattern I bought at that time - I've shown it before


I think I want to start this one. but I'm not sure I want to use the white background that was included. I think it's too stark and pristine and I was thinking I wanted  a more rustic look. However, I wasn't sure about using a rustic background because I thought it might just make the sky look dirty. So, should I stitch it on white and tea or coffee dye  it once it is stitched?  The thought of that scares me. Maybe the white makes the detail stand out. Maybe I ought to quit second guessing myself and just stitch.  After all, I was drawn to this piece immediately just the way it was and I love a bright blue sky with big, white clouds rolling across it in real life. I think I just talked myself into using the white background. :)

I also found this piece while browsing patterns:


It ought to be a quick stitch and I think I'll look for a linen in a light oatmeal color for it. I just wish linen wasn't so crazy expensive. And then I ordered this:


Proof that I've had another bout of insanity.This pattern was a computer download. I've not worked one of these before and I'm a little overwhelmed. There are 66 pages to print out and 150 different colors in this chart. I have a large collection of DMC floss. I went through it all the other day and I was missing 24 colors so I added those and wound them onto the little floss keepers.


I had no idea that those little numbered stickers for the floss holders even existed. I got pretty excited when I saw those. Its been a really long time since I bought any new floss. I'm talking 15 years long and I started cross stitching 29 years ago so I've been collecting floss for a long time. I always just used a sharpie marker to write the number on the plastic tab.

Then I emptied a floss box and placed all the colors together:


Guess that means I'm actually planning on stitching this one. It's going to be 20" x 14". It doesn't matter what I stitch this on as every square is covered by stitches.

Summer does not allow me much stitching time so I don't know what I'm thinking, but that's not all that unusual. :)

10 comments:

Dorian said...

All I can say is WOW! Those x stiches are soooo impressive Karin! I love that little bear. I would keep the white on the windmill too. The barn picture is beautiful, have fun!

Vickie said...

Those are beautiful and zealous projects ! You asked about the background....When I look at the sky I think there is no color on earth that can match the pure brilliant white of God's white....so I would keep it white.

Anonymous said...

WOW!Cant wait to see them finished!

Judy Laquidara said...

WOW! Those patterns are amazing. I have those same floss boxes, also didn't know about the numbers and it's been at least 25 years or more since I cross-stitched.

Dar said...

I have a smaller floss box similar to yous, but not the drive to tackle something so beautiful as the three you've shown. I always admire these when someone finishes and frames them. They are all just amazing. Have fun. I don't know which one I'd start first either.

Nancy said...

All of these are great patterns! The sampler with the brands at the bottom really caught my eye. . .hmmm, I might need to find my cross-stitching materials.

Dora, the Quilter said...

It does look like you are going to be stitching the 66 page one!
However, I do love the first windmill--it brings back so many memories and looks faster!
Although I began counting my cross-stitches in the 70s and have multiple projects both begun and waiting, I haven't done any for the last few years.

juliehallfeldhaus said...

I hate to tell you this but you will be almost blind when you finish that horse picture. But the good news is that you can then send it to me to enjoy as you won't be able to see it:) I admire you and your stitching!!!

Shelljo said...

Ok, WHO did you buy the horse one from? Because I most definitely need to check out their patterns! I'm still working on my dragon reading one...almost finished...well, I have two pages left :) Just downloaded another PDF one myself. (More books.) But I think it will wait till I do something more country!

Staci said...

You are going to be so busy making teeny x's! I love all the new patterns--just one pretty thing after another.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...