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It's been a long time since I went through the last two weeks of school with little ones under ten years of age. Field Trips, evening concerts, plays during the day, Field Days (which are a whole different animal than the aforementioned field "trip"), half days, early dismissals... and whose idea was it to start baseball practice before the school year is over?
Someone has to be responsible for this madness, but whoever it is keeping a very low, very anonymous profile. Let me know if you have any clues...
Meanwhile, you can imagine that I've had lots of opportunities to stitch...in the car, in the park, at the baseball field, at the other grandchild's baseball field, in the gym, on the bleachers.
A couple of nights ago I looked down to discover a needle, threaded with floss, woven into the thigh of my pants. I have a bad habit of sticking my needle into the closest soft surface just for a minute. I realized that I had likely gone to lunch with my mother and sister, wearing what has become, for me, a very familiar fashion accessory.
Anyway, I have been stitching, but not posting here as often. My "Addicted to Cross Stitch" Bear is finished. I should have the pattern finalized in a couple of days. I also designed a version designed in teals instead of pinks. I'll post both patterns.
Cross Stitch Alphabets and Numbers continue to be in high demand, and I have three more nearly finished.
Keep on Stitching,
June 6
Floral Alphabet Leads to a Bookmark Design
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My goal, when designing cross stitch alphabets, is to provide the stitcher with usable, practical lettering that easily becomes part of, and does not detract from, your cross stitch project.
After looking through more than a hundred cross stitch alphabets to find just the right inspiration for my current project, I found that there are are two obvious categories - line alphabets, stitched mainly with backstitches, and block alphabets, constructed with cross stitches.
I also noticed two other characteristics. Some alphabets are perfect for adding readable text, while other alphabets are almost purely decorative.
Representing the second category was a bookmark I stitched years ago for my grandson. One side has a train, while the other has his name constructed with tools (hammer, screwdriver, etc.). This "tools" alphabet is the design. It would not be practical for an entire poem or verse--the design would get in the way of the meaning.
I wanted Alphabet 15 to have a little "extra," in the way of flowers, buds and leaves, but I also wanted it to be readable in longer text.
Just stitching a name? Use all caps. When cross stitching a verse, use both upper and lower case. Change the colors of the letters and flowers to match the other hues in your project. (You can also use some of the flowers in areas that seem appropriate in your project.)
This upcoming floral bookmark (requested by a stitcher) would be perfect for this two-sided bookmark concept, using Alphabet 15 for a name on the reverse.
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Now that the "My Bear to Cross" pattern has been posted here, I have also finished and posted the full alphabet based on the "Addicted to Cross Stitch" letters in the design.
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They just naturally took on a jagged, edgy look as they developed, but the letters also seem to be very distinctive and easy to read. I think you'll find many uses for this alphabet.
Keep on Stitching,
June 7
The Real Needle Option in "My Bear to Cross" Pattern
If you haven't looked at the pattern instructions for My Bear to Cross, you may not have noticed the option of finishing off the project with a real needle on the bear's unfinished paw.
Of course, you wouldn't want to use a real needle on anything you would wear... but for a framed piece, it adds a nice touch of realism. And it completes the joke, in a way.
Here's How to Do It
- Insert the point of the needle exactly where you would insert it to continue cross stitching
- Run the tip at an angle through some of the stitches on the back and tack it into place
- to have your tan floss actually be "threaded" through this needle, bring two strands of tan up to the top of the fabric where indicated at the lower part of the pink letter "s"
- Thread the floss end through the eye of the tacked-on needle, then bring that same end of floss down to the back of the fabric near the same point on the "s"
- Pull the floss taut until it lays flat against the front of the fabric
- Bury the end on the back in the usual manner
There you have it.
Keep on Stitching,
June 15
Tulip Design First in Garden Treasures
Bookmark Series
A recent visitor to our site asked for some bookmark patterns with floral designs. Since our patterns are always free, we can't count the orders to see which are the more popular ones. That makes your feedback all the more important to us.
While I have a tall pile of cross stitch design ideas, her email moved this one to the top of the stack. So, if you're looking for something specific, let me know. It might already be waiting on my drawing table.
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I was amazed at how quickly I was able to stitch this bookmark. These are so handy to complete, ready to slip into a book or card for someone special.
The back design of the Iris bookmark below will have the popular quote "Bloom where you are planted."
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You'll notice that I added some green to the fringe for the Tulip. I'll describe how to do this, and add it soon to my page on How to Make Fringe.
Keep on Stitching,
Previous Entries
This page would become too slow to load if we didn't divide it occasionally. You can follow each specific design from the beginning by choosing the project you wish to track from the following menu. Each is listed according to when it was introduced, and may appear on several later pages.
November, 2008 Thanksgiving Alphabet, "The Word" Bookmark, Joy Ornament, Peace Ornament
December, 2008 Curling Ribbon Alphabet Design
January, 2009 For My Mother
February, 2009 Outline Alphabet
March, 2009 My Bear to Cross
April, 2009 He Is Risen
Go to Better Cross Stitch Patterns Blog
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