Even though we are home only for another 2.5 days before Christmas, and can only really enjoy our Christmas tree for a total of about 10 days, we put it up anyway. It is our first real/fake christmas tree, we bought it last year after Christmas (way cheaper that way). We put it up and went to the store to get the directions… and now we have it…. yay! Very nice, fills the room :D
I picked this corner of our couch as my stitching corner. I have a regular lamp with a flexible neck that can be a regular light in the room, or my spotlight for stitching. The small table is good for my small bobbin box (which holds the blends). The big bobbin boxes (for full skeins) are on the couch :D. The TV is nearby for entertainment, and I can look out of our window to keep an eye on things… Perfect!
Well, after 24 hours of stitching in one week (two weekends really) I believe I now know the meaning of the concept of confetti in cross stitching. I started out with two or three colors (blends really) that fill up a great bit of the piece on the right. But then I got it into my crazy head that I wanted to fill up the holes left…. and I knew it. I bet I made about 30 bobbins with blends (which takes me quite some time), and some were only used for 1 cross.
But, I do have to admit, the result is beautiful. I finally ‘found’ the first two flowers, and two dark leaves at the upper edge. I know what part of the tapestry I am working on, because when I saw it in Paris I bought a big postcard (almost legal paper/A4 size) and put a color copy in my folder with the pattern. That, in combination with the front page of the pattern, which has the picture Scarlet Quince used, shows me what I’ve done (and what all I still have to do). It might take me a life time, but I love the result!
Well, since I only worked on it for one day and one evening, I think this still counts as week 0. I started last saturday evening (December 6th 2008). This is only three symbols on the chart, but it is already looking great. I can’t wait to do more!
I did it! I finished the Epic Super Mario Cross Stitch I started nearly 10 months ago. To recap:
I got the pattern here, on Sprite Stitch. I started on February 23rd 2008, and finished on December 8th 2008.
It measures 200 x 150 stitches, and was stitched on even weave, over one (I know I should have done over two, but this is my first cross stitch…).
I used one strand of DMC. The colors I used were:
310 – Black
White
221 – Dark red (bricks)
906 – Light green
950 – Pink (for the light touches on the bricks)
434 – Brown
699 – Dark green
321 – Red
3823 – Broken white
995 – Blue (two skeins)
740 – Orange.
My progress (click on each thumbnail to see full size pictures):
Well, I finally started. We made a contraption with the super frame and the rolled up fabric at the edges. The rolled up fabric (quite a lot as was to be expected) is covered by an old cut up T-shirt to protect it from dirt and the pressure of the frame.
I prepared some of the color blends used in the first page, and I started :D. It is taking more time than the Super Mario because I am taking more time to not twist the threads and not push the needle through other threads.
Anyway, I am liking it, and tomorrow I’ll be working on it all day :D Pictures will follow on monday or tuesday.
Well, this weekend we aren’t spending at home. So, I packed a whole bag with both the Super Mario Cross Stitch, as well as suplies for the “A Mon Seul Desir” cross stitch. I had finished the logo on thursday, and got started on the cloud. I am working from large to small, since I really don’t like doing the big white parts…
Anyway, I got my supplies, a bobbin full of white…. and it wasn’t enough! So now I got everything done, except the flower.. Ah well, monday I’ll be home, and it will be finished. Yay! Pictures will follow then.
I think I am finally ready to start. I have the pattern, it arrived last monday. I copied the entire thing (54 pages!) onto A3 size paper (about 200%) for better visibility, and so I can mark the finished stitches on it. I have a superframe and a magnet board to help me. I finished winding 155 bobbins. I trimmed the fabric and sewed the edges against fraying…. All I need/want now is another big bobbin box for the bobbins with the mixed colors I’ll be using…
More and more white gets filled in. I finished the white between the letters of the logo, and am now working on the white above the letters. Then I only need to fill in the few white parts in the picture… and I will be done. I am counting on one more week of work.
