I only managed a few hours of stitching in this busy week, just 5. This brings me to a total of 75 hours of stitching. I started filling out the upper right corner of the page. I checked the second page and marked any colors that continue in a line onto the next page. By stitching these stitches all at once I hope to prevent a major line appearing due to the split of pages.
I search the internet for free cross stitch patterns on a weekly basis. And with free I mean really free, not illegal copies. I have found several great patterns and full sites dedicated to patterns, and I would like to share some here.
The first site I would like to share is the Antique Pattern Library. This website shares scans and conversions of old, out of copyright, patterns. These patterns are not only for cross stitching, but also for knitting, crochet, embroidery, etc. There are a few gems on the website. My favourites are the DMC booklets (from around 1900), especially the Point de Croix Nouveau Designs, which are in an Art Nouveau/Art Deco style.
I am planning to use the Nouveau Designs booklet to make a piece consisting mainly of the beautiful borders featured there, they are too beautiful to not be used.
After such a massive week of stitching (see the update of week 2), I couldn’t manage that many hours again, what with work and real life and all that. I stitched for 8 hours this week, making the total 70 hours.
I finished the confeti below the rabbit, reaching the bottom of page 1. Then I continued in the upper right corner, where I am just doing the three main red colors. The confetti reaches to the right edge of the page, so I now have a feel of how big each page is.
PS, this update is a bit late, it actually concerns the first full week of january. However, I have had some trouble with my wrist, and I couldn’t stitch for a while. I put my piece away because I couldn’t stand not being able to stitch (and having a perfect three day weekend with nothing to do but stitch). The wrist trouble isn’t over yet, but I tried stitching again and I can manage. I am picking up a smaller frame later today, so I can reach the back from the right side, instead of reaching over the top. That should make it better too.
Now that the Epic Mario Cross Stitch is (finally) finished , I started showing it of (virtually at least). I posted it on several crafty communities and one gaming website I work at. It was well received everywhere. One thing that surprised me the most was that everybody finds the piece so large, while I found it a good size, not too big, not too small. It is only because I am working on a huge piece now that I am not doing another big gaming piece. Anyway, posts can be found here:
- Crafster
- Craftbubble
- Stitchers showcase
- Budgetgaming (dutch)
Also, I was honored with a post on Sprite Stitch, where I got the pattern and inspiration: Large Super Mario Sampler Finished!
It is very nice to hear such positive remarks :D
After two weeks of no stitching due to our trip to London and Christmas, I more than made up for it in this past week, by stitching a total of 38 hours. I have worked my way to the right, but mostly downwards the page, where I discovered more flowers and a rabbit. This corner of the tapestry is dark (due to dirt I think), so this is the reason the flowers and the rabbit are green… The brighter red is coming! :)
I won’t have this much stitching time in the coming weeks, but I have good hope of finishing the first page of the pattern this month :D
On our recent trip to London (more about that later), I bought a Tudor Rose bookmark kit at the Tower of London. Like I said before, I love the middle ages, and this was the most beautiful medieval cross stitch kit I could find.
The kit itself was very complete. It had extensive instructions, more than enough thread, a needle, fabric (for stitching and the back) and a tassel. I stitched it in about 15 hours (I estimate) and finished it with the included red felt backing and the tassel.
Now that I have picked up cross stitching again, I dug up one of my old works in progress. I bought this kit back in 2002 in the US, and started work on it back in The Netherlands. I worked on it for a while, but a combination of hot weather, an error, and getting a Great Dane pup that was a bit too enthousiastic made me put the piece away. I haven’t touched it since. The funny thing is, I can remember being frustrated because of a big error (one of the dogs is one or two crosses off I think), but I can’t find the error anymore.
Anyway, I was looking for an “away project”, a project that I can take with me when I am away in the weekend (A mon seul desir is really too big for that), and this will be it. Maybe I’ll finish it finally! ;)
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!
