Stitching Casualty

Welcome to my new followers!

We had a stitching casualty here this afternoon.  Can you believe I actually pulled out the stitching to work on? 

An Open Heart
The Drawn Thread

Not much progress, but let me tell you, those tied rhodes hearts there at the bottom just about did me in.  Last Thursday, after about 3 hours of fiddling with it, I finally had three little hearts done.  Then I realized they weren't ending up in the right spot.  So I ripped back and tried again.  And again.  Then I gave up.  Just one of those days when you count and count and count again and no matter what you do, the stitches just won't go where they are supposed to.  Today they were conquered without too much ado.  I guess the stars are lined up just right today.  Whew. 

But there was a casualty. 

I think this is the second needle I've ever broken in 30+ years of stitching.  And talk about a bit of anxiety when I couldn't find where that little tip had gotten to.  I'd rather not have to find those type of objects with my feet. 

And I have sock pair #3 finished and ready to wear Christmas Day.

Paton's Kroy FX
Clover Colors

When I started the second sock of this pair, the yarn, which was the same color and dye lot, was looking quite different.  You can see this if you look closely at the picture in the previous post.  So I had to run and buy more yarn (boo hoo) to see if I could make the pair match a little better.  There is no way to get an identical pair of socks with this yarn it appears, but I love the colors.  Good thing, since I will now have two pair, lol.

Hoping everyone has a safe, happy, and peaceful Christmas.

Tamara

And To What Do My Wondering Eyes Appear?

Only a little stitching update again today.  I do think I hear the stitching mojo whispering, though, so hopefully, I will get back on track soon.  I'm planning a stitching day for New Year's Day and I'm hoping to finally make some progress.  Here is An Open Heart:

An Open Heart
The Drawn Thread

Sorry for the crappy picture.

And, of course, there are still socks!  The first of this pair is done and the second is on the needles.  I'm loving the color of this yarn.  These are going to be my Christmas Day socks this year.




Basic sock
Paton's Kroy FX


Then, I walk out the door to go get the mail, and I look up across the street and there is this weird thing on the neighbor's roof.  I stood contemplating what in the world they have put up on their roof.  Some weird looking satellite dish?  No.  It's a freaking pelican.  So, I ran and grabbed my camera, hoping he wouldn't disappear and snapped a picture. 

A pelican on the roof!

Maybe he's doing reconnaissance for Santa?

Tamara

It Must Be Contagious

I'm seeing a lot of knitting out there in blogland, so it must be contagious.  I have another pair done.

Basic socks
Paton's Kroy Socks FX
color 57211

I put my Old Time Santa in the picture for a little cross stitch fix.  I believe he is an old Leisure Arts leaflet.

Lo and behold!  I did get my ornament finished (finally!) for an ornament exchange next week.  Finishing is not my forte, but I think it came out looking pretty good.  So good, I'd like to keep it for myself, lol.

I also finally got some of my Christmas shopping done and maybe I'll manage to get the rest done without stressing myself out too much.  (Yeah, right.)

Happy stitching!
Tamara

Another Yarn

Welcome to my new follower(s) again!  Up to lucky thirteen now. 

The weather here has finally turned more fall-like and since I'm sitting here chilly, I decided it's time to try to get a move on the half dozen bins of yarn I have sitting in my house.  I inherited this yarn from my Aunt who could no longer comfortably crochet due to her arthritis and she sent it on it's way to me.  Unfortunately, it came at the end of my last yarn craze and it has sat mostly untouched for over 5 years now.  I really want to 1) put it to good use and 2) get it out of my house.  Mainly so I can go buy more yarn, lol.  I think I am going to put a lot of it together for Project Linus.  I have a UFO that I have just pulled out and this will be finished up this month (meaning December) and will be my first contribution. 

Summer Symphony
A Year of Afghans Book 3
by Leisure Arts

The left edge is not that wonky;  I just didn't bother to straighten it out after flinging it out on the floor. 

I'm still having a blast with the socks.  The latest sock did get me a little frustrated with trying (on my own) to do the princess sole thing.  I really am not one of those people who can go off on their own pattern-wise.  It usually leads to certain or near disaster.  Case in point:

The foot is badly rolled. 

It still fits well, though, and the princess sole feels much better.  (The colors in this picture are much truer).  I tried it on inside out and it still feels better than the first pair, so I think the smaller needles helped, too.  I will, at some point, be trying even smaller needles.  The second sock of this pair is on the needles and I am going to use this pattern to see if it is easier and looks nicer than what I tried to do.  I've got to figure out a good, basic pattern soon;  there's too much cool sock yarn out there! 

After posting, I realized I had not shared the picture of my finished first pair of socks! 

Let me go see if I can figure out what I was doing on this afghan.  As I remember, I was not following the pattern correctly and, of course, didn't make any notes.  Maybe after I go fix a cup of tea or hot chocolate...

Happy fiber fondling!
Tamara

PS.  Tomorrow is my stitching night, so there is some remote hope I will have some sort of stitching update.

Weekly Update

Wow, I can't believe it's Wednesday again.  And the end of another month. 

Not so much to report this week.  I got a tiny bit done on An Open Heart.  I am somewhat avoiding working on it because I am at the spot where I have to cut threads and re-weave them.  It's not that I'm afraid to do it, it just takes more patience and concentration than I have available to me lately. 

An Open Heart
The Drawn Thread

Sock knitting, however, is coming right along.  I am close to having a pair of my first socks!  I hope to finish this sock tonight or tomorrow and I'm already looking forward to my next pair. 

If you have ever thought about trying to knit a sock, do it!  It is so much easier than it looks.  I have more or less taught myself and I am a very inexperienced knitter.  I used and highly recommend the youtube videos by verypinkknits entitled learn to knit socks, parts 1-6.  Wonderful step-by-step instructions for beginners.  I am using/adapting the free pattern found here using Premier Yarns Serenity Sock Weight in Indigo.

I have also done a little research for my next pair, which will also be based on this pattern.  I will be trying to do a princess sole, which is reverse stockinette on the bottom of the foot.  I'm hoping this will be more comfortable to wear in shoes than the current pair seemed to be.  I will also be doing them on US 2 DPN's instead of the US 3.  I am hoping to get them cast on tonight or tomorrow. 

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
Tamara

A Sock!

Hello, again!  And welcome to the new follower(s).  It's a gloomy, dreary day here today.  Perfect for staying indoors and settling in with your favorite movie and needlework. 

And I now have a complete sock!  I can't begin to say how tickled I am that I knit an actual sock.  Which, by the way, fits nicely, too.  Unless it shrinks when I wash it, then it might end up a tinch too small, lol.  It has some techincal errors that I need to figure out how to fix on the next one.  I really enjoyed knitting it and it wasn't nearly as difficult as I always thought it might be.  Drum roll, please...

Now, I have never been the recipient of hand knit socks before, so I have no idea what they are supposed to feel like.  It's very comfortable, like I have nothing on.  Except when I put my shoe on, I felt every single purl stitch on the bottom of my foot and was trying to figure out if it was bad enough to call it pain.  I want to do the next pair in a smaller gauge, so I don't know if this will make the "problem" feel better or worse.  Maybe I have extra-tender feet? 

I did do about 5 minutes of stitching this week and finished Area 4 on An Open Heart.  Originally, I was hoping to get this one done by the end of the year, but I got a little distracted (see above).  Don't worry, the stitching bug will come back, I'm sure.  If I could figure out how to survive with no food, sleep or having to go to work, I could get so much more done, lol. 

An Open Heart
11/17/2011

Happy Stitching!
Tamara

An Open Heart Update and more knitting

I can't believe how quickly time flies these days.  Halloween's gone and Thanksgiving is breathing down our necks.  And let's not even mention Christmas shopping.  Ugh.  Too much to do and too little time.

An Open Heart has not seen much love this week.  I'm up to area 4, I think.

An Open Heart
11/10/2011

I received my finished bellpull!




VS Autumn Garden Sampler
11/10/2011


More knitting has been accomplished.  It must be the time of year that makes me want to make warm things to wear.  First up is another garter stitch scarf.

Paton's Carmen scarf

Next is my very first knit hat.  This was made with Caron Simply Soft Paints in Oceana.

I started my first attempt at a sock with actual sock yarn.  I'm hoping it will get easier with practice.  There are such fun yarns for socks and you can never have too many socks!  I'm hoping I get the hang of it eventually.  If anyone out there knits socks and has any advice to share, please do! 

Happy stitching!
Tamara

An Open Heart Update and....socks?

Just a quick post to update my WIP's.  I only worked a little on An Open Heart this week, so just a little progress there.

The Drawn Thread
An Open Heart
11/03/2011

I'm still being distracted by the knitting bug.  Big time.  The Feather and Fan scarf is now almost halfway complete.

Sugar Rush Feather and Fan Scarf

And I have decided I want to try to learn to knit socks on double pointed needles.  I got the basics yesterday (late) and started.  I am still astonished that it's not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be.  I'm just doing a practice sock in worsted weight cotton, so when finished, it will likely be a nice ankle sock for the Jolly Green Giant, lol.  If I ever knit a real sock, I'll be sure to share pictures. 

Happy Stitching!
Tamara

A Fall Scarf and An Open Heart Update

Wow!  I can't believe I'm up to 11 followers!  That's fantastic!

There has been needlework of various sorts going on here.  Ironically, my finish this week was done on a very slow day at work.  I did up a quick scarf in eyelash yarn that I've had in my stash for several years now and I'm glad I have it finally for the fall/Halloween season.  Now, if it will only get cool enough to actually wear it.  It is just a garter stitch one ball scarf in Paton's Tango Cha Cha yarn (which I believe is now discontinued).

It does look slightly less hideous in real life, lol.  Very slightly.  But the colors are just perfect for this time of year, don't you think?

I promised an update of Crystal Roses.  I'm almost done with the base stitching, only 1/4 left to go, then I will get to do all the fun speciality stitches and add some color to this puppy.  This picture is a little washed out; there is some sage green in there, believe it or not.

Just Nan
Crystal Roses
10/27/2011

And I have gotten a bit further on An Open Heart, 1/4 of the way complete (not counting the borders).

The Drawn Thread
An Open Heart
10/27/2011

It's a very enjoyable stitch, although I dislike stitching words.  It doesn't matter if they are backstitched or cross stitched, I do not like doing words/letters/alphabets. 

Unfortunately, I did not get around to finishing the ornament this week.  It might be a couple of weeks before I have the time to sit down with it.  Not to mention the fact that my sewing table is buried halfway to the ceiling under my to-do pile.  *sigh*

Happy Stitching,
Tamara

A Finish And A New Start

Welcome to my new followers! 

I have finished stitching the Happy Holidays ornament.  I am planning on finishing it this week.

LHN Happy Holidays

And I decided to get a start on The Drawn Thread's An Open Heart.  I have barely made a dent in it, but here it is anyway.

An Open Heart WIP
The Drawn Thread

I did get more done on the Crystal Roses, but forgot to take a picture and I'm too lazy to get up and do it now, lol.  I will put it on my to-do list for the next update.

Happy Stitching!
Tamara

A Finish!

Hello, all!  I've been seeing good progress for many after the IHSW.  I thought about joining, but my weekend ended up being a bit busy, so it's probably better that I didn't.  Maybe next month you will see me there. 

Not a great deal of stitching done this week, although I did finish the Autumn Garden Sampler.  It is now with the finisher to be made into a bell pull.  I'm very excited to get this one back!  It's been a long time since I have had a finish, it seems.  That is the drawback of the BAP's, progress is slow and finishes few and far between.  So this was a nice feeling of accomplishment!

VS Autumn Garden Sampler
Finished!

I also started a little ornament.  Little House Needleworks Happy Holidays from the JCS 2010 Christmas Ornament issue.  Hopefully, this will be done today, then I will try to get it finished into an ornament next week.

LHN Happy Holidays
JCS 2010

I have made a tiny bit of progress on Crystal Roses, but haven't taken a picture yet.  Still on the now boring white on that one.  I did a bit of stashing.  123 had a sale on Autumn themed charts and I got Mill Hill's Button and Beaded Kit Autumn Collage and the frame to go along with it.  I was a bit suprised at the size when I received it, lol;  it was a bit bigger than I expected.

Mill Hill Autumn Collage

I really, really want to get a start on The Drawn Thread's Open Heart.  It's sitting here all ready to go, I'm just trying to be good and get some finishes before I delve into it.  I thought I was going to try to get Crystal Roses finished before starting it, but I think that is not going to happen, lol. 

Happy Stitching!

Tamara

Autumn Garden Sampler Update

Once again, welcome to my new follower!  It's still a bit thrilling to see a new face pop up there, lol.  I hope everyone is enjoying reading my updates.  I've tried to comment on a couple of blogs this week that then wouldn't post my comment, but I'll keep trying.

A finish is near, I think!  I'm on the second-to-last band on this sampler and I'm hoping to have it finished today, or tomorrow at the latest.  Provided I get myself from in front of this computer.  Then I will be able to take it to the finisher tomorrow.  Yay!  I'm now working on band 15:

VS Autumn Garden Sampler
10/12/2011

The only drawback with this (and other VS charts) is the overdyed/hand-dyed threads.  I'm a bit fanatical about washing my finished projects.  I did a little swatch with the Gloriana threads and washed it;  it seemed to come out fine.  Then I used the steam iron on it and it bled everywhere.  So I have to experiment some more to see if I should allow the piece to dry completely before using a dry iron.  I hope that will work because I would really like to use these threads more in larger projects, but I would have to be able to wash them.  I had a piece many, many years ago that discolored horribly several years after it was framed, so I am very paranoid.  I have never had any problems with the pieces which have been washed *knocks wood*, and that is why I feel compelled to wash my finishes.  And why I still use mainly DMC.  But it would be wonderful to be able to add some of those wonderful specialty fibers for fun, not to mention it's a pain in the katookis to have to convert them to DMC.  Which quite often is impossible as with the Glorianna threads in this piece. 

Unfortunately, I was not so good at resisting other new fibers (at least new to me) this week, either.  I browsed through a local yarn shop to kill a few minutes and ended up with a scarf project.  I've had an itch to knit lately and, hopefully, this will cure me, lol.  This yarn is 100% sugar cane viscose, Sugar Rush by Queensland Collection, and is absolutely wonderful.  It is sooooo soft.  I'm doing it in an easy feather and fan pattern.  I'm not a very experienced knitter and this pattern is easy enough to be doable, but challenging for my skill level.  I seriously doubt I will ever be a proficient knitter, as I tend to have two left hands, lol. 

Sugar Rush Feather and Fan Scarf
10/12/2011

It's a gloomy day here, maybe some rain showers coming.  Excellent day do sit and stitch!  So I'm off to see about getting that sampler done. 

Happy stitching!
Tamara

NLH page finish

I finally finished page 5 of Nature's Little Helper.  I also did a little bit of the page below to get the un-rainbow area filled in a bit.  I still think I am going to have to add some color to it before I will be satisfied.

HAED Nature's Little Helper (Warren)
10/05/2011

And I am LOVING working on this Autumn Garden Sampler!  I'm loving it so much, I think I will put the HAED's aside for a bit and work on the pile of Victoria Sampler, Drawn Thread, Indigo Rose, and Ink Circles charts.  It's nice to actually get something finished again.  I have 11 bands of 16 finished on this one. 

Victoria Sampler
Autumn Garden Sampler
10/05/2011

I just love those leaves and acorns!  Here's a close-up of them.

Autumn Garden Sampler
Close-up of Acorns and leaves

I am doing this piece on 28 count white monaco with mostly DMC conversions except for the Gloriana silks and the Au ver a soie.  I'll be getting it made into a bell pull when it's finished.  I can't wait!

Happy Stitching!
Tamara

A Doubting Thomas

A warm welcome to my new followers! 

I managed to get a little stitching progress this week.  First up is Victoria Sampler's Autumn Garden Sampler.  Bands 1 and 2 are complete.  Aren't the colors just yummy?

Victoria Sampler
Autumn Garden Sampler
09/28/2011

Next up is my Nature's Little Helper update.  Almost done with page 5.  With any luck, this page will be done for next week's update. 

HAED's Nature's Little Helper (Warren)
09/28/2011

Now, I would really like your opinions on that rainbow.  (In case you can't figure out where it is, it is the brownish arc under the purple tree branches).  I am not yet pleased with it;  the colors are non-existent and looks even less like a rainbow (color-wise) from afar.  Here's a closer look at the area in question.

Nature's Little Helper
close-up of questionable rainbow
09/28/2011

And here is the original artwork/pattern to compare.

So, what do you think?  I will wait to contact Michele about it until I have the surrounding pages done and I have a better perspective, but I just don't see how it's going to come together at this point.  I have done stitches like this before where things don't look proper until everything is filled in, but the colors are so dull and un-rainbowesque.  I'm definitely a Doubting Thomas on this one right now.  I guess time will tell...

Happy Stitching!
Tamara

Autumn's Arrival

With fall upon us this week, I decided I did not have nearly enough fall stitching to sit about the house.  So the WIP-in-waiting I referred to in my last post is nearly all kitted up now.  It is Victoria Sampler Autumn Garden Sampler.  I am converting most of the floss to DMC, though I am using the Gloriana Topiary and Harvest Grape.  This will be the first time I have used the silk flosses and so should be interesting.  The Topiary color is quite yummy and I'm giving some thought to other projects I might be able to use it in. 

VS Autumn Garden Sampler

I will probably be bad and at least start this one this afternoon.  I have been sick with a cold all week, so I have not done much stitching at all.  I think most of the progress on Nature's Little Helper was done just last night.

HAED Nature's Little Helper (Warren)
Page 5
09/21/2011

I also thought it might be fun to share my older fall pieces.  The first was completed in 2009 and is Mill Hill's Jim Shore's Harvest Trio:

Jim Shore's Harvest Trio
Mill Hill
circa 2009

This is an old Leisure Arts leaflet, the name of which I have forgotten:

Leisure Arts
circa 1997

And lastly, is my pride and joy, Glory of Autumn by Mystic Stitch.  This one hangs over my couch all year. 

Glory of Autumn
Mystic Stitch
circa 2006

I would love to see the fall/autumn pieces of others! 

Happy stitching!
Tamara

NLH Update and a WIP

Welcome to my newest follower(s)! 

I feel like I made some progress on Nature's Little Helper this week.  The tree is really starting to take shape.  I'm looking forward to doing some of the main trunk on the next page.  I'm now passing the halfway mark on this page.

HAED Nature's Little Helper
09/14/2011

My WIP, which I actually started a couple of months ago and just haven't devoted much time to, is Just Nan's Crystal Roses.  I did this one back in 2007 and was not happy with the fabric choice and had wanted to do it again at some point.  Here's the original 2007 finish:

Just Nan Crystal Roses
2007 finish

I wanted the design to really pop on the fabric, so I decided to try it on black.  Yes, I said black.  Did I ever mention that I am a glutton for punishment?  Here's the WIP picture:

Just Nan Crystal Roses
09/14/2011

This one only gets picked up once in a blue moon at the moment, but I'm going to devote more time to it after I finish the current page on Nature's Little Helper. 

For a little added suspense this week, I am kitting up a new WIP-in-waiting and will post the info on that when I get everything together, hopefully next week. 

Happy stitching!
Tamara

Nature's Little Helper Update 2

Sorry, I'm running out of clever names for post titles.  Here's this week's update:



HAED Nature's Little Helper
09/07/2011



I feel like my stitching mojo is waning a bit this week.  I had a holiday day off and hardly put a stitch in!  I'm hoping to do better today.

Happy stitching!
Tamara

Nature's Little Helper Update

Such an anxiety-filled day last Saturday;  it's hard to believe an entire week has passed!  This one was definitely better!  I'm having trouble picking up my stitching today since I started reading "The Help" this morning.  A very good read so far.  Now I'll have to go see the movie, I guess.  I have a feeling this is going to be one of those books you are sorry to see end.

But you didn't come by to see what keeping me from stitching, did you?  I did get the top row of blocks done on Nature's Little Helper this week.  And got into that lovely green!  This page has more confetti than this chart has had so far.  I really want some nice big blocks of color to stitch!!  (Do you hear that Curl Up With A Good Book chart whispering sweet nothings in my ear, lol?)  So here is the update:

HAED Nature's Little Helper
09/03/2011

Happy stitching!
Tamara