Precious Dreams #4

It’s been months since I did an update on this project. Every time I thought about stitching some of it, I got waylaid by other projects or the garden. I’ve just spent the last week on it though and I’m chuffed to bits that I’ve now finished page two (of eight). I only have one more full-sized page to do and then the others aren’t quite as big – hooray!One of the fish is now finished and that’s the head of the second fishy that’s on the far right. I love the cat’s whiskers. When I was stitching them, one 100 stitch square at a time, you couldn’t really see them but now they’re done, I think they show up beautifully.

So far I’ve done 12,600 stitches which is well over 1/4 of the way done, which is very encouraging. It’s quite fiddly in places, given the size of the stitches and all the different shades of white and grey in there, but it’s very satisfying to finish each square.

Moving back onto Rose Boudoir for a few days now, between trips out to find owls.

 

 

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Precious Dreams #3

With everything else going on, I haven’t had time to do much on this one. I did manage to finish the first page though and have made a decent start on the second. A couple more columns and I’ll be one-quarter of the way through.

It doesn’t look much yet, but I’m thrilled to see the cat’s head slowly appearing. When working on it, you can see the different colours quite clearly – the blues and greens. It looks a bit odd, but if I hold it at arm’s length, the colours merge into the greys and it looks great.

I’m going back to the Hamilton stitch next and then I’ll start on African Sampler, now that I’ve decided which fabric to use.

Precious Dreams #2

I haven’t quite completed the first page on this, but I’m getting close. I’ve slowed down a lot since all the colours came into play, but I’m really enjoying it.

I now have the tip of an ear and some whiskers, plus the start of a fish’s tail at the top. Just one more column to do to finish the first page, but I’m going to put it down for now and do some more on Sunken Treasures. It’s calling to me.

Precious Dreams

After deciding that I wasn’t getting on with the fabric that I was stitching this on, I tried different stitches and fabric counts until finding that doing tent stitch 2 over 1 onto 28 count fabric gave me the best results and was nicest to stitch.

I sent for a couple of different fabrics to see which looked best with it. It’s hard to tell from looking at them online.

I got an ice blue Brittney and a lovely denim Jobelan. The Brittney was too pale but the Jobelan was perfect. It’s dark enough so it doesn’t show through the stitching but not too dark that it’s hard to stitch the navy threads on. The Brittney will be perfect for another project or three so won’t be wasted. I prefer stitching on 28ct where possible.

The tent stitch is lovely to do. I don’t know why I haven’t tried it before. It’s so much faster so I whizzed through the first couple of columns. I’ve slowed down a bit now as there are more and more colours being introduced.

This is where I’m up to now. Just over 4000 stitches done.

It’s lovely seeing the bubbles gradually appearing and I’m more than halfway through the first page.

I’ve had my helper sitting with me for some of that.

She was very good and didn’t attack the threads as they went back and forth. I think she was keeping a close eye on them but was too sleepy to bother with them.

 

 

Precious Dreams

I’ve been enjoying stitching this, and was excited when after 2000+ stitches, I finally got to a different colour to the dark navy. At one point I had all of four colours going at the same time. Woot!

Unfortunately, I’ve decided that I don’t like the coverage. I thought it looked a bit thin not long after starting but I was kidding myself that it would be fine looked at from arm’s length instead of through the Maglight. I’m not chuffed about restarting this after doing so many stitches, but better now than not love it when it’s finished. Sigh.

See how the khaki fabric is showing through?

I’m not sure at this point what I’m going to do. I’m thinking about trying tent stitch instead of full crosses, which would be on either 25 or 28 count. I’ve got some suitable 28 count so I’m going to try it out on there and if it’s too tight, I’ll order some 25 count magic guide fabric. The other option is full crosses on Hardanger, which is 22 count. I may have some of that to play with so I can test that out too.

One thing is certain. I’m not going to abandon this. I love the design far too much for that.

2015’s stitching wish list

Now that I’ve started stitching again, I’m hoping to get several projects done this year. I’d like to finish the Flower Sampler Book, and pick up Around the World in 80 stitches again –  maybe even finish that.

I’ve also got several new starts on my wish list. This is my most recent acquisition. It’s obvious why I bought it as it looks just a little like Sammie. I’ve kitted it up and it’s ready to start.

There’s no black, just lots of navy with several shades of grey, green and blue, with some bright white. I can’t wait to start it. I’m thinking it’ll take a while to do, as it’s solid stitching and is massive compared to my usual stitches, but I’ll do other stuff in-between so I don’t get bogged down.

I bought this one recently too. And yes, I do know that buying more stash when my mojo has only just returned, and I already have many, many kits and charts, is probably not the wisest thing to do. This is gorgeous though and had to be bought when I spotted it on Etsy.

It reminds me of Animal Kingdom and Jambo House at Disney World so I want to stitch it and hang it in the living room.

This is one that I bought at the sewing show in 2013. I’d forgotten about it until I was having a rummage earlier but now that I’ve seen it again, I want to stitch it. Now.

Pretty, isn’t it? I just need to check the fabric in case I want to change it. I’m fussy about my fabrics.

Then there’s this one. I was sent a gift voucher for The Patchwork Rabbit over a year ago by Rachel, but as my stitching mojo was just going into hiding then, it’s taken me until now to find something that I really wanted enough to use it on.

Pumpkins! And by one of my favourite designers. It’s a lovely smaller stitch and I hope to do it soon.
Thanks Rachel!

I think I’ll have three on the go at any one time: a specialist stitch, a larger stitch and something small and easy. I can pick up whichever I fancy at the time, and the smaller ones will give me finishes to keep me motivated. I can’t decide if Sunken Treasures comes under specialist stitch or smaller stitch. I’m thinking smaller, as then I can start it sooner 😉