cross stitch

Paper embroidery

~ guernseyjane ~ Leave a comment

My cross stitch ‘to do’ list is huge but I had to try this basket of flowers before any of the bigger ones because I am trying cure myself of a YouTube addiction!

My vow to stop mindless watching is to try out a crafty project if I watch a crafty video (and to cook a recipe if I watch yet another foodie video etc.).

So when the lovely Sarah Homfrey demonstrated basket weaving stitch in her May embroidery upload I had to try it.

I have a paper die that creates cross stitch panels so used that rather than load a hoop for stitching a more detailed basket on fabric.

I freestyled the pansies and fixed the finished panel on some craft foam before mounting it on a card base. I found some matching brads to embellish and tied some embroidery thread around the spine.

Rustic but at least the project is done and I can tackle some other UFOs (un finished projects).

Plastic canvas

~ guernseyjane ~ Leave a comment

A gift of plastic canvas sheets tested my craft creativity. I wanted to make useful things but found the material hard on my fingers so my first project – a cross stitch earring holder – is in the UFO (unfinished objects) pile. Pinterest searches yielded little until I found a fly swat idea.

An old stitch book provided patterns to cover the canvas quicker, so the handle in a Hungarian stitch variation and frame in Gobelin stitch made this a workable project. Finishing the edges with a simple wrap covers the plastic edges and provides a contrast.

Spurred on by this a pair of napkin holders made with 6 1/4” x 2” strips of plastic were soon completed in florentine stitch and used some scraps of tapestry wool left over from long completed kits.

The earring holder project is now sending me reproachful ‘looks’ so I will probably make progress on that through the year. A long way to go.

Slow stitching, quick joy

~ guernseyjane ~ Leave a comment

I have gathered all my embroidery and cross stitch supplies together and realised I have a lifetime’s supply. So I was delighted to find inspiration from Mistikomakes on YouTube.

Not only did this give me lots of practice on fly stitch, chain stitch and French knots it inspired me for little makes that are satisfyingly fast to finish.

Thank you Misti Ko!