March Update

Hello, hello! Here we are again, I've managed another monthly post about stitching.  I do have a lot of stitching and knitting that's taken place over this past month, so it's been a good one. I'm only going to touch on the stitching today. 

Firstly, let's do the update of Starry Night SAL by Urban Stitches. I'm still very happy to have kept up with it so far. We've hit a new row now, so this was the most recent week's finish:

And the whole project so far:

Starry Night SAL by Urban Stitches

blackwork 1 or 2 strands  over 2 on 28ct white evenweave as charted

I'm definitely enjoying this one. There's a technique to getting all the blackwork in, and I've found a way that works for me. I tend to go colour by colour and fill in the entire weekly square, then go to the next colour. It's charted so you can see all the colours in one grid, or there are separate grids for each colour as well. Some people on the Facebook group has said that's helped them as well. I will sometimes check those grids to be sure I didn't miss any stitches from the main grid. 

Next, this is all the stitching progress this past month. There were some finishes for the "WIP-down" as well. First up, this Lizzie Kate which was worked on last year and looked like this:    

and now a finish!    

Official Snow Guide by Lizzie Kate

stitched 2 over 1 on 14ct aida with stash threads

Next, I picked up my New Year New Start from this year and added some colour!

A Stroll in the Snow by Asleep at the Stitch

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct evenweave by Chromatic Alchemy as charted

I felt like I had to get back to Witch's Gate after this, although it was bogging me down a bit, so I decided to try and finish off the left side, since I'd have to move the Qsnap anyway, and that would be a good stopping point for now. This is where it's at, a little more than halfway complete now:

Witch's Gate by Whispered by the Wind

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Mirage by PTP

with DMC 167, 738, 3823 and 3866 as changes to the original colours

I don't know if this will come back out this year. There is a flame that needs to be stitched in the mini-cauldron in the gate post, and I'm thinking a blue flame might look best, but I'll need to chart it, so I've left if for now. 

I pulled out some more smaller projects in hopes of finishing them, and had 3 more finishes to add to the pile!

Stocking ornament by Jane Henderson

stitched 2 over 2 DMC on 28ct scrap evenweave

And a conference one weekend helped me get another finish on yet another Lizzie Kate:

Normal is Just a Setting on the Washer by Lizzie Kate

stitched 2 over 2 with stash threads (WDW, Carrie's, Jodyri)

It was a 2 day conference, so I had time to pull out another WIP as well, and although I didn't get a finish while I was there, I kept up with it and it's complete as well. 

Dragonfly in Flowers Stamp by Sweet Annet

stitched 2 over 1 with kit threads on included wooden framework

This was a mostly enjoyable stitch. The one issue I had, was the white flowers? or stars need to go through the central hole so many times that it got so thick I ended up breaking a needle! So the only one that is correct as charted is in the top right. The rest I just did as 4 stitches. The other backstitch was fine, so if you attempt these, please keep that in mind. The finishing felt comes with the kit and this one is already fully finished as well. 

I was up for something a little more complicated after these finishes, so I pulled out when of the complicated full coverage patterns. This is where it was last time:

and now after 1000 stitches added:

Peacock Infinity Feather by Cross Stitch 4 Everyone

stitched 1 over 1 full cross as charted on 28ct Amethyst Spirit by Chromatic Alchemy

You can definitely tell some stitches were added this time! I believe I have less than 10K to go, so potentially if I can get 1000 stitches in per month, this would be finished somewhat quickly. I'll have to see what I'm up for though. I'd like to keep enjoying the stitching and not feel like it _has_ to get done. 

And for what I've been up to the last few nights, I pulled out a monochrome design to see how far I could get it to a finish. It will look like this eventually:

Samurai by Fire Wing Designs

and last time I worked on it (2021), it was here:

and now:

Samurai by Fire Wing Designs

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Fire Rooster by Chromatic Alchemy

with Madeira black 

The design is spread over 2 pages and I've completed one full page, and have less than a full page left. I'm going to keep going with this one until it stops being fun or until I finish. I think another finish is definitely possible! 

I hope you've all had good months and are staying well. 

Happy Stitching!

Tiffstitch

    

It's Finally Complete!

Some of you that still follow my sporadic posts will be surprised to see I have actually managed to finish one of my older WIPs! Last time you saw it, it looked like this:

and now, it's complete!! And it's even been mailed to the person I was stitching it for. Good thing they have remarkable patience. 

Do Not Meddle by Dragon Fire Designs

stitched as charted 1 over 1

on 28ct Monaco

It's so nice to be finished with this one. It's been waiting a long time, and it's great to get a finish. And then it took me a couple days to figure out what to pick up next, so I did some work on the intarsia blanket for DD:

Rainbow Days Blanket by Mary-Ann Lammers

knit with Jody Long cotton and Juniper Farm Neve

This one only needs another couple pattern repeats until the finish. I also finished another project while my elbow was healing. I still couldn't stitch for any significant length of time for a couple months after my injury, but I could knit a few rows a day. That meant my science officer version of a Star Trek inspired shawl was completed! It's funny how not being able to craft makes you want to do it more. 

Farpoint by Vanessa Smith Designs

knit with FiberStash fingering weight yarns

And I decided on the next project I'd like to tackle. Since I missed almost all of the planned October stitching, I picked up Witch's Gate by Whispered by the Wind to get some progress and possibly a finish before I start December stitching. Last time you saw it, it looked like this:

and I managed several thread lengths to get it to here last night:

Witch's Gate by Whispered by the Wind

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Mirage by PTP

with DMC 167, 738, 3823 and 3866 as changes to the original colours

This has a fair bit of work to get it finished, so I don't know if it will be a finish, but we'll see how it goes. Also, Whispered by the Wind is not going to be designing any more, so if there's anything you want, order soon!

Hope everyone has a good week and enjoys Thanksgiving if in the US. 

Happy Stitching!

Tiffstitch

2024 Plans

Here we are with potentially a good year of stitching, unlike the last couple. I think starting the New Year with positive thoughts, without pressuring yourself is always okay. 

I'd like to try and focus on 12 WIPs next year, one each month. It's okay if I don't finish them, but it would be nice to catch up a little. Also, there are Olympics next year, so I'd like to join Rachel in stitching something unique or special for the Olympics. I'm debating about a new start that I keep stitching on, or find one of the BAPs that really needs some love. It's the Summer Olympics and Paralympics this year as well, July 26-August 11 and then August 28-September 8. Plus I can pick up smalls any time if I need a break from the focus piece. 

Here are my thoughts for 12 focus pieces:

In Harmony by Dimensions

Do Not Meddle by Dragon Fire Designs

Believe in the Magic of Christmas by Durene Jones

Universal Monsters by Witchy Stitcher

Stormlight Archive by Taylor and Cromwell

Quaker Christmas by Lila's Designs

Symphonic Romance by Summer House Stitche Works

Ondulations by Jardin Prive

Happy Christmas by Prairie Schooler

Witch's Gate by Whispered by the Wind

Evening in the Shire by Cute Patterns by Maria

My first project will be to locate all of these, then I can sort out the order for next year. 

These are my thoughts so far, what does your New Year look like stitch-wise?

Happy New Year everyone, and may you never break a needle!

Tiffstitch

Witch's Gate Update

Thank you for all your lovely comments! I always appreciate them. I am so happy to be done In The Gloaming, it was a very enjoyable stitch despite the initial frogging to get the colours just right. I love the finish and will be looking for a frame soon. 

When we last saw Witch's Gate, it was not very far along:

and will eventually look like this:

The chart is separated into 4 pages and I thought I might try and finish one full page, but I ended up skipping around a little instead. I didn't have a designated stitch count on this one. Instead, I realized I had just a few thread lengths of the C3799 left in Etoile for the gate, so I could finish up the skein and call that a good place to stop. That meant I worked across the top all the way to the other side of the gate, and a little bit into page 4 on the bottom right. This is where it is now:

Witch's Gate by Whispered by the Wind

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Mirage by PTP

with DMC 167, 738, 3823 and 3866 as changes to the original colours

I'm happy with this progress so far. The bats in the gate will be normal 3799, like the gargoyles. The gate gets the extra pizzazz though. I think the amount of stitching definitely makes a page, so we could call this at least 1/4 complete. I doubt it will come out again this month or the rest of the year though. 

Next up I'm hoping for another finish with this 2017 SAL by Lakeside Needlecraft, designed by Durene Jones:

If you note the date on top, I think if I finish it this year I won't have to frog the skull I've already stitched in. Here's where it looks now:

Spooky Halloween by Lakeside Needlecraft and Durene Jones

stitched 2 over 2 on 28ct Icarus by Chromatic Alchemy

with DMC 310, Purple Planets by Jodyri and various GITD Kreinik

The far right is the end of the piece and the missing area above is all part 6. I had finished part 5 the last time this one came out and worked some of the border. Now it's just part 6 and the rest of the border to finish the black. It's mostly filling in after that, and part 1 and 2 might have been completed already, so a finish definitely looks possible. 

I hope you've all been staying well and enjoying your stitching.

Happy Stitching!

Tiffstitch

Dark October Plans

Hello again! Although we're well into October, I'm going to let you in on what my plans are/were for the month. I plan to do a Dark October and work on Halloween or black stitching as much as possible. My first priority is to finish In the Gloaming! Here's where it was when we last saw it:

And I'd like to try and progress on Witch's Gate:

There's so much left here that I don't think a finish is possible, but I'd like to get maybe at least one page out of 4 completed. 

And I'd really love to finish this one!

This is the Happy Halloween SAL by Durene Jones that was put out by Lakeside Needlecraft way back in 2017! I would like to finish it this October so I can have it off by WIP and SAL list. 

The other project I'll try and sneak in is the new Witchy Stitcher Cryptid SAL. Have you all seen this one? Lots of black, so it fits for that part as well, but the theme is a bit spooky too. So far the cryptids are all North American, and there's some hope that the Loch Ness Monster will be one of the creatures. If so, I might have to call it Champ after our local lake monster. Supposedly Champ was seen by Jacques Cartier when he first explored the area, so he is technically older than Nessie. :) 

I hope you have all been having a good month!

Tiffstitch

September Crazy Domino Event - Projects 4-6

If you remember my last post, then you can read a bit about the event there.

Last time I had worked on Evening in the Shire last. The next project is linked because of The Lord of the Rings, and I pulled out Visit Mordor by Country Magic Stitch. It was last here:

and I was up to 400 stitches, so this is where it is now:

stitched 2 over 2 as charted 

on 28ct Britney Lugana named Feronia by Chromatic Alchemy

This darker lilac is the far left of the project, so it's kind of nice to be at an edge on this one. There is a lot of stitching to go. I wish these were on Pattern Keeper, but I haven't been able to upload them yet. 

My next project was linked because of the giant gate in Mordor to Witch's Gate by Whispered by the Wind. It was last here:

but this is when I was a teensy bit obsessed with finishing Siberian Forest, and I actually used the wrong colour on this part, so I had to frog and restart:

500 stitches makes a sizeable dent though, so it now looks like this:

Stitched as charted (so far) on 28ct Mirage by PTP

The last chart of this set, number 6, is linked to Witch's Gate by the designer, WBTW. Yes, it's our old favourite, In the Groaning Gloaming and if you want to see the story behind that, check out this post and this one too. Basically, Rachel and I changed up colours to ones we preferred, but it took a lot of frogging and restitching to get there. 

What I thought I had done after we found what we liked, was to only leave the colours in the bag that I wanted to use. Turns out, I left an alternate medium beige, and when I started In the Gloaming it was here:

 and then you can maybe tell the lower blocks are a little lighter than the top 2 rows? Yes, I used the wrong colour for 134 stitches, so had to frog again.

But the goal for this one is 600 stitches, so I'll get there in the end. It's just funny that I'm still having thread colour issues with this project. 

Here we are after 600 stitches total, meaning another 470 added after frogging out the others:

That's a decent amount of stitches in, and this and Witch's Gate will come out again in October, so they'll get a little more work done as well. I don't know that they'll be finishes next month, but you never know!

The next few are some "forgotten" WIPs, not forgotten really, just not worked on in a while. They need lots of stitches though, so might be a few days till I get them completed. But it is a holiday weekend and I have 2 days off! Whee! I will enjoy the longer weekend for sure.

Stay well and happy stitching!

Tiffstitch

Spring Into Summer New Start Binge #13 - Witch's Gate and a Recent Obsession

I hope you've all been having a good stitchy week! I didn't forget I needed to start a new project, but I did get myself distracted with plans for July and a bit of a mania to finish a project.

So, I debated and decided to make the last few weeks all about Christmas projects, and do a kind of different Jolly July. Each new start will be Christmas or winter themed.

And since this was the 13th new start, I thought I'd pull out the other Whispered by the Wind spooky chart, and made a miniscule start on it. Please check Rachel and Annie's posts as I'm sure they did better.

So, there's a lot left to do. :) I did keep working on some of the other WIPs I've started for this and am nearing a finish on the Wish ornament:

And as for my recent finish mania, this has nothing to do with these starts since I won't get it done by the end of July, but there's some chance Rachel and I have been discussing starting more projects this year, so I'd be aiming for a finish near that time.

This is Siberian Forest as it was when I pulled it out this year. Some of you may remember this from way back in 2011 or so when I started it. It's been out occasionally, but very rarely.

The main reason this came back out and why I'm interested in finishing it is Pattern Keeper came out, and there was finally a way I could get my head around stitching full coverage HAED projects. To the end that I'm over halfway done this one now and really want to finish it to have my first ever HAED finished this year! And then start all the rest... perhaps not all. 

This is where it is after Sunday, June 28:

I'm at the bottom, this is as far down as it goes, so it's quite a small piece by HAED standards, only about 20K stitches. I do think a finish is possible this year, and I think it's going to be a focus while I have this mania to finish it and see if I manage it before I burn out. 

I hope you've all been staying healthy and happy stitching!

Tiffstitch