DUCJFC 2016 - February 14 - Dimensions Sleigh Ride stocking WIP

Happy Valentine's Day! Or Happy Manufactured Holiday! depending on your point of view. Although I'm somewhat familiar with the history, you lose me at cynicism when chocolate is involved. :)

I did manage to finish my second sprite today, just in time! This is Samus Aran in her full suit:

I pulled out a WIP from last year's challenge today, the Dimensions Sleigh Ride stocking. This one has been through a little bit if you remember. I restarted this one last year on 25count pewter Lugana because the included aida was so stiff. I counted and re-counted and I think I have a large enough piece. My plan is to sort of stitch around the outside to try and make sure before I cut any more of it off. That makes it a little unwieldy right now, but I'd rather be safe. 

I managed a decent amount more of the half stitch at the top. I'm trying to use continental stitch somewhat since I noticed it seemed to be warping a little bit. I'm also definitely keeping it in Qsnaps since I had been stitching in hand and that certainly did not help prevent stretching. 

Here's where it was when I left it in 2015:

And where it's at now:

Definite progress made and soon I'll be on to the main photo and cross stitch. That should help with preventing stretching as well maybe?

It would be great to finish this one by Christmas this year, so fingers crossed. After all I've tried to get on my plate, what's one more? ;)

Plus, my Valentine's gift from DH will help me make this into a stocking, he got me a Brother sewing machine!!! I'm really excited to try it out. He had given me a hand-held serger for Christmas, exactly what I'd asked for, but it was really hard to make it work and once the thread ran out it never quite ran correctly again. So with the actual machine I'll be able to hem my own fabric all the time!! And hopefully it will make finishing easier as well. 

Happy Stitching!

Tiffstitch