Category Archives: Embroidery

April 23, 2023 · 3:23 pm

Cinnamon Stars Progress

Cinnamon Stars (by Plum Street Samplers) progress

This is my year of finishes. I want to finish projects that I have started. Like my Cinnamon Stars project. This is what I work on at home, at my two stitching groups, I have been working on my Gingerbread House. It’s looking a bit ramshackle because I have sewn it altogether yet.

Below is my previous progress photo – I have now finished the top half and just have to work on the bottom left and right.

I think I finally have a set-up that works well. My Lowery frame, magnifier and working at a table.

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April 4, 2023 · 6:02 pm

Crafty Purchases

Stitcher’s Corner Purchases

Stitchers’ corner re-opened in its new location with a new owner, so, of course, I had to go and be supportive. The store is fabulous, so much beautiful stuff (and finally some modern patterns).

I want to try a higher count linen, so I only have to use one strand. The linen above is Newcastle (40 count) in colourway sand. I am also keen to try Au ver à soie 100/3

My plan is to stitch Modern Folk Embroidery’s Home Sweet Home, in a rich shade of red. I like the DMC 321 in the photo above, so I might choose that.

The other things is the LA D Da Needlebook. I saw this on Brenda and the Serial Starter’s flosstube.

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March 9, 2023 · 6:19 pm

My Kit has Arrived

Dame Nature du Printemps

My kit from Jardin Privé has arrived – it was very quick. I am super keen to get started, there is a sheep and a chook!

I do have to finish my Gingerbread House, and my Cinnamon Stars first.

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February 6, 2023 · 3:17 pm

New workstand – Lowery

I have splurged and bought myself a new embroidery workstand – it’s a Lowery in stainless steel. I had considered them in the past, but thought they were too expensive and I made do with different table stands (but none of those were ideal). This is great. It’s so sturdy, my clip on magnifier doesn’t make it sag and I can sit on the couch and watch TV while stitching.

I am very happy with my purchase (which I got from JK’s cross stitching supplies – brilliant service). Now I am considering the table clamp for my friday morning stitching class.

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January 7, 2023 · 2:35 pm

Jacobean Crewel Work Embroidery Kit

RSN Embroidery Kit

After having been lost in the system for a while, my embroidery kit from the Royal School of Needlework arrived. It’s beautifully packaged – I have already started work on the pomegranate.

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December 30, 2022 · 8:44 pm

Stitch Dictionary

Samplers of Seduction – Dictionary of Stitches

I finished my Dictionary Stitches. I particularly like the back-stitched word Sampler.

Now I am going to try to finish my Gingerbread House and my Cinnamon Stars cross stitch before my kit from the Royal School of Needlecraft arrives.

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December 29, 2022 · 9:52 am

2022 – A Review

The things I worked on this year

I worked on some big projects this year; Miss P’s blanket and the Cinnamon Stars cross stitch.

I finished

So next year I would like to finish my

  • Cinnamon Stars cross stitch
  • My covid knitting project (it’s the doll second from the left in the bottom row)
  • Miss P’s blanket
  • Gingerbread Cross stitch house
  • Dictionary of Stitches Sampler
  • Miss A’s quilt (not shown)

And then I would like to start my

I think that’s enough projects planned.

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December 19, 2022 · 2:44 pm

Samplers of Seduction – A Brief Dictionary of Stitches

Samplers of Seduction – Edition 1

My box from Rebecca Devaney of Textile Tours of Paris has arrived – it came very quickly. Unlike my kit from the Royal School of Needlework, which still hasn’t arrived.

I also have the online course, A Brief Dictionary of Stitches,

Items in the box and my progress

This is a beautiful kit, with silk threads, linen, hoop, scissors and needles all from European manufacturers.

Rebecca’s teaching style is fabulous. I thought I knew how to hoop my fabric, but no and now (as you can see in the above image), I can get my hoop drum tight.

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December 14, 2022 · 5:27 pm

New Project Bag

New Knitting Project Bag

I made a drawstring bag for my sock projects. The design is from Urban Threads. I stabilised it with calico, but I should have used something more sturdy as there is a bit of puckering.

I used instructions from Martha Stewart to make the bag.

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December 7, 2022 · 6:05 pm

Drawstring Bags – Machine Embroidery

Drawstring Gift Bags

I thought I was been cunning by making drawstring bags on my embroidery machine, but it wasn’t as smooth as I expected.

I used a design from Pixie Willow Patterns. The instructions were fabulous – very well written with lots of detail and images. And the design stitched out perfectly. I struggled to get the drawstrings through all of the layers, I did exactly as written in the instructions, but it was still tricky and time consuming. I will make them the old-fashioned way next time, but it was worth a go.

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