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.
Finished Socks
I started these socks back in April 2022 (I got waylaid by Miss P’s blanket), had a false start and then tried again and now I have finally finished them.
Here’s my original post, I stuck with the pattern and used the Yarn Harlot’s toe pattern (the 4-3-2-1 pattern).
While waiting for more yarn to arrive for P’s blanket I have switched back to my Covid project, I am on to the dress now.
Filed under Knitting, Sock Knitting, Yarn Stash
Stitch Dictionary
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.
Filed under Embroidery, Inspiration
2022 – A Review
I worked on some big projects this year; Miss P’s blanket and the Cinnamon Stars cross stitch.
I finished
- Halloween Cat – I am thinking about making it into a cushion
- Shorty socks – my sock knitting really fell off because I have been working on Miss P’s blanket
- Project Bag – for all of those socks I am planning on knitting!
- Drawstring Christmas bags – for my friends’ christmas presents
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
- Scout shawl – I have a kit
- Knit some socks!
- Start my embroidery keepsake book thing (I have been collecting supplies and special things)
- Royal School of Needlework Jacobean Course – my kit should arrive soon.
I think that’s enough projects planned.
Filed under Cross Stitch, Cross Stitch, Embroidery, Machine Embroidery, Sewing, Sock Knitting
Samplers of Seduction – A Brief Dictionary of Stitches
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,
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.
Filed under Embroidery
New 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.
Filed under Embroidery, Machine Embroidery, Sock Knitting
Drawstring Bags – Machine Embroidery
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.
Filed under Embroidery, Machine Embroidery
Gingerbread House Cross Stitch
I was sorting through my embroidery box and I came across this unfinished project. I started it in late 2017.
I am unlikely to get if finished this year, but we will see how I go.
Filed under Christmas Decorations, Cross Stitch
Book Binding
At my slow stitching course (it’s here), I have been learning how to bind books. It is part of my grand plan to make my fabric book.
The one on the top has two signatures and I have used cross stitch on the binding. The bottom one has 8 signatures and I have used french link binding. So far this is my preferred method. I like how the covers are separate from the spine.
Filed under Book Binding
Cinnamon Stars Progress
So a tiny amount of progress has happened.
I have bought a new hoop stand, this one (the Sonata seat frame)

So far it’s working well, I can attach my clip-on magnifier to my hoop, and everything is solid (not wobbly).
Filed under Cross Stitch










