Holiday Craft Purchases

I went on a trip to Edinburgh, London, Bayeux and Paris. I wanted to see tapestries, and I saw so many. Starting with the reproductions at Stirling Castle, then all of the tapestries at Palace of Holyrood House (this place is wall-papered in tapestries), the tapestries at the V & A (plus I saw the Syon Cope), Hampton Court Palace, the Bayeux tapestry (not a tapestry but an embroidery) – this one had the best audio guide, The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries at the Cluny Musée (there were other tapestries here as well) and the tapestries at the Louvre. We saw a lot of tapestries.

In between seeing tapestries and visiting book stores, I bought some craft supplies (as souvenirs).

In Paris I went to Ultramod (the oldest haberdashery in Paris) and bought trim. I then went to Le Bonheur des Dames and bought the chicken cross stitch (this store is down a very cool passage – well worth a visit).

In Edinburgh I went to Kathy`s Knits and bought sock yarn – Abercairn Yarns (the top skein in the above image).

In London, I went to Liberty (embroidery scissors and fabric – I plan to embroider on the fabric), and to Loop where I got that second skein of yarn (it’s a La Bien Aimée, so it’s like a London/Paris souvenir).

And finally in Bayeux I bought an embroidery kit – I am going to attempt to make one of the boats.

While travelling (planes and trains) I worked on a sock

It’s just a plain sock (I didn’t want anything too complicated), the yarn is from Fiber Lily (I think it’s called Apple Blossom Fairy).

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Finished Pair of Socks

Finished socks!

I knitted these in one long tube, from cuff to cuff, cut the tube in half, added toes and after-thought heels. From this book …

I thought I would give a new method a try, but it’s not my favourite method. I think I will revert back to one at a time with a heel flap and gusset.

I used Heart & Soul yarn from Sirdar in shade 0050 and my usual knit pro zings (2.25mm)

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Slow Stitching

Progress on my slow stitching project

I am really enjoying this process. Trying out different stitches and techniques. I have never used beads or sequins before. I still have some bugle beads to try. Each new stitch becomes my favourite – although chain stitch, french knots and back stitch are probably my top three stitch choices.

I am mostly using perle cotton (size 8 and 5), and some silk left over from my coaster project.

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Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home Progree

Progress is slow but steady. I have almost made it across the top border.

More project details here.

I am enjoying the 40 count fabric and the Au ver à Soie 100/3 silks.

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New Stitching Class Project

This term in my stitching class I am working on a slow stitch project.

I took a photo of some leaves in Kings Park and had it printed onto cotton by Spoonflower.

I have some linen fabric to which I am going to attach things. I have some beads, an organza flower, fabric I tea dyed, colour catchers that I dyed with green tea.

At this stage I am going to stick with straight stitches and beads, but it might evolve.

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Filed under Applique, Bedazzle, Embroidery, Fabric Stash, Inspiration

Second Coaster Finish

Finished Coaster

I finished my second coaster. I, unintentionally, went a bit ‘off-piste’ with this one. It’s a good thing the Sprats Head 2 (in the corners) are quite forgiving.

The design and threads are from Beautiful Stitches.

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Scout Shawl

Progress

I have been working on my Scout Shawl, I think I have started it about 7 times, but I am on my way now.

I’m about halfway through section 1. And I am catching the second colour every third stitch.

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Another sock project

Start of a new sock project

I wanted a small project to take on a plane, so, obviously, it was going to be socks.

I am going to try to knit two socks at once, from this book

Knit 2 socks in 1 – Safiyyah Talley

I am using my usual 2.75mm needles and I have cast on 60 stitches. I am just doing a plain vanilla sock while I am getting the hang of it. I have had the yarn in my stash for ages – I think it’s been discontinued.

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Second Coaster

Second coaster

I have started work on a second coaster – different threads and design. Both threads and design are from Beautiful Stitches.

I am using congress cloth and silk threads.

I am very pleased that I managed to get the Diamond Jessicas in the right place.

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Green Gables is Finished

Green Gables Cross Stitch

I finished! Admittedly it is a small cross stitch. I enjoyed working on it – I made a mistake on Matthew and had to unpick quite a bit (I had already moved onto Marilla).

The pattern is from Petal Pusher. I used 32 count zweigart (Platinum) and the called for DMC thread.

I think I might do the Longbourne one as well.

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