Cross stitch

These are superb and you are both very talented. I have tried it in the past by not my thing. Back to my knitting/crochet/watercolour painting.

Thank you Pixie. I have seen pictures of your work you are multi talented. I used to knit but had to give it up over 25 years as I can't control both hands at once . Tried crochet couldn't get the hang of it. Tried my first cross stitch 6 years ago and was hooked.

All at my craft group say the same craft keeps your fingers flexible and keeps your mind active. Good for physical and mental health.

Had our Christmas secret Santa party at craft group yesterday. This was my present. Made by one of my crafty friends. I have named him Pix.

Friend who received my worked loved it.

I had made cheese biscuits,mango chutney ( my own) and sweet potato filo samosas and brownies glad to say everything went.

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Well, at long last I’ve finished it………..but not quite though and am calling it a day without completing the background. I haven’t touched it for so long as it became a bit of a chore and I got fed up with it and then by the time I picked it up again my eyes were not as strong (even with magnifying glasses) and I have struggled with 16 count black. I do though tell myself it looks more abstract and shows up better against the black without the border. My next project is 14 count white with bright colours

spottybox it's beautiful as it is. I could never stitch on black and 16 count. I am doing an Amsterdam scene on pale blue 16 Aida but only do it a bit at a time and have other works on the go. This is my latest work a steampunk owl. I have brought some cogs to go on the frame .

Thank you, Whiff. I like your owl

Hello, saw Whiff asking for pictures of work done, so here is one I completed some years ago.
Lovely work you all have.

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Lynx that is beautiful. Are you going to frame it or make it into a cushion either would be lovely . I have 3 WIPs going at the moment. A peony which a friend at craft group gave me as she found the kit at home. Still working on my Amsterdam scene and a dragon. Plus have 4 kits in stock and want to make a Tomte door stop for my grandson for Christmas. Seems a long way off but as you know cross stitch is a slow craft but so relaxing. I saw this on a post box by me yesterday. It's crocheted. Hope it makes you smile it did me.

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Such lovely work on here that I have been inspired to get my cross stitch out again.
Pics attached are two previous ones, done in Petit-point (half cross stitch). As well as the one I am about to start. I just hope my eyesight / glasses & magnifier allow!
Happy stitching all!

PiscesLady beautiful work. Enjoy doing your new piece of work. I don't know about you but I love picking out a new project. Getting fabric and sorting out all the threads . Once finding the centre I mark it with a couple of stitches. Then the joy of putting in the first stitch of the design and watching it grow slowly everyday. There is no way you can rush cross stitch that's why I find it so relaxing . It's sad some people wouldn't even try it because they want instant results like you get with crochet.

Then joy when all the cross stitching is done then the back stitching that makes the work pop. Some people don't like back stitching but I love it. I only ever do full cross stitches even if it states french knot or half cross stitch etc. But my work always looks good . Won't say perfect as no crafter ever thinks their work is perfect even if it looks like it to others.

Had a lovely surprise yesterday I am always entering competitions on Gathered and found out that I had won 2 tickets to the British quilt and sewing show at Uttoxeter racecourse which is 21st,22nd and 23rd of April. I am going with my daughter on the 23rd. Never been to a stitching show before.

My craft group is mixed media. But I only do cross stitch. Because of a disability had to stop knitting over 25 years ago as I couldn't co ordinate the needles. Only found cross stitch 7 years ago. How I wish I had tried it decades before.

My hands shake all the time but funny enough not when I cross stitch no idea why.

Every 2 weeks I bake to take to my group this week it's brownies and an apple cake. I don't keep what I bake as still trying to lose last stone and bit for the last 2 years after losing 7st . But I love to bake this way I can have a treat without eating the lot.

Are others here members of a craft group. Crafter's are a special breed . My craft group is brilliant in another life we would never have met but the love of craft brought us together. They are true friends and we care about eachother and keep in touch via our closed What's app group.

If you never have tried cross stitch give it a go you will be surprised how relaxing and addictive it is. 🧵

How lucky to win tickets to Uttoxeter. It is a lovely show, although I haven't been since before covid I am trying to decide whether to go this year. Seeing embroidery as well as quilts is one of the nice things about the Uttoxeter show, and different traders with unusual haberdashery. You will have a lovely time I am sure.

Thanks Whiff I have so many kits waiting to be done I am looking forward to doing them. I started Cross Stitch years ago and return to it from time to time, usually taking a break when my eyesight is not good enough. My glasses got broken last year and it took a while to be able to replace them. Not sure if these are right for me to sew with but I will give it a go. I never could knit, I'm left handed but never could do it!
Congratulations on winning the tickets. It's a show I had not heard of. Also I'd not heard of Gathered before so I will be investigating. I hope you have a great time & will look forward to hearing about it. I went to the NEC Stitching and Craft show in April but it was not as good as it has been in previous years, - not many stalls selling cross stitch.
Well done on losing all that weight. The last bit is always the hardest. I once lost 4 stone but it went back on after an illness. I will try again one day but my head is not in the right place at present.
Enjoy the cake! Sharing it must add to the pleasure.

Ilovecheese one of my craft group is doing a quilt using fabric with bees on it in hexagons all by hand. It's amazing how it is growing. She knitted some mats a few months ago using strips of plastic bags . Never knew you could knit with plastic.

My fellow Crafters' are a talented bunch. And willing to teach eachother. One was taught how to crochet a grannie square yesterday.

All my cakes went glad to say. But then again anything I take always does. I always make plenty so they can take some home if they want. But it gives me pleasure to bake and see them enjoy it. My late husband loved my cakes. But I was taught to cook from a very young age along with my brother. We both taught our children to cook. Glad to say my grandson's have always been in the kitchen.

Basic things children need is to cook,learn to shop wisely, sew a button on or repair,iron and clean a house and save for things they want. Then they will always be able to look after themselves.

PiscesLady if you want ideas to loose weight read the pears thread. Lovely bunch there. One thing about cross stitching you can't eat while doing it. It keeps your fingers flexible and your mind. You can get a magnifying glass that goes round your neck. Never used one but seen pictures in cross stitch magazines and craft supply shops online. Good lighting is a must when stitching.

Enjoy stitching ..

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This is my finished dragon.

Your dragon is beautiful Whiff. Well done!

PiscesLady thank you. I have talked about my lovely craft group. One of our members comes when she has a day off. And brought a lot of things from her stash she won't use. There where boxes ,fabric,wool,bags ,threads and cross stitch kits. This is my haul I had. That's what I love about my friends we share what we don't want but someone can use it. I took a Victoria sandwich which cut into 12 and a lemon marmalade cake which cut into 16. I used my blueberry jam and my own lemon marmalade made my easy way. As it's my birthday on Sunday.

Oh Whiff that looks like a lot of interesting projects waiting to be started. Happy stitching Birthday for Sunday.

Morning Whiff what a lovely selection of goodies! Enjoy!
Happy Birthday!

A very intricate looking dragon Whiff. Excellent stitching, as always.

Sorry didn't get back to your all. Thank you for the birthday wishes. Our craft group has grown there where 16 of us yesterday . Good job I had made cake and biscuits. One of our group had a day off work and she had been having a sort out and look what she gave me. I keep all the DMC threads and give the rest to charity shop. With what I had last time she has given nearly 200 threads. But I will buy her something none crafty as a thank you . I don't like receiving without giving back she is kind to think of me. Wish everyone had a group like mine .

Hope to see some of your work here even if you have only just begun.

Finally finished this . All 17,600 stitches.

Wow! That is superb, must have taken you many hours.
I've not made much headway with my summer pict. I have a magnifying floor lamp but DH finds the light too bright from where he sits so I need to find a way to block it for him.

PiscesLady get him a big hat and sun glasses 😂. Thank you I have been working on and off for months. It's 16ct nearly drove me mad. Been doing other small pieces in between. Just need to finish the peony then I can start a Bothy kit of a mouse and toadstool. Looking forward to doing that one.

That made me laugh Whiff we have a skylight above where we sit and many a time DH has been driven to a big hat & sunglasses! We now have a blind fitted, better for the brightness but not good enough for sewing.
My 'summer' picture is an 18 count but is just a fraction of the size of yours. No wonder you took your time doing it. I love peonies so will look forward to seeing that one when it's finished.

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Finally framed 2 of my pieces. Unfortunately I can't cut a straight line even with a metal ruler 🤣 But never mind they are just for me.