Cross stitch

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These are the designs in the 2023 and 2024 calendars 6 in each.

I’ve always loved cross stitch and embroidery. It’s so relaxing and enjoyable. I have so many framed pictures and other objects around my home I now want to go as they have taken over. It seems awful giving them to a charity shop as they cost so much to frame, are they even sellable now? but my children don’t want them. Started knitting again, at the moment a waistcoat as not so heavy to manage now as the jumpers and larger items I used to make. I can’t just sit and watch tv I have to be doing something else, usually snacking.

Everyone has done some beautiful work. I am not a cross stitcher but I do admire those who do it. But I do like to do a bit of embroidery from time to time. Each to their own. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work.

Allsorts

Ask at your local hospital, residential homes, doctors surgeries etc if they'd like some pictures for their walls?
Make someone smile while they appreciate your hard work!!

Allsorts Like Ali08 I was going to suggest donating to residential homes. Also I see there are completed cross stitch pictures on Ebay but don't know how they sell. Alternatively, pack some of them away for a while and then change them around in a few weeks / months.

Purplepixie I have great admiration for those that can do embroidery. I have a couple of kits in my to do stash but have yet to pluck up the courage to have a go!

Whiff I love those Wrendale designs, so cute! I'd not heard of Haunted Moon Aida before, that sounds fantastic for your owl picture.

Home Serve sounds interesting, I think we will need to look at something like that in the not too distant future. Your stop cock & sewer pipe tales are alarming! As for my garden, it is totally unmanageable at present, I need it landscaped, or whatever the term is, goodness knows how much that will cost!

I agree on half cross stitches. My poppy looked as if it needed them, so I was glad that now completed it looks fine without. I've made a start of the flower brooches, struggled a bit but You Tube has shown me a better way to do them. When I get one completed I will post a picture.

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A librarian brought this leaflet into our craft group and 3 hessian squares I took 2 and made least for the project.

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Morning all. I am going to the Brain Charity on Wednesday to a gel painting class. I am rubbish at drawing and painting but don't know why this interested me. Anyway it's a day out at a place I like to go when I can.

They have a forest sensory room so decided to see if they wanted this for the room . If they don't it's ok will keep it as I like it and pleased how it turned out .

Hopefully some will post pictures of there work even if it's in progress. Doing poppies at craft group but my owls are home as I need to concentrate as some colours are very similar.

The crochet topper was on a post box near to me .

Happy stitching .

What beautiful work some of you have done!

I wish I’d been more selective when picking out a kit. I recently finished off two big tapestries that I started in the 1970s and put away when the enthusiasm waned. They’re both from traditional oil paintings and I can’t imagine anyone wanting to display them (I certainly don’t). I’ll choose more wisely next time!

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Whiff Those bees look great. Were the pattern charts supplied?
I've not heard of gel painting before. I too am rubbish at drawing & painting. I will be interested to know how you get on.
I hope they do like your Fox & Daisies and it sits with their theme. The post box topper looks great!

Maggiemaybe Congratulations on finishing the tapestries from some 50 years ago! Especially as you don't seem to like them anymore. Try something small, that you like, next time, to get you back into it.

I have managed to get one of my brooches done, I hope the next one looks better! I found something on You Tube that showed a slightly different way to do them, which I think will suit me better.
Since then I have been getting stuck in to my large tulip picture, it's addictive! I'm also finding the gridlines a big help. Like your owl picture Whiff there are a lot of similar colours - all pinks and some white which is a nightmare on white Aida! I can only do the white in good daylight. I will have to put it on one side soon and get back to the brooches.

I have a question: Can you use a hoop on a large piece of cross stitch and then move the hoop to another part? Does it damage the stitching you have already done? I've currently got the tulip on a scroll frame - WIP picture attached - looks nothing like a tulip at the moment!

Purplepixie I hope you are still enjoying your knit & natter group. (Did I get that right?)

Happy Sewing everyone!

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Maggiemaybe hope you feel a sense of achievement finishing those
tapestries.

PiecesLady the bees where from a cross stitcher magazine bee alphabet. Your brooch is beautiful. And love the colours of your tulip . You are a lot better organised than me gridding and the way you have parked your threads .

I always use a hoop . Here are pictures of my owls with and without the hoop and clipped back . Once washed and ironing damp the hoop marks disappear.

I stitched most of this with a Siamese cat lying on my lap underneath it. I’m surprised I didn’t inadvertently attach him to it from time to time. 😹

FoghornLeghorn that's beautiful. I blew the picture up love all the details. I don't have pets but find I have a hair or 2 stitched into my projects always the grey ones 🤦😂.

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Had my grandson for the day he loves using the pedal on my sewing machine. So we made this cushion cover. He turned it the right way round and put the inner in . He's 6.5 years .

My grandsons had these lights in their rooms but different colour . I brought 2 from Dunelm £15 they are rechargeable and have 3 light settings . Perfect for close use as they bend and it's just a touch button on the shade top.

FoghornLeghorn That's lovely! A really intricate picture. I don't think added Siamese would have enhanced it & your Siamese might have had something to say about that - Mi-Ouch!

Whiff Thanks for the info on using and moving a hoop. I will definitely give that a try with my next cross stitch project, not sure what that will be as not even half way on my tulip. The gridding is 'Easy Count Guideline' which is a bit like red fishing line and should remove easily. It was a bit of a chore to do but I have found it really useful in double checking my counting.

I love the cushion cover. It makes your Zebras come alive! Great that your grandson is interested in sewing.

Rechargeable lights are so useful, and no trailing cables. I bought one last year, wouldn't be without it.

How are the owls coming on? I will look forward to seeing the end result, when you get there!

PiecesLady here are my owls so far. I will go do fat to the moon . Then start the other side . But won't make it flat like the chart and change the bottom so it isn't flat I like . Will decide when I have done the top.

PiecesLady picture in the magazine.

Some really great tips here, especially the rechargeable lights.
Thank you Whiff
I like to cross stitch during the winter months so these will be ideal.
I have been looking at buying a cross stitch set called The Wave, but I’m not sure how difficult it will be as there are back stitches and knots as well as cross stitch. Has anyone done this one?

Bakingmad I only do whole cross stitches . Never do half cross, french knots ,or fractional stitches . Back stitch makes your work pop and is easy to do . You don't have to a back stitch into every hole . I usually do 2 or 3. Or see where the line is going and do a long line. Will find the page where I showed how back stitch makes a difference to your work.

I usually used 14ct Aida but have done 11 for my zebras as it was a kit. Have used 16 and 18..

The dandelion was only a square of crosses and line for the stem . The tuffs are all back stitch .

Bakingmad page 5 21-6-2021. Man before and after back stitch.

Sorry 25 not 21.

Whiff I have never adjusted a pattern to suit me. I'm not brave enough! What you are planning sounds good.

Bakingmad Whiffs handyman picture is a perfect illustration on how essential back stitching can be.
I did back stitching and French knots on my poppy picture (page 15 on this thread) the crosses are done first. I found it tricky to follow the back stitching exactly as per the chart so a lot of the time I just did my own thing. You Tube reminded me how to do the French knots.

I looked at 'The Wave' kit on Amazon. (I like it!) I don't think you will find it too difficult, just do a little at a time.
The following is part of a review of the kit on Amazon:
The majority of the kit (regular cross stitch parts) is pretty simple. There are not too many different colours or jumps between colours. Be warned though if you are not very good with back stitching or French knots; there is A LOT of back stitching and French knots for the outlining and sea foam respectively. Luckily for me inconsistent looking French knots work well for this particular piece!

Happy stitching!

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Finished my owls tonight
Picture of original chart
I used fabric with moon on it and altered the chart . With and without frame .

Whiff Your owl picture is fantastic. I love the effect that the moon gives it. So much better than the original chart. What is your next project?

I'm still working my way through my tulip picture. I've done the top half, working on the bottom half now.

Just in case this of use to someone else:
It's a Lanarte kit that I bought on Ebay a long time ago. A small central section had been done - correctly, I checked. Going through the threads I started to wonder what would happen if I ran out of thread as they do not give the DMC numbers. Reading through their web site, they say if you run out of any threads, let them have the details and they will send you more free of charge. Apparently they do not put the DMC thread numbers on to prevent copies.

As always such beautiful work Whiff.

PiscesLady I hate kits that don't give you the thread numbers and make of thread. If I made up kits I would always put in a full thread not just pieces . Plus always the number and type of thread. Drives me mad if I run out of thread in a kit so I try and find a match out of my stash of DMC threads . Only I know if it's the wrong shade.

Looking forward to seeing your tulips .

Finishing my Wrendale kingfisher I started on my holiday in York. Then making a gingerbread house for the secret Santa but this time doing it correctly using plastic Aida . As I wasn't happy with the houses I made last year threw them away.

spottybook thank you.