Pat's Cross-Stitch Corner

A Place to Share a Craft I Love

2025 Mystery Sampler – Cloister Garden

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Since 2017, Fox and Rabbit has been offering a free mystery sampler for stitchers to participate in. This years is called Cloister Garden. Each month on the 1st a different part of the chart is available for free download. The Stitch Count for this years sampler is 333 wide x 333 high which means she is a BIG girl.

Because of the size of this one, I am choosing to stitch the motifs as individual pieces to finish as small pillows or ornaments.

January

This month’s part is the centre of our Cloister Garden, a water fountain to add sound and movement to our garden, and cool us down on hot days.

I’m stitching mine as individual smalls. Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss Stormy Weather on 14ct Charles Craft (DMC) Sunset. And now I can see I missed a stitch on the bottom center. Off to fix it.

Believe

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When I first saw Believe by Victoria House Designs, I knew I wanted to stitch it. I had stitched another one of her designs Two Hearts, One Love.

The stitch count is 80×80. The model was stitched on Weeks Dye Works threads on linen 32 ct, Belfast,
Zweigart color Vintage Country Mocha. I chose a piece of 16ct antique white aida using Classic Colorworks Caroling. The finished size on 16ct would be 5×5.

Not sure how I am going to finish it as yet.

Red Cardinals

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I evidently purchased Red Cardinals from Owl Forest Embroidery back in 2022.

I started stitching this one in February of 2023 but did not get a whole lot done.

I picked it back up in December of 2024.

The stitch count on this one is 115 x 148, The called for fabric is 32ct Belfast linen. I chose to use a piece of 16ct Heartland by Picture This Plus. The called for floss is by Owl Forest but DMC colors were included. I am using some DMC and some Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss. My color choices are in bold.

  • White/B 5200/VMSS Star Spangled Blanc
  • Salt and Pepper/3799/VMSS Charcoal
  • Chocolate/433
  • Green Oak/3345
  • English Red/3328
  • Vermeil/350
  • Red Bilberry/817/VMSS Centennial
  • Antique Gold/676
  • Spindle Tree/758

My progress as of December 20, 2024.

Christmas at Primrose Cottage

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Primrose Cottage is a fairly new designer to me but I love Lindsey Weight’s designs. I purchased three of her new Christmas charts to stitch. They all called for 32ct taupe and used Colour and Cotton floss with some DMC. They usually offer floss bundles and finishing kits to go with the various designs. I will, on occasion buy the kit but prefer to stitch from my stash.

Primrose Cottage Christmas Bundle covers.

Christmas Magic

Christmas Magic is the larger of the designs and the one I chose to stitch first. The stitch count is 100×100. I had purchased a fat quarter of 16ct Vintage Country Mocha to stitch all three of these designs and I did purchase the floss pack for Christmas Magic which included:

  • Colour and Cotton Cherry Cobbler, Peace on Earth, Marsh, Tree Lot, and Tusk
  • DMC 783 and 844

The finished size of the stitched piece would be 6 1/4 x 6 1/4 on the 16ct fabric. You could also take parts of this design and stitch them as small individual ornaments or pillows.

I loved how the stitched piece turned out. I decided to use the frame that the model used which was a 9×9 inch white shadowbox frame from Michaels (Item: 10468371) that was on sale for $9.

Once I disassembled the frame, there was a piece of fabric covered foam attached to the backing board of the frame. I tried to remove it in one piece so I could recover it with a pretty green fabric but that was impossible. It broke apart in small pieces. Once I got all the foam removed, I cut a piece of matboard 9×9 and covered it with the fabric and using the hot glue gun, to attach the fabric covered piece to the backing board. I cut a piece of matboard 7×7 inches and laced the stitched piece to it. Using doublesided stitchery tape, I attached the stitched piece to the fabric covered board.

The framed piece is now ready to hang on my Christmas wall.

Christmas Alphabet

Christmas Alphabet was released in 2022 but I just recently purchased it. The stitch count is 80×65. The recommended fabric is 28ct mushroom lugana using DMC floss. I stitched it on a piece of 16ct mystery aida with called for colors.

I made a mistake on the ball on the top right so left the bow off all of them.

I decided to finish this as a small pin pillow. I added a candy cane button to the back. If I stitched it again, I would us 25ct so it would be bit larger.

Cocoa Quilt

Cocoa Quilt has a stitch count of 73 x 73 and uses three of the colors from Christmas Magic. I was not sure I would have enough floss left from Christmas Magic so decided to use the DMC colors instead (816, 3051, and B5200). The fabric is 16ct Vintage Country Mocha.

I decided not to stitch the white in the outside border as I like the lacey look without the white. Eventually it will be finished as a small pin pillow to add to my collection.

Cocoa Quaker

Cocoa Quaker is the newest one in the Quaker series. The stitch count is 80×80 and uses three of the colors from Christmas Magic. I was not sure I would have enough floss left from Christmas Magic so decided to use the DMC colors instead (816, 844, 3051, 3776, and B5200). The fabric is 16ct Vintage Country Mocha.

Primrose Cottage Sip and Stitch

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What is Sip and Stitch you ask? Sip and Stitch is a Mystery Cross Stitch Box curated by the ladies at Primrose Cottage. It is usually offered three times during a year. The one I purchased is the last one offered for the year (2024) and is a Winter theme. The box included three charts, a finishing kit, floss, zipper pulls, an adorable mug and more goodies. The coffee mug theme and the emphasis on home make it very, very cute!

The stitching cloth is not included because we all use different counts and different fabric. The cloth is offered as a separate purchase and you can choose what you want. I had ordered a fat quarter of 28ct mushroom lugana to stitch mine on. I filled my mug with wonder clips. I’ll add photos of the individual projects as I stitch them.

Warm Winter Stitches

I’m stitching this one twice with two colorways. The first one I am stitching with the called for colors with the exception of the red. I decided I liked Cherry Cobbler rather than DMC 3777.

For the blue colorway, I am using Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Periwinkle (dark blue), 17th Century Silver Moon (light blue), Flag Pole Brown, DMC 844, Dark Variegated Pine, Holly Leaves.

I doubt very highly if I get them fully finished until after Christmas.

Give Thanks

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Give Thanks was the 2nd free chart offered by Primrose Cottage as part of their Free Stitch Fridays. The free design is offered for a month and then is for sale in their shop. You can sign up for their free newsletter to receive the current chart by scrolling to the bottom of the page.

I chose a piece of 16ct Doubloon by Picture This Plus I had leftover from a previous project. I did not have all of the called for Classic Colorworks floss colors so used some from my stash.

  • Blackbird/DMC 3371
  • Eggshell/Victorian Motto Catnip
  • Fallen Leaves/Victorian Motto Autumn Glow
  • Pine Needles/DMC 3051
  • Trail Dust/DMC 610

The finished piece is small and I am thinking I may mount it on a small wooden box.

I decided to mount this stitched piece on top of an unfinished wooden box. I mounted the stitched piece on a piece of matboard and added some twisted cording as trim. The box is painted with Folk Art acrylic paint Burnt Sienna. I let it dry, then added a coat of Briwax. Once the wax dried, I buffed it with a clean cloth.

I lined the inside of the ox with fabric covered matboard. The fabric is a dark brown with orange motifs.

The finished box is going to be a thank you gift for our wonderful mail lady, Valerie, who is taking a route closer to her home. We will miss her as will Shadow and Sheila as they always get a treat from her.

Snowman 2024

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I knew when I first saw Snowman 2024 by Primrose Cottage that I wanted to stitch it. The stitch count was only 77×68 so not a huge project.

Snowman 2024 Cover.

The recommended fabric was 32ct taupe but I picked a piece of 16ct aida Sand Dune by Seraphim from my stash. I did not have the called for floss (Color and Cotton) so I made some substitutes.

  • Cherry Cobbler/ DMC 3777
  • Marsh/DMC 3790
  • Peace on Earth/DMC 3052
  • Rustic Black/Victorian Motto Winter Coal
  • Tree Lot/DMC 935
  • Tusk/DMC 3865
  • DMC 3776

Once I finished stitching, I mounted the piece on a 5″ chipboard circle with batting attached. I then laced the piece. The small red heart came with the chart. Now to decide how to fully finish this one.

I decided to mount it on one of the boards I had in my stash. I added some rickrack and a fabric covered board. I painted the snowflake white and hot glued it to the board handle. All in all, I am very happy with it.

A Schoolgirl’s Work

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A Schoolgirl’s Work: Samplers from the Spencer Museum of Art by Blackbird Designs is a beautiful 100+ page book published in 2011 by Kansas City Star Books. It is long Out of Print.

Barb Adams and Alma Allen of Blackbird Designs have joined with the Spencer Museum of Art to share historical schoolgirl samplers with the cross stitchers of today. You will find examples of samplers spanning the years of 1710 1841. Nine projects to stitch based on these wonderful works of art that were crafted by children so long ago.

I was lucky enough to find a fellow stitcher who sold me the book for the regular retail price which was $28.00. Current listings on various sites are asking $300 for the book. I plan on stitching all of the projects in the book.

So Fade My Hours Needlebook

For this one, I selected a piece of 16ct Moonstone from Fiber on a Whim with most of the recommended colors.

  • CC Country Lane (DMC 3064)
  • CC Dublin Bay (DMC 926)
  • CC Jakey Brown
  • CC Nutmeggie (DMC 3772)
  • CC Pea Pod
  • GA Aged Pewter
  • GA Dried Thyme
  • GA Endive
  • GA Heirloom Gold

I am going to mount it on a box rather than finish it as a needlebook. I bought an unfinished wood box from Temu and painted it Winter Blue. Stitching is mounted on the top.

I lined the top and bottom of the inside with some fabric also by Blackbird Designs from their Blueberry Crumb line.

Hannah’s Small Basket

Hannah’s Small Basket is stitched on a piece of 25ct antique white Lugana with the recommended floss. I did use a couple of DMC colors since I did not have the recommended floss. I used 3 strands of floss over 2 threads.

  • CC La Tierra (DMC 38600
  • CC Muddy Puddle
  • CC Stepping Stones (DMC 642)
  • CC Weeping Willow (DMC 3012)
  • GA Mustard Seed (DMC 832)
  • GA Tin Bucket

I decided to mount the stitched piece on top of a wooden cigar box.

I lined the inside of the box with some fabric by Blackbird Designs from their Rhubarb and Ginger line.

Halloween Cauldron

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Halloween Cauldron was one of the charts in the Sip and Stitch box offered by Primrose Cottage. I did not purchase the Sip and Stitch but bought the chart from a fellow stitcher.

Halloween Cauldron chart cover.

I chose a piece of 16ct Storm from Fabrics by Stephanie and an assortment of floss, some the recommended colors and some my own choice. Floss is listed below.

  • DMC 310/Farmhouse Flossies Mistress
  • DMC 535/Farmhouse Flossies Slate Roof
  • DMC 731/DMC 732
  • DMC 783/Anchor 0363
  • DMC 920/DMC 921
  • DMC 921/DMC 922
  • DMC 3042/Anchor 0870
  • DMC 3740

While I love the design, all the confetti stitches were not much fun.

I decided to use a board finish with this one. I painted the board black, mounted the stitched piece to a round board, add some rickrack trim and mounted that to the board. I added a small bow to the board handle.

Summer Quaker

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Summer Quaker is another in the Quaker series by Primrose Cottage. I LOVE this series and have already stitched many of them.

Summer Quaker cover.

The recommended fabric is 28ct white lugana using Dinky Dyes Saffron silk floss. I chose to use a piece of 28ct white Jobelin I had in my stash. For floss, I am using Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Flame Azalea and Mountain Delphinium. While I love the design, I had a hard time with it. I do not like Jobelin as much as lugana because for some reason, I find the holes harder to see.

Summer Quaker joins some of the other Quakers in the tiered tray.