Pat's Cross-Stitch Corner

A Place to Share a Craft I Love

For the Birds series Wall Hanging

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The Loose Feathers For the Birds series was released in 2017. There are nine charts that make up the series, but I only stitched six of them.

Once I had finished stitching them, I stuck them in a drawer and left them since I could not figure out how I wanted to finish them. Fast forward to 2021 and I decided I might like to finish them as a wall hanging. I asked advice from my dear friend who is a quilter. Off to the local quilt shop, Patchwork Plus, to select some fabric. You really have to visit the store to see the cast array of fabric offered, every color you can imagine. With the help of one of the “fabric ladies” I chose MARCUS FABRICS PAULA BARNES COMPANIONS LITE BLUE PERFECT PETAL which was perfect with the stitched piece. I bought all they had which was a little over 2 yards more than enough to complete this project.

I decided to lay the stitched pieces out with two across and three down with fabric surrounding the stitched pieces. The stitched pieces were trimmed to measure 8 1/4″ wide by 8 1/2″ high. I allowed for 1/2′ seams. The fabric strips were cut 3″ wide. The backing fabric will be the same as what I used for the separation strips.

I had to wait for the fusible interfacing to arrive from Joann’s before I could get anymore done. I used fusible Pellon Thermolam Plus for the back and just regular fusible interfacing for the front. The only way I could a picture was to lay the entire piece on the floor and stand over it.

Now it is off to my quilting friend who is going to do the binding for me.

A Dog’s Last Will and Testament

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When I first saw the chart for A Dog’s Last Will and Testament by Heartstring Samplery, I knew I wanted to stitch it. It became part of my Nashville 2020 Market order.

A Dog's Last Will and Testament cover.

The model was stitched on 40 count Cocoa from Weeks Dye Works, using 1 strand of floss over 2 threads. Since I knew that would be impossible for me to see, I ordered a piece of 16ct Parchment aida. However when I finished gridding the fabric, I realized it was actually closer to 14ct. Since I was going to finish it was a wall hanging, the 14ct would still work.

Stitch Count: 132 x 341
Design Size: 9 3/8 x 24 3/8

Rather than use the recommended floss, I chose to use Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe floss.

Gentle Art Floss/Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

  • Autumn Leaves/Crazy Pumpkin
  • Harvest Basket/
  • Maple Syrup/Mocha Truffles
  • Onyx/Winter Coal
  • Picnic Basket/Burnt Brown
  • Sable/Weathered Barnwood
  • Shaker White/Mocha Cream
  • Tiger Lily/Rust Swirl

I started stitching this one mid-May but did not note the exact date.

A Dog's Last Will and Testament progress.
Progress
A Dog's Last Will and Testament progress.
Progress

And the finished piece which is waiting for the fabric to arrive so that I can finish it as a wall hanging.

I had found what I thought was the perfect fabric to use to make this into a bellpull – Timeless Treasures Mud Paw Print – so I order 2 yards from an online shop. Unfortunately, I just received a cancellation notice that it was not available. Every place I have found it, it is sold out. I am assuming it must have been a popular print for the many mask makers during the Covid 19 pandemic. Not sure what I am going to do now, wait or pick out something else.

Timeless Treasure Mud Paw print fabric.

And since I could not find bellpull hardware I really liked, I ordered some wooden dowels and end caps and my son stained them for me. A shoestring in the color I wanted completed the piece.

A Dog's Last Will & Testament Wall Hanging.
A Dog’s Last Will & Testament Wall Hanging

Spring ABC’s by Little House Needleworks

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Spring ABC’s is another of the long skinny samplers by Little House Needleworks. One of the reasons I love this series is because they can be finished to fit into small spaces on my wall. I stitched Autumn ABC’s earlier but have not made it into a bellpull it as yet.

Spring ABC's by Little House Needleworks.

Spring ABC’s by Little House Needleworks.

The recommended fabric is 32ct Vintage Examplar from Lakeside Linens. Since I cannot see to stitch on fabric with that small a count, I chose to use 16ct Regency by Picture This Plus. I also did not have all of the recommended floss by Classic Colorworks so will be using a floss collection from VIctorian Motto Sampler Shoppe, Tribute to Sisters.

Recommended Floss/Colors I used

  • CC LaTierra/VMSS Walnut Bark
  • CC Eggshell/VMSS Hopscotch (for flowers) VMS Mocha Cream
  • CC Old Marigold/VMSS Dried Peaches
  • CC Stormy Night/VMSS Chiming Bells (from Rocky Mountain Wildflower Collection)
  • CC Sugared Violets/VMSS Easter Bonnets
  • CC Weeping Willow/VMSS Stitching Together
  • CC Wagon Wheel/VMSS Primitive Taupe Brown
Spring ABC's Progress.

Spring ABC’s Progress

Spring ABC's Halfway point

Spring ABC’s Halfway point

And the finished piece.

Spring ABC's by Little House Needleworks.

Spring ABC’s by Little House Needleworks.

March 2021 – Since I had some more of the wooden spools, I decided to finish this one on one of the spools.

Spring ABC's and Needlework ABC's
Spring ABC’s and Needlework ABC’s

Autumn ABC’s by Little House Needleworks

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I LOVE this series and one of the main reasons is because each of them is L O N G and S K I N N Y! This will allow me to finish them using bellpull hardware and they won’t take up much in the way of wall space which is in short supply in my house.

Autumn ABC's by Little House Needleworks.

Autumn ABC’s by Little House Needleworks

Stitch Count: 39w x 311h
Recommended Fabric: 32ct Winter’s Brew by R & R Reproductions
Recommended Floss: Classic Colorworks

  • Pumpkin Harvest
  • Caterpillar
  • Eggshell/VMSS Country Tan
  • Sunkissed
  • Fallen Leaves
  • Roasted Chestnut/ VMSS Gathered Chestnuts
  • Weeping Willow/VMSS Spring Ivy
  • Blue Corn/ VMSS Bear’s Paw
  • Ye Olde Gold

I had a piece of 16ct Aida hand dyed by Nancy Turner for her Fabric of the Month Club that I decided to use instead of what was recommended. I really don’t like stitching on linen and 32ct is a little hard on my eyes. I also substituted some of Nancy’s Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe threads for some of those recommended. I have noted them in the thread listing.

Started Stitching: May 16, 2018
Finished Stitching: June 5, 2018

Autumn ABC's finished stitching piece.

Autumn ABC’s finished stitching piece

Autumn ABC's Top

Autumn ABC’s Top

Autumn ABC's Middle

Autumn ABC’s Middle

Autumn ABC's Bottom

Autumn ABC’s Bottom

Summer Schoolhouse – Lessons in Abecedarian

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When I first saw the Summer Schoolhouse series by Brenda Gervais advertised, I was not that interested. The main reason is I like to know what a project is going to look like BEFORE I decide to stitch it. Once I saw Lesson #1 I decided YES, I need this. The only problem was the entire series was designed to be stitched on 28ct Mushroom Lugana with 1 over 1. I knew that would be impossible for me to even see but decided I wanted to stitch it anyway, Mine would just not be TINY. I signed up with Crazy Annie’s Stitchin for her autoship program and received Lessons 1 and 2 at the same time. The series consists of 4 charts with 6 projects and includes stitching and finishing instructions for all 6 projects.

4 Charts and Hornbook.

4 Charts and Hornbook

And if you are interested, The Story Behind the Series. And the book that inspired the series, The Little Pretty Pocket-Book.

I decided to stitch each of the projects on 16ct Regency Aida by Picture This Plus and use the thread from the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe rather than the recommended threads.

Lesson #1

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson 1.

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson #1

Stitch Count: 140wx 103h
Design Size: 8 3/4 x 6 1/2
Started Stitching: August 14, 2017
Finished Stitching: August 26, 2017

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson 1.

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson 1 – Finished.

Lesson #2

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson 2.

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson #2

Stitch Count: Miss Polly Pinkeep is 63w x 89h and on Little Master Tommy Pinkeep 67w x 90h
Design Size:  Miss Polly Pinkeep is 4 x 5 5/8 and on Little Master Tommy Pinkeep is 41/4 x 5 5/8

Summer Schoolhouse series Lessons 1 & 2.

Summer Schoolhouse series Lessons 1 & 2.

Recommended threads and my selection for Lesson #1.

  • WDW Sandcastle/VMSS Desert Grass
  • WDW Flatfish/VMSS Mixed Wood Brown
  • WDW Oscar/VMSS Mountain Laurel
  • WDW Olive/VMSS Tea Leaves
  • GAST Woodrose/VMSS Desert Rose
  • GAST Mountain Mist/ VMSS Old Time Blue
  • GAST Uniform Blue/VMSS Delft Blue
  • CC Eggshell/Mocha Cream
  • CC Used Brick/VMSS Cranberry Bog
  • CC Cayenne/VMSS Prairie Rose
  • CC Hazelnut/VMSS Spiced Cider

Lesson #2 adds these thread colors:

  • WDW Peach/VMSS Flesh (1 strand)
  • GAST Lexington Green/VMSS Lighthouse Blue
  • GAST Old Hickory/VMSS Regal Brown
  • CC Pebble Beach/VMSS Mocha Tan

Lesson #3

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson #3.

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson #3

Stitch Count: 113w x 106h
Design Size: 7 1/8 x 6 5/8
Started Stitching: September 8, 2017
Finished Stitching: October 29, 2017

Lesson #3 Summer Schoolhouse series.

Lesson #3 Summer Schoolhouse series

Lesson #4

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson 4.

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson 4.

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson 4 Hornbook

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson 4 Hornbook

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson 4 Strawberry Emery Preserves.

Summer Schoolhouse Lesson 4 Strawberry Emery Preserves

The whole series! An old fashioned school box houses the collection. Directions for finishing the school box are included with Lesson 4. However the box will not fit unless you have stitched the series on 28ct over 1.

Summer Schoolhouse Entire Series - An old fashioned school box houses the collection.

Summer Schoolhouse Entire Series – An old fashioned school box houses the collection.

I will probably display mine in my long basket. I did order the hornbook kit in the hopes I can stitch it over 1 on 28ct. We shall see if my eyes cooperate.

October 2021  – These pieces have been languishing in the drawer just waiting for me to decide what to do with them. Framing each of the series would have been expensive so I looked for another way to finish them. After finishing the For the Bird series as a wall hanging, I thought that type of finish may work for this too. I laid the pieces out on the bed to see how they might look and decided yes. Then the search began for the perfect fabric. I tried the blue that I had used for the birds but it seemed a bit to dark. I had bought a piece of green fabric with dots that I thought might work. I did not have a big enough piece so off to see if I could get some more.

 

My son cut the dowel rod for me and I painted them with a basil green shade. And now the piece is hanging in my bedroom not stashed away in a drawer unseen.