Pat's Cross-Stitch Corner

When I saw the chart A Merry Little Christmas by Bent Creek, my first thought was of my little brother and his Charlie Brown tree.

I knew it was one I had to have to stitch for Christmas 2022 as gift ornaments. The design is not large with a stitch count of 55×55.

I chose a piece of 15ct Queen Anne’s Lace fabric and used the called for colors:

• DMC 640
• DMC 869
• DMC 3362
• Blanc
• Weeks Dye Works Bark
• DMC 645
• DMC 934
• Weeks Dye Works Turkish Red

I stitched two of them for now and may do a couple of more perhaps on a smaller count fabric.

Now they will head off to Vonna Pfeiffer so she can work her magic on them.

This was one of the bonus Christmas ornaments included with the 2020 Linens and Threads Mystery Sampler SAL. I stitched it on 16ct white aida using Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe threads in shades of Teal.

• Primitive Teal
• Weathered Teal
• Robin’s Egg Blue

The backing fabric is from my friend’s quilting stash. I will be finishing it as a small pin pillow for my dough bowl collection. The ruched ribbon trim is made from Lady Dot Creations sequoia trim.

Gathering Clover is one of the four charts in the Gathering series by Misty Purcel of Luminous Fiber Arts.

I am stitching each of these on 16ct white aida. For Gathering Clover, I chose to use Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe In the Meadow floss.

Started Stitching: October 30, 2021
Finished Stitching: November 23, 2021

I have also stitched the Gathering Berries, the first one in the series. The other two are on order. They will all probably be finished as small pin pillows.

As you can see, I decided to mount this on a board that was already painted green. It is set up to be a table display so I need to figure out how to hang it.

Fall Gatherings was a recent retreat project offered by Blackbird Designs. I was lucky enough to be sent the kit as a gift. The kit came complete with everything to stitch and finish this project:

• 18ct Wren by Picture This Plus (called for fabric is 36ct Wren by PTP)
• Floss (WDW Chestnut, Cinnamon Twist, Cocoa, Cognac, Dirt Road, Oil Cloth, Oscar
• Finishing Fabric and Trim
• Small paper mache box with paint for finishing

Started Stitching: November 11, 2021
Finished Stitching: November 21, 2021

Now to decide whether to have it finished as a small pin drum OR finish it myself as a small pin pillow.

Every time I see this one, it will remind me of the critter who caused such havoc with our cable service and Internet connection.

Delicious Autumn was a recent retreat project offered by Blackbird Designs. I was lucky enough to be sent the kit as a gift. The kit came complete with everything to stitch and finish this project:

• 18ct Wren by Picture This Plus (called for fabric is 36ct Wren by PTP)
• Floss (WDW Chestnut, Cinnamon Twist, Cocoa, Cognac, Dirt Road, Oil Cloth, Oscar, Roasted Fig, Schneckley, Swamp Water)
• Finishing Fabric and Trim

Started Stitching: October 26, 2021

Finished Stitching: November 14, 2021

The finishing fabric is Toolbox Basics 0704-0138 by Marcus Fabrics, a houndstooth check.

And the finished piece.

Woodland Berries is a bonus chart included with Blackbird Designs Loose Feathers Summer. Stitching the 3 part Summer, Autumn, Winter sampler was my introduction to Blackbird Designs back in 2014. I have loved them ever since. A stitching friend gifted me the silk floss to stitch Woodland Berries and I used 28ct Monaco (cream) as the fabric. Stitching with silk floss was lovely.

Recommended Floss: Belle Soie Silks by Crescent Colors and Dinky Dyes Silk Threads

• CC Angel Blush (DMC 3771/3859)
• CC Pecan Pie (DMC 3829/680)
• CC Rustique (DMC 632/407)
• CC Tumbleweed (DMC 3782/3033)
• CC Vanilla Pudding (DMC Ecru)
• CC Weathered Vine (DMC 3012/3011)
• DD Black Coral 130 (DMC 310/535)
• DD Red Dust 74 (DMC 356)

I finished stitching it back in May of 2016 and it has been sitting in the drawer since then. I went through the drawer recently and decided to pull some of the smaller pieces out and try and finish them. Woodland Berries was one of tose pieces but is a bit bigger than what I normally finish as a pillow. It measures  4 1/2 x 7 1/2 on 28ct Monaco. I chose a piece of Blackbird Design fabric from the Hyde Park Collection to finish this one with and some rick rack that matches the big flower.

When I first saw this posted in one of my Facebook groups for cross stitch, I knew I wanted to stitch it for three of our grandchildren. So off I went to search for the chart.

I decided to stitch each of them on 28ct Monaco as I wanted to add the names of each couple over 1 under the verse.

Finished size: 3.75″ x 4″
Stitch count: 53h x 56w
Fabric: 28ct over 2

Floss colors: I used a combination of threads as I did not have all of the called for ones.

• DMC 224
• DMC 223
• DMC 3721
• DMC 611 or Gentle Art Toasted Barley
• DMC 610 or Weeks Dye Works Havana

I actually ended up with two charts as one got lost in the mail (finally showed up a month later). The 2nd one was purchased as a kit that included chart, linen, heart button and beads.

Once I got the three stitched with the heart button and beads attached, I needed to decide on a frame. Because of the embellishments and the fact they needed to be shipped, I decided to frame them without glass. I also decided to try out the frames for The Rusty Roof Etsy shop that several people had recommended. I order one 6″x6″ frame first to see if I liked them. It arrived and I did so ordered three more for this piece and one for another larger piece. The fact that the frames were on sale and they offered free shipping was an added bonus. While the rabbet in these frames is not as I deep as I normally use, they worked fine for this project. An added bonus is they came with a thing piece of backing board already cut to the proper size.

This is the finished stitched piece framed and displayed on the wrought iron stand that will be mailed with the framed piece. The couples name is blurred as I don’t want them to accidently see it.