Pat's Cross-Stitch Corner

Sky Full of Birds

April 22, 2023 By patgeary

Sky Full of Birds is one of the designs included in the Blackbird Designs book When the Leaves Fall. I wanted something small so that I could mount it on the top of one of the playing card boxes I bought some time ago. I stitched this one on 25ct Lugana 3 over 2. The border was supposed to have eyelet stitches as part of it, but 3 strands made them look messy to I did smyrna crosses. For the five eyelet stitches within the design, I used two strands of floss. The three birds across the top are also stitched using only 2 strands. Now to paint the box and finish the inside and outside.

I painted the box a deep, dark green. The hardest part was trying to put the hardware back onto the box after painting. I had a hard time seeing the holes and the screws are really tiny.

The inside of the box has four compartments. For two of them I used some Blackbird Designs fabric I had and covered two pieces of chipboard with batting on top. I also stitched two pieces for the Blackbird Designs book, A Stitcher’s Journey which is out of print now. Tulip Pincushion is the one with the rick rack and botton. The other one is Birds and Berries Pinkeep. The pins are Lady Dot’s Sunflowers for Ukraine pins and the charm is something I had in my stash.

Happiness is Homemade 2022

April 22, 2023 By patgeary

Happiness is Homemade is the 2022 Nashville Needlework Cookbook and is filled with your favorite designers’ recipes and cross stitch charts.

The first one I stitched is on Page 5 by Blackbird Designs. The design has no name. Since the design is small (57wx50h) I decided to use 25ct white lugana over 2. I did not have all of the called for floss so I just selected some from my stash. It was a quick stitch.

Not sure yet how I will finish it. Perhaps on the top of a box or a small pillow.

Mr. Green Thumb

April 7, 2023 By patgeary

Mr. Green Thumb is one of the newer designs offered in the Nature section of Pigeon Coop Designs. I knew I wanted to stitch this one as soon as I saw it. While the chart recommends 14ct aida, it contains quite a few fractional stitches which are NOT easy to do on aida. I chose to use 28ct Monaco. The design uses all DMC floss. The finished size is 4 3/8 x 4 3/4. Not sure how I am going to finish it was yet.

Mr. Green Thumb will join the three other Pigeon Coop Designs I have stitched – Festive Cardinal, Three Pines, and Northern Forests. Next up is Lush Valley to join the latter two I have finished to display as a trio.

And here he is, all ready to display.

Can Do Attitude

March 8, 2023 By patgeary

Can Do Attitude by Silver Creek Samplers is a free chart offered by the designer on her website.

On 16ct which is what I chose to stitch it on, the design measures 2 1/4 x 4 1/4. I decided to stitch it as a small pin pillow using the called for colors – Gentle Arts Peacock, Tropical Ocean, Sea Spray and Olde Red Paint. I had already decided on the backing fabric which was perfect for this small project. It was a beautiful batik I got from my quilting friend.

Once I finished sewing it together and stuffing it, I wanted to use ruched ribbon for the trim. I found a green that looked good and added it. Vonna Pfeiffer, The Twisted Stitcher has a wonderful tutorial on creating ruched ribbon. The small pillow joins the others in the dough bowl.

Reprints/New Designs from Blackbird Designs

February 20, 2023 By patgeary

Alma has announced the following designs will be available from Hoffman’s Distributing at the Nashville Needlework Market.

Birds of a Feather was first released in 2006 and has been Out of Print for some time now. Retail Price is $14 for this one.

United We Stand will include three patterns celebrating the love of our country The mattress pincushion, scissor holder and The Clustered Stars needle book are all included. Retail Price for all three of these is $20.

This one is included in the Nashville 2023 Cookbook Happiness is Homemade. The charts do not usually have a title. Retail price for the cookbook is $12.

Fall House by The Tiny Modernist

February 20, 2023 By patgeary

Recently I visited a friend of mine to raid her quilting fabric stash. I wanted some pieces of fabric to use as backing fabric for small pin pillows. I found a beautiful blue one and went in search of a small design to stitch. Fall House by The Tiny Modernist has been in my stash for some time.

I picked a piece of white 14ct aida and Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe Delft Blue floss.

Strawberry Faire SAL

February 14, 2023 By patgeary

There’s a Strawberry Faire Stitch-A-Long (SAL) that begins today February 14th. Flosstuber Helen D. and Carla of Cobweb Corner will be hosting the SAL and there’s still time for you to join in. The design itself is from October House. This will be the first time I have stitched anything by this designer.

The design can be stitched with either the called for colors, Helen D’s conversion or choose your own colors. I chose Helen D’s conversion which includes three of the called for flosses (fancy) and the rest using the DMC conversion. I chose a piece of 16ct parchment aida from my stash.

A photo of my supplies with the fabric gridded ready to go on the scroll rod.

Progress will be posted in Instagram (not my favorite platform) using the hashtag #strawberryfairesal.

With my poor eyesight, I am having trouble with the big berry. Think I am going to scan and enlarge the chart so it is easier for me to stitch.

Started Stitching: February 14, 2023
Finished Stitching: February 22, 2023

Now to assemble the small pin pillow with this Blackbird Design backing fabric and some lace trim.

And here it is fully finished and ready to join some of the other smalls in the dough bowl.

Quaker Love Letter

February 5, 2023 By patgeary

I recently saw Quaker Love Letter by Homespun Elegance posted in one of my cross stitch Facebook Groups. Sandra Sullivan, the designer, was offering to include the button free for a limited time.

I knew this was one I really wanted to stitch so ordered the chart plus an extra button. It came quickly. I cut a piece of 16ct white aida and selected DMC 115 which is a variegated red floss.

Now to mount it to the matboard and order a frame. I am going to stitch the 2nd one on a piece of 16ct Doubloon by Picture This Plus using variegated rusty orange floss from DMC. Opps, I see a missed stitch so need to go fix it now before I forget.

And here they are both framed using a simple 4×6 frame I got on sale at Joannes. Surprisingly, they were deep enough so that even with the glass, spacers and stitched piece, I was still able to use the included backing for the frames. The red on is a gift, and the rust colored on is mine.

Pigeon Coop Cross Stitch

January 23, 2023 By patgeary

I recently saw a post by Vonna Pfeiffer that introduced me to a new designer, Pigeon Coop a Canadian Designer. Max Pigeon offers nature inspired cross stitch designs in both kit and pdf format. He says, “When designing patterns, I am inspired by the beauty that North America’s nature and landmarks have to offer. I strive to create modern cross stitch designs that are appealing to stitchers and makers of all skill levels.”

Since I very seldom buy kits, I selected two of his pdf charts to start, Three Pines and Festival Cardinal. I Love cardinals and they are not only the state bird of Virginia but a frequent visitor to our front porch bird baths. Three Pines reminded me of the Louise Penny books I am reading as well as the western landscapes that Jim and I enjoyed in our travels. I chose a piece of sparkly white 16ct aida for both of them using the called for DMC threads. I had an idea for finishing that worked for the cardinal but not the pines.

I mounted each of the designs to a piece of matboard with two layers of batting.

I mounted Festive Cardinal to the mini cutting board and added a bow with a small heart button.

I have an idea for Three PInes if I can find where I hid the other board. Till then, it is at least mounted on the mat board.

I found the perfect board to mount these on that will always remind me of our many trips to the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Not sure about the trim on the top but it will have to do for now.

Hope Song by Heartstring Samplery

December 31, 2022 By patgeary

Hope Song was an exclusive design is by Beth Twist of Heartstring Samplery offered through the Facbook Group, Homespun Needlework (Cross Stitch and Samplers). The kits were provided by Acorns and Threads and included the chart, fabric, threads, and Acorns & Threads needle slide with magnet and needle. It was available in both linen and aida kits in several counts. I chose the 18ct aida and the fabric was Vintage Country Mocha. A finishing kit was also available, but I chose to use a board I already had.