Cats & Fairies

You know how when you finish-finish a project, there comes a point where you have to pull it right-side out & stitch up the seam? You know how you can see the stitching where the seam is? That has always annoyed me! I tend towards perfectionism (until I get so frustrated that I stop caring!), and I have never liked seeing those stitches on my work.

Browsing around the wonderful internet full of free tutorials and advice, I stumbled across a video tutorial for the Ladder Stitch. Ah, the Ladder Stitch- how do I love thee? Let me count the ways!

Check out the bottom of Christmas Tree Cat:

 

No visible stitches! Such bliss!  There's a link to the Ladder Stitch tutorial in the right column of this blog under "Recommended Tutorials". I've used this stitch successfully quite a few times. We won't talk about the last time I tried to use it; the fabric just would not cooperate.

Ah, well, you can't win 'em all!

Speaking of Christmas Tree Cat, I did finally finish it off & give it to DH when he came out here.

It's a bit large, about the size of my hand, which is not so desirable due to our traveling lifestyle. However, DH seemed to like it; I think he just doesn't know what to do with it!

I also finished There are Fairies... into a needlebook, using Meari's tutorial.

I measured incorrectly on the left side, so I added the small blue beads to cover the gaping space of my ineptitude.

An attempt was made to finish There are Fairies... scissor fob, but I got a bit too up close & personal with the scissors, cutting so close to the stitching that it's impossible to finish.

Fortunately, it is small, so it will be an easy restitch.

And all was not lost: I did learn how to make a cord by hand- with my mom as my helper- and also a tassel. Both of these can be used in the new fob.

Eventually, I will stitch the There are Fairies... pin cushion to complete the set. The patterns include one for a box top, which would be great to store my set in but would be terrible for travelling, so I won't be making that one soon, but you never know- perhaps in the future.

Out of curiosity, I googled Splendid Fairy Wrens to see what they really look like. All I can say is WOW! What colors!

 

Once again, I can stitch on Around the World! Meari suggested using a Tide Stick to remove the green streak from my fabric- and it actually worked! The evil streak is gone, and I can look forward to more frustration due to the Berwick stitch!

Best Stitches & Wishes,

Ringing in the New Year...

...with a couple of finishes!

On New Year's Eve, I finished my first cross stitch gift for my husband for our first Christmas as a married couple. I'm waiting to give it to him in person, as we spent this holiday season with our respective parents.

He likes the lines and shapes in Brittercup Designs patterns, so I stitched Christmas Cat Tree from the 2012 Just Cross Stitch Christmas ornament issue.

The only change I made was to substitute Kreinik #8 001C with Mill Hill Magnifica 10001 beads.

Shortly after New Year's, I finished my Merry Christmas Needle Roll by Down Sunshine Lane.

The pattern says "Merry Christmas" in the middle, but I decided that a simple "Merry" would suit me better.

I can't find this pattern anywhere online; I received it as part of an exchange on Chatty Stitching Exchangers. I really enjoyed stitching this- and it's my first needle roll!

Lastly, I finished the Pinn mini keychain that I started in 2011. All I needed to do was the backstitching on the boy & the back piece; it took me a year & a half to do an hour & a half's worth of work!

Best Stitches & Wishes,