Cross Stitch

frugalswan

MissB and Harley, I often stitch in company. A lot of the time, the people I'm with are either used to me (and will poke me if they need my serious attention ) or genuinely take an interest. My DH2B is proud of my sewing and shows it off *gasp!* to his friends and acquaintances! That made me proud.

I haven't had a chance to work on the fantasy angels today, but I'm hoping to get some done (I take mine to work to do in my lunch hour so I don't go into town and spend!). I'd love to see pictures of what you're working on.

x Frugalswan x

MissB_2

Wow... didn't realise I was so helpful!
I wouldnt do it in any other company than Mum, the OH or that of my friend Mischief, who I know would stitch too! Sadly we live hundreds of miles apart so it is rare
OH is getting much better - last year's footie season was one of Margaret Sherry's cats and the year before was HMS Victory. Inbetween I do the Dragonflies and have also started one of an Eddie Stobart truck, although I'm trying to be good and not do that until the 'Flies are done.

My Dad wouldnt ask, maybe he's not read the Job Description! Mum used to sew a lot but doesnt any more. She never says why but I think her hands hurt a lot. Mine do too, but I hope the sewing helps - at least with the dexterity.
I certainly find it helps me take my mind off things on days when I'm very poorly - and I know Mischief is that same on that!

I've only sewn in the OH's company in the last couple of years, though we've been togetherish more than four and even when we were mates before that, he knew about the sewing. It was only when he told me that his Dad used to do it that I thought, 'Sod it, I can do it with him about, then!'. It's not often a fella would tell you that sort of thing.
Sadly we only get to see each other 2/3 weekend a month, but it feels more homely when I've got some stitching on the go and a lovely hot cup of tea poured at half time!

This is the Dragonfly one below, but mines nothing like as complete! It's a kit made by Needlepoise that I picked up years ago in the most gorgeous little shop - The China Shop in Barton-Upon-Humber. The finished design is about 40cm × 15cm and it's on a reasonably fine count - I think 16.

The centre panel is done but without the oversewing, and I'm 3/4 of the way through the left hand one. I've rolled the work up from the right and tacked it to protect it while I do that bit and then will do the same the other way for the right, doing all the oversewing last so it doesnt get pulled. Also, partly because the dragonflies' wings are in a sparkly thread which might catch on the sewing I've already done, so I want to reduce the chances as much as possible!
Once it's done I'll cut the three peices apart (leaving them together gives more fabric for tension on the ring) and then make cushions using a gorgeous piece of pale green velvet my mum had in her fabric bag.




The Eddie truck is my real incentive to finish it though!

I look forward to seeing your compelted girls - and that Zebra's eye - Harley. The eye idea sounds SO fab! There are so many lush kits about.
Frugalswan, I do something similar in having a 'work' kit - I have a kit of a kitten on a piano for when I'm volunteering at the local open air museum. As we have open fires in the rescued houses I didnt want to take a 'clean' kit up; this one is all in shades of sepia so it's perfect. It smells a little 'smoked' but it looks quite authentic to be doing it if visitors come in and it keeps me sane!
not got round to taking one into my main work still, although I did used to. I ought to strt - you're right, it stops you spending money!
B
x x x

Bunny200

sb44 wrote: »

Take a look at this site, there are quite a few free great quality downloads on there.

You have to register before you can download any but you get an email back from them within a minute or so.

Hope this is of use to some stitchers out there.



http://www.cross-stitch-board.com/forum/cmps_index.php

Thanks for that, just spent ages downloading loads of free patterns, gonna try to do the advent patterns ready for xmas next year, still got some to finish for what I had this year!

sb44

Bunny200 wrote: »

Thanks for that, just spent ages downloading loads of free patterns, gonna try to do the advent patterns ready for xmas next year, still got some to finish for what I had this year!

Good luck. I started an advent calendar about 4 or 5 years ago, I think it's in the loft somewhere. I did manage to do Santa's head, it's about an inch in size, if that!

I don't think I'm cut out for cross stitching.

:rolleyes:

Cheapskate

Hello
I've been stitching for about 13 or 14 years, but not done a lot the last couple of years since DS3 arrived (19 months). Considering how much stitching I must have done in that time, I've got nothing up on my walls - it's all been given away as presents/cards! - although I have a New York scene waiting for me to frame it to go in my bedroom (present for DH a couple of years ago!).
Not a lot of time this morning, but will follow the links some of you have put up & see if I can find something new - thanks in advance! :j
Talk to you all soon.
A x

elliep_2

I love stitching but never seem to quite find the time for it as much as I'd like. Silly really because I'm home all day with no kids while DH works.

I have been working on a HUGE (8 pages) pattern recently but I've not touched it in a little while. It's one that I commissioned, a lady from ebay took my best photo of my gorgeous dog and turned it into a pattern but since the dog died in september I haven't been able to bring myself to do anymore at the moment. I'll finish it one day when I'm ready.

At the moment I've got a tiny freebie from a cross stitcher magazine and since sept I've done a small disney one that I got from morrissons reduced to £1.99 from £7.99 because of a tiny hole in the bag! there wasn't even anything missing!

I agree with the advice not to stock up on kits, I've got 2 that I don't think I'll ever do. I've raided one for it's DMC threads but the other is anchor and I like DMC. More recently I've been buying threads and fabric and using charts from online and magazines. That way, even if I've bought the stuff I can still use it on a different chart if I change my mind about a design.

clarew

Anyone sold any cross stitch mags on ebay or car boot them? I have loads of quick and easy cross stitch mags doing nothing....i have too many of them to flick through, so could do with selling some, not sure if worth the hassle of ebay p+p etc?

I will then keep a select few and my cross stitch books to use...very mse i think!

elliep_2

You won't get much for them on Ebay. If you sell them individually then you might get £1.50 per mag but then you'll have to pay postage and ebay fees so wouldn't end up with much for yourself. If you sell them as a bundle then the postage will be surprisingly expensive, weigh them and see. I've freecycled old mags that I'm sure I don't want any more, and I've bought at boot fairs too, usually £2 for a substantial stack of them tied up with string so no browsing, just take it or leave it.

Even if they don't get you much money it's better than having them clutter up your house.

Rage_in_Eden

I've sold some on e-bay and some via the cross stitching forums - you will get a lot of interest from overseas though so it's your call whether you want to have the hassle.

Stitching wise I am taking a break from the beading of Celtic Autumn (Celtic Christmas was finally framed just before Christmas and Celtic Summer is waiting to be framed) and doing a telephone box in the snow by DMC Winter nostalgia. I wanted something that was growing to give me some enthusiasm and will go back to the beading in a bit. I like the ABC sampler above though.....

harley1

Thanks MissB and Frugalswan, its lovely to chat to people who are as interested in it as I am.



The above is the one I have almost finished. It is gorgeous and really catches the expression on the little girls face. It is the last of a set of 3, the others being Tenderness and Together. All came from Sewandso.co.uk.



This Zebras Eye is the one I can't wait to get started on. Followed by a similar one of a Tiger and another one that I think is a Lynx by I'm not sure as it is just called Blue Eyes 2. These are from celticroseneedlecraft.com which I recommended in an earlier post. They had a 3 for 2 on own brand charts before Christmas, which I think has been extended, so I decided to try to singlehandedly keep the business afloat during the credit crunch :rotfl:

There are still loads I would like to order but I have 9 sitting here waiting to be done so I think I will rein myself in for now.

MissB, your dragonflies are gorgeous, and I love the idea of making them into cushions. Hurry up and finish so that we can see them all made up.

Harley x