The Gilded Cage

I started this Kathy Barrick-Dieter design yesterday evening. c.2000
Link HERE.

I am using DMC floss colors that resemble the photograph on the pattern. Stitched on 28-count sandstone linen [Wichelt].

This is the photograph on the pattern:


I'd like to stitch up a couple Carraige House freebies, too. There are some lovely photographs on the Freebie Gallery Blog. Such talented stitchers & bloggers!

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Hello! It's time for this week's SBQ!

***** Today's SBQ was suggested Kathryn and is:

How many needles do you use during a project? Have you ever loaded up a needle for every color? Do you use a new needle for every project or recycle your favorite needle?

ANSWER: I'm a disorganized stitcher. I have a lot of needles that I have scattered on my desk. I just grab the needle closest to me. I never even thought to load needles with fiber colors. I thread the needles as I need them & put them into a pincushion threaded or unthreaded while they are 'resting' : )

I like using Piecemaker tapestry needles. I think those are my favorite ones.

The permalink to this post is HERE.

Renée's Blog has a new URL Stitched With Love & Cat Hair. >^..^< >^..^< >^..^<

In case you missed a question, the SBQ Archives are located HERE. **PLEASE NOTE THE NEW URL**

Answer: Reproduction Sampler Kits

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Today's SBQ was suggested by Danielle and is:

If you had $500 to spend on stitching-related items, what would you buy?

The permalink to this post is Renée's Blog >^..^< >^..^< >^..^<
"Stitched with Love and Cat Hair"

My Answer: If I had a spare $500.00, I'd spend it in about two minutes at the Scarlet Letter. They have awesome kits!! I am especially fond of the 17th c kits with silk fibers. In addition to the complete kits are affordable charts, small projects, kits w/cotton floss, and an awesome selection of books.

So, my money would be spent at Scarlet Letter in a heartbeat!

Antique Patterns & SBQ

Interested in Antique patterns? Check out Antique Pattern Library website. I enjoyed looking at the DMC patterns!

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Today's SBQ was suggested by Kathryn and is:

Q. What is the smallest count fabric you have ever used? Did you stitch over one? Conversely, what is the largest count fabric you have ever used?

My Answer: The afghan I'm currently stitching is 7 cs/inch ... which would be a 14-count ground. Some day, I'd like to try a Watercolour Design by Sekas & Co. They are stitched on 10-count Tula fabric.


I stitched one side of A Sampler Pinkeep on 40-count hand-dyed Iced Cappuccino linen. It is over-one ... I really should get the other side stitched & put this pinkeep together!

IMO, 40-count is too small for over-one stitching. IMO-this would be very nice over two threads on 40-count linen.

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SBQ & other things

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Today's SBQ was suggested by Danielle and is:

What company produces your favorite hand-dyed fabric? Are there any companies whose hand-dyed fabric you do not like? If so, why?

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"Stitched with Love and Cat Hair"

My Answer: I don't usually used hand-dyed fabrics. I do look forward to reading posts from stitchers who do!!

I enjoyed reading Katrina's blog AND Chelle's Blog posts re. goals & organization in their stitching. Which sparked other bloggers comments & posts. I love it when bloggers chime in & share their thoughts+ideas.

Leah asked about the finishing of my project [previous post]. The outside edge is the usual, make back stitches all the way around [front & back linen pieces] and whip stitch them together. For the other ... looks like quilting: It is a simple running stitch made around the design. I use a sharp needle and stitch from the front straight thru the back and tighten. If you hold the project on edge - you can easily manage the stitches. The secret, of course is keeping the stitches even. I've done this a few times.

I'm stitching this freebie with DMC floss on 32-count linen. Pattern can be found here

Country Garden

This is the first project I finished stitching in 2007 -- and the answer to SBQ

Country Garden, Blackbird Designs, c.2004, Designed by Alma Allen



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Today's SBQ is: Have you had a happy dance yet this year? If so, tell us about it! (Or just point to the entry that talks about it.) If not, when do you predict it will be?The permalink to this post is Renée's Blog

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"Stitched with Love and Cat Hair"

ANSWER: Country Garden

The answer is Cetaphil

Today's SBQ was suggested by Lee and is:

As we all know, stitching in the winter can really be rough on the hands. What do you do to treat your hands well in the cold winter months? Do you have any suggestions for creams or soaps? Or perhaps a special regimen that you would like to share?

The permalink to this post is: Renee's Blog

Happy Stitching!
Renée

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Stitched With Love and Cat Hair


A:

Mysteries? Over One? Organized?

Today's SBQ was suggested by Carol and is:

Q. Have you ever participated in a needlework mystery (i.e., a design that you started before knowing how it will look in the end and by which you receive parts of the design via the internet, magazines, or leaflets at spaced intervals)? If so, why did you decide to do the mystery? What appealed to you about it? Did you enjoy it? If you have not done a mystery, would you ever do one?

A. Yes! I participated in two Mystery Samplers designed by Gay Ann Rogers. I completed this (on congress cloth) in 2000:



Close-up:

The "Mystery with a Little Bit of Glitz" was also by Gay Ann Rogers & is a WIP:
Since this picture was taken, I've worked on it here-n-there .... Canvas & metallics aren't my favorites.

Found the picture

Currently, I'm stitching a mystery sampler by Jana P. Kerr. Our EGA chapter members did this in 1993 (before I was a member). I had seen it completed years ago & was thrilled to have the NeedleArts magazine put the lessons in their quarterly publication. It is stitched on linen banding w/floss (I'm using dmc & anchor floss colors). This is a picture of 1-5 of 15 parts:



The permalink to this post is Renée >^..^< "Stitched with Love and Cat Hair"

Today's SBQ is:

Q. Do you stitch "over one?" If so, describe your experiences. If not, have you considered it?

A. Yes, I stitch "over one". I sit for about an hour with over one & then quit for the day. I like using a 28-count or 32-count linen with one strand of silk (or Anchor floss). I think these were last projects I stitched over-one:
Pattern is from Scarlet Letter, called N. Hinde Sampler I have a couple "over-one" WIPs, too. I enjoy the detail in over-one designs. With an exceptional color -- they are fabulous.

This is 40-count linen & IMO the stitching gets bunched up looking. I think using a 1/2 cross would have been more suitable. This is A Sampler Pinkeep by The Heart's Content. I started the reverse side & really should find it in my WIP pile & finish it up!!

This is Tin Pin Heart by Twisted Threads -- this one seemed to stitch up quickly!! What fun.

The permalink to this post is: Renée's Blog >^..^< "Stitched with Love and Cat Hair"

Today's SBQ is:

Q. Do you have an organizational system for your patterns? If so, how do you organize them? If not, have you considered organizing them?

A. I'm more organized NOW than I have ever been. I have patterns/charts in two notebooks with a zipper (high shelf in the closet) -- alphabetized by company name (i.e. Blackbird, Brightneedle, etc.) My kits are in a rubbermaid container in the closet. My "kits to go" and WIPs are in totebags and boxes on top of the container (in my closet). I also have a basket near my stitching corner which houses patterns kitted up to do in the near future. AND -- every time I move things around ... I lose stuff!! I'm not planning to change a thing.



The permalink to this post is: Renée's Blog >^..^< "Stitched with Love and Cat Hair"

Magazines & Publications

Today's SBQ was suggested by Cheryl and is:

QUESTION: What cross-stitch magazines or other publications (as opposed to blogs) do you read on a regular basis? What do you like about them?
What do you not like? What would your perfect publication include?

MY ANSWER: I prefer selecting patterns to magazine subscriptions. I like the annual Ornament Magazine & enjoy Sampler & Antique Needlework Quarterly. Being a member of our local EGA chapter, I also receive the EGA publication, NeedleArts.


The permalink to this post is:
http://blondelibrarian.net/stitching/archives/2006/03/thoughts-on-magazines/


Happy Stitching!

Renée

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"Stitched with Love and Cat Hair"
http://blondelibrarian.net/stitching/

Do you have suggestions for an SBQ or to make this group better? I'm
listening! Just email me!

Stitcher's Roll & SBQ

Today's "Stitching Blogger's Question" was suggested by Cheryl and is:

Have you ever just quit a project while in the midst of it? (We're not referring to UFOs here, rather projects that you know that you'll never work on again.) Why? What did you do with it - throw it out, give it away, put it away?

I have taken a couple workshops & courses to learn techniques. I wanted the teacher's instruction, detailed directions, and hands-on advice. Examples:

-workshops on Japanese Embroidery & Hedebo (both very good workshops; however, I realized the needlework wasn't what I wanted to pursue further or finish the samplers.
-EGA Course in Drawn Thread -- withdrawing linen threads, hemstitching & embellishing. I learned a lot. Just wasn't interested in finishing the cross stitch bands on the sampler; Did do all the drawn thread bands.
-Instruction in Crazy Quilting -- well, just wasn't what I wanted to do.

None of these are finished projects -- I learned how, kept the detailed instructions & the projects have enough stitching done on them for practice ; ) I put them in a box in my closet & when I need to use any of these techniques, I have them on hand to either review the directions .... or put in a few more beginner stitches.


While looking for an ornament, I was happy to come across my Shep Bush Stitcher's Roll. After I stitched this kit, I put it in a special box, and had it stored in my cedar chest .... It is such a pretty needleroll kit & fun to stitch. will keep it in my creative corner for awhile.

Specialty Stitches

#30: What is the most challenging specialty stitch you have ever stitched?

Ascending & Descending Montenegrin: Had no problem following a diagram with numbers; however, when I used a pattern (honeysuckle graph) -- and had to figure out the stitching on my own -- it took quite a while. I was thrilled to finish this needlework band. (click on photo to enlarge). This sampler is a WIP & is loaded with specialty / challenging stitches. Update: this is part of a band sampler from an EGA course. EGA in sidebar -- course English Band Sampler. I have a lot of areas to embellish before posting a photo.

Bullion Rose is a close runner up because I had a difficult time winding the fiber around the needle in a consistent direction. Once I got the hang of it -- the bullions improved. I prefer using a straw needle (applique needle) + pc#8 for bullions (ie. DMC 107) . The bullion roses were done on a stretchy black fabric -- then made into covered buttons. I have not sewn the buttons on anything yet. can click the photo to enlarge.


#29: Do you stitch for events like weddings, engagements, or other things that might not last? If you have been unlucky and the two people broke up, what happened to your stitched gift?

I stitched a sachet bag for my daughter when she was 16 & had her first steady boyfriend. Knowing this was a first crush .... I put their first names on one side of the sachet bag inside a heart & the reverse side had a floral design. It was on my daughter's shelf with the floral design showing until she packed for college At that time, it still had the flower petals, from her first Homecoming dance tucked inside.

#28: Which way do you stitch (/// and then \\\, or \\\ and then ///) ? Can you (or if you haven't done it before, do you think you could) change the way that you stitch temporarily if it is asked of you?

I learned how to stitch by ///, then \\\. That was how I was shown, initially, and kept stitching that way. If I was asked to stitch a certain way, I could do that. In the round robin I am currently in, 5 stitch one way and 2 stitch the other way. I didn't notice until I read this question!! These are my friends & however my project is stitched is ok with me.

#27: What do you use to hold your fabric while you stitch? A hoop, a q-snap, a scroll frame, something else, or do you stitch in hand? Have you always used just the one thing or have you tried one or more of the others? Which do you like best? Why?

I have tried all of the above. I prefer a scroll bar/frame for samplers -- qsnap for smaller things like sewing smalls -- in hand for over one stitching. (Why? For in-hand small stuff I need a magnifier & it is easier for me to do in hand.)

Why? I prefer using my lap frame which supports either scroll bars / q snaps / or stretcher bars & one of my magnifier clips on (if needed). I put the frame on my desk and use hand weights (like the small ones from the gym) to keep the frame from falling over! This way I can pull the project close to me and use TWO hands for stitching. I use K's (side bar for link)

SBQ & Needlebook - MIOM / WIP

SBQ 24 Aug 05: What is the largest project you've ever done? What's the Smallest?

A. The largest project I've ever done is a WIP - called the English Band Sampler, course offered by EGA. (http://www.egausa.org) I started the course in 2003 - received my certificate a month (or two) ago. The sampler still needs more embellishing. One of these days, I'll get it out and work on it again. The smallest project has to be the 3 kittens. (earlier post) I prefer small things, i.e. lapel pins -- taking patterns and stitching over one thread. I enjoy small, in-hand sized projects. btw, would like to do Heart's Content - Sampler Pinkeep ..... soon .... anyone else have that one?

This is the photo off the kit. Remember the Ladies series by Kreinik -- Milkpaint Sampler by Mary Garry. I chose this on 8/22, knowing how few spare minitues I'd have to stitch this week AND because I had some frogging & very little stitching left to complete this charming project (started in 2001). The finishing should be interesting with the hemstitch outer border. I'll keep it simple inside .... more pics when I'm doing the happy dance!

SBQ - Stitching Blogger's Qustion

#25 - 17Aug05: How often do you wash your fabric for each project? Do you wait until the very end to wash it or do you wash it more than once? A. I rinse my fabric BEFORE I start a project. If there are folds that won't budge, I don't use the fabric. Rinse & iron after the project is stitched UNLESS done with silks. For silks, I just spray small amt of water on the back and iron.

#24 - 10Aug05: What do you do with the framed stitching that you keep? Do you hang it up & leave it in one place, never to move it? Or do you have a rotation, where you have one place for stitched pieces & switch them out according to mood or season? Maybe a mixture of both.

A: I don't frame much. Maybe have 5 stitched pieces in frames. I have a few nails into the wall near my creative corner. Two nails have scroll frames with 'someday' projects. (Scarlet Letter Ann Scutt sampler & EGA Mystery Sampler) One is being used for a cross stitch (original) design by Grammy K. The small picture is a friendship gift from my friend Aggie G. Most of my stitching are small items or household (towels, holiday accents, tabletoppers). I arrange things around my stitching area. Those I rotate by seasons - or - whim.


#23 - 3Aug05: Have you hand-dyed your own fabric? Why or why not? Would you like to try to do so?

A: Yes -- ONCE. Don't think I'll try it again. I used tea & when I folded over the linen, there was a dark line of dye in the center of the fabric -- I managed to use the linen, but will leave the linen as I get it!! The project was a challenge for our EGA chapter. I had taken blackwork motifs I liked, combinations of stitches I liked, silk colors I liked, & an often spoken saying in our household .... created a simple pillow. My girlfriend, Sue D, said I should put tassels or a cord on it. Maybe. I'm undecided. Entered the piece into the fair - blue ribbon.

SBQ -

27-07-2005: #22 What is your most unique/interesting stitching quirk? (This could be something concerning the way you stitch, how you organize your stash, etc.)

Everything I do is quirkie. I have shoe boxes for floss which my friends say is crazy. But, I figure why spend my stitching time organizing floss? I don't think any system works!

1) I have a ziplock back full of odd threads -- you know how you cut lengths of floss, use 2 strands, have 4 clean strands? Well, I put them in a zip lock bag (I have a lot of them). Never mind the 50 or so empty floss bobbins in the drawer, unused stickers with DMC floss numbers, and 200 empty floss-a-way bags -- I put orts in a zip lock bag. And, yes, I use them for stitch samples.

2) I have a basket (think nut/candy cup - favor from a bridal shower) made of metal on my desk. When I use up a skein of floss, I save the color number bands. I toss the bands into the basket, until I go shopping. When I go shopping, I take them with me -- already know what colors I've used up! The bonus is the metal basket -- Magnets stick to it.

3) I have a metal mesh file basket on my desk. (from Staples) The front looks like a bulletin board for all my magnets & EGA pins. It is a collection of stuff I enjoy looking at while I stitch!

4) I found a small set of drawers at Hobby Lobby (on sale) and loaded up every drawer. There is no special order ... but, nobody is allowed to touch it ... I should dust for finger prints.

5) I have a basket on top of my drawers (see#4) for magnifier & odd supplies (beads, fibers, buttons, charms). I throw everything in there for the current project I'm working on .... that way, my daughter's cat cannot get into anything while I step away.

I'm sure I have more quirks. I love to stitch, don't like to waste time keeping things tidy!

20-07-2005: #21 Have u ever done a color conversion? If so, did u think about your results & would u do it again? If not, would u like to try someday?

I have used color conversions most frequently when a project calls for overdye fibers. IMO projects are great with some overdye fibers, but, I like solid color fibers added for balance. + there are things I want to be washable when finished & I have heard some overdye bleed on the ground fabric. If I don't like how things look, I rip it out and try something else until I'm satisfied. Usually, I get going on a project and make changes as I go along ... makes it unique! I like to try different things all the time.