What are you working on

[Downthefleecehole]

Thought it would be fun to share what projects we might be working on. I started doing cross stitch again after a many year hiatus. This was my first project I started which I was able to finish the stitching on in about a week. I still need to wash and press it to get it ready for finishing. I am still trying to decide how I want to display it.



I also started a second project, this one will take me a bit longer. It is a Christmas stocking (the design is Early Snow Cardinals). I started gridding out my fabric with sewing thread that I remove before starting to stitch the row. Just ordered some light weight fishing line that planning on trying that I can leave in until the project is done.



I also found a pattern that reminds me of Thomas Kincaid paintings which will be a long running project. Eventually I will start setting up for that one.

What are you guys working on?

[Sings4joy]

I came back to cross-stitch a few years ago after not stitching for years. Have you discovered Stitching With the Housewives on YouTube? They, Priscilla and Chelsea, are so much fun!! They've begun creating their own designs; Priscilla draws them and Chelsea charts them. I recently bought three of Priscilla's Chalk Full designs that she made in collaboration with Cathy of Hands on Design and started Bloom a couple of days ago and have worked on it steadily

[Kathy7661]

This is very pretty! I haven't cross-stitched in many years but I use to do it often. I recently did a little surface cross-stitch on crochet for the birthday block and it got me wanting more!

[FreedomLover]

This is beautiful! I don't cross stitch nearly as much as I used to but I still enjoy it.

[Sings4joy]

Jump back into it, the “water” is fine There are SOOO many amazing designs! I don’t buy many but love Little House Needleworks Sheep Virtues and Priscilla Blaine’s designs

[Sings4joy]

Kathy7661 You don't need the paid version of KnitCompanion. Scan the pages onto your computer, save/label them by page number (or however you want to save them), they will be saved as PDF, right click on the files and move them into DropBox. On KnitCompanion, you should see the DropBox next to Local. Open Dropbox and look for the names of your files under "PDF". When you open the file, you can name the project.

I just did this myself, just to make sure I had the correct steps and I'm still so amazed at what we can do with technology!! to be able to zoom in and out on a pattern is just fantastic!!

[Kathy7661]

Sings4joy Thank you so much for the step by step instructions...this is very helpful!!

[rkennell]

Wow--It's been years since I did counted crosstitch as well; I did quite a bit of it until I got into doing more knitting and spinning and now weaving. But the Knit Companion would definitely be ideal for that! You can take any pattern and make it into a pdf if it's not already, and then upload it into KC. I keep it on my tablet and I love it for detailed patterns. I've even taken photos of my pattern book pages, converted them to pdf, and then uploaded them into the KC. That little sliding marker (one for vertical and one for horizontal) is SO handy! It stays put from wherever you left off. I used to have a magnetic board with a magnet strip for my counted crosstitch, but the truth is, this is so much handier, in my opinion.

[Kathy7661]

Here's my WIP. It would be great if I could finish this for Christmas!Sings4joy you're a good enabler 😉

[FreedomLover]

I love this!

[knitter131]

Beautiful - I used to do a lot of counted cross stitch, then I had the cataracts done. No more close work like that..

[Kathy7661]

FreedomLover and knitter131 Thanks!
Yes, I wonder how well I'll do with the tiny stitches since it's been a while. I have a large magnifying light I may have to use! 😊

[Char]

These are so pretty! Makes me think about cross stitch again... not sure if my hands will handle it though.

[Kathy7661]

I managed to get organized and reacquainted with my cross-stitch. I did a little section and really enjoyed it...my eyes and hands did okay.
I guess I'll have to add this to my list of WIPs to finish.😬

[FreedomLover]

I haven't worked on mine in a while, I may need to pull it out. My hands are fine but I can only spend so much time with those tiny stitches. Back in the day I stitched on linen without a care in the world.

[Kathy7661]

I hope you do pull your cross-stitch out again! We'd love to see what you're working on!

[Sings4joy]

Another project I've been working on is called Bloomtopia which is a fundraiser for the Make A Wish foundation in memory of Priscilla Blaine's oldest grandchild who passed away about a year ago. Priscilla is the mother of the mother/daughter team of The Real Housewives of CrossStitch. they have a weekly podcast which is just so lovely and fun!! It's all clean fun, which I love! The pattern for Bloomtopia can be found at The Fat Quarter Shop online.

[Kathy7661]

Thanks for the invite but I'm not on Facebook. Sometimes it's tempting just for those groups!

[Sings4joy]

Kathy7661 then I'll just continue to enable you ;-)

[Kathy7661]

Lol, sounds great! But really, thanks for the inspiration!

[Sings4joy]

Here are my fully finished projects.

[pinesprairie]

Sings4joy These are beautiful! Do you just sew a material border on them? That really finishes them nicely.

[Kathy7661]

Sings4joy Beautiful! You have been busy!
I kind of gave up on my Santa cross stitch only because I was having so much trouble reading the chart. Then I heard about a cross stitch app called Silk Stitching. I think I’m really going to like this and I’ll actually be able to see. My supplies came in yesterday so I hope to start some time today...I’m very excited!
I’ve been enjoying watching Stitching with the Housewives. I recognized your Bloom cross stitch as one of there designs! Will you be doing more?

[TeaNSugar]

Wow, I love these! Beautiful!

[Joxgirl]

I am a cross stitcher. My first choice for patterns are the older stuff. I’m currently working on “Gathering Honey” from the late 80’s Found the pattern in a Better Holmes and Gardens Cross Stitch magazine. I’ll post a picture the next time I pop in here. So happy to see there is a forum for this hobby.

[FreedomLover]

I can't wait to see that, I used to do quite a bit of cross stitch.

[rkennell]

Yes, please post pics! I used to do a lot of crosstitch as well, but haven't done it in years. There are so many beautiful crosstitch items out there!

[Sings4joy]

This is another design from Priscilla and Chelsea, Stitching with the Housewives. It's supposed to have snowflakes above the mason jar and I stitched two but I've concluded they were too "cute" for me so I took them out. My first thought, which I should've stuck with, was to stitch the larger snowflakes that are at the bottom of the jar...I should've followed my first thought!!

[FreedomLover]

I love this!

[Sings4joy]

I meant to say in my earlier post that it's supposed to have snowmen above the Mason jar, but I stitched snowflakes instead.

[Char]

Love it

[FreedomLover]

They are the perfect finish.

[Sings4joy]

Thank you CharFreedomLover Lover and

[hereami]

Sings4joy It is beautiful and I agree the top snow flakes are perfect.

What will you do with the finished work?
A picture, a bag/garment ???

[Sings4joy]

hereami I think what I'm going to do is finish it as a picture and hang in my kitchen. I have a set of mason jar pictures from Stitching with the Housewives that I want to finish for the kitchen.

[Sings4joy]

Here's an update on Snowy; I would really love some input...I'm not sure if I should add anything more or fully finish/frame it the way it is. The second picture shows it folded in a such a way to replicate the final size...sort of.

[TeaNSugar]

Beautiful work. I'm not sure what else you could add. So I'm no help. lol I think it looks great.

[Sings4joy]

I decided not to add anymore to the picture and went ahead and fully finished and hung it up with what I consider its companion piece I often think about what I could have done but I'm just not going to go there!! I've been doing that too much lately after other things.

[FreedomLover]

They look perfect to me, I wouldn't change a thing.

[Sings4joy]

TeaNSugar & FreedomLover thank you both for your lovely comment!

[hereami]

They are so cute. They make the perfect pair.