Cross Stitch Update

This was a busy week around here. I had family here or was gone much of last weekend. I even had grandkids overnight. Then I worked the first three days of the week so very little stitching happened. On work nights I have to go to bed a little earlier. I’ve also been doing some things around here that are LONG overdue. LONG overdue. It feels so good to be getting them done. Stitching isn’t happening as much as normal.

Before I get to what I’ve been busy with, I thought I would take the time to answer a question from a blog reader…
Lisa asked:
“I have a question about lacing your cross stitch. What kind of thread do you use and how close do you lace? What do you use two wrap your cross stitch around”

Lacing is a term used by cross stitchers when they “lace” the stitched piece to some type of firm cardboard-ish piece. You can see the lacing I did on a previous project.

The first thing I want to say is that there are many ways and methods to do them. I am telling you mine. Each person needs to experiment and find their own way.

I use sticky board sometimes and I just don’t take the paper off to reveal the stickiness. I do that on small pieces or if the frame I’m going to use isn’t very deep. The sticky board is thin. THIS is the stuff I use. They have it at Hobby Lobby too.

I bought a spool of crochet thread at the thrift store. I use that for lacing. I lace about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch apart. There are videos on Youtube you can watch if you want to see someone do it in action.

Now to what I stitched…or didn’t stitch.

I did not put any time into Birds of a Feather by Blackbird Designs.  I’m stitching this on a 40-count Dubloon by Picture This Plus. I am using the called for DMC. Here is where I was last week.

I had really wanted to finish this one but it didn’t happen.

I worked on Good Intentions from Kathy Barrick. I love this one. I am stitching this on 40-count Fawn by Picture This Plus linen. I am using DMC. Here is where I was last week.

I thought this one was finished but then when I was posting it last week I realized I forget the back stitch on her face and the needle and thread that was supposed to be in her left hand. Now it’s all finished. Sorry, I mislead you last week.

I didn’t iron it. I immediately went to the basement to check over the frames I have on hand because I really want this one fully finished. More on that as soon as I get the framing done.

I put ZERO stitches into Consider the Lilies by Heartstring Samplery. I had hoped to get a page of it done this month. I’m starting to wonder if that will happen. UGH.

I did work on my Blackbird Designs piece. It’s in the When the Leaves Fall book. I’m stitching mine on toweling. You can get the toweling at the Stitchery Nook. I looked and I don’t see it on their website. If you call them, I’m sure they can get it for you. When I was there they also had kits for $10 and those had everything you need to stitch it.

Here is where I am now…Not tons of progress but some so I’m happy.

I also worked on my Plum Street Samplers project called Goodness and Plenty. I had no intentions of working on this but when the grandkids were here and staying overnight for two nights in a row, it was easy to pick this up and stitch on it. It’s small and doesn’t require any difficult counting.

I ended up finishing the stitching on the little sampler. Here are the two I’ve finished from the pattern.

My son Karl drove to the family picnic on Sunday and again, I thought to take something easy so that meant I started the last pillow of the trio that says Goodness and Plenty on it.

I also FINALLY started the Wisdom Berries. Here is where I am on the first one that says “Give More”.

I had hoped I might have time at lunch break at work to stitch a little bit but I really don’t have time. By the time I got to the bathroom, eat, and look at my phone for a minute, my time is almost up and it was not worth dragging my cross stitch out. That’s totally okay. If I had a little longer break I’d take it but I don’t. I’d rather work when it’s work time and stitch when it’s not work time.

I did stop at the thrift store and found a box I am hoping might be a good size to use for finishing. I need to pull everything out and see.

Right now I’m doing a lot of cleaning and organizing behind the scenes so until I get more of that done, I’ll likely be a little low on cross stitch or quilt content. I’m happy with a little progress though.