Cross Stitch Update

I’ve been quiet here on the blog with my cross stitching…trust me, that doesn’t mean that I’m not cross stitching.  I’ve actually been cross stitching most evenings.  The bug has caught me BAD.

You might remember last time I wrote I was having trouble with this project….  I was using Weeks linen and thought that the linen might be part of my problem.  I tried and tried and tried to get the border to match and it wouldn’t.

I ended up giving up.  I was so sad.  I really wanted to stitch this.  I was sad I invested the money and time and couldn’t make it work.

So I left that project and stitched this…

This is Take Heart from Beth Twist of Heartstring Samplery.  I did do some changes.  The design at the bottom is the same red using for the top flowers.  I did my initials in the same color as the letters of the bible verse…I changed that but sadly can’t remember what color I changed it to.   I stitched this on 40 count Mello linen by Picture This Plus.  I love Picture This Plus linen.

This one is an odd size so I’ll be hunting for a while to get a frame for this one.  I’m a cheapskate and insist on finding them at the thrift store.  If I’m patient, I’ll find something.

While I was stitching this I thought…you know, maybe the reason I can’t stitch on that Newcastle Bouquet problem has to do with the linen.  Then I was watching a Flosstube video and someone said they don’t like stitching on Weeks linen.  They thought it was more slippery.  Hmmm.

With that, I decided to restart stitching Newcastle Bouquet.  I had some Vintage Country Mocha linen here and I had great success stitching my Seeking Refuge project on it so I started Newcastle Bouquet again…

I stitched and stitched.  I just did the mainline of the border.  I stayed up late stitching and stitching hoping the border would match…and …..IT DID!!  I can’t begin to tell you how thrilled I was.  Major thrilled.

I did some on filling in the border too.  Oh, my word.  I was the happiest of happy girls.  Here is the border starting to get filled in.  WOW.  I am going to LOVE this.

I’ve tried to work on it every day but lately, it’s been hard with all the in and out and responsibilities that family needs me for.  But that’s totally okay.  Family first always.  Once I do get to sit down to cross-stitching it’s been just the therapy I need!

Here is how far I am now.  I can’t begin to tell you how thrilled I am with it.  Isn’t that border awesome?

This is 40 count Vintage Country Mocha fabric.  It’s working so much better.

My goal is to try to stitch a “box” of the border each day.  Sometimes I can do one and a half…others I don’t get any done.  It’s a goal though and I find myself working to complete it.

So…because of this success, I’ve decided I am not going to stitch with Weeks linen.  Maybe I’m overreacting…maybe not.  I don’t know.  It’s my theory and I don’t want to be stitching on something I don’t enjoy….

So, I un-kitted several projects I had kitted with Weeks linen.  I will sell it on stash unload on Facebook and I bought new linen.  Lots but that’s okay.  I used the money Ila sent me when she wrote: “Buy the linen”.  She’s so sweet.  Thanks a million, Ila.  You really are so sweet to me.

Nancy at Needlecase Goodies on Etsy was the best help to me.  Picture this Plus linen is on a 14 week backorder and finding the linen online or in a shop is not the easiest.  So when Nancy said she had Picture This Plus linen coming soon to her Etsy shop, I stalked the shop.  I checked it once in the morning and once at night until the linen was in…then I placed a big order.

The linen came in!!   It’s waiting for a day that I have time to get back and re-kit it all.  It’s a job I love doing though.  I’m excited to do it and pet all the linen.

Anyway…I explained all of this on a Flosstube video.  Watch it if you’re inclined.  If you subscribe to me on Youtube, you probably already got a notice that this video posted.  Kalissa did it for me before I was ready.

I plan to try to do Flosstube videos once a month.  The videos are chatty and will be under a half hour-hopefully about 20 minutes and I’ll mostly be chatting about cross-stitch.

That’s what’s new here about cross-stitch.  I wish there were more hours in the day.  I could easily cross stitch them away.