A post from Kelli–
A while back, you may remember I showed you a picture of a large cross stitch sampler I have been working on for what seems like a long time. If not, you can read about it here–https://www.joscountryjunction.com/the-cross-stitch-princess-kelli/.
The main project that I’m working on is this Quaker Diamonds Cross stitch sampler. As you can see, I’ve been working on it quite a bit and it has definitely gotten much bigger.
For the longest time, I would just look at it and was nervous to move on to the next big design. One day I realized that the reason that I was stalling was because I didn’t want to get the stitches off when moving over such a large space. After some reasoning, I decided that I’d count twice and go with it. If there is a large space between two areas and I happened to be even 3 threads off, who cares!!?! I also realized that if I did smaller bits between like the letters, I would likely end up a little closer to the correct count. I want my project to look nice, but to me, stressing about 3 threads wasn’t making it fun and I wasn’t going to finish it if it wasn’t fun to work on.
The thing that I need to work on now is going back and finishing up the flower petal that is three sistches, or the stem that needs two leaves. I’m contemplating waiting til the end and then taking one color and doing all the little work that needs to be done. I think this will let me concentrate on the big stuff for a while to get everything positioned and then will also be less needle changing too!
In the mean time though, I had started another project.
This is a little Lizze Kate pattern. It says “Spread the love of God through your life. Use words when necessary.” I really like that saying because I think that a person’s actions often say more than their words. By using your life as an example, words may be needed occasionally, but leading by setting a good example seems to me like a good way to go about things.
Now that I’ve got my road block moved on my first project, I’ve been powering through that one. I think I want to try and have it done by the end of the year. I’ll need to be more diligent about working on it regularly, but if I substitute a bit of cross stitch time for facebook/instagram/social media junk time, it sounds like it might actually be possible.
Who knows?!?! Guess we’ll have to see how the cookie crumbles!
I used to do cross stitch before I started quilting in 1978 (yes, I’m old) and I’ve seen people do basting stitching every 10 stitches or so. Not sure if you’d want to do that, but it might be worth trying. I do remember many times I was “off” and the frustration. Since my mother and MIL have passed, I have many of “my works” in our house. It was a lovely past time and who knows if I may do it again. Right now I’m enjoying loud, modern quilting (think Kaffe, Allison Glass, and Tula Pink). I never would have dreamt my taste would change so much. I always say never say never! Looks like you’re enjoying the process and that’s the best part!
I have to say, your words of wisdom regarding actions/words will make any mother happy. Your mom seems like an awesome person and it looks like the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!
If you end up with any “extra” space in your cross stitch piece, maybe you could ad lib a little bit…..add an extra leaf or something to fill the little gap.
It is wonderful! Keep at it! Perfection is in the eye of the beholder, and it looks great!
-Jean
Kelli, when I cross-stitch, I do all the Xs first. then go back and do the detail work. That way I don’t catch a thread and ruin it (ask me how I decided this?)
Enjoy the stitching!
I’m working on Quaker Diamonds too! I just love it. I just told a friend that one thing I like about this pattern is that if you are off a little bit, it won’t matter. No one will ever know but you!
I tried cross stitching a few times but always got so frustrated with it, its not my thing but I truly love what others create with all those tiny stitches. Your work is beautiful and look forward to seeing these done and framed. Keep on stitching
Before beginning a large project some times it helps if you run basting stitches horizontally and vertically forming a grid to imitate the lines on the graph. You can snip out the thread in areas you’ve stitched or are going to stitch
The first skill with a needle I ever truly learned was cross stitch. Then crochet then knitting and finally quilting. The verdict is still out on embroidery and apparel sewing But the floodgates were opened by crosstitch. You have motivated me to get out a large sampler I have had in time out for longer than I care to admit, thanks for that! And I agree with the previous poster, ad libbing is always okay in cross-stitch haha