November 15, 2020

November SAL Update

A fair amount of stitching was done this time!! This is where I was last time:

And this is where I am now:

11/15/2020 SAL Update

Until looking at the photos now, I hadn’t realized how much was done.

11/15/2020 SAL Update – closeup of toe
11/15/2020 SAL Update – Heel section

This SAL is sure keeping me on track!!

I am part of a group of lovely stitchers who are participating in this stitch-a-long. To see what they have been up to, please click on the links below:

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Helen

November 8, 2020

Pulled Thread Sachet

I’m a member of the San Mateo Embroidery Guild. This is a teaching guild so each month members have the opportunity to join in on a program and learn a new skill. The past two months we have been learning about pulled thread. I love the look of this embroidery and was excited to participate.

For this side, the pattern was given to us.

Two of our members lead this fantastic program. They provided all the written instruction and then lead us (on zoom) with a very comprehensive “in person” demonstration.

My second side designed by me.

The other side of the sachet was to be a cross stitched monogram. I do a lot of cross stitch and wanted to continue practicing with pulled thread. I looked on YouTube and Google for images and directions for different types of pulled thread. Then I got out my graph paper and started designing. I really like this. There are lots and lots of places that I need to improve, but I got it done and have notes on what challenges were presented. I see playing with this technique in my future!!

Linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching. And yes, this was a very S.L.O.W. stitch. Especially with all the careful ripping that had to be done when things did not work out as planned.

November 1, 2020

November HQAL Update

It’s time to update on the Grandmother’s Garden Quilt for the hand-quilt-a-long. This time I did spend some time with her:

11/1/2020-Grandmother’s Flower Garden

This is the new layout. I’m almost done with the green “vines” for the first strip and have the second one ready to attach.

11/1/2020

This is how it will lie on the table. Thank you everyone who has been so encouraging as I’ve been working through what to do with this. Taking it apart and putting it back together was definitely the right decision.

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Margaret, Deb, Nanette, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Daisy, Connie, Monica and Sherrie

I’m also sharing at Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching. It’s so funny because Sunday is not generally a day I can stitch. The hubby has no work and the kids have no school so we can usually be found out and about hiking or playing games or something else like that. My stitching is usually during the week.

October 25, 2020

SAL Update

Once again it’s time for an update on the Christmas Stocking I’m cross stitching for my son. This is where I was last time:

10/4/2020 SAL Update

And this is where I’m at now:

10/25/2020 SAL Update

I had hoped to be completely done with the toe of the stocking by this time, but I have made some good progress.

This is what it looks like right now. Hopefully I’ll get to spend some quality time with this in the next few weeks. I’d love to have it completed by this Christmas!

I am part of a group of lovely stitchers who are participating in this stitch-a-long. To see what they have been up to, please click on the links below:

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Helen

October 11, 2020

HQAL Update for October

I’ve done a fair amount of stitching on the Grandmother’s Flower Garden:

4 flowers completed!

One of these flowers was almost done, the rest were completed for this three week update.

This one is in process. I’m in love with those cute little owls!

This is my favorite from this batch of flowers.

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Margaret, Deb, Nanette, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Daisy, Connie, Monica and Sherrie

I’m also sharing with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching.

October 4, 2020

October SAL Update

It’s time to update on my SAL project. Last time I was here:

September SAL Update

Now I am here:

10/4/2020 SAL Update

I have been spending time with this project just about every day. Hopefully I will be done with the toe by our next update.

I am part of a group of lovely stitchers who are participating in this stitch-a-long. To see what they have been up to, please click on the links below:

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Helen

September 27, 2020

Whitework Embroidery

I’ve been trying my hand at different types of embroidery. The San Francisco School of Needlework and Design has been offering classes and stitch ins during SIP and I have been really enjoying myself. Hopefully, they will continue some classes online once everything opens up again. My most current finished piece is in whitework.

Whitework (class from San Francisco School of Needlework & Design)

I love the simplicity of white thread on white fabric. My very favorite part of this piece is the center. It’s a pulled stitch called Diagonal Cross Filling. The stitch is very easy to do and the effect is lovely.

I’m not in love with my eyelets. I had a really tough time with these. I drew a circle where the eyelet was to be, cut an “x” in the middle, and then whip stitched the edge with one strand of floss. We were told to come up only once in each hole around the outside and then down in the middle of the eyelet. I found that if I did that, I did not get full coverage so I came up more than once in many holes which then left it’s own little gap.

I did really enjoy the couching on the trailing stitch (the stems). That took forever. The longest stem (to the flower) I did as instructed with only one strand of floss. The second stem (the one to the leaf) I stitched with two threads – more to see how it would look than anything else. I like it, but I was surprised to see that there is definitely an obvious difference between couching with one thread and two. Not bad, but different. It was also much quicker to stitch and I was able to use only one hole per pass.

Another thing that is bugging me. Both the floss and the perle are white; however, on my project they look quite different in color. My hands were squeaky clean, but maybe I had some oils left on them anyway? Also I’m wondering if using a pencil may not have been the right way to mark my fabric – the graphite could have colored the thread as well.

Back of work where the threads that were couched have been pulled through.

This is the back where the threads that I used (4) were couched and then the ends – both top and bottom of stem – were pulled through to the back. Our instructor told us to cut them off even with the fabric. I am scared to do this!!! What will keep them from popping through to the top of the work? I’m going to email my teacher with both pictures to see if I can get come clarification.

Today I’m linking up with Kathy over at Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitch Sunday.

September 20, 2020

September HQAL Update

This HQAL (Hand Quilt-A-Long) update is not going to be about the project I chose for the HQAL – The Grandmother’s Garden. Grandmother’s Garden is laying dormant on the table behind the couch and although it has been calling to me, I have been ignoring it. She is in the same state as she was at the last update:

Still in this stacked form.

I have been working on the plan for the embroidery for each flower and will show that on a later update. I have seriously gotten the embroidery bug:

Heirloom Family Sampler for our summer EGA project.
Embroidery class project – San Francisco School of Needlework and Design (online classes)
Stitches learned – Raised Stem, Coral Knot, Wheat.
Embroidery class project – San Francisco School of Needlework and Design (online classes)
This is the wing for the bird above. The class was on stumpwork. I learned the Long and Short stitch
Pulled thread class at my EGA. This coming week we will be learning different kinds of hem stitching to do over the pulled thread part.
Something I saw on FB and wanted to recreate. It was a video showing different fun stitches – I will be putting rosebuds on the stems of the vine.
3-D hair. My grand uncle used to bring my sister and I postcards with 3-D images on them. This is nothing like those, but it reminded me of them.

So this is what I have been working on. I will get to my Grandmother’s Flower Garden soon, I have just been floating to whatever project, media and skill that calls me at any given moment. It just seems to be what I need to do right now.

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Margaret, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Daisy, Connie, Monica and Sherrie

I’m also linking up with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitch Sunday.

September 13, 2020

September SAL Update

This is the first time using WordPress’ new look and I am NOT one for changes. The other way was so much easier!!

Oh, well, I guess I better get used to it!! This is where I was the last time we updated in August.

August SAL Update

This is where I am now.

September SAL Update

I have been working on the toe area a little bit each day. I have worked on other areas, but not a lot. Just when I have a bit of thread left over from a toe area and an easily accessible area somewhere else that calls for the same color thread.

I am so grateful to take part in this SAL. The members of the SAL all work on their own project and post progress each month. I love being a part of this talented and supportive group of stitchers. If you’d like to join us, please contact AVIS – her link is below. And please take a look at the other stitchers taking part in this SAL.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Jenny, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Helen

August 30, 2020

August HQAL Update

I have been busy this month!!  Deconstructing the Grandmother’s Flower Garden Quilt

These flowers were previously attached to green hexi “leaves” and then attached to each other.  There are 18 separate flowers now.img_0209

These are all the green hexis that were used for the leaves and vines.  I did not count them, but there are lots!

I am so glad I finally made the decision to take this apart.  I was not feeling good about the project and now I’m feeling great.  I can’t wait to lay them out and organize them and start putting them together again.

I did finish a new flower and get part of the way done with another

I just love the little monsters!

Once again, I am excited to work on this project now that I can see a new path with it.

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Margaret, Tracy, Deb, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, Gretchen, Daisy, Monica and Sherrie

I am also sharing over at Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday.