HOW TO TUESDAY: Two Handed Cross Stitch Method

Happy Tuesday stitchers,

As promised, here is my video on how I cross stitch using a Q snap frame or hoop. I have taught myself the two-handed method for cross stitching which makes my stitching faster. My right hand is on top of the project with my index finger and thumb at the tip of the needle (either size 26 or 28) and my left hand is underneath, also with a similar finger pattern. Having my fingers closest to the needle allows for more control finding the hole to push the needle through.

 
I am no expert with this method but this is what works for me. Anything that makes my stitching faster so I can whip through my WIPs makes me a happy stitcher. As always I look forwards to your comments and feedback.

Thanks for viewing... Jan x

Bothy Threads Cut Thru Fun!

Hello readers,

I am back with my Bothy Thread Cut Thru' updates.

The castle is now sporting a tower on the top left side. Sure some more bricks need to be placed but it's formation is there.  I cannot believe how quickly this is growing.  Each page seems to fly by!

I am stitching on the Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Pirate Ship at a slower rate as I am only stitching on it on Wednesday evenings for about an hour (aka Pirate Wednesdays).  I am still stitching the first page.  Last week's progress was on the sail above the duelling pirates. I am stitching this with the lovely Justine. 

Well that's all folks for today. Stay tuned for How To Tuesday when I will post my video on how I do my two-handed cross stitch method.

Happy stitching...
                        Jan x

Back from Holidays. Time for WIPocalypse Update!

Hello readers and in particular, new followers! I am delighted to see I have 10 newbies following me since I last logged in.

I hope I haven't disappointed you by being absent but we have been on an Easter break. It is the end of first term here in Australia so we took ourselves off to Melbourne for a 5 day trip. Mary danced in the Champion of Champions of Australia Highland dancing competition on Easter Saturday and Sunday so it was fun to extend the trip by a couple of days. She came home with a fifth overall trophy for her section which delighted us all.

L-R clockwise Mary dancing the Sailor's Hornipe; Mary dancing in a reel; Mary holding her 5th overall trophy

The holiday highlight was booking tickets on the oldest steam train still running in Australia called Puffing Billy. Tom is mad keen on trains at the moment so he was bubbling with excitement as we hung our feet out of the train and headed to an old village for a cafe lunch.

I have two main projects for WIPocalpyse 2014 which are the Bothy Threads Cut Thru Castle and Promises Kept by Dimensions, a version of a Noah's Ark. This is my April update although I am late by 10 days - sorry!

Over the last month I have completed the fifth page of the castle so I have started stitching the top left corner of the castle which is the tower.

Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Castle

I haven't spent as much time on Promises Kept unfortunately so must knuckle down and stitch on it more this month. The progress I have made has been on the elephant.

Dimensions Promises Kept 

The question for the WIPocalypse challenge this month is: How do I keep my stash organised? I have a large cupboard in my sewing room which holds my projects. I keep all of my WIPs in separate fabric bags so the threads, pattern and fabric stay together and are not mixed with other projects.  I have a large pile of cross stitch patterns in my cupboard also that are piled up high. Kits that I haven't started yet are also piled together. Now that might all sound very organised but there is some chaos in there and its not all that neat.  It's not photo worthy LOL.

Happy stitching...

                           Jan x 

Turtle Trot April 2014

Hello happy stitchers.

BAP Attack is hosting Turtle Trot 2014.  This is my April update. It is a few days late but I had a special Craft weekend to attend with four girlfriends.  I spent the evenings cross stitching so I had a ball. 

Since March 10th, I have made progress on six of the ten projects on my list.  

1. Shores of Hawk Run Hollow by CHS
More stitching on the sun this month. I should finish this block by the May update.

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2. I Love London
I stitched the red L this month.

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3. Shepherd's Bush 2007 Christmas stocking
More little buildings and sheep adorn the hill.

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4. Annet Eriksson's Passion for Stitching Chateau - I found it hiding in a bag in a cupboard- hoorah!  I have stitched the letters "i" and "e" this month.

5.  Christmas House by Bucilla
I have started some curtains on the room below. The bedroom isn't quite finished as I need to match up some green thread.

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6. Designers Forum Needlepoint Rug - no progress this month

7. The Prairie Schooler Alphabet
I have spent a lot of time stitching the B and C letters this month.  By the May update I will have finished C is for Cow and have started D is for Drum.

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8. Country House Needleworks Santa's House- no progress

9.  Bucilla Touch of Gold- no progress

10. The Prairie Schooler Pumpkin Patch- No progress

I am happy to have made progress on 6 of my 10 projects. It's hard finding the time to stitch on all 10! Maybe next month.

Happy stitching…

                        Jan x

Happy Tuesday everyone! I have finished my fifth page on the Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Castle. I will move across to the Dragon's Lair now in the lower central part of the picture. It sure stitches up fast. My needles are flying through the Aida.

 Also I have done Pirate Wednesday and stitched more deck. I am about to stitch upwards and create the sails.

What cross stitching kits and patterns are lurking in your cupboard? I have decided to share my stash in a video on my YouTube channel. I hope you enjoy my goodies if you watch the video.

  Well that's it for today. Happy stitching... Jan x

Autumnal April...

Hello dear readers,

Autumn is slowly fading into our lives here in Tasmania, bringing with it a sense that Winter is not far off.  Reading a book, adorning a scarf and clearing away the Summer crops .  If you are like me, a good book is never far away. Elizabeth Gilbert's book The Signature of All Things is a delightful read telling a story filled with horticulture and botanics in a bygone era.

Autumn also brings with it an urge to stitch, stitch and stitch.  May I present, B is for Blackbird, a letter from the Prairie Schooler Alphabet.  Such sweet little pictures make up this letter.  I am stitching it in Zweigart Natural Linen 36 ct using two strands over two threads.

Next up, is C is for Cow. Happy stitching…

                                                              Jan x

Happy Saturday stitchers! My Saturday has suddenly had its plans all changed. Instead of scrapbooking with my friends I am stuck in bed with a virus and fever. Never-the-less I will enjoy the rest from everyday life and hopefully bounce back onto my feet soon. I have uploaded another stitching progress video to my YouTube channel, thread garden. It shows progress on my Bothy Threads Cut Thru' projects and the Prairer Schooler Alphabet. Enjoy! I stitched more on B is for Blackbird on the Prairie Schooler Alphabet with my friends on Thursday night. The top half of B is stitch heavy so hopefully it won't take so long to stitch the lower half.

My friend, Samra, agreed to let me post a photo of her project. She is stitching it on Antique White Zweigart 36 count linen, two over two. She is stitching 4x letters across by 7 rows. She has stitched the letter box (which is usually the last block but in this case her first), D is for Drum and E is for Embroidery. Don't you just love her blocks. Isn't her first block with the stitcher in the centre so pretty?

I hope you all get lots of stitching time in this weekend, Jan x

Prairie Schooler Alphabet update...

The Prairie Schooler alphabet is going swimmingly!  I stitched a single letter, L is for Leaves, months ago and now have decided to stitch the whole alphabet on one piece of linen.  I am stitching this using most of the recommended DMC threads on 36 count raw linen using 2 threads over 2.  I stitch on this design whenever I can as I am really enjoying it. Kevin from Cabbages and Kings blog is stitching this in a cyber SAL with myself and some local friends.

A is for Anchor is finished except for the actual "A". I haven't decided what colour to stitch it yet.  The recommended DMC thread 3857 is very dark so I don't think the A will stand out if I use it. I think I will decide after I have stitched a few letters.  I have swapped a few colours in this piece.  The crab I stitched in a salmon red DMC 3830 as I felt it was more lifelike.  I also swapped the 3857 thread for 221 on the left anchor.

I have stitched about one-third of the next letter too, B is for Blackbird. The mother and baby blackbirds are darlings on top of the pie. So far I have used the recommended colours.

Until next time, happy stitching…
                                                 Jan x 

March WIPocalypse update...

Happy Sunday all,

The most progress for my WIPocalypse has been on the Bothy Threads Cut Thru' Castle. I have almost finished my sixth page out of nine so I am happy with that.

The sixth page is about the castle moat.  It has a cute anchor, seaweed and goldfish.

I have struggled to be motivated stitching on Promises Kept which depicts Noah's Ark.  The blending of colours means that I have to be wide awake and enthusiastic which I haven't been. I will put it to the forefront this coming month though.  Nonetheless I have stitched on the sheep and partially stitched an elephant at the front to the ark.

Measi who hosts WIPocalypse would like us to share our favourite stitching place. If the weather is fabulous, I really enjoy sitting outside on my deck during the afternoon and stitching with the view of the River Derwent stretched out before me.  I really am lucky that my home has such a view.

Happy stitching…
                        Jan x

2014 Turtle Trot: March Update

Hello special readers.

My apologies for not posting sooner. A little man's birthday and illness have prevented me.

My Tom has turned 4! He was adamant about having a Star Wars themed party even though he hasn't watched the movies or seen the TV cartoon. I gather he and his day care friends play Star Wars in the playground and this has captured his imagination. His enthusiasm was delightful as he dressed in his Darth Vader ("Dark" Vader as he called it) outfit minus the mask which was "too scary".

Following the busyness of hosting a party and life in general, I came down with a yucky virus. I am pleased to say I conquered that one using the force. Viruses can be such a drag. 

BAP Attack is hosting Turtle Trot 2014.  This is my March update. Although I have 10 projects listed in my Turtle Trot list I just cannot seem to get through all 10! I will try harder next month.  I have completely lost one project somewhere. I am fearful I lost it camping. Let's hope I track it down soon. 

Since February 10th, I have made progress on five of the ten projects on my list.  

1. Shores of Hawk Run Hollow by CHS
I was delighted to finally put the finishing touches to the rocks and ocean and stitch the sweet gull. Now I need to get busy and finish stitching the words and sun on this block.

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2. I Love London
A London cab is now adorning this stitcher. Ain't she sweet?  It reminds me of our London trip highlight in 2006 being driven in a speeding cab around Mayfair and Trafalgar Square.

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3. Shepherd's Bush 2007 Christmas stocking
An adorable sheep is playing now on the hills below the king.


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4. Annet Eriksson's Passion for Stitching Chateau - I have still lost this! Where oh where have I put you?

5.  Christmas House by Bucilla
I added a little greenery about the window. I have run out of one colour so it stopped me earlier than I wanted.


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6. Designers Forum Needlepoint Rug - no progress this month

7. The Prairie Schooler Alphabet
I have started stitching the whole alphabet on one piece of linen 36 ct two over two. I am totally addicted to this that this will definitely move from my Turtle Trot to my WIPocalypse.  I have almost finished the first letter and have started B is for Blackbird.

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8. Country House Needleworks Santa's House- Whoops no progress

9.  Bucilla Touch of Gold-  Whoops no progress

10. The Prairie Schooler Pumpkin Patch- Whoops No progress

Overall I am proud of my stitching progress. 

Happy stitching…

                        Jan x