Circles of Bargello, etc.

I have started the Circles design by Lois Kershner for the ANG Stitch of the Month for 2008. There are several variations that will be used in creating this piece. I started out by tracing the circle and some of the other markings for location. Then we had to paint the left side of the canvas and I used acrylic paint. The first design I have in is done using a four way Bargello pattern and three shades of blue DMC floss. In working a four way Bargello, each quadrant is worked and then the canvas is turned 90 degrees before starting the next section.

I will be right back!

My niece that lives in Chicago--temporarily transplanted to Nashville--came to visit for the weekend! Woohoo! She is the one that has Martini Bra and Tap Pants....remember those?? Sharon G's wonderful design and you may have to go to the previous blog to see them. http://360.yahoo.com/needleartnut
Anyway, we talked a lot, went shopping, talked some more, made dinner at home, talked some more, slept a little, did more shopping and talked some more, then we played Wii sports and did the Personal trainer exercise, and then we laughed a lot!
So, in the middle of all that, I did try and set up the next project and you will see the start of that tomorrow.
Thanks for bearing with us while we talked some more!

The final sections

I finished the final sections. First I added vertical rows of Anchor Pearl to tie down the pairs of horizontal threads. I used the white and then the ecru to create the pattern. Then, I added another row of Alternating V stitch and finally another row of the Braided Knitting Stitch.

This is the finished piece:

Thanks, again, to Carole Lake for this design and the permission to blog stitch this piece.

As before, you can see Carole's design at her site.

www.carolelake.com

A few more areas

I filled in above the Overlapping Cross Pattern with another row of the Alternating V stitch worked in the Treasure Braid. Above that is another row of Braided Knitting worked in the white Watercolours. Moving to the right, I started the last section. First I started the Laid Filling Plaid Pattern by laying in the pearl Kreinik in vertical rows. Two horizontal rows of Kreinik 210 were added next, alternating with two horizontal rows of the overdyed Pearl 8. Tomorrow night I will add more vertical rows that will add the plaid look.

Jane asked "How much does the canvas color you see under the open stitching add to the piece, Pat? Would a white and gold version on pink or lavender (or Victorian Red) canvas look a lot different?"
A lot of the canvas does show through increasing the white values in the piece. My opinion is that a white and gold version would look nice on pink, lavender, red, or navy blue. The design elements would work. I can also picture changing the colors of the fibers and doing pinks on pink, or, grays and silvers on black, etc. I think the possibilities would be endless. The original design was done in purples and then this white and gold combination. I also think many of the stitches utilized in this piece would be appropriate in a lot of other canvas designs, or, extracted into smaller designs for ornaments or box tops. Hope that helps!

Moving on up!

We are really moving up towards the top of this piece! First I have add Kreinik braid in the pearl color on top of the cross stitches in a pattern. It outlines the outside of the box, has an inner square and one oblong cross stitch in the center of each. It may show up if you enlarge the image. Next I added another row of double cross stitches and upright cross stitches on the right hand side.
Last, I did the Overlapping Cross Pattern above this. I used Anchor and Kreinik to create three rows of cross stitches. I added upright crosses at the top and bottom in Anchor pearl cotton. As a final touch I added a motif stitch in the center of the large cross stitches using the HiLights.
Whew! This was a busy night! LOL

Waffle Stitches & Cross Stitches

Using a single strand of the overdyed pearl, I stitched the Waffle Stitches amongst the Half Rhodes from last night. These are a lot of fun to work as you are working around the outside edge of the square and creating the pattern. Then, I used a single strand of the white Impressions and did cross stitches in the alternate squares. I still have a little more to do in these two squares tomorrow night. Even DH was impressed with this section!

Starting Section four

I changed the way I shot tonight's photo so you will only see the area I am working in. It is the last section to complete. I started out by doing Double Cross stitches in Kreinik 102 on the left hand side. I then cam back and did Upright Crosses using two strands of HiLights. Then I started the area that Carole calls the Nine Patch Pattern. Using the Watercolours I worked all of the Half Rhodes stitches. They sort of look like big fluffy snowflakes!

The left side

I finished the left side today. First I worked another row in Treasure outside of the Jacquard pattern. Then I worked another row of the Watercolours so both of these mirror the bottom of the design. You can now see the length and the width of the entire design.
Tomorrow I will start to fill in the open area, beginning with the left side.

The Kreinik is in

I added all the Kreinik pearl in the Byzantine Jacquard Cashmere panel, and it is very light. You will have to click on the photo to enlarge it and see it! Sorry about that! Maybe I should have put this on the black velvet so you could see it better. I will try and get a better photo tomorrow!

NN is all in

I put in all of the Needle Necessities Overdyed in the Byzantine Jacquard Cashmere Pattern in the column on the left. I decided to go ahead and finish out this step of the pattern all the way to the top, and then I will come back in and fill with the Kreinik. I also buried all the rest of the threads as well. These were all easy to bury, as Jane commented on yesterday's post, since they were not nylon/rayon threads! Those can be a great deal more difficult to hide/bury since they are so slippery!

A little of this & that

First, I went back and put the Upright Cross Stitches in with a strand of Grandeur in the Half Rhodes stitches I did last night. I returned the canvas to the upright position and have now started the next section. I started the Byzantine Cashmere Jacquard section. Using a single strand of Needle Necessities Overdyed Pearl, I worked a full strand in the Cashmere stitch. Then using the Kreinik pearl, I filled in all the tent stitches. Then I worked in some ofthe away waste knot threads that were out to the left--from doing the Florentine pattern. When working a pattern with these fine threads it is not a good idea to try to work the end into the back as it will effect the look of your design. I did the away waste knots to the left of the pattern on the left. This left me a nice long tail. By stitching over the threads first, I have anchored them even more before now anchoring them into the back of this section. If you click the picture to enlarge it, you will see I still have some left to bury. No one will know, so don't tell!

Another one done

Yes, I finished the last section in this area. This is done with a single strand of the white Watercolours in the Braided Knitting stitch. This in now the bottom line of the piece. On the left, you will see that I also added a row of Half Rhodes Stitches, also worked in the white Watercolours. I have not finished this area and will continue working on this one tomorrow. Both of these stitches worked up fairly quickly and add nice border patterns.

Florentine Finish

I finished the last two rows of the HiLights in the Florentine pattern. Under that I worked the Alternating V stitch in the Treasure Braid gold. This is working up very quickly and that is due to Carole's excellent guide. Each stitch and step are very clearly explained and there are lots of diagrams and wonderful charts. Thanks also to Sue Dulles for her share in this! Tomorrow I will finish the last pattern in this area.

Working the Florentine

Tonight I started the Florentine Laid Filling Pattern which is worked over the lines of Impression that I laid in before. I did not get this finished, but will tell you what is here so far. From the bottom up is the Overdyed Pearl, the Anchor #8, Kreinik #8 braid, Anchor #8 and the top row is HiLights. I will finish filling this pattern in tomorrow night.

Last night I shot the picture using a black background, and tonight I used white. Which one is easier for you to see????

Twisted Fan

I must apologize as I called this stitch Folding Fan, last night, when it is Twisted Fan! I finished the lower section to mirror the top row. I then added eleven rows of Impressions from side to side in preparation for stitching this area tomorrow night.

Folding Fan

I set the frame on a piece of black velvet to take the photo tonight, so you can hopefully see this a little better.
Tonite I did the Folding Fan stitch above the eyelets by first using Flair, and then Treasure Braid for the center most stitches. Each square is then filled with another eyelet done in the Kreinik 102. I will repeat this pattern below the eyelets tomorrow.

The Double Fan Doubled is not worked with a single strand, but many strands and each is started and ended with away waste knots.

Eyelets and more

Moving on, I first added elongated eyelets using white Impressions. Then, on top of those eyelets, I worked fan eyelets in pearl Kreinik, followed by a cross stitch in between the elongated eyelets. Next, I put in long stitches and cross stitches amongst those stitches. Last, I used the Coronet braid and made zig-zag rows above and below this pattern. All of the sparkle does not show up as well as I thought it would, but maybe I will do a little closer shot tomorrow night.

I finished the cube!

I hope you remember the Kathy Schenkel sheep cube canvas I stitched a while back. I finally finished the ornament into the little cube. I did a binding stitch to close all the seams and form the box. Before closing the last seam, I stuffed quilt batting inside the cube, and then stitched it closed. Last, I tied the ribbon included with the canvas into a package ribbon and attached the ceramic heart that was also included. This is one of the canvases for my family in Michigan. It is hanging on an ornament stand so you can see how it will hang on my niece's tree.

Back to the White In a Purple Passion tomorrow!

Double Fan Doubled

How cool is this design?! Carole says the stitch is a Jean Hilton stitch and it has a lot of variations in Jean's book, Stimulating Stitches. It may look difficult, but it is not, instead, it is a lot of fun to stitch! It is worked with a single ply of white Watercolours for all but the last strand. That is worked with the Treasure Braid. I really like it!

More Spring

Tonight, I added the bottom row of Spring stitches and then did the vertical row of the same stitch on the right, using the Grandeur fiber. I don't think it will show up, but I have also basted a line across the top and bottom of the vertical row of stitches. This is the overall height of the piece.
Kathy asked about the colors of Kreinik in the photo. The one on the left is 102. There is also 032 pearl, and the other gold is 210.
Yes, Jane, this is the white version of In A Purple Passion. The purple is just gorgeous but just doesn't fit in with the color scheme. Since this is for me, I had to have the white/ecru/gold! The design components would be wonderful in just about any colorway.

Let's get started!

After mounting the canvas (that Carole provides with the kit), I found the center of the canvas to begin. Step one calls for the Spring Stitch in Grandeur with the center as the starting point for the eight stitches to the right. Then I returned to the center and worked four more to the left. Step two is worked in the reversing Scotch stitch in white Flair and then crossing over each one with Coronet Braid in the reverse direction. Next, I continued with the Coronet and worked across the row in a tent stitch and repeated the design in the mirror image. I finished by stitching the bottom row of tent stitches in the Coronet Braid, completing step two.
Carole's instructions, pictures and stitch diagrams are excellent and she also credits Sue Dulle for her diagrams and layouts on those. The reference page is a full sheet listing several books I know of and some I don't, so I look forward to all the wonderful stitches in this piece.
Can you tell I am just a tad excited with this??? LOL

White Gold in a Purple Passion

This is the picture and threads that are included in my kit for In A Purple Passion by Carole H. Lake. (My photo does not do this justice!) I saw In A Purple Passion when Carole first started teaching it and fell in love with it! Then, she came out with it in Ecru and Golds.......my favorites!! I contacted her and she graciously sold me the kit and gave her permission for me to blog stitch this piece.
This has several beautiful fibers in it: Watercolours, Treasure Braid, Overdyed pearl cottons, Kreiniks, and many others.
You can see several variations in the Photo Album on Carole's website, along with her other teaching pieces, schedules, and a free pattern. Please do check it out at:
www.carolelake.com
and come back to watch this gorgeous piece evolve!

The star is finished!

I finished all the Nobuku stitch for the background! The threads you see on the left are the away waste knots from the turkey work and the one at the snowflake on his hat is the start of the white Splendor that will be the three rows of tent for finishing. I have decided not to cut the turkey work after all. I think the added dimension is great and gives him more character. I will be finishing this into an ornament and when it is done, I will post a final picture for you.
Thanks again, to Cheryl Schaeffer for permission to blog this cute guy!

Progress

I finished one point of the star in Nobuko stitch using four strands of Splendor. Then, I sewed up two more seams on the box ornament! You will be seeing that soon too!

Stitching Background &

Yes, I am stitching on the background of the Patchwork Snowman. It is not close to being done, so I did not post a photo tonight. This is going to be finished into an ornament so I will also have to stitch the three rows of white around the outside of the star as well.
So as not to get bored with background, as we all do, I also started the finishing on the Kathy Schenkel sheep cube. I am using a binding stitch to put the edges of the box together.
Also, I have the canvas attached to the stretcher bars for the ANG SOTM project and the threads are all pulled. Incentive for me to get these other projects done so I can start that soon!
Pictures tomorrow, I promise!

Ready to wrap

This is the paper mache box I sprayed gold for the Kick Back and Stitch Les Balloons piece. I also sprayed the inside of this one with the Suede spray--in blue this time. Then I cut and mounted the piece over a gold lame covered piece. After gluing this down, I mad a twisted cord, and wrapped it around twice and tied the bow. It is ready for the next birthday get together.

Scarf and a hat!

I finished the scarf since we had a snow day today. Five inches of snow on top of the ice. So, I stitched. I did the lavender sections with floss to outline and Splendor to fill it in. Then I added Fyre Werks for the gold. The yellow section is also filled in with Splendor. Next I did the snowflakes in Kreinik 032. Last I filled in the hat with Kalem stitch in three strands of Splendor.
Pretty good progress for the day.

The Patchwork Scarf

Today I worked on the scarf. I started outlining the scarf in Black Mandarin Floss. Then I did the red outline for the pink diagonal mosaic section, also in Mandarin Floss. The blue and green patches were outlined and then filled in with Splendor. The dots are french knots done in Fyre Werks. In the yellow painted areas, there are red French knots done in Mandarin and the tent stitched leaves are done in Green Splendor. I will finish the scarf tomorrow night and start on the snowflakes.
This design is by Cheryl Schaeffer and for those of you who

asked, you may contact her at:

http://www.cherylschaeffer.com/index.html