Happy New Year

Happy New Year, everyone!  No stitching today but hopefully tomorrow!  Best wishes for a safe, healthy, prosperous, and needleworking 2012!

Progress on Fascination

 I did the center of Motif #4 which is identical to the one in number 1 and then I started the diagonal over one background.  Here is where I ran out of the Kreinik #4....which is on order

 Here is a picture of all four motifs.....now an 8 x 8 design on the Congress cloth

So I moved on to Lesson 5 and started in the top left corner.  We are doing a Milanese stitch using two strands of Needle Necessities and two strands of the Marlitt in alternating rows. This will be worked on all four corners to "square the design"".   Again to make sure that I get the sheen and can control both fibers, I am using my laying tool.  As I finish each stitch of the Marlitt, I hold it down with the tip of the BLT-best laying tool-while I bring the needle up in the next stitch.  Some people dampen the Marlitt to control it....sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. 

Nancy asked about the project name and identification.....if you look below my notes you will see that I label each post with the designer name,Loretta Spears, and the name of the project in this case, both Fascination and Mystery #10.  Hope that helps
 

Motif 4 patterns

 Pattern 5 is worked with both the NN and Marlitt....you can really see the sheen in this one

 Pattern six is worked in all NN and is a satin stitch pattern that goes from a diamond to a square and seven
is more horizontal satin stitches working the NN first and coming back in with the Marlitt over two threads to create the top pattern

Pattern 8 is all NN and I even changed it a bit to add center stitches in the boxes that were created so as to more fill it in.  I will work on the center motif for this motif tomorrow!

Motif #4

 The first pattern is a tied stitch in NN and then surrounded by Marlitt

 The second stitch was all worked in two strands of NN.  The 3rd large square is worked with half NN and half Marlitt satin stitches

The fourth square is worked in Scotch stitches in NN and half a Scotch on top to create the shapes.
If you are going to work this design, please note both Lara and I think you will need two spools of the Kreinik #4 braid and two skeins of Marlitt.  We are not sure yet about the NN and will keep you posted.

And.....don't forget somewhere around the 1st or so,the combination of this blog and the old one should total about 200,000 reads.....if  you leave a comment, I will be doing a give away and will use the comment closest to the 200 mark......more details on this later and I will keep you posted as to when we might hit that mark!

Motif 3

 I finished the center pattern and background of Motif 3.  The center star is worked the same as Motif 2 and of course the background is the same as the other two.  Below is the overall appearance so far.  For the contrast in colors be sure and check out Lara's blog: diet pepsi and xanax on my sidebar.  Remember she is working this same design in pinks!

Tomorrow, I will start Motif # 4!

Gaining on normal

Our big festivities are winding down.....whew!  It was a lot of fun....we had good company with the family and friends....waay tooo much food! LOL, and of course, lots of laughing and having fun!  Today we put away the fancy dishes and tidied up around the house.....we put our gifts where they all belonged and I did manage to stitch a bit but not for long.....I will get back to my normal stitching on Tuesday but tonight i am going to sit and peruse my new stitching books and relax....see you back tomorrow with Motif #3 finished....I hope!

Oh, and somewhere around the 1st or so,the combination of this blog and the old one should total about 200,000 reads.....if  you leave a comment, I will be doing a give away and will use the comment closest to the 200 mark......more details on this later and I will keep you posted as to when we might hit that mark!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Today I wish you all a very Merry Christmas while I am not stitching at all but enjoying family from near and far.  I hope you all have a wonderful day and stitching will resume tomorrow

All the patterns

I finished all the patterns in Motif #3 which is directly below Motif #1.  The largest one on the left is done like the one on the right except  the center stitch is larger.  The other two above and below it are worked in NN again.  The little ones were here and opened their presents.....so excited!  I am sure they are now snuggled in their beds as they know Santa is on the way......in fact....that may be sleigh bells I hear outside now!  I guess I had better head their myself!

Starting Motif 3

I started at the top of Motif 3 by doing satin stich NN and then a patterned satin in Marlitt.  Pattern two is all worked in NN.  Three is first an upright cross and then is backstriched in Marlitt.  Pattern 4 is all worked in NN and is a slanted gobelin pattern.

Lesson 2 complete UPDATE

Jane asked for a side by side photo of one and two and here it is. When the sun is out, I will do another.

I finished the center motif.  This one started and ended with the Marlitt instead of the NN.  The #4 Kreinik is used again to create the rest of the background stitches.  The piece now measures 4 high by 8 wide.
Lara is also this far in the pinks....check out her blog in the side bar....diet pepsi and xanax

Lesson 2, blocks 5 to 8

This is the rest of the blocks for Motif two.  All are done in alternating Needle Necessities and the Marlitt.  Each variation of stitches is worked to increase the light and texture variations....Next up will be the center motif and background on this motif

Lesson 2, step 2,3,4,

 Step 2 is a pattern all in the NN overdyed and is an alternating pattern of two short and one long stitch.

 Step 3 is a horiztontal satin stitch and is worked in alternating rows of the NN and the Marlitt...This is the top one in this motifi.

Pattern 4 is all done in NN and is worked in two steps.  All the top left to center stitches are worked and then
the basketweave stitches are put in as step two.

Center and more

 Still in Lesson One, I did the center motif star pattern alternating between the Needle Necessities and the Marlitt with two strands of each over four threads.

 Then, the instructions say to use the #4 Kreinik, mine is 3221, and work diagonal rows of Continental inside the blocks....I think this may be very hard to see, but is is very pretty!

Lara and I had a conversation about starting motif #2.  I had started where I thought it should go, but was in the wrong place.  After we chatted for a bit, we realized the instruction was a tad difficult, but figured out where to start this one.  See the single thread between the #3 block of Motif 1 and the first design of block 1 in #2......that is now correct....after I did a bit of rip it!  This pattern is first worked with the Needle Necessities and the cross stitch is put in and then the upright cross.  The Marlitt is worked then with the upright cross first and the cross stitch second......does that make sense to you?  It does make a difference in the stitches......
And....finally.....Motif #1 is 4 x 4 inches on the square.

Seven & Eight

 Pattern 7 is done with both the over dyed and Marlitt in two strands.  All of the Needle Necessities is laid in first and then the Marlitt is placed over the little divot created.

 Pattern 8 is all done in the Needle Necessities and the pattern is alternated every 4 x 4 to create the effect

This then is all 8 of the patterns in this motif.....See the star shape formed by the box patterns?  Now, you should also be able to see the color variations in the fibers caused by the Needle Necessities overdyed as well as the combination of the overdyed to the Marlitt.  There is still a bit more to do to finish the motif and I will get busy....

Four, five and six

 Pattern 4 is worked with two strands of overdyed floss and the stitches alternate in each of the little blocks and you will notice her little "dimple" in the center of each.....

 Pattern 5 is a larger diamond and is first worked with the over dyed floss and the upright crosses and the cross stitches on top of those are worked.  Then 1 strand of Marlitt is used to place the smaller cross stitches in each row.

Pattern 6 was all supposed to be worked in overdyed floss......notice I said supposed to....I did the 4 x 4 cross stitches in the overdyed and then filled in the upright crosses with 2 strands of Marlitt and I like the shine.  Since I am doing intense closeup shots for Lara and Becky, you are not seeing actual color variations in the shots at this point in the photos....I am in person, and when I am all the way around this pattern group, I will shoot a distance shot so you can see the variations.

Lesson One

 I have taken close ups of each of the areas I am working on in Lesson one.  The first diamond is worked with two strands of the Needle Necessities overdyed and then two strands of the Marlitt for this pattern.

 The next square is worked with two strands of the Needle Necessities.  First a simple cross stitch is worked and each of the four legs are tied down as I worked across the row.  You can see the very subtle color difference in the fiber by doing so.

The next diamond is also worked with two strands of each fiber in alternating rows laid so the sheen is reflective.  Loretta always gives great instructions and a sample stitch pattern to ensure understanding.
This area is in the top left section of the canvas and you can see the very beginning of the star shaped inner pattern that is forming.
Lara and Becca are both going to be working this pattern as well.....Lara will be posting on her new blog....diet pepsi and xanax and there is a link to it on the side.....Welcome back to stitching Lara!  And, by the way, Lara is a fabulous photographer so check out the links on the bottom of her blog to see some awesome photography......One of these days, I am going to stitch one of her photos!

Mystery # 10

 I am starting Mystery #10, Fascination by Loretta Spears as the next project.  The fibers above are the ones called for in the design.  From the top is Perle 926, Needle Necessities overdyed 120, #4 Kreinik in color 191, and Marlitt in 1212.  While the monitor does not show it as well, there is a lot of yellow in these.  I am not a yellow person so I am, of course, switching my fibers to colors that I like.

These are the colors that I will be using.  I am keeping the Perl in 925.  I will use Threadworx 1030.  The Kreinik is #4 in 3221 and the Marlitt is 1034.  I will be working on a 12 x 12 piece of Congress in Eggshell.

Thanks for all the wonderful comments on the Cardinal....he is whistling his way to the framer in NC to hang out with his friends and as soon as I can, will post a photo.

A full belly

I finished the third cardinal!    All the stitches on his belly are done and he will join his pals at the framer's!

A surprise to me

I worked on the bird's body using five strands of Splendor in the knotted stitch.  What surprised me was how long it took to get this far!  I will finish him tomorrow as I did get the wings and his legs done too.  All that is left is the small tummy area!

All the background

I made it!  Who would have thought that such a small canvas would take so long to do the background on?  I maybe should have done a different stitch, but wanted the Brick stitch for unity on all three of them....Now, for the fun stuff.  tomorrow I do the bird!

Probably at least one more

I managed to get all along the right side stitched but figure at least one more session and then the background will be done!!  Yippee!

Made it!

Yup, finished the left side down to the bottom.  I am so pleased to get that far.....tomorrow it is back over to the right side.  Even though I am not sure if this will be framed as a square or oval, stitching all this much background gives my framer the option to do which ever looks best with the other two cardinals.

Back in business!

The Panache came in the mail and I got to stitch too!  Woohoo!  I got clear down to the foot on the left. Panache is a bit slippery and twists easily in the needle, so do a few, drop the needle, repeat!  I hope to get clear to the bottom tomorrow!

Mystery # 10

My threads came today!  These are the fibers that I will be using when I start Mystery #10 by Loretta Spears called Fascination later this week and I also got the Panache so I can continue on the background for the third cardinal.  I will resume stitching on him tomorrow.  Since it is a mystery project, I can't show you what it will look like as there is no photo.  However, I will tell you that I substituted colors.  Her design has a lot of yellow in it and I am not so much a yellow fan, so I switched up to more beiges.

I might have known

Yes, I thought one and a half cards of Panache would do the background.  I was wrong again.  You see how far I got down the side.  Not to worry...I already ordered it and hope it is here tomorrow or Monday.  So...I started on the tail.  I am using five strands of Splendor 820 and doing the Knotted stitch.....just like on the other two!

The tree

Instead of stitching today, I did the holiday decorating....the tree is up, the candles are out, and pictures
are hung.  DH says that there is not a square inch that doesn't have holiday stuff.....He lies!   LOL 

Next up, wrap presents, but I can do that and get to stitch tomorrow too!

Top of the tail

I "bricked it" down to the top of the tail!  I know, background is boring, but, it has to be done....tomorrow I will start down the side of the body and see how far I can get!

Row after row

I am working on the Brick stitch background and that is all I did today.  I did manage to get to the berries though.  Correction:  I am using Panache not Patina.  Jane thinks he looks like he is whistling....I can see that!

Getting started

I am working the background on this one in the Brick stitch over two threads, just like the other two, except I am using Patina 02.  It has some sheen to it and he is a small design.  I want him to coordinate with the other two so I did some of the top rows.  I then used five strands of Splendor 820 and did the berries at the top.  I also used five strands of black Splendor and did the face and the right foot print....more tomorrow.

The third bird

Here is the final cardinal by Charley Harper that I will stitch to go into the grouping of three.  He is a happy little guy with a design area of 5 x 8.  I plan on doing him very similar to the other two so the grouping will
"work" together.  Let the needles begin!

Noel

I finished the weaving pattern for the backgrounds on O and E so this piece is stitched.  Thanks to Terri Gifford of Kick Back and Stitch for a gret design!

Full length

I did a full length shot tonight as I finished all the gold lettering and......the background on the N too!  All that is left to do is the background around the O and the E and I hope to get some of it done tomorrow while the turkey starts cooking!  In case I am not around tomorrow I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and joy and laughter with all your families.  BTW, this piece measures 4  x 15.5.