Pattern 5

I finished all three rows of eyelets,using 712 and a tight pull, above and below the rectangle box.  I did a closeup so you see all the details so far.  These eyelets are worked  7  stitches and drop to the next one all the way down the diagonals and then work back up to close each one....a bit different but pretty.

Finishing and Starting

Here, I have finished Lesson 2, Pattern four.  After using 712 to create all the rest of the back stitched boxes, I then filled in the center of the middle box with 224 doing a Rice stitch and that completed Lesson Two.  Lesson three starts off by setting in a rectangle shape box.  I used the 712 perle cotton and did Scotch stitches as I came to the corners did modified cross stitches to create the box outline.....isn't that a surprise?  Then, back up to the top and I have started a diagonal row of Eyelet stiches, pulling tight with 712 perle.

Cala ja

This morning I received a very nice note from Anna at Cala ja.  I found her blog and was unable to read it, so I sent her a note asking if she would put a translator on it.  She did!  Yippee!  She also said she would try to write some in English, but I told her not to worry.....go on over there and hit the translation button!  Woohoo!

The link is under my blogs I read list and here too

http://aploch.blogspot.com/

Pattern 3, Mystique progress

I had the four sided stitch all done and then added on with the 712 perle by working long stitches--rays--out to the side of each of those.  I then started Pattern 4 again using 712 and am light pulling the backstitched boxes--all 22 of them.

Column D is done!

I am glad I stopped where I did yesterday and from today's photo, you can hardly see the design!  I hope to reshoot it when the sun is shining and we will see if it is better.  I filled in the rest of Pattern 18, Windows by working the Wheat Sheaves in Soie Perlee and then using gold Madiera, I did cross stitches in the corners of the non sheaf rows.  The top fade out patter is worked with silk in a gold.

17 and part of 18

First I finished the rest of 17, Butterflies are three by using the 1 strand of Madeira to basketweave the background.  Pattern 18, Windows is started by using 2 strands of silk to create the circular patterns.

And by the way.....a new blog in town:

http://creative-stitch.blogspot.com

Joni Stevenson's!  Check it out!

Column D, Green column

I started Column D, the Green column.  This one is 21 threads across.  The pattern is called oval chain variation at the bottom and is worked with two strands of Waterlilies.  Then Candleight is laid across the pattern and Madiera is used to create the pattern which ties the Madiera down to complete pattern 16.  Pattern 17 is started by working the Butterflies are 3 pattern in silk and I am working on the background using one strand of Madiera in basketweave.

Horchow Squares

Pattern 14 is called Horchow Squares and it is now complete!  The top section is the square revisited by working with one strand of silk to create the box that was in the center of the pattern below.  Madiera is used to cross the center stitches.  Then working to the top only sections of the square are repeated and then washed out to the edge.  This completes column C.

Lesson 2, Pattern 2

Lesson Two, pattern 2 starts off with an octagon shaped stitched which I believe is called Ringed backstich in the pulled thread world and is done using my 226 perle and is done with a light pull on the thread.  The next stitch is the faggot stitch and is worked in 712 perle with a tight pull.  Then another row of the Ringed backstitch.  That completed Pattern 2.  I have then started Pattern 3 by using 712 perle in a four sided stitch with a tight pull, double wrapping each leg.

Lesson 2, Pattern 1

Lesson two starts off with pulled thread stitches in the design.  Each pattern lists the fiber and color and then how much tension to apply when the needle is on the surface of the canvas.  Beginning in the upper right corner, next to the ribbon I worked diagonal cross stitches using my 712 perle cotton and created the triangle base.  Then after those were all in, I came back and recrossed those crosses to create the pattern 1.

So there you have it....

I made it all the way around!  Yippee!  The fun stuff can start!  Lesson two is going to be adding in the
center area...I put my note of color changes on the piece, but now that I post the photo, you can't read it...
Instead of 926 I am using 712,   871 is 226, 896 is 224, and 403 is 223.....so that is the off white to the darkest
pink in that order.

Rounding third....headed home

I completed the third corner and am heading across the top to complete the ribbon!  Woohoo!  Corner three is
identical to corner two as I continue to work four needles of fiber.  Lara asked why I do this.  After completing the base row of offwhite floss, Each of the pink, medium pin, pink and dark pink are completed in the same number of stitches to create the pattern.  I find it is faster to work a series of each color and then come back to the next one and so on. This is versus doing each bend in the ribbon and then moving on.....hope that makes sense to you.  I also feel I can go faster this way.

Connecting the boxes

The boxes had to be connected...Diagonals done with single strands of silk were the first connection.  Then Backstitched single strands of silk created the inner boxes.  Single strands of silk did the cross in the center of each of the corner squares and the upright cross in the middle of the inner design.  Last, a single strand of Madiera threaded to two strands creates the cross in the center and the basketweave between the squares.
Pattern 14 is complete.

Yellow boxes

I started Pattern 14 in column 3.....all continental stitches to create little yellow boxes!  This is all worked in Soie D Alger.

The third corner

With a little more stitching time today, I made it to the third corner.  This corner is a mirror image of the top right corner.  As you can see, I working with four needles with the four colors, each with three strands of floss.  I figure two or three more sessions and the ribbon will be complete.

Coming across the bottom

Yes, the row on the top is really the bottom of the piece but I have turned the canvas to work it as it is so
close to the bars.  Jane mentioned that she enlarged the photo the last time to see the corners....if you haven't done so, you may want to see the intricate way to turn the curve in a bargello pattern.  And, Happy Valentines Day!

Pattern 13

Pattern 13 is now completed.  I finished all eight of the diagonal satin stitches in Tobacco and then
laid peach Kreinik in between the rows and tacked those down with large cross stitches in a single strand of silk.  These colors are very different from the colored picture that came with the pattern and fiber as those appear to be a lot more yellow than what I am doing.  I hope some of you do stitch this if you have the pattern and fibers as I would love to know how much difference there would be.

Pattern 12

Pattern 12 is done!  This one was started with diagonas using a saffron gold silk.  Next Waterlilies overdyed Far Horizons created the flower petals.  Last the leaves are added with a strand of green silk.  Note how the colors in this pull the colors from the next two columns.  I started pattern 13 using Waterlilies overdyed Tobacco working more diagonals.

Three needles at a time

I started filling in the ribbon on Mystery 14.  Keep in mind that I have changed the colors.  The off white ban is what Loretta intended.  Next she was using  Anchor 871 Amethyst, 896 Rose wine and 403 Black.  Definitely not my colors!  So, I switched to DMC pale pink 226, medium is 224 and the dark is 223.  I completed the top right corner (which is on the left) down to the bottom right corner, (on your right) and will now work this pattern all the way around.  This is all still part of Lesson one.

All the way around

This is difficult to see but I am all the way around the outside of Mystery 14 by Loretta Spears.  Remember I told you that if you are working this piece, do not start when the instructions say to if you are working on 12 x 18 bars.  The instructions said to start in and down 2.75 inches and I highly recommend you start at 1.5 down and in or you will be working as close to the bars as I am.

11 finished, 12 started

I finished the rest of the bottom pattern, number 11.  This was first set up with Kreinik on the diagonal and then Neon Rays going the other diagonal.  A strand of silk is worked in a Scotch pattern on top of this and last a single strand of silk is used to stitch the center boxes.  I then set up the start of pattern 12.  The Diagonal stitches are worked with a single strand of saffron gold silk.....I still have a few more of these patterns to put in yet!

Column Two, Pattern 10

 I finished Column Two, pattern 10 to complete this Column.  It is worked with Kreinik and overdyed to silk to look like trees.

 I started column three, pattern 11.  First rows of Kreinik are laid in and then the Neon Rays on top of that with more to come to this section.  Below is the overall picture so far.

All stitched.

 This is the pictures of the pattern called Christmas Heirloom, January 1993 under Needle Adventures by Loretta Spears.

 This is the  rose canvas and Overdyed floss and one of the DMC flosses that came with the kit.  It was missing the two Anchor flosses.  Since I did not care for the color combo, I of course switched them all out

I showed the center portion the other day.  I have now finished the rest of the piece with more Smyrna crosses, Satin stitch and a final row of Smyrna crosses.  It is finished into a boat shape but I am saving the finishing for a later date.  Now all I have to do is decide which one to do next.

Starting Mystery 14

I have started Mystery #14.  If this is in your stash, pull it out and make a note.  Step 1 says to measure in from the right edge and down 2.75 inches.  This is what I did and look what happens.  I am working extremely close to the bars on the top and will be on the right side as well.  Since this is two hours of stitching time, I am not going to pull this out and start over.  I am going to continue on and when it is finished, I will add muslin strips to those two sides to facilitate framing.  Okay, mark your copy to start in and down 1.5 inches and you will not have this to deal with!  Fortunately after this row of ribbon banding, all future stitching will be
done inside the the bargello pattern.

Flying together

All of the Charley Harper Cardinals are now home and comfortably posing on the wall!  Thought you might like to see them all together!

Column Two, Pattern 9

This is Aurora Borealis revisited by Marnie Ritter.....been a while since I worked on it, but today, it was time to get the rotations going again.  Pattern 9 started off with Silk n colors set up to make the petals of the pattern.  Then Madeira is wrapped under these diagonals to create the shiny circles.  Last, basketweave is done in two different colors--one down the center and the other filling in the two spaces of the petals end to end.  A very clever stitch combination!

While I am waiting

So I am waiting for the #8 Kreinik to come in, so I started another Loretta Spears ornament....Christmas Heirlooms, January 1993.  This one is worked with Dmc floss, and overdyed using Smyrna Crosses, slanted gobelins and a Sprat's type stitch.  I only have a few more rows and this one will be done.  I did not use the rose colored canvas or dark wine to green overdyed that came with the kit as I did not care for the color combo but the stitches are great!