For my second post, I will share my first love—cross-stitch. I have tried my hand at many womanly arts over the years, but it was cross-stitch that first introduced me to a love of needlecraft.
Through out high school I played with it, not really making anything in particular but simply enjoying working the needle through the fabric. It wasn’t until I was twenty years old that I purchased my first pattern, a heart-shaped design for a bread cloth, and I have never looked back.
In all honesty, however, I am horrendously bad at actually completing projects once I start them. That heart-shaped pattern I started nine years ago? Still haven’t finished it. In fact, until this past year, I had only actually completed two pieces—and they were both small. This year, however, my goal is to finally complete all of my unfinished projects, and I vowed that I wouldn’t start a new project until the old ones were done. I have now completed four projects and am working on a fifth. I have gotten away from my vow not to begin anything new in the last few weeks, but that is because I am trying to make all of my Christmas presents, so it doesn’t really count right? ;) And beginning on December 26th, I am right back to finishing my unfinished pieces.
The above picture is of a piece I started eight years ago and finished earlier this year. It is a cute little sampler that, as you can see, says “Strawberries.” I cannot remember what count cloth I used, but I did follow a pattern from a book.
Here is a close up detail of the strawberries.
Through out high school I played with it, not really making anything in particular but simply enjoying working the needle through the fabric. It wasn’t until I was twenty years old that I purchased my first pattern, a heart-shaped design for a bread cloth, and I have never looked back.
In all honesty, however, I am horrendously bad at actually completing projects once I start them. That heart-shaped pattern I started nine years ago? Still haven’t finished it. In fact, until this past year, I had only actually completed two pieces—and they were both small. This year, however, my goal is to finally complete all of my unfinished projects, and I vowed that I wouldn’t start a new project until the old ones were done. I have now completed four projects and am working on a fifth. I have gotten away from my vow not to begin anything new in the last few weeks, but that is because I am trying to make all of my Christmas presents, so it doesn’t really count right? ;) And beginning on December 26th, I am right back to finishing my unfinished pieces.
The above picture is of a piece I started eight years ago and finished earlier this year. It is a cute little sampler that, as you can see, says “Strawberries.” I cannot remember what count cloth I used, but I did follow a pattern from a book.
Here is a close up detail of the strawberries.
A close up of the letters.
The book also includes two other patterns that go with this one as a set, but I haven’t decided whether I want to make the other two and then frame them as a trio or simply leave this one all by itself. What do you think ?
This next picture is of a project that I am particularly proud of, as I made up the design myself, including the lettering. The words are the Catholic prayer before a meal (otherwise know as Grace), and I added a border of flowers and a little cross.
Here is a close up of the flowers
And here is one of the words
And finally a close up of the cross.
My intention is to have this professionally mounted and framed to hang in our dining room, but I haven’t had it done as of yet (it is rather expensive to do so).
The other two finished projects, as well as the one I am working on right now, I cannot show you right now as they are Christmas presents and the intended recipient might see them. I will, however, include these two details and promise to post pictures of the whole piece after Christmas.
The other two finished projects, as well as the one I am working on right now, I cannot show you right now as they are Christmas presents and the intended recipient might see them. I will, however, include these two details and promise to post pictures of the whole piece after Christmas.
2 comments:
Girl, I really love these... love how careful and precise your stitches are. That is hard! I wish I were better at embroidery, as it's so beautiful☺
Thank you for the lovely compliment! Although, to be honest, much of the precision of the stitches has more to do with the nature of cross-stitch than with my humble talent. Still, it was sweet of you to say such nice things!
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