Sarah's Journal » Cross Stitch

Long Overdue Craft Update

Sarah — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 03:32:56 +0000

Every year I end up not doing much craft-wise in January, and every year it takes me the entire month to realize it’s because I’m burnt out from doing all sorts of crafts leading up to Christmas. This year was no exception. But I did work on a cross-stitch birth record for Carrie for a bit. And I just finished a girly baby hat for a friend’s new granddaughter.

I also dug out the potential blue/gray/white projects for Project Spectrum:

There’s enough for four pairs of socks there, three of which are cotton blends. And the lone “cake” of Cascade 220 at the bottom of the picture has several friends, which along with a couple of different greens are destined to become zippered hoodies for myself and for Carrie.

Now I have to decide which project to start first. Sweaters? Socks?

Any votes?

Snow In August

Sarah — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 03:11:58 +0000

It’s done.

Done! Finished! One of the oldest cross-stitch projects in my craft room is complete!

Now I just have to get it framed and that’s one less thing on my ever-expanding craft to-do list.

(Oh, and I finished Christmas gift #5 today. I don’t have a complete list of all the things I’m making yet, but I think I’m on track to be done with everything before Thanksgiving.)

Snowmen In July

Sarah — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 20:23:11 +0000

I can hardly believe it, but look what I just finished last night:

I’m going to guess that I started this snowman cross-stitch in 2000-ish. It was definitely in the 2 year post-wedding/pre-blogging era of my life. In fact, I started it so long ago that it was before the stick-on velcro stuff that you attach to the scroll bars and fabric – the fabric is actually sewn to the scroll bars.

Of course, this project is not exactly finished. I still have a separate section that hangs below this part to stitch, which says “Snow! Snow! Snow!” all in one color of blue. I’m toying with the idea of bringing it to Florida with me on vacation. We’ll see how much room there is in the suitcase.

I also finally took pictures of the finished pair of falling leaves socks. I finished them up on Father’s Day, right when I was having issues with the internet, so I never got around to posting about it. Sorry about the blindingly white legs sticking out over the top of them. I’ll try to work on those on vacation too. ;)

Snowmen in June

Sarah — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 03:48:41 +0000

I’m still up because I can’t put the snowman cross-stitch down to save my life. (Not even long enough to take an updated picture!) I suppose I should be happy, because at this point I think I might have enough momentum to get through the project before I get distracted by something else. (Say, the leg of the second falling leaves sock.) There’s just one more largish snowman to stitch and a few buttons to add. There’s also a smaller section that says “Snow! Snow! Snow!” that hangs in a separate part of the frame (this was a kit) below the snowmen. (That part is guaranteed to make this project hide in the closet for another few years, since it’s all one color. Ick!)

If I can ever put it down long enough to take another picture, I’ll let you all know.

February Cross-Stitch

Sarah — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 18:26:24 +0000

I skipped right over November, December and January so I could have one done in time! And let me tell you, I was really tired of looking at the October cross-stitch by the time last night rolled around. But this one turned out cute, I think, and I have the next few months done through June.

October Cross-Stitch

Sarah — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 00:48:50 +0000

Not much to say – this one was pretty cute to stitch, if you don’t count the spiders. Ugh. It’s a sad testament to how terrified of spiders I really am that it made my skin crawl to cross-stitch them. This was ready to be picked up from the framers two weeks ago but I just managed to get to the shop today. I also signed up for a class while I was there, for a needlepoint of falling leaves. (I need another project at the moment like I need a hole in the head, but the class isn’t until mid-November.)

Now to get November’s done. It’s on dark green fabric and it’s making me cross-eyed!

September Cross-Stitch

Sarah — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 20:46:36 +0000

It’s September 1st, so it’s time for another new cross-stitch! I like this one, except every time I look at it I get the Monty Python song Eric The Half-A-Bee stuck in my head.

And I still can’t believe it’s already September.

Ten Years In The Making

Sarah — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 02:08:53 +0000

Tonight, I finished a project that has taken me ten years to complete. Honest! This is a relic from my junior year of college. I’ve been slowly chipping away at the mess that I call my craft room, and I found this project only 150 stitches short of being done. Actually, I’ve found this project every single time I’ve organized my craft supplies, and I’ve put stitches in it each time.

Obviously, it’s a really large, complicated project, right?

Do you really want to see it?

Are you sure?

Then click below:

Behold! The never-ending glasses case!

So what took so long? The fact that it’s the most awful, awkward fabric to work with might have had something to do with it. I very much prefer having projects on stretcher bars so I can use both hands to stitch with. I think it also sat for quite a while after college, and might have only seen daylight again a couple of years ago. But I’ve definitely found it several times, each time forgetting how awful it was to stitch and vowing to finish it just so it would be done.

This time there were only two leaves left to do – I think there were four the last time I found it – and I was bound and determined not to go to bed without finishing it. So it’s done. What a waste of good knitting time. But it’s done.

Now the question is: to keep the pattern and extra floss, or just toss it? Because there’s absolutely no reason in the universe that I would ever stitch one of these again. I don’t even keep my glasses in a case in the first place!

August Cross-Stitch

Sarah — Tue, 02 Aug 2005 01:26:16 +0000

Can you believe it’s August already? I can’t. And who would’ve thunk it – another cross-stitch done on-time! And I’ll tell you a secret. Ready? September’s done too!

When I went to drop off September and pick up August – I’ve been getting them stretched and mounted to fit in a single frame and I just switch them out at the beginning of the month – I bought a needlepoint canvas. Although I’ve done many of the stitches, I’ve never done an actual painted canvas project before. It’s three angels, one each in red, green and purple, and if it comes out well I think I’ll hang it in Carrie’s lavender and green room. But I’m not starting it until I’ve gotten a handle on some of the Christmas gifts I have going. Well, probably not.

July Cross Stitch

Sarah — Sat, 02 Jul 2005 01:33:35 +0000

Aha! I finally have one done in time to display for the entire month!

Actually, this is my favorite month so far. I like the muted reds and blues. It’s still patriotic, but it doesn’t scream “I AM A PATRIOTIC CROSS STITCH! LOOK AT ME NOW!” like some patterns I’ve seen.