Hello and Welcome to my first IHSW post.
For those of who don't know about IHSW being hosted by Joysze at Random Ramblings, here is how she describes it "International Hermit and Stitch Weekend takes place every 3rd full weekend of each month, from Friday till Sunday. In our very busy and hectic lives, IHSW is a chance for us to squirrel some time away for ourselves and "Hermit and Stitch." It is a time set aside to take care of us and our love for stitching."
Weekend in my part of the world is on Friday & Saturday, so I will be stitching from Thur-Sat and post on Sundays whenever I participate in IHSW.
Here is my starting point of the piece I worked on
Progress after 6 hours and 20 minutes
I was able to add 1164 stitches during the weekend.
Remember I told you that this piece has a story ...Infact I will call this as my nemesis project-a name aptly chosen by Diya.
So here is the story....
Time rewind to mid of year 2014, picture a girl who has just discovered the vast world of cross stitching . Picture how amazed she is, keeping in mind that all her life (which is around 30 years ) the only cross stitch she has known is making table cloths with borders, simple scenery or flowers . She has never heard of cross stitch kits, samplers , electronic patterns , social media cross stitch groups.She is a returning from a big cross stitch break of 10 years because of being busy with college and job.
So she finds out about all these wonderful patterns,threads,kits,fabrics and wants to try hands on them.Being a practical person,she starts with buying second hand stuff .
She buys kits from a lady off facebook plus some non Aida fabric and is so excited it when she gets them in post.Its Oct 2014 by now.
She decides to start the kit she loves the most.She wants to stitch it for her bestie as she thinks this is the design that matches her friend's personality a lot.
Oh she is suprised when she opens the kit- its stamped . Oops she has never bothered to think that kits can be stamped too. Lets check the fabric-sail cloth..what's that? All she knows is Aida and just saw linen and evenweave for the first time .
She is sad ,doubting whether she can do stamped cross stitch that too on sail cloth..She asks around on social media and gets tips.
She starts stitching but isn't happy with top of X's not aligned and the fabric showing beneath the stitches..
By now she has studied the pattern and realised that the X's in the pattern(flowers etc) are double the width of X's in the lettering.So that means we can try switching the fabric and do some over 2 and over 1 stitching and fix this issue,right? Wrong, she is too inexperienced to try stuff like this and the kit goes to bottom of her stash.
Fast forward to Feb 2016, the girl is desperate to make stuff for her bestie .She still thinks that the above mentioned project is best gift for her and decides to try it once again.
After a few hours of chat with DH and Diya, she decides to stitch 2 over 2 on 25 ct evenweave.
Small test patch is stitched and the coverage is not good.
Again a quick discussion about the coverage and thread available, the decision is taken - Stitch 1 over 1 on 25 ct evenweave with one square on the pattern(non-lettering) equal to 4 X's on the fabric.
So here you are my friends, looking at the project which has been on my mind since last 2 years and troubling me ...lol
I can't show you the cover picture even though that would have made understanding problem a bit easier. My bestie visits my blog and I want to maintain the surprise as long as I can.
I know some of you may not be able to relate my lack of knowledge about cross stitch world but that my friends is a truth in many parts of the world. Cross stitching is a dying art in these parts and the supplies and knowledge of this art is not available .
Anyways ,now that I have overcome the initial startup hiccups , I'm really loving working on this piece and looking forward to finish it soon.
I hope you have a relaxing Sunday doing what makes you happy.
For those of who don't know about IHSW being hosted by Joysze at Random Ramblings, here is how she describes it "International Hermit and Stitch Weekend takes place every 3rd full weekend of each month, from Friday till Sunday. In our very busy and hectic lives, IHSW is a chance for us to squirrel some time away for ourselves and "Hermit and Stitch." It is a time set aside to take care of us and our love for stitching."
Weekend in my part of the world is on Friday & Saturday, so I will be stitching from Thur-Sat and post on Sundays whenever I participate in IHSW.
Here is my starting point of the piece I worked on
Progress after 6 hours and 20 minutes
I was able to add 1164 stitches during the weekend.
Remember I told you that this piece has a story ...Infact I will call this as my nemesis project-a name aptly chosen by Diya.
So here is the story....
Time rewind to mid of year 2014, picture a girl who has just discovered the vast world of cross stitching . Picture how amazed she is, keeping in mind that all her life (which is around 30 years ) the only cross stitch she has known is making table cloths with borders, simple scenery or flowers . She has never heard of cross stitch kits, samplers , electronic patterns , social media cross stitch groups.She is a returning from a big cross stitch break of 10 years because of being busy with college and job.
So she finds out about all these wonderful patterns,threads,kits,fabrics and wants to try hands on them.Being a practical person,she starts with buying second hand stuff .
She buys kits from a lady off facebook plus some non Aida fabric and is so excited it when she gets them in post.Its Oct 2014 by now.
She decides to start the kit she loves the most.She wants to stitch it for her bestie as she thinks this is the design that matches her friend's personality a lot.
Oh she is suprised when she opens the kit- its stamped . Oops she has never bothered to think that kits can be stamped too. Lets check the fabric-sail cloth..what's that? All she knows is Aida and just saw linen and evenweave for the first time .
She is sad ,doubting whether she can do stamped cross stitch that too on sail cloth..She asks around on social media and gets tips.
She starts stitching but isn't happy with top of X's not aligned and the fabric showing beneath the stitches..
By now she has studied the pattern and realised that the X's in the pattern(flowers etc) are double the width of X's in the lettering.So that means we can try switching the fabric and do some over 2 and over 1 stitching and fix this issue,right? Wrong, she is too inexperienced to try stuff like this and the kit goes to bottom of her stash.
Fast forward to Feb 2016, the girl is desperate to make stuff for her bestie .She still thinks that the above mentioned project is best gift for her and decides to try it once again.
After a few hours of chat with DH and Diya, she decides to stitch 2 over 2 on 25 ct evenweave.
Small test patch is stitched and the coverage is not good.
 |
| Coverage with 2 over 2 |
So here you are my friends, looking at the project which has been on my mind since last 2 years and troubling me ...lol
I can't show you the cover picture even though that would have made understanding problem a bit easier. My bestie visits my blog and I want to maintain the surprise as long as I can.
I know some of you may not be able to relate my lack of knowledge about cross stitch world but that my friends is a truth in many parts of the world. Cross stitching is a dying art in these parts and the supplies and knowledge of this art is not available .
Anyways ,now that I have overcome the initial startup hiccups , I'm really loving working on this piece and looking forward to finish it soon.
I hope you have a relaxing Sunday doing what makes you happy.
No doubt I never would have picked it back up again. My days of stitching on linen or anything smaller than 14 count are long gone. It took me an hour and a half to do the little Syria stitching. Crochet is so much easier, especially to carry around. But I am gonna do my best to start crocheting some small patterns again. You got a lot of work done over the weekend and are a true model of perseverance. :)
ReplyDeleteLol Mini... You had me laughing at your 'Nemesis Project' story :D Your final choice is going to be quite a bit of work but I can already tell it will be worth it. The coverage looks great now and I can't wait to see what this project turns out to be :)
ReplyDeleteMini enjoyed reading your story. I didn't even know that cross stitches should be in the same direction. Yours is looking great. waiting for the completed one. Enjoy it on your weekend.
ReplyDeleteIt's so sad you can't easily find cross stitch stuff there! Your nemesis project sound like one of those, once complete, you will be amazed at your journey. :D You've had a good IHSW~
ReplyDeleteCompletely random: when you learned crochet, did you follow the US or UK terms?
Well done for giving it another go. It'll be worth it in the end
ReplyDeleteGreat progress!! Our stitching stories sound very similar. I only found out that there was more to the stitching world than kits about 6 years ago and I haven't looked back :D You are much braver than I am to attempt this and it is looking so good already! Can't wait to see how it looks when you are finished!
ReplyDeleteNice to read about your adventurous journey:) Don't worry, there is first time for everyone and there is no defined age to learn a new craft. Have you seen my quilling? even a seven-year-old can do what I have done at forty. I like learning from failed attempts, they are frustrating but you get to know about the pitfalls at early stages.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a story about your nemesis project. Funny in some parts, but not so funny on the fact that finding cross stitch stuff in your part of the world has been so difficult. But good that you stuck with it and found a solution.
ReplyDeleteThat was such a funny story! I can just imagine how you felt.
ReplyDeleteAlthough cross stitch is very popular in England the fabrics and designs were quite limited when I started stitching. Imagine how I felt when I discovered the internet stitching world and all the US and European designers! I was in stitching Heaven.
I did enjoy your story! And you made super progress!
ReplyDeleteCaz xx
I really enjoyed your story! I was lucky that there were actually classes in my city, but I know of at least one cross stitch designer who designs everything over one thread...because when she started stitching, it never occurred to her that you could stitch over two threads! I have a project in progress on 25 count, and some of it is stitched with two stands and some with three! It is supposed to look like a tapestry, though, so having light coverage adds to the look of it.
ReplyDeleteMini,
ReplyDeleteYour IHSW project is looking great. What a truly great story you have shared with us. Thank you for doing so. Your stitching is beautiful. Your bestie is going to love what you have done. How sad cross stitching is a dying art in parts of the world. I am new to your blog and now following. Have a wonderful day!
Hi Mini, you have really persevered with this piece for your bestie - can't wait to see the finished piece one day soon. By the way, you wrote on your last comment on my blog that you had emailed me re joining Kitten Stitching and the Friday Frolics, however, I cannot find that email anywhere and as you are a no-reply-commenter on my blog, I cannot email you or even join you up without your email address. Can you please email me again, when you get the chance and I will join you up straightaway. So glad that you want to join us. hugs, Kaye
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your friend will be thrilled when she sees the finish piece, Mini!! You are so good to persevere and keep on stitching :)
ReplyDeleteThank You for visting my little blog I really love to have you as my blogging friend because your style of write your blog is like chatting to a friend ...Well done with your WIP ! :)
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing the finish project.
ReplyDeleteI love stitching on linen it got easier for me when I purchased a stitching frame.
Blessings
Catherine
A handmade gift is always so lovely, your friend will love whatever you make for her.
ReplyDelete