Spangled Too!

Hello Stitchers!

I can’t believe it’s almost Halloween, and in a few days it will be November!  With November, means some deep cleaning in preparation of the kids being here.  The hunt for two large turkeys (one for Thanksgiving, one for Christmas.)  Last year, both large Turkeys were bought at Walmart.  My husband checking out in one aisle and me in another, each of us with a very large turkey.  For anyone else out there that serves Turkey for both holiday meals, you know how difficult it is to find a large turkey, closer to Christmas, that doesn’t cost a small fortune. 

Because our children are all adults, and don’t live near us, I have adopted my Grandma’s tradition! Which is to celebrate Christmas, the weekend after the 25^th. Her logic was each of her children had their own family, plus in-laws, and Christmas Day, would be reserved for the nucleus family and their in-laws.  I have, also, come to find out, allows me more time with my kids, and of course grandbaby, when they can spend a weekend, instead of a few hours.  I usually make a small prime rib, for my hubbie, my youngest son, and myself, for Christmas Day.  Then do the full on Turkey meal, with stuffing and mashed potatoes and gravy, when the full on family is here.

I already put the kids on notice the plans for the holidays, so that they request time off, make travel arrangements, etc.  Course, my adult kids, will have much fun at my expense, as they know my request for a Christmas list from each of them, is right around the corner.

I think I may have lost all of my followers, due to my inactivity, while I was caring for my mother.  I hope they’ll come back and take a gander at my blog.  Well, maybe I can get the word out that I’m back!  

Both my sister and I are stitching Long Dog Sampler charts as gifts.  Call us nuts!  As we both are stitching like fiends trying to get them finished well before Christmas, and get them out for framing, while a sale is going on!  

Here is my progress on Spangled:

Here is her progress on Plight of Fancy!

Laundry and house cleaning are calling my name, so I better get back to it! Until next week, the happiest stitching to all!

Spangled

Happy October Stitchers!  Although, realistically almost over.  I love the fall.  I love the colors of the leaves changing.  I love the snap in the air on those sunny days.  I love the smell of burning leaves.  There is just something about the fall that brings back so many memories of football games, and bringing out the wool pants, and Bermuda shorts with knee socks.  Carmel apples covered with nuts, hot apple cider.


I actually had to purchase more Halloween candy.  I started buying Halloween candy we actually like, so when we have the leftovers, we’ll actually eat it.  Instead, I end up breaking into the bag ahead of Halloween and causing me to purchase more Halloween candy. 

I was going to run numerous errands today, but alas it’s raining, which makes me want to stay home and read or of course cross stitch, while curled up under some warm throw and watching old movies and reruns  Not to be totally unproductive, I’ll throw in a couple loads of wash.


One thing I did today, was to donate my mom’s hearing aid and several pairs of her prescription glasses.  The Lion’s Club has a recycle program.  While the man was here, he also mentioned, the Lion’s partner with another charity that will take medical supplies and equipment.  Out, went many of my mom’s medical supplies.  It was nice to donate those things, and not worry about trying to sell them,  getting them to another charity.  I have a few other things to round up, and the Lion member, told me to just call him, and he’ll swing by and pick up those additional items.   What a relief!


Still stitching away, trying to finish up Spangled.  I am happy to say, I’m almost down to the last four pages of the chart, which is the bottom of the Sampler.  I will say, I feel pressured to complete this as quickly as possible, so that I can also have it framed in time for Christmas.   Once finished, I can get back to Hannah Pepper, now that I have a piece of fabric she will actually fit on.  After that, I intend to stitch The Historic Countries Mystery Sampler from Fine Lines Magazines.  But that will take a trip to In Stitches to purchase some 36 ct. linen, a fat half of that in the perfect shade of white!

I know both my sister and I are particularly choosy about the linens we use.  Both of us like linens that are a bit stiffer.  The Stiffer the better!  Then there is the whole white color choices.  Do we want a bright white, white that has some yellow in it, white that has some brown in it?  Even better to be able to see and touch the linen rather than order it over the internet.


Well back to Spangled.  According to the chart, it was suggested to purchase this much Gentle Arts threads.  Of course, all of the measurements were in meters.  Thank God my husband is the math genius and converted the meters into yards for me.

Raven 70 yards

Moonlit Path 10 yards

Wood Rose 15 yards

Sable 15 yards

Pink Azalea 15 yards

Cherry Bark 15 yards

Barn Grey 20 yards

Sugar Plum 10 yards

Cider Mill Brown 15 yards

Antique Rose 10 yards

Cornhusk 15 yards

Tropical Ocean 15 yards

Buttermilk 5 yards


I decided to use DMC 310 in lieu of the Raven.  So I ordered 14 skeins of 310.  If the chart called for 15 yards, I actually ordered 2 10 yard skeins, as it was cheaper to order 10 yard skeins when you needed more than one, than to order 1 10 yard and 1 five yard.

Since I have not completed Spangled, I don’t know if I purchased too much thread, or not enough, but will let you know!


Until then, Happy Fall, and Keep on Stitching!

Spangled

Spangled by Long Dog Samplers

Size 205 X 277 stitches
Chart calls for either DMC or Gentle Arts Sampler Threads. 
I am using 36 count ivory linen.    The chart suggested either, 32 ct. or 36. Estimated finished size on 36 ct. will be 11 3/8" by 15 3/8'.

This is a gift.  Which means every spare moment I have been stitching like a fiend on this project.  I'm hoping to finish it, and get it framed before Christmas.  I decided to use 36 ct. Ivory, because I had some in my stash, not delegated for another project.

You could use any color you wanted.  After looking at the directions further, and the amount of thread required, I decided to use the GAST threads for the colors and DMC 310 for the black.  It takes a lot of thread, so if you are trying to economize, I suggest using ALL DMC.  Cheaper, but more importantly, the variation in the hand dyed GAST threads, really isn't all that noticeable.  I find GAST threads show their true beauty when they are stitched on larger areas, as you can see the variation better.  BTW, I had to have my husband do the math for the amount of thread required, as the chart shows meters.  I knew that perfect score on his SAT's on the math portion, would come in handy some day, because math is surely not my forte! I will let you know in a further update of Spangled the amount of thread purchased. 

I also, hope to make some changes to my blog in the future and as time permits, including adding what I have in my stash.  I can't tell you how long it took me to figure out how to add a tab, add pages, and finally link the page to the tab.  Hopefully I'll remember!

Anywho......these are my progress pictures of Spangled, so far.  Enjoy, and Happy Stitching and I'm glad to be back, sharing my stitching journey!

Hannah Pepper

Finally, got around to starting this beautiful sampler, and realistically it was just a fake start!
Printed in several issues of Fine Lines magazine, I looked forward to the challenge of this stitch.

Thought I was appropriately prepared, even printed out all the errors, that were discovered by previous stitchers. Or so I thought...…...not once did they mention the stitch count was way off, and not corrected until the second part of the chart in the following issue.   And I mean way off.  At least 100 stitches.  Needless to say, it didn't take me long to figure out, I didn't have enough fabric.  Another ugg!

So while I waited on new fabric for Hannah, I started on Long Dog Sampler - Spangled.  Tomorrow, I will post pictures of what I have stitched so far, and it will bring everyone current, what I have been stitching over the last year!

American Sampler

What a fun stitch, due to all the various stitches.  A sampler by Sandy Orton, which appeared in Treasures In Needlework Spring, 1993 issue.  I stitched on 26 count natural brown/undyed linen using DMC.  I started using 25 count as the chart called for, and ended up stopping and getting a stiffer linen.   Especially needed due to ALL the Queen Stitches.  Another finish!

Frances Eden 1809

Always a very favorite of mine since I saw her in a magazine. I searched high and low, for the chart and paid a hefty sum for the chart on ebay.   Wouldn't you know, several years later, The Attic, got Handiworks to rerelease the chart.  UUUUGGGG!   Here is another sampler I completed in my absence and wasn't able to share my progress on my blog as I have done in the past.