Cross Stitch Stockings

I didn't manage to get the stockings into the shop, but here is a photo of the stockings I made 15 years ago, when Katie was born (Don't ask me how I had the time with a newborn, all I can say is determination!). I made the stocking out of quilted fabric and made a cuto fit the design each person chose. Dave's was a mixture of designs as was Kate's. Mike's and mine were designed specifically for stockings and I believe Jim's was from designs.




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November 8th - Hardanger Class

In honour of the 1 month anniversary of the class :)

(okay, I just got around to it, connecting the cable to the camera, to the computer and making sure the battery is alive and well is lots of work!)

Thanks Joanne for a wonderful class!

Photos of a successful and happy group of hardangerers.

Models in the Shop

After a long gap, I am getting back to blogging.

Marj and Wendy have generously provided models for Hedgehog Stitchery. We are showing "Take Time to stitch and Take Time to Knit" from Jeannette Douglas, and special Stitcher's Habit design, both from Marj. Since I took these photos Marj has provided some hallowe'en treat as well. I will put photos of these up next week.





Wendy has provided stitched samples of Teresa Wentzler, Butternut Road, Blackbird designs













And what is on my needles, at the Trillium Embroidery Guild Esther lead us through stitching and making name tags! And I have begun to stitch the Seasonal Birdhouses from Xs and Ohs, a design that will always be pleasant hanging anywhere. It is coming along nicely, and is one of those nice modular pieces where progress is easily tracked.

Kniterary and Hedgehog Stitchery will be at Sheridan Nursery on Sunday from 6-8 for the Ladie's Christmas night out. Thanks to Marjorie for representing Hedgehog Stitchery, as I have had to leave town on business.

Blackwork Finished, Blackwork Class

I have finished the blackwork sampler.... and it is at the shop .... and I didn't take a photo (will do that on Saturday and post a photo). This technique is great for big things, small things, any colour (not just black), so for the blackwork class on December 13th, we will do an item that can be used for decoration or a gift tag. It will work up quickly and you will learn blackwork. It is so fast and fun you will likely be able to finish it in the afternoon. Photos to follow!

Blackwork Fun and Success

I have finally attempted blackwork, successfully. I have had the fabric ready for a while but hadn't taken the first stitch. After stitching for just a short while, I am hooked!

With cross stitch you see exactly what you are doing and the stitches look correct right away. With blackwork, the stitches don't look right until you have finished two passes. It is a challenge to stitch the first pass and keep track of where you are. I found that if I concentrated too much on the stitches I actually had a harder time keeping on track. But, there is a rythm, so if you just go with the rythm, and not what the stitch looks like, it all falls into place. The return route is fast and easy because you see are basically following the same path, but backwards.

This is a fast stitching method, that has amazing potential. In just the few minutes after taking this photo I had the return path of the outside edge stitched (see the "dotted line" vs. the solid line on the left, it is now all a solid line).

The next step is to put some flowers in the centre and then I am looking for something that will look nice in the corners.

To finish this piece off I think I will trim and then fray the edges.

I used Carol Leather's Blackwork Instructions. It was an excellent introduction to blackwork.

X's and Oh's Models are leaving on Saturday

The X's and Oh's models have been displayed proudly at Hedgehog Stitchery since before the opening in May. They have been so wonderful to have in the shop and have both brightened the shop and inspired stitchers. Drop by before they leave on Saturday morning!

The good news is that a some great local stitchers will be displaying their pieces in the shop! I will post them as they come in, and you will have some new designs to look at.

Currently we have some Jeannette Douglas designs stitched by Marjorie and a Mirabelia stitched on Sugar Maple Fabrics by Melinda. Geri and Wendy will be bringing designs in, and well, you can always check out the "Brown Beast" in progress.

Lot's of photos to come as the models arrive.

See you soon.

UFOs are making me CRAZY - or How I spent part of this week and weekend

UnFinished Objects (UFOs) drive me crazy after a while, the way they hang around staring at you, creating a pile. I have been starting things to experiment, but there comes a time when you just have to finish some of them. So I tackled the Victoria Sampler needle roll for September. Now I have to wash it, block it, hem it, back it, sew it, put ribbon on it and stuff it (hmmm, am I really almost finished?)

I knit up one of the face/dish cloth for the Run for the Cure, so I'll be posting that on Ravelry with a link for anyone who wants the pattern and wants to make a donation.



My mother in law started a floral gobelin for my husband in 1978 (I still have the post marked envelope). She got a few inches done and in the late 80's she passed it along to me to complete. I completed all of the flowers in 1993/1994 (or there abouts, because I was on maternity leave and had great daylight to work from. My daughter is almost 15! now). So now, I have pulled it out and brought it to the shop to work on on Tuesday nights at "It's Stitchin' Time". It is good mindless (mindnumbing) work. Four shades of brown to complete. It has had coffee spilled on it and cat hair clings to it in places, but I am sure when it is stitched and washed and blocked all of that will be a hidden part of its history. My goal--- complete it in 2008! (The photo on the far right, and the gobelin link are actually from web sites, and the design is still available!)

So, now there is just the Hedgehog that was started in March (? or April), and the blackwork that I started experimenting with, and....