This month has been rather busy and I haven’t blogged for ages.

Here is the Southern Cross Seams Only block I added stitches to for April.     I am not happy  with the method of uploading pics.  I get a camera in a frame but don’t know how to see the photos so I can add text to each one.  grrrr.

If anyone can tell me how to work this new method I would be grateful.

I’ll just have to hope this works.  There is a picture of Oyster stitch in orange chenille and Sassa Lynne fly stitches. Above this I added the metallic Cretan stitch, detached cast-ons and French knots.

I added double cross-stitch in purple thread to Joy’s work and below, the heavier green silk thread stem stitch to Patti’s delicate branches. I whipped my stems in gold but that is not visible.

I did the green crossed Cretan stitches, the chiffon Japanese stitch flowers and metallic FKs.  also the silk leaves on Joy’s seam. Lastly I did a row of Fargo roses in the hand-dyed lace.  The block is made of gloriously rich colours and the girl’s stitching is just great.

I’ve just completed additions in the 2nd round on the seams.  Only one more set of seams to work on before we start with the floral motifs in May.

Ann Marie's 2nd round work

I have enjoyed this month’s stitch and learned by trial and error what would work.

I’ll present my failure first.   I could find little in the way of instructions or patterns so I chose a Blackwork pattern and changed it to negative, then covered fabric (not a good choice as it turned out) with Waste Canvas  and with 2 strands of DMC proceeded to stitch.  The 2 strands seemed to be sufficient to cover the holes.  I used a single strand to outline the pattern first.

The failure

It was difficult to stitch right up to the outline so I left these bits to finish at the end.  I dampened the canvas and the threads came out easily but still shifted the DMC so it didn’t lay nicely and the over all look was Yuk!

I intend this exercise to head straight for the bin but finished most of the left hand corner and overstitched the outline there too.

The fabric had slightly raised lines in it and I think this distorted the stitching too.  The thread should have been thicker and I’d never use canvas for Assisi again.  I should remember the advice to practise first.  Okay, that’s out of the way.

Then I made a freehand contemporary work using a pattern from Eileen Campbell’s Medieval applique book, which had the kookaburras on the initial.  I just added a background to this with various threads, starting at the base with DMC perle 8 and then DMC cotton in 4 strands reducing to 1 in the background.  Surprisingly it didn’t take too much time to finish. I think this leans more to Negative work rather than Contemporary Assisi but I like it.

Contemporary Assisi work

I had a break from cross stitching and happened on an Assisi pattern in a 1982  Harmony Guide book and this last work is from that.

Assisi work

This was the most enjoyable to do, surprisingly as the fabric had such fine weaving and I didn’t think my eyes up to working on it.  I don’t know what it’s called but has a 32 count.  I used a DMC 5 perle.  Again I used one strand to outline the work but went over this later with 2 strands which made such a difference to it.

This week I made a Simply hearts table-runner with fabric sent to me by Anne .  I am happy to say that for once I would let anyone measure my points and edges.  A miracle has occured.

With the three fabrics from Anne, I added the two plain fabrics to a pattern I got from here.  I used the orange/spot material on the back.   I found it was simple to make up and I am blessing the maker of rotary cutters and boards.  I can see me making more quilts.

Simply HeartsTable-runner

Front and back

I hope you like it Anne.

Here is Joy’s block after Ann-Maree’s additions in the 2nd round

Joy's block after Ann-Maree's additions

and mine in the 3rd round

My 3rd round

and some close ups.  I have added green tips of Up and down buttonhole and stem stitch.

3 seam photo.  Pink Chevron with green cross stitches and  detached Lazy daisies.  Feather stitches to the blue seam and Straight and Lazy Daisy stitches to the remaining seam.

On the 2 seam photo I added Bullions and Pistil stitches between the lace flowers for butterflies and gold Cross stitches in the flowers.

The seam above has a floss couched with French knots and below this are 1/2 Buttonhole wheels and chain stitch and Straight stitch with Lazy daisy stitches

Joy’s block after Ann-Maree’s additions

My 3rd round

I’ve been beavering away on the quilt for my DD which was based on two different Grandma’s Album quilts.  Cath chose most of the blocks and some are my own creations.  I guess it was laid aside for years as the blocks had now become different in size to the original and also Cath liked the idea of having a black surround on each, instead of just around the house.

Last week I cut 3″ blocks and pieced them, finding that because of the size difference I had to fiddle and even cut some half blocks.  Luckily it’s not madly noticable because of the differing patches.  well that’s my version and I’m sticking to it.

After concentrating on cutting blocks and not knowing how many I’d need, I found after I’d completed the top there were ten x 3″ blocks over.  Not such a bad guesstimate.

I then added another black border around the patches and hung it over the doorways to get the photo.

I found some of my freebie curtain ends included several metres of uncut brown striped curtain which, joined, was more than wide enough for the backing.  This now lays over my craft table with the batting and quilt top, waiting to be hand quilted.  I will just do some as I feel like it as there is no rush.  The most amaaazing thing about this quilt is that it was exactly 2 metres by 1 1/2 metres and no sides uneven.   Originally it was hand-cut but I now have a rotary cutter which makes the job so much easier.  It may look wonky on the sides but it is held by 3 dressmaker pins at the door tops.

Here it is so far – without the black border.

Catherine's quilt

I’m happy to say that my sane fabric box will now close without straining the lid and my backing fabrics are also being lowered.

With less projects at the moment I’ve had time to de-stash the craftroom.

I made one quilt and found another partly done about 12 years or more ago.  It was not nice and probably the reason it became a UFO so I pulled it apart, re-cut and completed it.  Both quilts have been machined only.

I am not a sane quilter as I get annoyed by uneven corners and Much prefer the CQ work where there are no rules.  I have found that a rotary cutter is a great advantage to neater work and doing these quilts was a lot easier than previously.

I have another ancient UFO Grandma’s Album where I have the blocks done and need to work out some sashing for it.   This was hand cut and I am hoping it will behave itself when I start putting it together.  I can’t make up my mind whether to do this one or de-stash the bulk fabric on the shelf.  Decisions, decisions.

The first quilt from new curtain remnants and backed with woolen fabric – also from the stash.

First quilt

Quilt 2

I needed to purchase fabric for the backing on this one…so much for de-stashing.

Thank you all for your input on my Trellis stitching, it’s great to know there is always help available.

Sharon you were correct that I was not using the right stitch.  It was indeed a buttonhole I did.

Ruth I went back to review Jeanne’s photos and realized I was looping the thread around the needle the wrong way causing a buttonhole effect.

I immediately got the spiraling but now need to practise more for tension as I’m still not happy with the look – not smooth enough.

I found any twisted rayon works better for me and the plain threads must be spiraling but to me just look knotty.

Miriam I wish that all Stitchers lived close enough to share highs and lows.   In the stumpwork book I have it shows the flat version being worked only from the left to right and that may help you.  Just draw the thread underneath from right to left and start again.   I liked Mary’s description of a ‘c’ and a ‘g’ for wrapping….pity I mixed them up doing the spiral one.  With new glasses I have no excuse.

Well here are the latest samples

Success with the twist

Twisted Trellis stitch

I’ve been beavering away trying to get the Twisted Trellis stitch right and I’m sure I’d get A for effort at perseverance but a Big Failure for execution.

I used a hoop for all but one sample and that used canvas.  I tried many threads, tapestry wool, DMC Madiera, DMC stranded thread, waxed and unwaxed Hemp, Rayon and Edmar Lola.  The canvas with Lola is the neatest.

I tried both Double Running stitch and Backstitch.

I have used Jeanne’s splendid directions and they are certainly not at fault – it’s just that I can’t fathom why my work won’t spiral.

I’m not giving up but in the meantime here are my samples.

Mixed bunch of Spiral and Flat

The ones I like are the Stef Francis coral pipes, Opera for the rectangle flat one, the seagull on a rock and the white one at the top left in rayon looks like a pretty rose.

The large circle is done with waxed hemp and at least shows spines.  The others are just muddles.  I am so disappointed.  The flower is not too bad but the rayon isn’t sitting nicely.

Coral pipes

Fish

Seagull on a rock

The rock has a mix of threads and a hand-dyed floss.  It stands out well in real life.

More failures

The yellow circle was started with unwaxed hemp, which disliked being drawn through the canvas, so I abandoned that one.

Spiral failures

I experimented with brown Opera and knitting cotton to make a vase, just a little nonsense.

Vase

I also include the first stumpwork I did some years ago -  still a UFO but it has the Trellis stitch clothes and strawberries.

The gardener

Off to practise more.  I’d be most grateful for any assistance getting the spiral right.

Last year Melody invited several Aussie ladies to make a few projects for two books she was preparing for publication.  I was asked to make a teapot cover and a Wagga.

A Wagga, (a perfect description here) was originally a quilt made from flour bags by itinerant working men in the outback or farms.  Mine was to be in recycled pin-striped suiting,  embellished with only stitch type and one colour thread.

Never try unpicking black threads from a black garment at night.  It’s a great way to lose your sanity.

Completing quilts is not my thing – I love the handwork only – but after a lot of head scratching I finally came up with this design.

The stitch I chose was Barred Herringbone.  I felt daunted by how much had to be repeated but found it surprisingly relaxing to do.  I used DMC Madeira wool.

Here’s the teapot cover that is in the book.   It had to be 10″ in size  and in  certain colours. I made a foam stamp of diamonds and printed my own pattern onto the cloth.  I mailed off the cosy before I added the little motifs I had dyed, so here’s the updated version of the cover.

I received two complimentary books  each having a project of mine included.   These were from Country Bumpkin Publications.

The Wagga and complimentary books