Sidetracked.
I am ridding my drawers of excess linen and recycling the stitching magazines. The years of SANQ that I had in digital files were lost, and I have no idea why all that was saved is corrupt. So I quickly browsed my issues before tossing in the bin and came across the Checkerboard Stag sampler (Fall 2015).
This is not the full piece, there is another mirrored stag on the left side. The specialty stitches are easy to do and I really like the entire project, but decided to do one stag as an ornament. The greenery in his mouth will be darker and the flowers will look more like a poinsettia (I hope) trying to make this a Christmas theme. I would like to stitch the sampler in the future, but honestly, I am not feeling the desire for a needle in hand. Trying to keep it going with these smaller projects.
He worked up very quickly and will be a handsome fellow when backstitched. I wish I would have used a more grayish brown thread but I followed the chart this time.
He may need a red border or piping for some pop. And as I'm stitching it, my heart is aching for the deer that has been wounded by an arrow. They are still here searching and I hope they find him and end his suffering. Happens every year. One of this year's fawns is missing from the group but we know he was killed on the highway. I am fearful for Blondie in these coming weeks, our very large doe.
It will be back to Santa when the stag is finished. I'm wondering. Could the difference I'm feeling in the cramped thread be from the brand? I had no problem with the DMC area and realized that it started when the thread changed to WDW. The linen is the 32 I've used many times. Do all the overdyed brands begin as DMC? They should all be the same if they do. My Sullivan seems to have a tighter twist and appears a little heavier. It doesn't really matter I guess, just curious.
Husband is out buying cinnamon bread.
Sun is shining through the cold air.
Have a good week.
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16 comments:
Love your checkerboard stag. Do not love bow hunting season.
Don't love any hunting but bow hunting seems much too cruel! Maybe your stag needs some greenery on his antlers, or might that be too cutesy. Hold on cinnamon bread on the way.
You are one fast stitcher. I love the deer and am anxious to see how you finish him.
I am currently working on a Lori Brechlin Halloween pattern of Rev. Gourd. I have only ever stitched on 14 count Aida and this is a 28 cnt. Holey Moley it seems small to me. I can't imagine doing what you do. I love the look I just don't think I could do it.
Here's hoping the herd is ok.
Hi Marly, the deer is wonderful, what a great form and use of stitches. Looks like a fun one to stitch as well, and once you add your color changes, it will be a wow!
I am so sad to hear of the loss of a fawn and of the wounded deer, makes my heart break to hear of such. I hope he is found soon, I do not understand how that is a 'sport'.
Ever so happy to hear cinnamon bread is on tap for you. Enjoy! Debbie in IL
As to overdyed threads I read/heard/saw one time that one company starts with DMC and the other company uses Anchor. At least this was true some years ago. Things may have changed. I think Weeks has sort of a rougher feel while GAST stays soft to the touch. Always enjoy reading your blog. Thank you for sharing. Maria S.
The stag looks great - what a good idea to pull him out of the design and make hime into an ornament.
Very interesting what you said about the difference in threads - my personal preference for overdyeds is GAST, probably because Weeks has always felt crunchy to me and ... grabbier? certainly more difficult to stitch with.
Your stag looks very handsome! Eat a slice of cinnamon bread for me!
Checkerboard stag is very cool!
The checkerboard stag is going to look very good! It is so sad about the deer.
Cool checked stag! Will make a cute ornament. Sad to hear about the deer. Have a good week.
We once had a lesson in over-dying floss at our quilting group. They first dunked the floss in a water-bath with washing soda added which they said 'opened up the fibres to accept the dye better'. The end result was good but left the floss feeling rougher, harder and thinner somehow.
I read somewhere that when you cut a length of floss, run it through your fingers, it will feel smoother one way than the other because of the way it has been produced. I always do this now, sometimes I can feel the difference and sometimes not. I usually run it through some beeswax anyway and then slide it through my fingers a few times and make a knot in the end. All part of the lovely stitching ritual for me!
Thinking of you. I know you're hurting thinking about the deer. My daughter and I took a little road trip (Sat.) to a small town close to the Blue Ridge Mtns. of Va. We saw a lot of deer that had been hit by cars/trucks along the road.
So sad !
Your deer is so different and special. Love him.
Have a good week.
Charlotte in Va.
OK, you've done it again.....love love the stag- too sweet, especially this time of year.
This new project with the stag is going to be pretty darn cute for Christmas with the colors you have planned!
Love the stag-he looks like he was great fun to stitch. Clever you, pulling that motiff out of the larger sampler! I take it you had your pattern files on your computer. You might want to consider keeing them on a thumb drive or CD in the future. Files seem a tad safer that way-though that is no guarantee. Thanks to changes in the programs, I can access nothing older than 2002, so I'm glad I kept hard copies of my most cherished paper.
Love him!
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