A test

 After looking through charts this morning, Kezia is calling to me.  She is not as large as the others shouting, around eleven inches on 36 count.  Except for the border, the stitching is not complicated or crowded.  But that border.  Oh that border.  Stunning isn't it?  You know I hate borders.  Not as much as winter, but close.  So why did I choose Kezia?  Good question since my sampler choices for decades have been marking style.  I still like them, they conceal errors very well, offer many options to change letter colors, and perfect stitching for less stress.  So I am surprised at my preferences the last few years.  Houses, motifs, pastures and freaking borders.

You remember Kezia Turnock from Sassafras Samplers.   Very high quality chart that includes the thread card (another photo of sampler on back side), and a second full size chart with over two if preferred.  Am I losing my mind?  Why would I consider that massive border over one?  Because I am losing my mind.

And here's why.  An element of the border that I really like is the two color outline.  In order to achieve this, tent stitch over one.  The over two option's only noticeable difference, is the solid color outline.

So here's my attempt at an easier solution.  I'll test a larger section of border with backstitch, three rows, light center and dark outline.

My tent is on the left, and backstitch on the right.  The backstitch would be neater on the angles, and may be more defined outline throughout, but what is your opinion?   I think it would be fine.  If I would lose all sensibility and attempt the three rows of tent, the rest of the border and its flowers would need to follow the over one chart.  Correct?  Backstitch would require the same number of linen threads as over two and allow the rest to be also.  The tent is three linen threads and I'm assuming would cause over two flowers to be off a thread.  Can anyone tell me why the hell I am considering this at this time?

 If all this becomes too much for my brain, the center area can be stitched and a different border chosen.  I've already decided to create full skirts for the girls, this area is still so wonderful that a simple border will do, and the birds at the bottom would make a nice drum or folded needlebook.

I should be looking at small projects.  It's already too much and I haven't even attempted choosing a linen color!  Whether she becomes my next project or not, at least I have a plan for that time.  The other plan is to decide to keep or sell three 40 counts that are too green for me.

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