2026 finish #6

250th by Teresa Kogut

40 count Prairie Grass 

Moved the 6 in 2026 down two

Changed two stitches in neck area to center

 Added a stitch to the body so both wings were the same

(Left was 4 stitches off body, right was 5)

Added that extra stitch to center of tail

Used layout of left flower on the right, chart is different

Inserted into 5"shaker box from hell

Dyed this piece to match Prairie Grass since I love it.  Took many dips and strips, perfect.  Unfortunately it's 36 count, not 40 as I thought.

Hope everyone is doing well.

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March madness

I am kitting the new charts and honestly, cannot comprehend the watch pocket construction.  Really.  The more I study the antique's photo and read instruction again, the back area still doesn't register.  So it's set aside.  

While I continue on my error ridden needle's path, I will be silent for a week or so.  Received a call about my test that I was not expecting, and I'm somewhat stressed. This test shows details not seen on my other older tests, in fact, shows they were wrong.  I'm sure meds will help and a cath will be more definitive, I just dread that procedure.  No one in my family of cardiac patients has ever had a blockage, my good cholesterol is very high, bad is very low, calcium minimal.  She said it's not what they expect to find causing the defect.  What then???  Meeting with the NP Tuesday for more details.

So enjoy the end of March, be safe, be well.  

Hope to have some stitching to show next time.

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Taking inventory

Not liking what I see.

But thank goodness, so much less than most stitchers.

More 36 that I don't want, but I'll be lucky to unload these.

Keeping a few pieces of each count, just in case.  As I've mentioned, all my first samplers were on 25 and 28 from Scarlet Letter kits and I love them.  Maybe in the future I will consider returning to the lower counts. 

Selling fabric makes me uncomfortable because of color variations but that happens in shops too.

I had to go back on Crestor, but am stopping it today.  The insomnia!  Can't fall asleep, waking and unable to return to sleep, feeling like my whole body has restless leg, a side effect which I wasn't aware of.  Back to Pravastatin, well tolerated compared to the others.  Getting my test results Monday.

Be safe, be well.

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Happy St Patrick's

 

Thank you Brenda!

The finish on 46 count is about 3" x 4".  I could not work the background confetti, rarely stitch those in any design.  But this needed something, so after removing the white thread which was too stark, I chose 676 and stitched just a few.  I like it.

I have the blue fringe ready, but am thinking ..  never a good thing.  Wouldn't a huswife of patriotic minis be great?  Or as a small pocket on a ticking stripe bag.   Or just settle down and fringe the edges.

Hope you have a great day.

I have snow.  It's a crabby St. Paddy.

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Stars for the finish

 After the three blue at the top, the sprinkle stars may be gold metallic instead of white.  Always changing something.

Be safe, lots of bad weather this week.

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That red

Did not plan on starting this new chart until after I stitched the hearts.  Having it kitted would be a good idea though, so I searched through my meager inventory for a gold piece of 40 count.  One piece found, too light.  Meager-er than I expected.  Checked 36 (which would make this larger than I wanted) and found a piece of Straw.  Pulled the floss.  Meh.  No red pleased me.  Never would I have imagined that the recent decline in my vision would allow 46 count, ever again.  But there it was.  A piece I dyed, not green, not brown, not gold .... all of the above, was perfect.  Sort of a bronze.  The chart's dmc 347 is gorgeous on this fabric.

So I could not wait.

Another good red is Frank's.  A favorite of nephew, made often for his midnight shift, is gnocchi with butter and Frank's.  Sprinkle parmesan and roll a few meatballs in the hot butter .... ohhhhh baby.  I made this batch a little too spicy (these are the mini gnocchi). Less than one minute after dumping into boiling water, or they're too soft.  Gia Russo brand is more firm but not what I have.

My friend makes them from scratch as did her mom (flour recipe), I purchase them at the market (potato recipe).  Very difficult to find cavatelli here of the ricotta cheese recipe, all are flour.  Churches made the cheese version and sold weekly, much lighter and delicious, but no longer.  The best church pierogi sale here is also no longer.  Younger folks don't want to be bothered and as with most of the ethnic traditions we enjoyed for decades, gone.  So very sad.

Hope your weekend was enjoyable.

Stay safe.

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Next

Smalls.

I stitched To my Friend several times and cannot locate them.  There are piles of larger samplers, medium works, and smalls, none of them include that finish.  I don't stitch the initials, allows finish to be on hand and ready for gift giving to any friend.  If I knew their location.

Overshot Heart was done in chart's colors years ago, next on a tighter linen will be navy/cream or black/gold.

Another little floral.

And this heart from Cricket.  Light sage with cranberry and gray.

123 order coming today and may add another to the list.

Have a great weekend.

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Purchases!

From 123stitch

It's Robin season. Little Robin.

This one seen on IG with golden linen and blue fringe sold me.

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 And Needlework Press

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GigiR

And then I found this Kogut in stock at HollisHands ...

and another small from Mojo Stitches even though it looks large

I rarely purchase new charts and get excited when I finally do.  So I need to share!

As for the PET stress test, not bad at all.  If you have the opportunity, choose it over the CCTA or other tests.  Lexiscan is used, much quicker and not as unnerving as dobutamine.  The new gold standard in heart imaging.

Have a good day folks!

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2026 Finish Hannah

Hannah Mary Schofield 1867

Crowsfeetstitching 

This is dmc in middle, two slightly different spool threads.  I used the heavier, and stitched the entire bottom of Hannah with it. 

Getting ready for my test.  Fast from all liquids but water for 12 hours, food for six.  

Have a good day!

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A new thread

 The four sided stitch in dmc was a fuzz fest. 

So I tried sewing thread from a spool, perfect.  A tiny bit thinner, will be good for 46 count, but I doubt I can use that count again.

Mary was done from the spool, Hannah just the H.  My next single or few color small may be entirely from spools.

I ordered three smalls, two from Needlework Press that I thought were market releases, but were in stock online for weeks.  The other large tomato I was so excited about is no longer on my list.  I overdid viewing, searching, am now bored with it!  Maybe in the future.  With spool thread.

Warm and 70 next few days.  Monday I am having the PET stress scan.  Shouldn't be too bad and guess what the antidote is in case of medication reaction .... coffee, coke, chocolate!

Hope all is well.

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Won't be long

 before Hannah joins the pile.

The "h" is in called for 934, the rest is 310.  I like the 310.  For some reason, Hannah stitched the lower case "a" in black but no other letters.  The cow (?) has black tail and hoofs.  Not sure why I prefer the 310 but I do.

Using it, I believe many errors were caused by lighter threads because I have not had a misplaced stitch so far.  Eyes are worsening, it's more difficult without a stark contrast of thread to fabric.

High 70's today, windy, storms in area.  Nothing bad here.

Enjoy your weekend.

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Hide the matches

You have no idea how close I came to destroying this sampler.

Over one or three threads instead of two, misalignment with almost every motif.  Many errors were adapted or modified which is fine.  But.  The damn threads were a nightmare.  The short tails on the back shredded and their fuzz would come through to the front.  All the picking, even just pulling out a few stitches caused shredding.  That fuzz, which I could not remove no matter what aid I used, created messy looking stitches.  I started using wax or Thread Heaven, no help.  The linen felt glued at some points and my needle would not go in easily or at all.  

Just a very frustrating project.

The bottom consisting of name and date is one color, won't be many tails, errors easily worked in.  Dmc 934 but I may use 310.  The photos from my Samsung tablets are not clear, not correct color, the sampler is much prettier and vivid.

I can't wait for her to be added to the pile of finishes with no place to go.

Enjoy your weekend.

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Over and over

 Until the errors are not noticeable.

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Lost two inches

No, not around my girth.

And unfortunately not in my height.

My Baggallini lost!

I have several Baggallini bought quite cheaply at TJMaxx years ago.  One was perfect for staying at Cleveland Clinic, multiple pockets and pouches, but way too wide for later use. So I sewed the two side seams on each side in several inches and it's perfect for a day out.  Which I never do, but I have the purse, just in case.

This was too deep.  My wallet falls to the bottom, I have to fish for eye drops and mouth spray, pens disappear into the bottom seam, but I like the two zippered tops and outside pouches.  So I thought ... if I reduced the width on the other, why not try to reduce depth.

 Yay for me!

The lining was not easy, but the interior can have a visible seam and function just as well.

This is from Needle and Moss titled Tomato Tomahto.  Nashville.  If anyone knows where I can preorder in the states, please let me know!  Thanks.

Hope your weekend was a good one.

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