The back

Two options.

One is quartered with the 3787 over four ( since over two looked like a pencil line), and single flower with 372 stems and 321 in each section.  Large red button for loop closure.

And then we have the wimp, and probable choice.  A homespun fabric, good match, dark gray line matching the 3787, and a gray button for the loop.  This linen is miserable.  Too many extremely thin threads missed resulting in many stitches over three.  With a more scattered pattern to work, too frustrating, much frogging. 

Been slow.  My knee is horrible.  It feels like the marrow edema is returning so I started oral steroids.  Injection on 12th, hyaluronic gel regimen starts the 29th. 

I may choose a few smalls to keep within reach as I keep off my leg.  Maybe a good time to explain the "situation".  Or not.  Steroids make me mean.  And hot.  And hungry.  

Where is Stitching Bunny?

Have a good weekend.

2026 Finish #11

One side anyway.  Do the back's design and make a needlebook?  Change the back to include the red flowers of the pinkeep?  Stop and make a tiny pillow?  

40 Havana, dmc 372, 321, 3787.

Need to think about it while I finish potting flowers.

Cardio appt today referred me to an electrophysiologist.  The reason my echo has not been available is the faciility was hacked.

Not raining this week, or say they say.

Be safe folks.

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The poems

 For those that asked....

Flanders Fields

1915

Memorial Day

  Flanders fields today, deteriorated sandbags replaced with concrete.

This is why we purchase silk poppies from vets around Memorial day and Veteran's day.

 There are many free poppy charts online if you would like to stitch one, easily add names of veterans beneath, or not.

This is one from Yarnspirations, pdf download.

I'm shot for the rest of the day. Always affects me.

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Who knew?

Not me.

I chose 3032 but picked up the wrong skein.  And that's how the 372 surprised me.  The skein laying on the fabric did not look the same as when stitched.  It has a bluish look on this Havana and is perfect.

Two errors, don't care, can't tell.

The darker shade should complete this quick design today.

I need 40 Havana in Zweigart base, this WDW is difficult for me.  I wish it came in the Chestnut also, but haven't found it.

Have a good day!

Behave.

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Remember

 Printed on the back of my patriotic pear.  Every year I view the American cemeteries in foreign lands, and imagine how families of these fallen dealt with their loved ones being buried so far away.  They served together, they rest together.

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Either or

The bluish looking stems on this chart with the bright red poppy drew me to it.  DMC substitute for the GAST is 371.  I don't purchase GAST because of the drastic difference of the same color skeins.  Ordering online is a crap shoot.  

The 371 wasn't showing well, pulled 372, good.  But not the bluish tone at all.  So before I start this needs settled.  Me?  Settled?  Not in life and certainly not in colors!  Chose 321 for poppy, from top.... 3023, 647, and the 372.  The few stitches seen between skeins is 522, thought it would show more gray.  Did not.

The blues were too blue, other greens showed very green on the Havana.  The darker shade can be the old 3022, not the new green one.  DMC sub is 3787, dark gray.  

It's a tough decision when several will look good, but offer entirely different outcomes.  

Hmmmmmmmmm .....

Thoughts?  

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When it becomes a chore,

and that love for the project turns to ... meh,

it's time to set it aside. 

Good grief I am so tired of this.  And my favorite 3777 is not as red as I expected with the ecru, seems darker and drab.  Many many hours, days, and frustrating errors involved, but sometimes it is best to let go.  Almost half the ecru fill completed.... 

adios.

At some point it will be done, but moving to a small that can be completed quickly is best for now.  The Nash designs and these birds from Erica Michaels will be perfect.

I am wearing sweats and can't believe how cold it is.  My flowers were kept inside for over a week and I finally moved them out.  Not good at all, the temps, the wind, the rain are nasty.  It will be June shortly, and I remember needing the heat on during that month the last few years.

I thought my echocardiogram taken May 5 was fine since I did not receive a call.  Found out yesterday it hasn't been seen by a doctor or read yet.  And this is the state of art wonderful surgical center that received 5 stars.

Enjoy the weekend.

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Cross eyed coverlet

Seriously.  

Even if I charted this, the errors and crossed eyes would persist.

I didn't see the large one in the last post until the photo.  One extra row would have continued and caused complete failure.

Finally have the outline as a guide, not easy with this pattern.  I'm trying to stitch to the finishing seam so no stitching would need to be trimmed, possibly loosening threads.  

Hope to finish the red soon, ecru will be much easier but still a lot of stitching for such a tiny finish.  The original design did not take long at all, this is a marathon.

Another Nash small in the mail, this on Havana.  One of the others will be on the Lupine fabric.  Yes it does look different in the photos.  Close up is lighter and under led bright white bulb.  Another small piece coming today.

I'm freezing, may bundle up and finish potting annuals today.  

Missy is doing well.  I thought they would have to sedate for the exam and tests, but they put her in a cat bag and managed ok.  They were shocked that she is about 20 years old.  All tests and xrays were good!  Great doctor and staff.  They even helped me up after hitting the floor when I got the bill.

The "situation" dodged a disaster, but has a long and unrealistic way to go.

Hope your day goes as planned and your flowers aren't frozen.

 

Be safe.

************

 

Stunad

Italian for foolish.  And I certainly am.

Picked the needle up after days of dizzy, and I am finally getting the pattern for this coverlet memorized.  Somewhat.  Why don't I just chart it?  Wouldn't that be the smart thing to do rather than error after error and continuously referring to my original stitched square?  Geez a lou.

Since my laptop croaked, I cannot download or transfer my old free charting program, which held all my freebies and pears.  But I have graph paper, so that's not an excuse.

This is 36 count, slightly larger than the 40 finish, and I'm winging it.  Once the ecru fills in, I think (know) I will love it.   A tiny pillow would be sweet too.  

For those interested in the miniatures shown previously, A Tebbatt is from RedBarn samplers, the other is my adaptation of a photo on French General's site, no chart. The larger is Scarlet Letter's 1840 Miniature on 46 count.

My tablet suddenly denied access to any retailer, so I needed to change to the Firefox browser.  Google and Chrome are the problem.  Before that change, my screen orientation failed, even trying to read gmail, and if I wanted to use vertical, it disappeared.  I can't stop the voice respond, even though settings deny it.  My photo Gallery has changed, and I'm looking for an open window to toss the tablet.  Ran everything necessary for virus or mal, looked for remedies, all failed.  As for the laptop, I found a place that will install windows 10 and remove the most annoying Windows 11.  

Rainy, cold, blah blah blah.

Be safe.  Be well.  Behave.

*************

Stuff

 Things have been ..... distracting.

Maybe later.

Monkey Mona (Missy) was another event, she is doing well as of this evening.

Received a small order from 123 and thought I would share this gorgeous color.  By PTP, this is Lupine in 40 count.

Very very close to 632.  Not wine, not brown, but a marriage of the two.  Glorious I tell 'ya.  Site lists 3860 as a match, another good representation.

At least this batch!  But of all the dyers, PTP has been quite consistent and reliable.

Later .....

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Pin disc, needlebook, Nash

My next few projects will probably be the Nash smalls, starting with the Red Hydrangea.  Hopefully mixing in another heart.

 

I just love that tiny coverlet from Barrick.  Playing with other patterns that will fit into that overshot square.  Not sure if the weave pattern will be too much with this one, but this lends itself easily to a repeat without the weave. 

 These two red minis are 2.5", a tiny red coverlet is needed!

Recovering from another vertigo episode (Dramamine knocks me out and I only take 1/4 of the pill).  How did this episode happen you ask?  The Amish greenhouses we went to in search of zucchini and Jimmy Nardelo peppers, were all on steep ground.  That is not something my knee can handle, so I went downhill stepping sideways.  That must have thrown my equilibrium off.  After visiting five, we finally found zucchini and Jimmy and a seed packet for Roma (flat Italian bean).  Started swirling on the ride home.  

The Emily Booker sampler was completed last fall, it is Kindred Spirits by Kathy Barrick with an extra leaf on the left.

Just may be my favorite finish.

Have a good start to another week, time is flying by.

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The Irish finish

Expected to outline in cording, but it was a little much with this sweet border.  Back is a mottled green, matches perfectly.

Currently hanging with friends and favorites.

DMC 

Vine 3053

Leaves 3052

Gray 646

Light pink 3778

Dark pink 355

Gold 680

Doodads in place of backstitched birds

Have a good day.

********** 

2026 Finish #10

 Wishing all moms a happy Mother's Day.

Finished at 3.5".

The 28 count is 5.5".

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The final choice

When setting this next to the previous finish, I wasn't happy.  Almost distracting, my eye was drawn to that very light thread (top left) instead of noticing the pattern.  And there will be a good amount when completed.  I tried darker than ecru, but still very warm, 739 (bottom center).  I thought 738 would be good, but I can't locate it and it's very close to ecru, 

This is on 40, quite a size difference from my first stitch on 28.  I'd like to stitch a third on 32 count, not sure of colors.  Very stiff fusible was used and it feels like a needlepoint or similar, pretty darn hard.

Went to the greenhouses and ended up with the 3.5" pots of Bubblegum to plant in pots, 3 hanging baskets of the same.  I really wanted bright colors, maybe sunpatiens, but I decided I don't have the energy.  Stick with tried and true.  I may get a few for a wash tub since pots are already filled with dirt.  What snapped my briefs were the Solenia begonias.  The entire table was filled as were all the baskets.  Stunning, gorgeous display.  Never saw colors that were so soft but still saturated.  

And all of this is in the house, waiting for warmer temps.  Night lows in high 30s beginning of the week.  What's happening?

Be safe!  Behave.

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Darker is lighter

Well, brighter. Used 930 and 612, tried a light thread for the third. But 613, 822, 3866, and 3865 all looked dirty.  Ecru has more color than these, but the warmer tone showed much brighter.  So the darker thread is actually lighter.  Almost too light, but I did not care for the very drab look against the 612.  3866 looked ideal to me, but after a section was stitched, was surprisingly dull.  

I may try again just to make sure.  Ecru is the bottom bag.  Strange isn't it?  I know warmer tones are brighter, usually offer more contrast, this proves it.  In this case!

This stitching is so much easier than I expected.  I added a row to the left top to match the right side because .... well, you know.

Checking out the greenhouses today, always loaded for Mother's Day.  But with our very cold temps, moms will need to keep their flowers in the house for at least another ten days.  

Have a good day!

**********

Easy enough

to make a boatload of counting errors?

Not really.  Once this blue is in place (third time so far), the rest will be easy to keep aligned.

Barrick Samplers Overshot Heart.

The To My Friend finish in previous post is a modified version from The Cricket Collection Dutch Sampler.

Enjoy your day.

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Twisted

Between vertigo and appointments, I haven't finished the Irish yet.

I'm still on the trim kick, cording is taking over.  Not easy to guess pom size and color online, and for how small it is, not cheap.  But for some finishes, I like the cording and how easy it is to match color.  The ends are still a problem for me, need more practice.

I checked the tools for twisting and creating the cording and reviews vary.  So ....

It works great, forward, reverse, easy to remove and secure.  Just inserted a cup hook into the chuck (where the drill bits go) and it easily held.  A larger hook would work as well, can't find one right now but will add to my list. 

Boom.

Off to get my echo this morning.  The lumps in my right arm where the cath tube was are finally leaving, but the IV arm has a hard and very sore area, not at the insertion site.  Something weird  I'm sure.

Have a good day.

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2026 Finish #9

Irish Sampler Pincushion

Plan to final finish tomorrow with cording trim. 

There are four backstitched tiny birds in this that I kept removing.  Didn't seem to fit.  So I added doodads in gold along the center floral, and other doodads along the vase in their place.  

If anyone is interested I will list threads later.  This chart and the other Irish from The Nostalgic Needle are available on ebay from Wyndham Needleworks and Cats.  

Later!

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Empty Queen to satin

Not much more, except for the border. 

I do not like stitching borders.

My satin flower is not padded as the chart photo, but I prefer the simpler look. 

There is a scalloped outline border in pink that I'm not doing.  I changed upright gobelin leaves ( which are very easy to do) to regular cross.  Easier for me to count on this 40.

This is so small and stinkin' cute.

Just saw this free design from Erica Michaels.  You can go to Fat Quarter Shop and search for America Berry, download the pdf.

Have a good day.

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