The snowman cometh

 Finally done with the first leg of him.  I can't tell you how many errors I made, so grateful that these weren't full crosses.  You would think aligning the stitch over the row beneath is foolproof.  Well, this fool is proof it ain't.  The row would end one linen thread off, not a big deal if it's within a row, but not the outline.  A miss in several rows and his head would be misshapen.  Over and moving on now, edges are correct.  Or close.  The floss being so close in color to the linen was probably the cause.

Remember when my plan was to add stones to this area with a barnstone edge?  Too much work, stopped half way.  I angled a bench and added the tubs to hide the furnace pipes and spigot, a potted hosta, a rocker.  Much better, not an unattractive area now.

I would love to put my huge cast iron sink with backsplash here, but we can't move it.  Found in the woods, years younger ago, it is in need of a good cleaning.  Rusted and perfect for me!  Maybe Scott can bring his son and build a stand for it on casters.  Hmmm.  Photo looks odd because it's leaning on a tree.

Tending to flowers this afternoon, still being careful after my third knee injection.  Stopped Crestor (rosuvastatin) again, back on Pravastatin.  Not as good, but without the side effects.  Stopped before and started back on a lower dose.  I am so stiff it is difficult to rise!  If this resolves in a few weeks, I'll know for sure the cause.  

Enjoy your day!

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Moving on ... 2026 Finish #18

 Thanks for your comments and thoughts.  Feeling a little better, she did get a car and out of sister's.  But still there.  Another month is ending (AUGH!!) and as with every month for the last twelve, she was told to be gone by the end.  That's Friday.  But she won't go, just as she hasn't the other eleven months.  I'm not sure if she knows the PA laws (prior post) and that's why she doesn't go, or if she is just that arrogant and knows the kids are on her side.  No, she is not taking her cats to her dad's tiny run down rental.  There are more kittens on the way, and I am so disgusted with the agencies here.  Nephew wants his son to stay in the house.  The latest insulin delivery method and sensors are amazing, his son is connected through his phone to monitor his dad's info and current glucose levels.  When nephew is exhausted from working too much, his sleep is deep, and the alarms sounding on his unit do not wake him.  His son, if not near enough, will call us or EMT to get to him quickly.  His drops are sudden and rapid, the pump stops the insulin drip at a set glucose reading, but levels continue to drop. We are more comfortable having his son there too.  

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Did I show my finish of Merry Old Soul?

DMC and overdyed red from Needle Necessities on 40 count Winter Brew.  I didn't do as may flakes as charted and changed one to another pattern because of an error.  Also added a gold stitch to the berries.

I've had vertigo off and on for over two weeks so stitching hasn't been daily.  Peppermint Pals pants were done 2.5 times because my errors weren't caught until the second color was added to the plaid.  Most were in the middle!  So at least half had to be frogged and redone several times.  Even had to change his shoes.  At least those corrections made the third color error free.

I'm anxious to start that little Folk Art Basket from Kitten Stitcher.  When I get really tired of the second leg of all the off white in this guy, I may set him aside and start it.

Where has summer run off to?  Good grief it will be August in two days!

Damn.  I'm not even tired of zucchini yet.

Hope your week is going well.

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Not yet

A few things

First, I received an email regarding the steam press of stuffed finishes.  No, you do not steam the filling.  You steam press the piece after the filling is inside.  Stuff, THEN press. 

OK.

Secondly, the Classic Colorworks color Campfire, lists dmc alternative as 535.  Checked several sources, all claim 535 which is dark gray.  Those berries on the vine are red, not gray.  I chose 321.  The same vine is in Peppermint Pals and Sweater Weather, the berries on them list a red thread.

As for the beard and light areas, ecru wasn't enough contrast, white or 3865, too stark.  My remedy is stitching the first leg in ecru, crossing second leg with 3865.  Happy.  Used this method on the hat band and will do the rest same.  I stitch the sewing method so this will be quite easy for me.

Snowflakes will be all white.

Crabass. 

Out.

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Filling corners

Hiya.

Had a few questions about my pillow finishes.  The filling is Silky Soft.  I've used sawdust but I worry about any staining that may happen from the wood fibers so I line with muslin.  Also helps with the dust.  Crushed walnut shells are perfect for berries and small items but it does shift.  Corners for the ones filled with nuts or dust are always stuffed with the poly fill.  Not sure if anyone else does that but I prefer it.  I've gone so far as to use quilt batting strips to outline the shape before filling the body.  That outline helps minimizes the shifting and allows for a tight pack.

I did a post many years ago about the Steam and Smash which is how every one of the pillows are finished.  By steaming the fill as you go along, it creates a dense and more even finish.  I didn't like how the centers were puffed which pulls the sides in.  

The first fill goes into the corners.  I have a old letter opener that is not sharp or perfectly flat which prevents a poke through the backing or the linen.  I slide it against the inside of the sewn edges to smooth out any seam allowance bunching, then add fill.

Once the corner is stuffed, insert and push the metal blade to hold it in place, steam press it.  I need to steam several times to get the density I want with this Silky Soft.  Other products can almost melt and get flat and hard quickly.  This product doesn't and takes several attempts to decrease the puffy.

Continue stuffing the body and steam as you go, adjusting where needed.  The blade is only used for the corners. A final pressing when the pillow is done.

I purchased corner tools and inevitably created a hole with just about all of them. I have two old metal nail files that have an oval tip which work also.  Any plastic will of course melt with the heat.  Even if the corners are not steamed before filling, the center once smashed will help prevent that square from becoming an X.  Using the envelope method to close (this post) 

gives good access from the back to the corners if you're not happy with them.  Opening can be vertical or horizontal.  Using this method is great with thick quilt batting.  One or two layers cut to fit perfectly with slightly beveled edges, creates an flat even thickness with no steaming needed.  Whatever you prefer, it's all good.  My preference is dense and padded but not puffy.

Hope this answers your questions.

Still working on the Santa and deciding which one of the two chosen projects will be next.

The next several posts, no stitching involved.  Just the story of the situation which I hoped was coming to a close.  So far, it has not.  I will explain the sleepless nights and anger I can't seem to let go.  Not a pleasant story at all, read or ignore until Santa appears!

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The repetitive rant

 I ordered 1/8th yard linens to check for color, and also because I am only doing smalls.  You know what the rant is.  

I'm not naming the colors, does no good.  In the beginning, the second or third order was a little off, but still a sibling to the first child.  Six months later, more like a cousin.  Then an aunt from the past you don't recognize.  And now a step sibling from the second marriage of your neighbor's son.  Does anyone keep samples of their work?  New dyes taking differently?  Make adjustments or change the color name for stitchers ordering online and expecting what they received previously.  Some difference is unavoidable and acceptable, completely different is not.

One order contained a Zweigart color Granite.  Whoa.  Not gray, not brown, not greenish, not reddish.  No mottling, and a really good dark neutral.  This is it (upper left) with Raw and the new lighter Mink for comparison.

Two small BBD that I ordered.  I saw similar finished into a small pouch and I have to try that.  

I think sinus is causing this issue.  We have a white pine that sheds needles all over the deck and isn't stopping.  So I used the leaf blower on high and pointed it up, blew a load of needles down.  And the itching and rash started.  Microscopic mites, some from the nests in the tree?  Whatever.  May try stitching this evening and try to catch up on blogs and IG. 

Post on corners coming.

Hope everyone is finally out of fireworks.

Be safe, be well, be cool.

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Again

 Vertigo.  All day, still can't lie down, so another night in the recliner.  Lots of Dramamine, failing to work as well this time.  Too much and the groggy unsteady feeling persists for several days because of my drug sensitivity.  One quarter of the recommended dose!  I would rather deal with intense pain than this.  Everything I look at moves a little, then stops.  

No stitching of course, but here is progress BV (before vertigo).  A heavy vertical slub looks like a seam down the center.

I will be selling the much loved large Kogut Santa charts.  This small one was not fun, too much fill.  No way I will attempt something larger.

A few new smalls, this is one.

Notforgotten Farm has new littles (and new kitty), need to check them out.

Folk Art Basket from Shakespeare's Peddler. On 40, 3.5" and adorable. DMC, no frustrating conversion from several overdyeds.  Chart is another great one, in color, large enough.  The other two BBD smalls need to be enlarged.

Hope to wake tomorrow without the eye movements and dizziness.

And hope your day is calm and stable!

I'll explain about my finished corners next time Rosemary!

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Preventive stitching

Error prevention, this is.

Knowing I will have issues stitching around the inserted motifs, they are now outlined and protected.  

Stitching motifs first with the ecru thread will not be noticeable enough on this linen for my eyes and errors will be made.  I have never been able to stitch row by row and leave the correct openings.  Besides, it's quite frustrating referring to the chart so often.  This is now able to be taken anywhere without the chart holder.

I don't care for solid fill, whether Santa's garb or a large house.  But I don't care for confetti either!  Yes, I am sort of slumping, one of the reasons smalls are been chosen.

Have a good weekend.

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Third one's a charm

After starting on the Khaki linen, I wasn't happy.

I had one small piece of R&R  Winter Brew (a favorite) that I was hoarding since every time I searched online, it was out of stock.  Well, I found three places with 40 count in stock.  So I floss tossed and really liked that option. 

Here's the two.  Both designs will be stitched on the same linen.

And either would be a good choice, Khaki is quite green.  I think I'll continue on the WB.  Notice the difference in width?  Both 40 count, and that bottom border is 5 stitches longer on the Summer Khaki for the same number of stitches.

I found two half yard pieces of PTP in 36 count that I need to sell.  Still have a load of charts and linen pieces but I am so hesitant to list on Stash Unloading.  Concerned about keeping the correct item with the correct transaction!

Thanks for visiting.

Be safe.

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That color thing

 I've wanted to stitch these two for some time.  

So why not now?  I haven't found a small sampler that calls to me, most are larger than I'd like.  

Question is, what color linen.  Not the blue for sure, the other calls for Gray, which I purchased and can't locate.  Two bags of 40 count smalls, a minimal inventory, and it's out for a walk somewhere.

Both will be done on the same piece, either the light Khaki or the not-the-older-color-that-I-loved Prairie Grass.  I don't have any unbleached, which would be my first choice.  "Natural" isn't like the unbleached I'm used to.  Maybe a linen browsing session is needed.  Will chose later today.

Have a good one!

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2026 Finish #17

Sweater Weather by With thy Needle and Thread

36 count something

DMC choices

A few changes to hide errors

 

Happy 4th!

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No sweaters here!

It's hot!

Hi folks.  I want to clarify what I meant by jewelry section.  Hobby Lobby is now selling earrings, rings, and small pieces in the front of my local store, but the aisle I call "jewelry" is where the clasps and strung beads are hangings to make your own.  Many options to choose from, not the small packaged beads.  JoAnn fabrics had an entire wall of strung beads, anything you would want. 

Progress on Sweater Weather (Gervais) between the vertigo.  The gold mittens of any shade didn't show on this linen.  I changed to 311, sweater to 321.  So many of my

 Christmas patterns are 221, 3777, 22, 816, I thought a bright red would be a nice change.  I also moved the bottom left border one row to align with the upper part so the margin is the same when finishing.

The "situation" was made worse by my intrusion, caused some issues.  I'm not the type able to "let things go".  

Hope you have a safe and fun 4th. 

 I can't stand the blasts and bombs already from next door.

Be safe!

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