Holy caps!

Didn't expect that many!  Here's the plan to handle this quantity. You visit her Etsy shop, contact her through the email link on her page to order your amount (Berry cap #SF61).  She will then purchase enough for your requests to make sure everyone gets what they want.  When they come in (about 2 weeks), she will contact you for shipment before listing them.  Any extras that are left, will then go on Etsy and those extras will be first come first served.  Please state what you definitely want since this will be a large amount for her to purchase without commitment.  It's very nice of her to make sure that everyone gets the number they would like. 

 

So.  This is her Etsy page.

 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BellasBeadHabit

 

If you aren't registered on Etsy, it is very easy and you don't have to use your full name, no credit card or financial info is needed.  They just want to make sure you log in when making a purchase to protect the sellers from scams.  This page will tell you how to register.

https://www.etsy.com/help/article/244

Right beneath the round photo at the top right is her name and the CONTACT link.  Click to email her with your order and make sure you state the number of sets of 4 for item SF61.  Remember, it will be around two weeks but you will get what you order.

That's it folks!  We'll all be capping our berries soon.

Thanks Karin!

 

 

 

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Who wants the cap?

UPDATE - to order, please go to this post for information.

http://samplers-and-santas.blogspot.com/2016/04/holy-caps.html

 

 

Greetings folks.  The cap order (like mine) has come in.  It was a special order for a customer who bought more than expected and there were only a few left, which I bought.  She will order again and would like to know how many of you are interested so she orders enough.  The price is $3.35 for a set of 4 + $3.35 shipping (flat rate regardless of amount purchased), total of $6.70 with US shipping for four caps.  Additional quantities of $3.35 for four.  Two weeks for the order to come in.  Please leave the number of SETS you would like in comments so I can let her know.  You will order from her, not me, when they come in and I will list her link for you.  So if you want 4 caps, request ONE set, if you want 12, request THREE sets.  Please leave what you would like in the comments if you are interested.

 

After the malarkey

Well that was embarrassing.  Watermelon head or not, that was certainly a menomoment, worthy of being added to the list of  "what the hell was that?".  It's the end of it, that's what it is.  I will find my method that works or continue avoiding those projects.  Amen.

 

Being productive with a needle has not been happening but will today now that the floss colors are chosen.  I did get the boxes done for May and this prototype for June.  The remaining sales will be this 4x6 tall oval until my supply is gone.  Can't get this size any longer and the others are always low stock, some have peeling/bubbling paper.


 

 

My cousin in MN sent me a photo of her and her sister (the one with FT dementia in a facility) and it was so very upsetting.  This vibrant world traveler only 3 years older than I am.  Her once shining eyes are empty, her strong frame diminished to a slump, her beautiful face I could no longer recognize, her intelligent speech now unintelligible.  I wasn't expecting such a rapid and drastic deterioration.

 

Enjoy your day.

For 30 minutes, be alone in silence, breathe deeply, stretch your body, observe your surroundings, touch everything, embrace your sadness, feel your pain, cry to cleanse, let it go, smile at the sky, be stunned by the vastness, open your heart, and thank God for being able.

 

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Cancel the epiphany

 

I'm totally wrong.  The first half does indeed make a difference.  Here's what the first half switched would do to the back loop if I followed the TOP/top method.  The left side is the correct direction from the instructions, and the right side would be changing the direction of the first half of the cross.  Vertical linen thread is on top, but top to bottom second half cross is incorrect making the back loop in the wrong place and allowing the thread to slip and disappear.

And here's what would happen if another stitch was beneath.  The second half would need to be from top to bottom even though the vertical thread was on the bottom, so that top/top bottom/bottom nonsense was way off.  Following my method would again not create the loop in the right position to prevent disappearing threads. 

 

Looking at the examples, I see that the back loop must be running the same direction as the top linen thread in the intersection.  So I would move horizontal or vertical to come up for the second half of the cross, depending on the top linen thread.  Across if the thread is horizontal, up and down if it is running vertical, regardless of the first half direction.  I think this may be correct.   Am I right this time????

 

I am definitely using Barbara's method so maybe I should just give up trying to learn this.  I'm having enough trouble with wanting to stitch.  Many of my older pieces had over one and I don't remember it being such a hassle!!  When I can't grasp something so simple, it really aggravates me.  But I am letting go!

 

Sorry for the malarkey.

 

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The over one epiphany

was a bunch of nonsense so I removed this post's content,  just in case someone thought it made sense and would give it a try.

It basically was incorrectly thinking that the vertical thread in the intersection of the stitch, would determine the second half of the cross.  If the vertical thread was on top, the second half would go from top to bottom, and if the vertical thread was on the bottom of the intersection, the second half would go from bottom to top.  Wrong!  So rather than create a problem for someone, I decided to remove it.

 

 

Barbara's over one

When I posted about how I detest stitching over one and the problems I had with the thread disappearing, Barbara (in England) was nice enough to offer her help.  I've visited all the instructional links about thread directions and methods to prevent that but, to my dismay, the first half of the stitch continued to disappear or stitches would be very uneven.  This is Barbara's method.

 

She uses a loose, lightweight piece of "muslin" tacked to the back of the over one section, or held in place if using a hoop.  From what I've researched online, what is called muslin overseas, is equivalent to muslin gauze in the US.  I am familiar with the tightly woven lightweight fabric.  From what she pictured and explained, her muslin is loosely woven like a bandage, more like a gauze.  I have a very old roll of fine cotton gauze banding which I could use and I also may try a piece of tulle after rinsing to remove the stiffness.

Stitching through a backing would help to keep the floss from slipping behind the linen threads.  Would it prevent it completely and allow the stitcher to use their regular method instead of a cross pattern specifically for over one?  In this example, Barbara had a small section of over one so she just pinned a piece of gauze over that area, which she said could also be tacked into place.  With a hoop/frame, you could use a large piece of gauze secured with the linen and then cut away the excess after stitching that area.

 

Here's the front showing the completed over one section (a Jeannette Douglas design). 

 Barbara said she uses the backing for smalls and ornaments because she feels the stitches lie better.  I would think this would help a great deal with tension issues and give a little body and stability to smalls and lightweight linens.

 

I wondered if products like the stabilizers used in embroidery would work, but anything that is fused may be difficult to get a needle through because of the glue involved. 

 

Barbara said she can't claim credit for this method because it is commonly used and frequently taught in England.  I'm so glad she offered her help because I've never heard of this tip and it may be the answer to my trouble. 

 

This framed beauty is one of Barbara's large samplers, another superb class project from Ellen Chester.

 

So there you have it!  Have any of you used this trick?  Did it make a difference in how easily you could stitch the over one areas?  I have many rejected charts because of over one, maybe that will change now.
 

Thank you very much Barbara!!  I love getting advice and tips from advanced stitchers like you and appreciate you sharing your expertise.

Have a great weekend! 

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