5/365

5/365
Originally uploaded by bareblueskin

I know it's early for Christmas but I've been wanting to stitch and I remembered about the ornament exchange in a group I belong to. I made this ornament for last year's exchange and wanted one for myself. I just signed up for the new exchange and will find out more next week.

Christmas Ornament Exchange Received

Today in the mail I received my ornament from Gillian in The Gift of Stitching Christmas Ornament Exchange. It was just the thing to get me in a good mood today. She also sent a nice card with hollyberries and a skein of silk floss. I believe the color is called Blue Lagoon. I'll have to find a biscornu chart for it.
I like this style of stitching more and more, and I'm glad someone else used over-one stitching. I have been working on an ornament for the past month that is have over-two and half over-one, and it's been driving me batty. None of my friends cross stitch and they all think I'm crazy for pursuing these tiny stitches.


Check out my first successful toe-up start. I did this Monday night with LOTS of help from Cassandra. At this point the stitches for this sock are parked on pens and spare needles while I use the size 11s to start the second sock. For some reason I couldn't finish off the sock. I want to make sure it is long enough in the cuff for my dad, so I want to see how long I can make them, and make sure they end up the same.

Last but not least, here's a view of Harry parked for the day on my bed in the middle of the Christmas wrapping mess.

Stitching plans

A lot of my friends are making gifts this year both as Christmas presents and for selling at craft fairs and a sci-fi convention that's happening in January. They flurry of actvity is high - with yarn, beads, thread, origami paper, and more being turned into beautiful wearable art. I myself have been stitching teeny tiny stitches on cross stitch ornaments. One was for an exchange I took part in (see earlier post). I have stitched one more and am trying to wrap up the tiny lettering on a third. Can't post pictures just yet as there is the chance that the recipients might see them here.

Oh, and I've just decided to add a knitting project into the mix as a Christmas present too. What am I thinking??? I don't even have the yarn yet. Tonight after work I am dashing to Windsor Button to get the yarn and needles, and meeting my friend Cassandra so she can show me the pattern. Nevermind that before I went away for Thanksgiving she wrote the pattern down for me and demonstrated the difficult bits on one she was making. Nevermind that I already made a gauge swatch, I have no memory of the pattern!

Christmas Ornament Exchange 2008

This year I participated in my first exchange. This was a Christmas ornament exchange on the group of The Gift of Stitching Magazine.

Here is the front and back of the ornament I made for Jane in West Virginia. The pattern is from The Prairie Schooler Pamphlet "December". I stitched the pattern on 14 count white aida with 3 strands to make sure the stitches covered and gave it a plump look. I wasn't quite sure how to do the finishing, so I just did it like a normal sewed item would be, inside out, then reversed it and stuffed it. I made my own cord this time, but I feel like it should have been tighter.

This is also the first stitched ornament I've ever made. I was kind of sad to see it go, but I have the pattern still and can make one for myself if I feel like it. I don't usually go in for this style, simple country sampler sort of stuff, but it's growing on me.