February 03, 2007
Stitch the third band in your sampler
Welcome to a slighter delayed issue 3 of Stitchin'Time. Unfortunately the British government seem to think that getting my taxes in on time was more important than my writing to my friends who signed up for my e-zine.If you signed up for the e-zine after the second issue went out, you can still access the band we worked on in our blackwork band sampler, just go to http://www.needlework-tips-and-techniques.com/blackwork-band-sampler-part-2, and enter the password SkyeLogan when it asks you. The first band is of course to be found from the link on the Stitchin'Time page.
I must say thank you for the lovely comments I have been receiving in my inbox. I really look forward to opening my email in the mornings now. It is so nice to know that my hard work is appreciated.
Skye diving
I must start by telling you a little story. Did you watch my video on the about me page of the website? If so you may remember Skye, my new puppy. She has discovered a new way of entertaining herself while I cut fabric and threads for kits.I buy my DMC thread on 400metre cones and tend to get through quite a few of them. The empty cones go into a box on the cutting room floor. Or at least they did!
Skye found the box and delights in removing one cone at a time, taking it to the top of the stairs and nudging it until it bounces down to the bottom. She then races down the stairs, picks it up and brings it back to the top. Another nudge sends it tumbling down again. If she gets it wrong and it only falls a step or two she gives it a second tap until it falls properly. She plays this game over and over again until she tires and falls asleep on the landing. It is just so funny to watch.
The third band in our Up the Garden Path sampler
Right this time we move down our sampler to band 3. The leaves are worked in a slightly different way to the first two bands. We will complete each leaf in turn rather than travelling all across the row before returning.You will need to download the chart I have included row 2 again so that you can line things up.
You will need Adobe Reader (the latest version is recommended) installed on your computer in order to open and read the chart. You can get Adobe Reader here (a new window will open so you can download without leaving this page).
If you want to open the file in your browser window, you can just click on the link. However, if you want to download the file to view later, then right click on the link and choose "Save Target As" or "Save File As." Then select where you want to save the file on your hard drive.
Once you have saved the file, locate where you saved it, and double click to open.
In order to print, open the downloaded file, and select the "Print" option from the menu.
Please refer to the numbers on the diagram below as I walk you through the path we will take to stitch these leaves.
Starting at the black dot, work the blue stitches in sequence from1-8. I have included "empty" stitches to show you the ones that we are missing out at this stage. The arrows should help you to keep on track. After finishing stitch 8 change direction and following the small arrows in the centre of the "empty" stitches work back around the leaf. Don't forget to take a little side journey to complete the leaf vein when you get back around to stitch 8. Leave the stitch with the red outline (between stitches 1 and 2) for later.
Move on to the second leaf and this time follow the green stitches. Oh just to remind you, we are working this row all in black, the colours are just to help you follow the pattern.
After following the green stitches, and arrows, complete the second leaf by filling in the gaps as before. Remember that vein! If you look carefully at the photograph of my original model you may notice that I missed the second vein. Of course I didn't notice until after the piece had been framed.
The "empty" stitch between 2 and 1 takes you back down to the tendril that holds all the leaves together. Stitch the green stitch and then start the process again with the blue no. 1 stitch which corresponds to the same stitch on leaf one.
When you reach the end of the row, you can whiz back along this tendril line filing in the red outlined stitches.
Well done, that is row three completed. Next time we will grow some poppies and ears of wheat in band four.
February's Special Offer - just for subscribers
With Valentine's day just around the corner I wanted to share my love of needlework with you this month. My gift to you is a 3 for 2 offer. Choose any two charts from http://www.x-calibredesigns.co.uk and choose a third chart of equal or lesser value for free. Thats right, the third chart is a gift from me to you.How do you go about taking up my offer? Well that is easy, just add the two charts to your paypal shopping basket as usual, note the name of your free chart, and tell me which one you would like in the comments box. Please remember to quote: issue 3 offer in order to qualify. Happy stitching. This offer is valid until the end of February 2007.
Feedback
We are nearly half way through our blackwork band sampler and its getting time for me to start work on designing your next subscriber pattern. Why not drop me a line from the contact me page and let me know what you would like to see next. Perhaps a needlepoint design or some whitework, for example. You may also like to let me know which technique you would like to see more of on the site. What is your favourite, cross stitch, blackwork, needlepoint, hardanger . . . let me know and I'll add things just for you.
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