Sometimes at Christmas it’s nice to sew something that’s nothing to do with Christmas, it’s like an escape from the hustle and bustle of Christmas, you can just immerse yourself in the land of stitching for a short while, a little breather with no deadlines!
I bought this kit at the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show in November, I made a conscious effort at the show to buy kits for things rather than pictures as I am running out of available wall space!! This kit is designed by Sue Hawkins, she has some gorgeous embroidery kits, I particularly liked the counted canvas work ones. I fell for a scissor keeper and as it happens I have a good pair of embroidery scissors on my Christmas wish list, so I’ve made a scissor keeper in advance!
The quirky shape with the tiny bells on each corner appealed to me as well as the colours which are various pinks, greens and gold.
The scissor keeper is made from two squares of embroidered canvas which are stitched corner to side if that makes sense, it forms a zig-zag seam round the keeper. The instructions are actually really clear and easy to follow, I wasn’t sure at first when I read them, but they are the sort of instructions that make perfect sense once you get to that point!
The two squares are embroidered with just three different threads, variegated pink, green and gold. The variegation gives a lovely soft effect to the design which uses mainly tent stitch, satin stitch, long stitch and French knots, so nothing complicated. The top is predominantly green and the bottom is mainly pink.
The two squares were completed in no time, they are pretty small. next bit to make was the cord which was fiddly just because it was a relatively short length, I’ve made cord before but this time I didn’t feel I had enough length to start tying it to something and twisting it with a pencil, so I did it between my fingers…first I made a pink cord, then looped a length of green thread through it before making a green cord, the two lengths were then twisted together to make a green and pink cord. This was folded in half, knotted, and after a bit of persuasion, threaded through the centre of the top square.
Stitching the two squares together was fiddly due to size, but a lot easier than I anticipated. I think the regular pattern and the even canvas made it easy to keep on track. The edges were stitched using long cross-stitch, this was a new stitch to me but gives a lovely firm edge with a herringbone style pattern.
The scissor keeper was finished with a tiny Dorset button. These are made from a metal ring, button-hole stitch is used to cover the ring, then a web of thread is made and back-stitched round and round to secure it.
The scissor keeper probably took a few evenings, no more than that, it was really nice to do, I’m tempted to get another kit next year!
Linking up with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday and Super Mom No Cape for Vintage Embroidery Monday, why not have a look what everyone else has been stitching on the run up to Christmas.
thecraftycreek 
Nice stitching, very pretty!!
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Thanks Linda, and Merry Christmas too!
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Very pretty!
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Thank you Kate, Merry Christmas!
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I looked at sue Hawkins kits at a show earlier this year, I really wished I’d bought one!I love your scissor keeper!
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Thanks Sarah, she has some lovely kits!
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Great. Love it.
I made a scissor holder for my daughter last Christmas from a kit I bought at Harrogate but it was a mere shadow of yours! I have some nice scissor keeper patterns on my list of things to do but they’ve been there for a while.
I’m getting pinking shears for my Christmas from my mother (nice ones – Ghingers) and they, and my other nice scissors, need some decent homes.
I’m going to the Tailored exhibition in Leeds on Wednesday and plan to go to Leeds Market too. I’ve read on your blog about B&M fabrics (I love the fabric you got for your mother ) Any other suggestions, please? We’ll have a few hours there and don’t need to leave until evening. Advice appreciated, thanks. Anne
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Thanks Anne
re Leeds, there’s three stalls in the market, Fletchers is in the old hall by the M&S stall, B&M market stall is in the 1976 hall and there’s Jaks in the other new hall. B&M fabric shop is down the street to the left of the market as you look at it from the front. There’s two or three haberdashery stalls along the edge of the old market, one of them is actually Samuel Taylors, their shop is over the road from the market down the side street opposite.
I’m glad you reminded me about the Tailoring exhibition as it’s on my list of things to do, must get there before it ends! Hope you have a good day and a Merry Christmas too 🙂
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Thank you for that info. Lots to keep me busy! I’ll have to find a few sweeteners for David, though. The exhibition closes just after New Year so not many chances left to see it, especially as reduced hours from the 24th. I didn’t get to see it when I planned so this was my last possible chance – the silver lining to the cloud of cancelling my trip to the Cologne Christmas markets.
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I’d not heard of the tailoring exhibition so will have to look it up. Happy Shopping Ann! 😀
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Very pretty stitching and gorgeous colors.
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Thanks Jennifer, I love the colours too. Merry Christmas!
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That is a very pretty scissor keeper. I often misplace my scissors and have to spend time searching. That wouldn’t be a problem with such a pretty keeper.
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Thanks Cathie, I’m forever losing my embroidery scissors but hopefully no more 🙂 Merry Christmas!
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Isn’t it fun to make some smaller projects that don’t take forever?
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You’re right Donna, sometimes it’s nice to stitch something in a few evenings, Merry Christmas!
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I just love seeing your cross stitch. We’re going away for a few days to Settle so might treat myself to a kit if some description, as I’ll need something mobile to take with me 😀
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Hope the weather improves for you! I quite often take a small kit on holidays. Have a good time, I like Settle, last time we had tea and cakes in the Naked Man café 🙂
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Mmmm, they sell nice cakes there so I think I’ll run some extra miles do I can indulge! 😃
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Such a fun and beautiful project! Congrats on the finish!
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Thanks Kathy, it was nice to have such a quick finish!
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Absolutely lovely!
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Thanks Renee, Merry Christmas too!
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That’s so pretty! Merry Christmas!
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