Here in the UK it’s Mothering Sunday on 26th March and three days later it’s my mothers birthday as well. I’m always in a bit of a quandary as what do you get someone in their 80’s, I thought I’d got it sussed when I suggested a day out at the quilt show in Harrogate, she loved the idea, but unfortunately she was poorly on the day and couldn’t come…so I was back to square one!
On facebook a couple of weeks ago a very pretty card designed by Faby Reilly popped up. I’ve stitched a couple of her designs now and I’ve patterns for a few more in my to-do pile. I clicked over to her site and decided the Lavender card would be perfect for my mum, even better, if I don’t quite get it finished for Mother’s Day, she can have it for her birthday instead!
I then noticed the co-ordinating lavender bag and sachet, so I ordered both patterns with the idea of giving her the lavender bag on Mothers Day and then the sachet on a padded coathanger for her birthday. I was even given a lovely bag of lavender in my goodie bag at the #sewdowndewsbury day, so I’m all organised!
I’m about half way through the card. It’s a lovely design with a nice variety of stitches, as well as cross-stitch there’s diamond eyelet stitch, tied oblong stitch, french knots and petite stitches. I did get slightly perplexed by the ‘petite stitches’, as I wasn’t sure if it was tiny cross-stitches or what I would call petitpoint, which is like a half cross-stitch. I know if I had messaged Faby she would have replied pretty quickly, but of course I was too impatient for that so I studied the photo on the website closely and decided it was mini cross-stitches…and when I say mini, I mean MINI! The linen I’m using is 32 count, so I get 16 standard cross-stitches to an inch, the mini ones are over a single thread, so that’s 32 to the inch! You do have to be careful too when it’s just over one thread not to pull the thread firmly as it is very easy for the thread to slip into the hole next door! The petite stitches are growing nicely and they do give a lovely effect, I just need really good light!
For the beady eyed amongst you, yes there is a slight colour difference half way through ‘for’ I’ve spent ages trying to suss out what colour I’ve used for the first half, one thing is for sure, I’m not unpicking it!
I’ll hopefully finish this over the next few days, so I’ll have time for the lavender bag and the sachet too, there’s not as much stitching on those so they shouldn’t take long.
I’m linking up with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday, why not follow the link and see what everyone has been hand-stitching.
thecraftycreek 
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
I’VE HEARD OF MOTHERING SUNDAY! SUPERB WORK YOU’RE DOING!
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What a wonderful find. and you are stitching it beautifully. Your Mum will love it.
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Thanks Cathy, I’m making pretty good progress on it 🙂
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that will definitely hit the spot ^^
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I hope so 🙂
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What a super start 🙂 !!! And yes, the petite stitches are definitely tiny cross-stitches stitched over 1 strand of fabric… and they are IMPOSSIBLE to unpick!! It’s definitely a “don’t even think about it” kind of job. I wouldn’t contemplate unpicking them either 😉 You card will still look absolutely gorgeous when it’s finished.
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Thanks Faby, glad I was right about the petite stitches, think I need some new glasses though!
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Ha ha! Yep, I know what you mean 😉
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She’ll love it. One of my mom’s favorites was lavender. She always had bars of Olde English Lavender soap in her drawers!
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Thanks Kathy, there’s something lovely and traditional about the scent of lavender
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I love lavender. What wonderful patterns! And you have so much patience!
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Thanks Lucie, I love lavender in the garden, unfortunately I’m not very good at growing it!
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Mine only lasts a couple of years too!
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Beautiful! And so tiny… do you wear magnifiers when you stitch?
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Thanks Kathy, I’ve got to the age now where I take my glasses off for close work!
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What a great gift for your mom. My mom is going to be 90 this year just two weeks after Mother’s
Day in the US. I too have a difficult time figuring out gifts.
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The stitched card is beautiful. Love the sachets. Lavender sachets are on my want-to-make list.
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