I finished my Bilberry Sampler just in time to start my Lizzie Stitching Wallet tomorrow!
I started this sweet little sampler last month on the train back from Denman College, it’s a mini kit I bought at the Knitting and Stitching Show last year from someone’s bargain basket. It included all the threads, I just had to grab some evenweave linen from my stash so it was the perfect kit to take away.
Unfortunately I realised pretty quickly that I’d picked up 18 count, rather than the 16 count the pattern suggests. Most of the stitches were fine, I tended to use one thread instead of two and it probably means my satin stitch has a better coverage than it would otherwise have done.
I didn’t pick it up again until this week when I signed up for a stitch-a-long with Faby Reilly, I decided I wanted to finish this before I started another project as together with my quilting I’ve got about five different projects on the go! This could either mean I have a short attention span or that I can multitask, not sure which!
This is where I was when I showed you my sampler earlier in the week…
The bilberry border didn’t take long at all, there’s a lot of thread changes for such a small border, but I think it’s really pretty.
The only row of stitching I changed completely from the pattern was the very last one, underneath the bilberries. It was meant to be boxed cross-stitch in perle thread, I felt it would be just too bulky, so I stitched a long-armed cross-stitch. I think it gives a lovely effect in the thicker perle thread, almost like a rope.
I just need to take this down to the framers for a simple picture frame and mount.
Having finished my bilberries I could start the preparatory work for my Lizzie Stitching Wallet. This is a stitch-a-long by Faby Reilly, I’ve stitched a few of her designs now as I really like her style. She uses a variety of stitches, she doesn’t do half cross-stitches, she just uses the back-stitch outline to give the shape, the eye follows that and not the cross-stitches underneath, this also gives a much lighter design effect as it’s not just solid cross-stitch. The mistletoe humbug and the Mothers Day card and presents I stitched earlier in the year were all Faby’s designs.
We’re making a Stitching Wallet, so there’s a scissor holder, pincushion, needle case, all within a pretty wallet. I’ve been planning to make something along these lines for a while, so when her stitch-a-long came up I enrolled straight away. It’s only £6, so if anyone fancies stitching a Lizzie Wallet too, it’s not too late to enrol!
I ordered some 32 count linen in French Lace colour, it’s one of those colours that borders on quite a few colours. In some lights (and on the computer) it’s a very pale shade of green, very pale! In electric light it looks more beige or antique white…whatever the colour, I think it will work well with the DMC threads we’re using. I didn’t want to use the antique white for this as I am planning to use it whenever I go to Embroiderers Guild, I didn’t want it to get grubby too quickly!
Faby recommends a counting outline for her designs. The back-stitch outline is used for constructing the wallet using whip-stitch so it needs stitching at some point anyway, by adding a side stitch every 5 stitches we have a built in counter. This is very useful for people like me who are very bad at long distance counting! Last night I started my outline for one of the main pieces, hopefully it will be ready for Monday when the first part is released.
I’m linking up with Kathy’s Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday, a celebration of all things hand sewn, so why not follow the link and see what everyone else has been stitching.
thecraftycreek 
Lovely colour range, and the background colour is subtle and perfect. This is going to be such a pretty project!
LikeLike
Thanks Kate, I think it’s going to be really pretty!
LikeLike
Nice project. Love the colours for the new one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Kate, I’m looking forward to getting started!
LikeLike
I have the same addiction as you do! There are always lots of projects underway here too. I love all of the interesting stitches you use.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Gail, I have several on the go and LOADS in the pipeline 🙂
LikeLike
well done on a finish, and such pretty colours for the new project!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Claire, I think it’s going to be really pretty!
LikeLike
I love those DMC colors. Your stitching wallet is going to be so pretty. I would love to join this, but I have way too many projects in progress and in the queue. Your bilberry piece is gorgeous. I love the variety of stitches.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Cathie, this one has jumped the queue really as I was planning to make one at some point anyway…that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely soft looking sampler… great job!
You were so disciplined to finish it before the new stitch along project!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would have sat for ages waiting to be finished otherwise, luckily I knew it was close enough to be a realistic finish!
LikeLike
Your Bilberries is just lovely, I look forward to seeing your stitchery wallet progress those colors are just lovely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m all for no 1/2 stitches and using the backstitch for the eye to follow. It looks great. So many cute cute cross stitch things. I love the quote with Kermit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done! It’s always nice to finish off a project, and exciting to start another one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such beautiful work! Loving the colour pallette for the new project
LikeLike
Two more lovely projects in the works. The colors on the stitch along are wonderful, but I like the row work on the other too. So much variety, it is inspiring!
LikeLike
it’s really lovely! 5 WIPs is nothing! I have about 10 times that amount and I know there are a lot of people with more!
LikeLike
The colors on the stitch along are wonderful, but I like the row work on the other too. There are always lots of projects underway here too.
LikeLike