Three weeks ago I finally finished by Tall Year Square etui, so it was time to start a new project for the stitch-a-long. I decided on a kit which will take a while to do but which I hope is straight forward enough for me to do in short spells such as whilst I’m cooking tea or having my morning coffee.
At Embroiderers Guild we have a sales table, anything a member no longer wants can be put on the table, and anyone can have it for a donation to the Guild. A few months ago I spotted this cross-stitch kit, it’s by Dimensions and it’s called The Finery of Nature. I popped a donation in the pot and it was mine!
I liked the nature theme with it’s birds and butterflies, the flowers also reminded me of the medieval style tapestries, I think they’re called mille-fleurs. The only thing I didn’t like was the black aida, mainly because it’s so difficult to work with, but that was easy to sort out.
I chose a soft blue-green permin 32 count linen called sapphire. Hopefully it will work OK with the design. It took me quite a while to sort the threads out as there were four bundles to identify. I sorted them into colours so I have a card of blues and greens, one of reds and oranges and a third one of neutrals. So far it’s working pretty well. There’s a few different stitches in this design too, apart from the usual cross and back-stitch, there’s french knots, cording and couching too. Some of the french knots are with thicker thread too to make them stand out. It all adds interest!
I’m working the quarter with the little bird first, I think he’d a chickadee. As you can see I’ve stitched the violets at the bottom and I’m just working up the stem to be able to start the bird. I’m aiming to back-stitch as I go along but there’s also quite a bit of gold thread used both for back-stitch, cording and couched stitches. I might leave that until the end as I’m using a hoop and I’m concerned about the couched and corded stitches in particular being damaged. I could change over to a frame, but the hoop is one of those you sit on whilst you stitch, so it’s easy, convenient and I can stitch with both hands so it’s quicker.
This stitch-a-long is organised by Avis from Stitching by the Sea, we all choose our own projects and just share our progress every three weeks. It’s a great motivator to keep going! We’ve got two new members today too, welcome to Carmela and Jocelyn, please follow the links and see what everyone else has been stitching.
Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Catherine, Deborah, Connie, Clare, Mary Margaret, Renee, Jenny, Carmela, Jocelyn
thecraftycreek 
That’s a nice design. I think it’s hard to find good designs which are interesting with a little bit I find challenge. Will enjoy seeing how it progresses.
Might check out your sew along as I sew all the time and should be starting a new sewing project in the next week or so
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Lovely kit! I do love that black background, I’d have had to persist with it, but your choice will be much easier on the eye. I dunno about that bird; it could be a chickadee or a coal tit, but either way, it’s cute!
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I like the black background too but I know my eyes aren’t up to it! Our lack of natural daylight probably doesn’t help either
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Lovely pattern. I have found that it eases the eye strain if you put a white cloth on your lap and/or shine a light under the back of black fabric. It is a lot easier to see the holes.
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Such a beautiful project and great start. I’m sure it will be very pretty on the lighter background too 🤗
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What a lovely project – and a reminder that spring is just around the corner.
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Very nice indeed
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I love this design too. The black is beautiful but I can imagine that it is hard on your eyes. Besides you like light bright colors.
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What a find!! It’s a beauty. I like to stitch on a 24 inch wide frame and prop one end up on the arm of the chair then I can stitch two handed.
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I’m with you on the black fabric, and think this will look very Spring/Summer like on the colour you’ve chosen.
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Very Beautiful ! It’s really an important project ! It will certainly require a lot of patience,the embroidery stitches will enrich it ! Have a nice day!
Carmela
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This is such a stunning piece. You are off to a wonderful start. Beautiful work!
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That was a great acquisition Margaret, and I think your choice of fabric will be wonderful. I wonder how much couching and gold you will decide rouse in the end; if may be the sparkle was necessary against the black. It will be interesting to see if you make changes with the back ground. Lovely start!
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The black is gorgeous but I am happy you changed backgrounds for your eyes 🙂 What a wonderful find with a wonderful start!
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I thought this may lose some of its vibrancy on a lighter fabric so was pleasantly surprised to see the beautiful violets seem to stand our even better on the pale blue fabric. Good choice and my sort of thing. I love something with a challenge to it.
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What a beautiful piece! The birds and flowers are so pretty. The black fabric is nice, but maybe the colors will pop a bit more on the lighter fabric you have chosen.
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Very pretty project
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Beautiful project. Looks like your choice of fabric was a good one.
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I am another one who loves the black, but would find it difficult because of my eyesight. This is one beautiful kit, and I know that you will do it justice, Margaret!
I wonder, will you frame it? Will it be a cushion?
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Thanks Laura, I haven’t decided on the finish yet, I’m running out of wall space so it probably should be a cushion, it depends how precious I get about it!
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Wow, such a beautiful project! Great find 😀 I’m sure the design will turn out lovely on the fabric you chose. Definitely looking forward to seeing this one grow.
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Oh, that’s a beautiful design. I can appreciate it would be hard to do on black. I’m thinking I’m going to have to resort to a magnifying glass for the kit I’ve chosen to work on. 😦
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Thanks for the welcome! I’ve actually looked at this design to purchase in the past so I will enjoy following your progress. Lovely Stitching and yes, I agree, I think it is a chickadee. Happy Continued Stitching!
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I cant wait to see your progress on this Margaret. So beautiful!
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I LOVE that pattern — I actually stitched it on the black Aida when I had younger eyes and turned it into a cushion cover for my mum. It’s so pretty and yes, it reminded me of the Medieval tapestries, too! Will love seeing how it comes out on a pale background.
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It´s a beautiful embroidery, I think!
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Ooh, that is a gorgeous design and I love the fabric you’re using. Looking forward to watching this one grow 🙂
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This is such a lovely project! I do understand what you mean about black Aida. It’s not exactly easy to work on.
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Hello Margaret, what a lucky find at your Guild. I wish our car was on the road so I could get to Guild here. I battle too to find designs that have sufficient challenge for me. This one is beautiful, I agree, I too love the black but would battle with my eyes. Your colour choice is lovely. I’ll look forward to your progress. Kind regards Mandy xx
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