I’ve just finished another section on my two cross-stitch SALS, both are due to finish around Christmas time or just after.

I always tackle the Zoe stitch-a-long (SAL) first, mainly because it’s released first every other Monday. This is the Faby Reilly Zoe Box SAL, it’s going to be beautiful. I had to stitch the outline first (which I was meant to do back in July before the SAL all started!!) which took a couple of evenings. This time we’re stitching the lid of the box, I think it’s the outside rather than the inside, but time will tell. It’s a pretty border of leaves going through the seasons as the leaves go round the box. It’s going to look lovely when all the back-stitching and the decorative stitches are completed too, but we’ll have to wait anther week for that.

The Enlightenment SAL is by Tempting Tangles, the pattern for this is released every other Friday, so it’s always second to be tackled. This includes a Zen saying, Chop wood, carry water, I’m not much wiser having read various explanations on what it means!

Two weeks ago I was half way along the second row, having just stitched Chop and worked out the saying…

It’s being released a 1/16th block each time, I do find doing strict blocks a bit frustrating as sometimes you find there’s just one more stitch on the next block. This time I’ve got a bit ahead of myself in places and stitched extra where I’m pretty sure what the pattern is going to be. For example, only the top two rows of the lower w were included, I’m pretty sure it’s the w for water and stitching the whole thing made it easier to work along the row to the top of the t without mis-counting.

We’re almost half way through this SAL so it’s starting to come together. I think I’m going to make it into a cushion afterwards for our guest room as by coincidence it co-ordinates pretty well with my Coming Home quilt, and that’s earmarked for the guest room bed.