Since I finished my Jacquie Magic Needle-case I’ve been mulling over whether to start a new project I have several in the pipeline!) or whether to finish something first. I put my sensible hat on for once and I’m going to be sharing my progress on my Peppermint Purple SAL every three weeks. This will hopefully keep my motivation going as it does go hot and cold with this blackwork piece.
This is a free year-long SAL organised by Claire of Peppermint Purple, every week she releases a new blackwork pattern so by the end of the year you have a lovely blackwork sampler. The squares are only 1″ square or a 2×1″ rectangle, so they don’t take too long. Claire does suggest a colour scheme but I decided to go off-piste and choose colours so a picture of Catbells emerges.
Last time I shared it with you I was unhappy with the way the reflection of Catbells in Derwentwater was working out, I was losing the effect…
Last night I decided to bite the bullet and do some frogging, unpicking the dark square on the left and the bottom part of the 1st square on the left. It’s not as easy as it looks picking shades for blackwork – as I have found out, as the density of the design makes a huge difference in how dark it looks.
All the patterns are out now bar the last two, so I could stitch most of the shape of Catbells’ reflection and then plan which shades to do the rest of the lake. This is the reflection so far…
I’m much happier with it now, it’s not perfect but I think it’s definitely an improvement! I’m using very light greys next to the outline and then I’ll use slightly darker ones for the rest. Once the squares are complete I can work on the filler design in the corners which square it off and then a final border.
If you fancy trying blackwork Clare has just release details of the 2022 blackwork sampler, or she has some lovely designs, both modern and traditional, on the Peppermint Purple website.
Our SAL group posts every three weeks with our progress on a chosen project, it does help to keep the motivation going. Please follow the links to see what everyone else has been stitching…
Avis, Claire, Gun, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen
thecraftycreek 
I like this blackwork piece. That was a whole lot of unpicking. I had too look up Catbells, but now I understand what you are trying to achieve.
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I am glad you picked this one back up. I am really looking forward to seeing it once its completed
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So technical and beautiful – I am glad you chose this to complete.
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It’s a lovely design to begin with but you’ve added that special dimension in Catbells. What a clever idea!
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I also had to look up Catbells. Wow, this is such an intricate project. Frogging is never fun, but the lighter shades really did help achieve your goal. Beautiful work!
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Yay, looking forward to watching your progress with this lovely piece. Merry Christmas.
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This is quite amazing, you really have to have a vision for what you want!
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Beautiful! Now I know what project to chose after Tiny Treasure!
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very impressive with your choice of colours
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I am not sure what the Catbells are and must look it up like others have. However I love the blackwork Margaret. Have a lovely Christmas. xx
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Catbells is a hill in the Lake District that thinks it’s a mountain!
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I guess the “sensible hat” is a good idea, but mine keeps falling off when deciding what to work on next 🙂
Your SAL is looking wonderful, glad you were able to fix it to your liking!
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I think I keep losing my sensible hat in my messy sewing room 🙂
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