We’ve just had a few days in Derbyshire so I packed a little sewing to do in the evenings. I was strict with myself and only took one project, the sewing room cross-stitch. This is a design from Stony Creek Collection. I’ve been putting off all the gold and silver thread stitching as I really don’t like cross-stitch with metallic threads, so I packed my threads and left myself with little option but to do the metallic bit…it worked!

Last time I shared this project with you the sewing machine just needed all the metallic stitches and then back-stitching and I’d started the patchwork blocks on each side…

The sewing machine is now complete, I’ve finished all the metallic stitching and the back-stitching, I just need to do the back-stitching on the thread and the pincushion and then ‘thread’ my machine with purple thread. I’ll probably do the thread bit last as they’re long stitches so I don’t want it distorting in the hoop I’m using.

Isn’t it cute!

I also finished the patchwork blocks on either side, though I still have the back-stitching to do on the left hand ones as I didn’t have the right colour with me. The one on the bottom right niggles me a little as I feel it’s trying to be a log cabin, but actually the way they’ve drawn it that would be a tricky block to stitch!

In my last post I asked for suggestions for a quote for this piece. The pattern uses a quote from the bible; “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with the might” I fancied something different. There were lots of excellent suggestions and in the end I chose one Laura suggested. Laura finds lots of lovely and inspiring quotes to include in her posts on her blog LC’s Cottage, so I wasn’t surprised when she came up trumps, thanks Laura!

I changed the font too from an old-fashioned one to my standard one which is clear and simple. The variegated brown thread in the border is DMC4000, I had trouble buying it here in the UK, I finally found it on Lakeside Needlecraft, I still haven’t worked out if it is discontinued or just not usually available in the UK. It looks like a very useful colourway with dark brown and grey, particularly for nature inspired embroidery, so I might try and buy some more next time I put an order in.

I love the bottom border of reels of cotton, I still have all the back-stitching to do there too. Next to be stitched is the words “Sewing Room” at the top. Then I’m on the homeward straight, I’m enjoying stitching this now I’ve got the metallic out of the way!