I’m managing to keep up to date with my phenology wheel, last time I posted my progress I had just finished stitching clematis for August…

You can just see on the photo above my markings for September in Frixion pen. I had already decided my flower of the month would be echinacea, otherwise known as a cone flower due to the downswept petals.

I started with the cone shaped middle, just using three French knots. I quickly realised I need more than the three flowers I had originally planned. I stitched six in the end. I stitched some of the stems using split stitch before adding the purple petals with lazy daisy stitch. The leaves were next to be stitched using fishbone stitch, which has to be my favourite stitch for most styles of leaves. My first attempts were too small so I made them bigger, so it looks a bit bushier at the bottom. Finally I added the rest of the stems so everything was attached!

This year seems to be suddenly flying by, especially when I look and realise I only have three months left to stitch. I’m not sure what I’m stitching for October and November, December will be holly, I might do Chinese lanterns for October, I haven’t any in my garden at the moment but I do want to get some or I might stitch some autumn coloured leaves.

I’m pleased with how the phenology wheel is turning out, my only thought at the moment is whether to stitch another primrose flower for March as it doesn’t really fill the space enough. I’ll have a think and see how much it niggles me for the next three months!

This SAL is organised by Avis, we post our progress on our chosen projects every three weeks, please follow the links to see what every one else has been stitching.

Avis, Claire, Kathy, Margaret,

Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Daisy, Cathie,

Linda, MaryMargaret, Cindy, Helen