The Gift of Stitching

Last year I subscribed to an online counted thread and cross-stitch magazine, The Gift of Stitching. Edited by Kirsten Edwards from Kellyville Ridge, NSW, the magazine comes out monthly and has a wide range of projects, mostly cross-stitch, by designers around the world. Subscriptions are very reasonably priced,even for one year, but you can take out a 10 year subscription for $120 - a great bargain.

The Gift of Stitching website, www.thegiftofstitching.com.au  also sells kits and accessories, especially a range of collectable thread winders.

Until this month I hadn't tried anything from the magazine, because I had too much on the go already, but I have now worked versions of two of this month's projects.

The first is Pins and needles for a lady by Tanya Haines of Thimble Cottage Designs. It is a circular needle with edges that can be used as a pinwheel. As a pinwheel was, I think, the second project we made in Primary School, when I was 8, I thought I would give this much more attractive and ambitious project a go, using linen and threads from my stash.

It is a long time since I have done a cross-stitch project using linen rather than Aida. It took me quite a while to adjust and there are some irregularities in the counting - before I realised I would need to use a magnifier if I wanted to be anything like precise. Things got better after that and I really enjoyed the project.                  

                                                                                                                                                                                 I worked the flower on the front and the little motifs on the back in yellow with white centres, the reverse of The Gift of Stitching design. As I didn't unpick, the result of my miscounting is evident in the symmetry.

I used a small blue medallion print for the lining, to pick up the little motifs on the back of the needlecase and used backing felt as padding and finer felt for the needle pad.

I enjoyed the making. It is satisfying, if fiddly, to embroider, construct and put together such a pretty little thing.




















I am pleased with the result - even with errors. I learnt so much doing it and finally got into the swing that means I can do more such cross-stitch projects.

Friendship Bird Floss Tag
So to keep my practice going, I made another project from The Gift of Stitching Issue 60, the floss tag by Michelle Lutzen of Stitchy Kitty. This was great fun, especially after the practice I got from the needlecase. I got quickly into a rhythm.                                                                                                                                                      

 It is a really charming design that made me smile all the time I worked on it. I made a few mistakes but they were very easy to undo without messing up the whole design. I began to see why so many stitchers are addicted to this form of embroidery.

I stitched the ric-rac down all around the edge, rather than pinning it to stand up because this is a gift for a child and I wanted it to be secure. I am very pleased with the result.

I might try the flowerpot sampler purse from the same magazine issue.