Toy Chest Paint Box embroidery

Although I had a knitting project on the go, I found it very hard to not continue with the two remaining Toy Chest tools. The paintbox needle threader holder beckoned and I went with the call. Unlike the hobbyhorse, which required few stitches and only my normal glasses, the precision and accuracy of the geometric paintbox design meant digging out my magnifying clip-ons. However, once I was set up with light and magnification, the incentive to keep going at every opportunity was very high.

I didn't work this one in a hoop - it was easier on my  hands to keep it in the light without the hoop. Here is the first outline of the paintbox. I love getting the outline in place and a sense of the overall design.


The hardest bit was stitching the design on the first panel - the lid of the paintbox. Single thread cross-stitch on 32 count linen is not what I can do with my mind wandering!





I went with the lettering suggested for the lid - a decision I regret, but I am not unpicking. Both the "A" and the "N" are very hard to read in this lettering, but I figure the context makes it clear.


When it came to the next panel, I embroidered very plain initials, working it out as I went along. Unfortunately, I concentrated so hard on achieving the lettering I forgot to leave the space on the right-hand side to insert the needle-threader - the whole point of the paintbox! I inserted it on the left side, which, as it is only a storage device, should be fine.


The third panel was very straightforward as most of the cross-stitch was over two threads rather than one.


Next post is construction.