Mad About Cross Stitch Sharing My Cross Stitching Projects

Craft 4 Crafters ShowPosted by Tracy on January 23rd, 2012

I entered a World of Cross Stitching competition a few weeks back and didn’t think any more about it, I keep saying to my partner that I never win anything. Well that was until I opened my post today and saw that I had won 2 tickets to the Craft 4 Crafters Show in Westpoint, Exeter.

I couldn’t believe it, I don’t usually win anything but I’m well chuffed and really looking forward to going now, not sure what day to go yet but it’s on for 3 days, 2nd-4th Feb 2012, so will be able to go on one of them.

It’s a pity I have to work on those days and have no chance of booking the day off, good job Exeter isn’t that far so once I finished work I can still be there for about lunch time.

I’m really excited and looking forward to going. Is anyone else going to the Craft 4 Crafters show?

Binky and a ButterflyPosted by Tracy on January 23rd, 2012

This cross stitch chart was in a booklet that came free with The World of Cross Stitching magazine, issue 186.  There were twelve designs but I only chose two of them, this being one. These were designed by Adam Pescott, my favorite character that he has created is Bently Bear. I also like Lickle Ted but as yet I haven’t got round to stitching any of those.

On the chart it gives the size for the design area on 16 count Aida but I wanted it a little bigger than that so I stitched this on 14 count, so instead of being 2 1/2″ X 2 1/2″ mine has turned out to be 3″ X 3″ just a little bigger but not too much.

Party BearPosted by Tracy on January 23rd, 2012

Awwww this little bear looks like he’s having fun at a party.

This finished cross stitch is going to be made into a card, not sure who I’m going to give this card to yet but it will go in the card stash ready to be used.

Being 6.5 X 7.5 cm in size I managed to get this stitched and finished in just a few hours so a nice quick stitch for my first completed one of 2012.

I do have a couple of big projects on the go as well so it is really nice to do some of these little ones just for a change.

Santa and ReindeerPosted by Tracy on January 3rd, 2012

This is the last of the Christmas cross stitches to put on here, until the next time. I have really enjoyed stitching all these wonderful pictures and I know they have been really appreciated by the members of family who received these cards.

I have just noticed on this cross stitch that I forgot to fluff up the Whisper thread on Santa’s beard and hat before taking the photograph, I did remember to do that before the card was sent though.

Looking back at all the Christmas cross stitches I have done I’m surprised that I have only done one of Father Christmas, a bit late to change that now though.

Penguin Delivering a PresentPosted by Tracy on January 3rd, 2012

This rather sweet penguin looks in a hurry to deliver that present on time, I wonder what could be inside.

This is stitched using Anchor threads apart from the white bits on the Santa hat which was done using Whisper thread. I also used 14 count white Aida with gold flecks going through it, I must keep my eye open for some more as I have nearly run out of it now after doing all these cross stitches for Christmas cards.

For next Christmas I think I might get some Black Aida and stitch snowy pictures on it and see how that comes out, I’m not a big fan of stitching on dark Aida but I do think it would look great.

Penguin SkiingPosted by Tracy on January 3rd, 2012

This penguin is having some fun on the slopes. Skiing is something I have tried once and quickly found that it’s really not for me, think I will stick to watching it on the telly.

I did enjoy cross stitching this one as there are a few colour changes, I even used some of the whisper thread again to make the white bits on the penguins Santa hat all fluffy.

The ski poles were a bit of a challenge to back stitch, the basket that is attached to the pole at the bottom has a lot of detail to it so extra time and care was needed and it paid off.

Polar BearPosted by Tracy on January 3rd, 2012

My favourite Christmas cross stitch is this one of a polar bear. I used Anchor stranded cotton for this cross stitch but I did change the thread I used for the bear, I wanted to make the polar bear fluffy so I used Whisper thread and then brushed it with a soft tooth brush, a babies tooth brush is perfect for this.

This is the first time I’ve used thread like this and am very pleased with the results and will definitely use this again. It’s just a pity the photo doesn’t show this very well but it does still look very cute.

These round cross stitches are a little bigger than the usual cross stitches I do for cards and wouldn’t fit on a 6″ X 4″ card that I normally use. I went out and got some 7″ X 5″ cards and I now think that this size card is better, will be using 7″ X 5″ from now on.

Mouse and RobinPosted by Tracy on January 2nd, 2012

Now things have calmed down after Christmas and New Year I can start to get the rest of my Christmas cross stitches on here.

This little cross stitch didn’t take that long to do and I really love the bold red and green colours against the subtle brown and pink of the mouse. There were no surprises that the back stitching took longer than the cross stitching to do. I used a sewing needle to complete all the back stitching, a lot of the back stitches went through the cross stitches so using a sewing needle made the job easier.

Wishing you a Happy New Year