What I've been busy doing these past few weeks...

So, me being the type of person to run before I can walk, I embarked on my first proper cross stitch project of my own!

This is the design, all ready to stitch with DMC threads:

Its my Mother and my Step-Dad on their wedding day last year! I adore this picture and their entire wedding was vintage themed, with vinyl and cupcakes and a rock 'n' roll band. I thought what better than to cross-stitch their photo to enjoy for years to come?

So a few weeks have passed and I've been trying to do a 10x10 square a day. I'm not doing so well, but after learning the "parking method", my stitching has sped up tenfold! As you can see from the pattern, in 100 crossstitch squares, there can be 30 or 40 colour changes! So parking has suited me very well.

Here is some progress pictures, and how my "cross stitch caddy" is set up!

I have approximately 27 colours, and many more skiens in storage just in case I run out! My caddy has removeable sections which is really useful, as I've made a little bin for my waste threads, and a section for my pens, needles and scissors!

This is the first (and smallest!) page I'm doing, as it starts in the top left. I didn't like the idea of starting in the middle and spending months rubbing my wrists over finished needlework and making it tatty!

I do try to wind my bobbins neatly but sometimes it just doesn't happen!

I used a thin sharpie to write the symbols and numbers on the bobbins, this helps for quick selection. As I'm using at least 10-12 colours at a time, I like being able to quickly find a colour bobbin and check it against the thread to make sure I'm using the right one!

1500 stitches so far (I think!) if you compare it to the picture above you can see it coming together! I gridded with a wash away marker, that will disappear when I wash it (or I hope so, otherwise tears will be shed and tantrums had!)

I'm using an R&R Frame, which is a plastic snap frame to hold your embroidery. In the US a similar brand is Q-Snap! I really recommend these as you can keep them in the frames for long periods of time, and unlike embroidery hoops, doesn't leave harsh line marks!

I'm using the largest size available, 17" x 17" which is quite unwieldy to be honest, but I've gotten used to it, and I like being able to eventually see the entire cross stitch on it! My local needlework shop has ordered in some smaller sizes for me for future projects, as I can't see myself going back to hoops after this!

Thankyou for looking!

Back into Cross Stitching!

I thought it might be time to introduce another craft onto my blog. I can't always knit and I find my blog posting schedule is suffering for it as I don't have much to show!

I adore cross stitching, I've only done a few hours worth in my life but the artwork is stunning. I can spend hours browsing other peoples handiwork!

I think I could look at making my own patterns in conjunction with my tattoo designs and artwork, it would be so  much fun!

So here is my afternoon in pictures with an old cross stitch magazine and some free threads! I had to pop into town to get a tension ring and some needles as I'd lost everything but after that I settled down with some Downton Abbey!

I highly underestimated how useful my iPad would be when it came to digital magazines! I get the issues straight away, a couple of quid cheaper and I can follow all the cross stitch patterns on there! I was browing for inspiration while I stitched this tiny teapot.

This is around 2 hours in, seriously, I'm so slowwwww! But I adore the little squares and watching it grow colour by colour is addictive.

R.I.P kitty cross stitch. This was the first one I tried to do over a year ago and I think I was a little over ambitions. I still have around 15 colours from the kit that I haven't used and I've lost the pattern now, so I'll have to think of something else.

The pattern in the magazine, I got some lovely pastel coloured threads free with the magazine that work well with all the designs there.

Finished this evening! Sorry for the poor lighting but there wasn't much left at this point! The colours aren't quite right (check out that yellow!) but I didn't have them all in the free threads. Still think it looks okay though.

I'm officially addicted. If you know anyone who has a cross stitching blog that still updates, I'd love to read it!