Well Good Grief!

I can't even believe that I didn't get time to do a single post in November. Bad blogger, bad blogger! Shame on me...my head is hanging low.

Boy, life has just been a zoo lately! No major events, no weddings, or funerals (thankfully) or such! Just the same ole crazy life moments that just seem to eat at my time! And December is certainly not starting out any better!!

I have not gotten a single stitch done on my TDITM even though several dozen more are charted and in the computer...just not stitched, and therefore, not photographed! Obviously, I'm not going to make my timeline!! Who's crazy idea was this!! I'll have to console myself with the thought that I can and will do 12 dozen....even if it's not in 12 months!

And I can share the second mermaid with you...it was finished in November. Yeah, I know, should have blogged it then!! But, you'll just have to be happy with it now....hugs to all who follow this blog...and hope you have a great end of year, and a super great start of a new one soon!!

Latest stitching

I've been amiss lately in stitching on a round-robin I'm in. It is a relaxed robin, no deadlines...but even so, I have let everything else come first. So, I made it my number one stitching priority after retirement...to use my extra time.

The group is several lovely ladies that have befriended me (and I them) on my chat message board at HGTV. The robin is a crazy quilt block, about 20 inches in size, with a mermaid theme. However, in reality, it is more of an art block than a true crazy quilt block. We are moving outside out 'norm' and are truly loving the experience.

So, here's my work so far on Nicki's block...she did the beading on the baby mermaid. I thought that sequins (several hundred) were a good accompaniment to the baby. And the hair is done in 3 color silk thread; split stitch and long/short stitch.

I'm working on the second mermaid now...a blond! And I'll post her photo here when done.

TDiTM Stitch #83

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

This last group of stitches was completed while on vacation with my friend Talia last week. Of all the ones I got done…this is my very favorite. I like the simplicity of the stems and the width of the stitch. It will really come in handy to fill in some space…and when I get to a tighter area along the seam, I’ll just shorten the stem until there is nothing left!

The stitch is worked in a beautiful variegated soft blue that reminds me of calm clear ocean water.

TDiTM Stitch #82

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

This stitch was a little tricky to wrap all the intersecting posts and add the French knots. Seed beads might have looked better…but I like the stitch. It is really nice with the variegated gold/yellow thread. Wish you could see it for real!

TDiTM Stitch #81

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

This stitch uses the same process as the last stitch. I think this one would be really great with 4mm crystal bicone beads instead of the French knots.

TDiTM Stitch #80

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

Okay, back to wrapping the loops again. I have decided that I make more uniform stitches with the back stitch than with a running stitch. I back stitch from left to right, then on the return I wrap. Then I add the daisy stitches and French knots…and any little straight stitches that might be needed.

TDiTM Stitch #79

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

The loops are not wrapped for this one, just a simple back stitch (try to make them uniform in size). The “spokes” are straight stitches. All is done is bright green perle cotton, size 8.

TDiTM Stitch #78

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

The loops are done in backstitch then wrapped for this stitch, but the straight stitches are just a single thread. The thread is size 8 perle in a purple for the entire stitch.

TDiTM Stitch #77

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

Here’s a stitch with all the spokes and loops done in backstitch then wrapped. By working from the outside edge of each spoke the last stitch can end at the center.

The thread is size 8 perle in a variegated blue for the spokes and a solid blue for the loops and French knots.

TDiTM Stitch #76

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

This is an adaptation of the last stitch…replacing the French knots with detached chain stitch.

TDiTM Stitch #75

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

Well, I’m back to using size 8 again…in dark rose and pink this time.

I really like stitching the backstitch and then wrapping it. Experimenting with changing the shape of the loop by making it longer or shorter is also fun.

The “T” shape on this stitch is also wrapped; but, could be done is just a basic straight stitch.

TDiTM Stitch #74

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

This stitch is worked in size 12 perle cotton, which makes a thinner stitch line that the perle eight and perle five I’ve been using.

When finished, I noticed that the stitch reminds me of boat anchors. So, it would be a good stitch to use for nautical blocks for sure!

TDiTM Stitch #73

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

I couldn’t quite get the curve uniform on this stitch. But, it is still very pretty, even with its faults. A soft lilac was used for the curve, stitched in backstitch then wrapped. The detached chains are in a light moss green. The French knots are done in a variegated pink.

The entire stitch reminds me a little of an inverted group of candle operas. What an imagination I have!

TDiTM Stitch #72

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

This stitch continues the wrapped backstitch base…but uses a slightly wider base than the last two stitches used.

I encourage you to play around with different half circle or half oval shapes to find the best fit for your project.

Create a wrapped back stitch ‘spoke’ at the vertical position, horizontal right, horizontal left, and 45 degree left/right. Tuck a detached chain stitch between these lines using a different color of thread to ensure a clear definition of your stitches.

This is the half way stitch! Only 72 more to go and we’ll have our 144! Believe it or not…I have designed all the way to 101…and just need to get them stitched so photos can be taken! My goal is still the same, to finish all 144 in 12 months!..so, that means I’ll have to really pick up the pace! I have a glorious week of vacation planned in a few days…and am taking my design book and threads with me to stitch, stitch, stitch…

TDiTM Stitch #71

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

I’m getting a little more uniform with the wrapped stitch…so this one was fun. Of course, I had to use my favorite little “palm” of straight stitches! This time I added a horizontal little base at the bottom of each arch as well…and a little French knot to finish it off.

TDiTM Stitch #70

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

This stitch is made using a tissue paper technique we did for stitch #69 with two exceptions. First, reduce the width of the stitch ‘loop’ so the stitch is more of a series of half circles. Second, after you stitch a series of back stitches…remove the tissue…and wrap each stitch by sliding the needle (eye first) under each back stitch. Don’t pierce the fabric. This will effectively wrap the line of back stitches and create more texture.

The long vertical post and other posts that form the “star” are also back stitched and then wrapped. They can be drawn on the tissue and the entire design can be back stitched at once; or you can just estimate these lines after the base is completed.

Once you get uniform back stitches…and the feel for wrapping them…I think you’ll really like working this technique. I hope so, because we will be using it for the next dozen or so stitch treatments!

Hopefully, you'll be able to get your 'loops' more uniform than I did these!

Buttons, sequins, beads, and SRE or embroidery flowers would be cute inside of the loops too.

TDiTM Stitch #69

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

This stitch is made using a tissue paper technique. Draw the “loop” the depth and width you desire. Pin the paper to the seam line…and back stitch (as uniform as possible) to fill the line. Back stitches were also used to create the vertical long stitch.

The detached chain or lazy daisy stitches are slightly apart from the straight stitch. The space between all of these would be a great place for a pearl or crystal bead to rest.

Recent CQ Endeavor

I'm managed to do a little more CQ lately...in between all the other pulls on my time lately. These are two blocks to contribute to a replacement quilt for a family that lost a CQ family heirloom in a fire.

The gals at MAP/SAM are working them up...and these will be mailed out tomorrow.

TDiTM Stitch #68

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

It is still amazing to me that so many stitches can be made of such simple elements!

This stitch is the last of the chain arch stitch varieties. It is a balanced stitch that would not need any other adornments to be complete.

Next we will continue to work with half-circle bases…but will use a simple wrapped straight stitch as our method to construct the base instead of the chain stitch. However, any base can still be done with the chain if you desire.

TDiTM Stitch #67

Reference: Twelve Dozen Stitches in Twelve Months

The extended arches on this stitch would go a long way to fill in space. The cluster of straight stitches in the middle of the long vertical stitch reminds me of stars.

The addition of a star charm, bead, or perhaps a snowflake sequin under each archway would transform this simple stitch into a real gem!