Unframed {Cross-stitching}

Sunday 9 December 2012

Baby Report (D-Date +7): nothing. So still finishing up projects, and starting new ones. Many thanks for all your kind words, and sharing your experience with me. I am ok with the situation, but very glad I have some crafty things to do!

So on Friday I may have been overly ambitious and said that I finished the cross-stitch I started at the beginning of the Olympics Game. It had been a while, there were a few posts about it in August - and since there has been nothing. Yes, I did get bored of trying to cross-stitch the linen fabric and count the threads. I picked it up a couple of weeks ago and was determined to finish it, once and for all - and frame it. 



            **Don't forget to enter my giveaway - open until Tuesday night** 




As the title may have suggested, the cross-stitch has been (sort of) finished but is still unframed. It took a while for Mr MiH and I to agree on where the cross-stitch will be hung and the frame size we wanted. We bought a frame, and it is a little bigger than the body of the cross-stitch (nearly as big as the linen fabric), and I do not want as much linen fabric showing. 




So I will be extending the bottom line of the cross-stitch on both the left and right hand-sides. 




I will add a few more flying birdies - I find them so cute that this should not be a problem. 



Pattern: Momenti di Vita by Renato Parolin (you can find a list of his patterns here)
Anchor Colours: I totally disregarded the colours recommended on the chart - I mainly used  Black (403), Bright Orange (333) and Bright Blue (164) - and bits of yellow (beaks); brown (squirrels) and cream (rabbits) I had from previous projects. 
Fabric: Linen cross-stitch fabric (32 count) in Natural Light (similar here). 
Modifications: Although I will add some birdies, there will be handful compared to the chart, I did not make as many rabbits and squirrels, and did not had any hearts. This is a 'simplified' version of the chart. Because of the linen fabric, bad counting, the trees are much more oval than on the chart (as in there were supposed to be round). However the linen fabric was very forgiving in the end, and I can actually live with the mistakes I made.
Result: I really like it, it is quite modern now and also retro thanks the colour work. It was really hard work to cross-stitch on linen and the never ending tree trunks. I am not sure I like the squirrel and rabbit charts as much as the rest. 



And all I will need to do is work out how you actually frame a cross-stitch or a piece of fabric. We have done a lot of hanging frames recently so it may be time for me to share with you bits and pieces of what we have been up to. 

As we are on cross-stitching, and now that Elaine who blogs at Dashasel Sews has received it, I can show you the burlap pincushion I made for her as part of our private swap. I will share my pattern with you at some point next week - just need to put it down on paper. Here is a sneak peak... 

It was very hard to send this little project... 

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend!

19 comments:

  1. Your cross stitch is beautiful - I love your modifications. I prefer to cross stitch on linen but you do have to concentrate quite hard on counting!

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  2. I love your 'version' of the pattern! The oval trees are lovely! You know, making plans for next week ( pattern instructions and giveaway winner!) may just be the 'push' bubs needs!!

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  3. I too adore your version of the pattern - it has the light of a winter's day if that makes sense and I love the pops of colour.

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  4. Oh those are both gorgeous! My kidlet was 2 weeks late to his own party, something I was greateful for at the time as it was when we had the heavy snowfall and couldn't get out the house!

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  5. The cross stitch is beautiful. I love it's simple lines - though it looks like it was far from simple to stitch. Helen was ten days late and I did all I could in that time. I can still remember being in a book shop and having a lady ask when I was due and the look of sheer panic in her eyes when I told her the previous week.

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  6. Oh it is lovely cross stitch. I love the squirrels! Fingers crossed baby MiH will be here really soon.

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  7. the cross stitch is beautiful!

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  8. Framing cross stitch is pretty easy. I've done it lots of times. This link explains it pretty well. http://www.cross-stitching.com/feature/making/framing-your-work. To be honest, with stuff I wasn't precious about I used double sided adhesive tape to fasten the fabric to the back of the mounting board. I'd also been known to just staple it to the board too, as the staples would be hidden by the mount on the front of the work. There was a website that used to send a kit and I can't find it as it is so long since I used it. Maybe it would be in a cross stitch magazine or something. Good luck with framing, it really does make a massive difference to how it looks, and yours is going to look so lovely.

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  9. So lovely! And, yes, fingers crossed for the safe (and soon!) arrival of baby MiH!

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  10. Your cross stitch is beautiful! I love those trees - it must have taken a lot of patience to do all that on linen. Your burlap pincushion looks lovely as well. All my children were born early or late to get as near as possible to Christmas! Hope everything goes well :)

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  11. I love the use of linen - it looks great and that pincushion! Can't wait to see the pattern.

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  12. Gorgeous work as always, Nat!! Such an adorable cross stitch pattern and love your version of it!! The burlap pin cushion looks fabulous too - lucky swap partner! Look forward to the pattern.

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  13. Beautiful work, looks amazing. I can so understand your impatience! Hang in there!

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  14. You make such pretty things! Love the cross stitch and LOVE the pincushion. Must have one! Take care~

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  15. You know, I'd love to learn to cross stitch, I think my friend is going to teach me but it seems a lovely creative thing to do. I love the little birds on the linen, good luck with extending it too :) xx

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  16. Your cross stich is soooo beautiful! My babies were all two to three weeks late ... I believe that babies come when babies are ready :)

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  17. What a cute cross stitch. It goes so well with baby's room. Wow, 7 days late? Baby is like Spike in The Land Before Time movie where he was just fine sleepin' all snuggly in his egg and not ready to hatch.

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  18. I think the cross stitch is one of my favourites things you've ever made. Stunning! the pin cushion looks gorgeous too :)

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  19. I absolutely love this project! I did a full-on sampler once complete with the alphabet, a bouquet of flowers and the couple's name for a wedding gift once on linen and I wanted to hurt myself badly before I finished it. So I feel for you, but linen looks the prettiest afterward doesn't it? This is stunning!

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