BFF SAL 23 finished and gifted

 My BFF and I both started with the needlebook. I did a bit of drawn thread at top and bottom then started stitching it to the blue felt. I was halfway across the top when I realised I was stitching it on the wrong part of the felt for it to close as a book,

I was mid sentence when it dawned on me and the exclamation of "I am sewing it on the wrong way up" flowed out into the conversation...I will let Roni tell you her reaction to that Click HERE. 

So I unpicked it and started again. However, it was perhaps fortuitous as it gave me pause to consider how to attach the ribbon.

I used crossed stitches with sewing thread and found it very therapeutic, if somewhat slow.

Roni and I agreed that we would finish both the needle case and scissor keeper off screen. I had intended this as a gift and all of a sudden instead of posting it the opportunity for an in person hand over if I finished faster occurred. Plus we have a solid plan for BFF 24

So here they are, with added beads, and initials. Changed the ribbon to go with the little silver L

Snowdrops

 

I rather enjoyed this one. It has the possibility of being a repeat project. I have felt in the stash, and ribbon and well everything I need I guess. 

Ah ah..Halfway there!

 and wow its like putting on glasses in the morning and the world comes into focus.

The blue on the blue worked and I only found four edge ninjas on the way around.

On to the teal and fingers crossed, tempted to use the blue as it is now a known quantity but going to stick to the plan and teal it is. Now the blue was Moon thread, the Teal is Gutermann so might be just a little bit different.

The Backstitch Dilemma: A Tale of Threads, Dragons, and Mild Exasperation

Backstitching. That tiny detail that somehow manages to be both essential and utterly maddening.

I’d been looking at the special threads people on Facebook kindly recommended, but the only way for me to get them was online. That meant no chance to see them in person, no way to judge how fine they really were. And of course, the postage for one skein cost as much as the thread itself, and without knowing if it would meet my need I was not inclined to order multiples to make the postage feel worth it.

A lot of people suggested using ordinary sewing thread instead. At first glance it looked too thick, but then I started wondering if the problem wasn’t the thickness at all — maybe it was just too black. A few encouraging souls even said the piece looked good enough without any backstitching at all.

I’d never seriously considered leaving it off. But it did make me pause.

So I laid out the options: from left to right, a dark blue, a very dark teal, and the original black. I stared at them, put them away, got them out again and dithered a bit. Eventually I decided to embrace the colours — blue for the blue dragon, teal for the teal one. It felt right, enough contrast without overwhelming the cross stitch.

I started with the blue, and honestly, the difference on the dragon’s face was instantly encouraging. It’s amazing how a few lines can bring a creature to life.

My mother asked why I was studying the pattern so intently when I was “just backstitching”. She had somehow forgotten that backstitching does not mean simply outlining the edges. If only it were that simple

 

Sunday Stitchings 22.03.2026

yes this is getting posted a bit late. The when of times has become somewhat fluid recently.

Some colour and shade this week.

Black and white kitten has blue eyes, a bit more blanket by its ear and some shading.

A small stitching finish

 the little kit Started last Sunday

and one of those that the backstitch makes all the difference.

I did have a frame and a mount in mind but nope the mount was just that bit too small. So a full finish is delayed by the framing. As can oft be the case for me.

I finished it on the Monday, which had also included a home visit by what in my childhood I called a vampire lady. In my defence the nurse of my childhood tasked with extracting the red fluid had a very Hammer House of Horror vampire updo. In this case it was my Dad providing the destination for the needle. By the look on his face it did not feel like a "short, sharp scratch", and the nice nurse would have looked out of place next to Vincent Price. 

A Sunday Stitching change of pace

 oddly as I had been stitching on my designated Sunday project during the week, and pretty much swooshing along at pace filling in easy to see sections  come Sunday and nope.

It was as if I had come to a stop sign and needed to start something new, something small and give the kittens/cats a rest.

Not much to see so far, it is a start, it may have arrived with some seasonal items but this is not so further progress will be shared.

Not A sunday stitch

 but a distraction from thinking stitch whilst the filling in was easy as not much else feels that way at the moment.

So things have moved on quite a bit with the black and white cat.

a few ninjas and I think it will be time to go back to the tabby. 

A Very BFF RAL

 BFF once more a journeying so as planned a RAL. Although not quite as originally planned for either of us .

Roni had intended to sew (on what she may or may not tell you in her blog) but the call of the wool overtook her instead.

I thought to try the wool option myself, but two rows in and it was squeaky and annoying, so it went back into its bag, sans picture and will have to wait once more for Fidgety Fingers and TV loud enough to counter the squeak.

Hmm so then what to do. 

Card up some kits ready to start when I feel like it. This kit has one design in it.

This kit has two 

Both are seasonal and I think this will be the last I share of them until that season is upon us, all of a sudden and quite a surprise as usual.

.CLICK HERE to see what my BFF did for her RAL

Sunday Stitchings 8.3.2026

 If you saw the last update on this project you will notice a lot of progress. That is not due to a super fast session of stitching today,

Nope, there has been some during the week on the basis of not wanting to start something new until the Dragons are completed and they are waiting on the backstitch.

So more shades of grey 

BF SAL 23

 On to the next part and this went very quickly. This time I remembered to pause and take a picture before starting the backstitch.

This is one of those designs that the backstitching has a massive impact.

Both stitching parts completed.

We will fully finish the project later, next week will be a RAL 

So hopefully, all going well we will be onto our planned "bigger" SAL three weeks from now.

CLICK HERE to see how my BFF's project is going.