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.

Dragons..a finish of sorts

 and a pause.

Let me explain. All of the cross stitch is I think finished. There may be some ninjas hiding on the edges that will make themselves known when I am Backstitching.

Ah and that is the reason for the pause the backstitching, I am contemplating what to use.

The pattern of course recommends one strand of 310. However, it also recommended two strands on 14 count Aida and I have not done that. My Dragons are one over one on linen. So small stitches. 

I think backstitching with one strand of DMC might be too wide and impact on the detail.  I am not sure if my usual solution to this issue is going to work. Both on the basis of darkness and availability. I don't think mid to dark brown will do.  I do know someone with the right shade and a decent length but I have only met her a few times, and I am not sure how comfortable I would feel about asking?

So a ? raised on Facebook cross stitching  groups to see if anyone has any ideas of what would be suitable. I little space from it might be good anyways.

It does look quite nice as it is in the photograph, but in reality its a bit like looking at something just slightly out of focus and I expect the backstitching will sharpen it all up.

I have recieved some suggestions and then been trying to fins somewhere on line to get them, but if anyone visiting has any thoughts please leave a comment.

Sunday Stitching 1.03.2026

Stake conference, so  more stitching time than a normal Sunday but not quite as much as a General Conference. Watching via You Tube this week and nit via Zoom,  I do prefer the former but being able to "attend " remotely via either remains a blessing.

Still stitching with the light grey. I think there will be a change in shade if not in colour for next week.

There is still a paw on the left kitten to do in both white and grey but it just does not feel like a good jumping off point at the moment.

Dragons, so near

 and yet so far!

I have not forgotten the dragons. I have been on a ninja hunt, here a stitch there a stitch, two the same shade at the same time bliss.

I think I have under thirty stitches to go, all on the wing struts.

I hope I have spotted all the stitches around the edges. If not well backstitching will no doubt serve its dual purpose and not only add clarity to the design but flush out any lingering ninja stitches.

BFF SAL 23 part one week two

 and the stitching is completed.

I am happy with the variegated thread replacing the intended thread from the cover kit.

I am also happy with the result of my initial error. You can play spot the difference between my BFF's version (she followed the pattern except for the variegated swop)

next week we move to the stitching on SAL 23 part two.

Oh Click Here for my BFF's blog and that spot the difference game.

A thought and a framing tease

 I have been framing today, after the Sunday stitching and before ninja hunting on the dragons.

As the framed items are gifts can't post them just yet. However, when holding finished stitches up for my BFF to see over Messenger she oft asks me to put something behind to stop the light coming through and distorting the image she can see.

That reminded me of the unplanned result of adding yellow paper behind the design on a birth sampler because there were cut out Ducks in the mount I wanted to emphasise. The result was a subtle warming of the cross stitched piece.

So  in this instance I thought something much more intentional and reflective of the colours I would want as the subtle shade.

So it does not look like much but here it is.

It is for three finishes , one bigger than the other two. In person, I can see the difference it makes and on pieces that are not full coverage I think I may well do variations on this as a framing technique in future.

I didn't think it would show much on the photographs but it does come through and  I am quite pleased with the result. So now to arrange getting them to the recipients.

Then once I can post the full pictures perhaps you will tell me if you can see the difference the back sheet makes or if I am seeing it because I know it is there?

Sunday Stitching 22.2.2026

I was going to say it was a bit like the weather, more grey but today there is actually some Sunshine.

The kitten however still with the grey stuff.

Blogger stats tell me a lot of views this past week or so are from Germany so Hallo und willkommen, bitte hinterlassen Sie einen Kommentar, wenn Sie eine Person sind. Eigentlich können Sie einen hinterlassen, wenn Sie ein Roboter sind, beides wäre interessant.

A little something

for a wedding.

I will decide to do these things at the last moment.  In this instance inspired by hearing two days before that the decorations for the wedding would include balloons.

It is from a cover kit, but I made some modifications in particular adding the gold blending filament, to the cross stitched balloon hearts and adding the backstitched gold hearts.

I have a little bit of gold blending thread as regular visitors will be aware.

A quick trip to the loft the morning of the wedding and it was all ready to go.

I have crossed out part of the details for the couples privacy.

I rather like how it turned out.

Little bit of tissue paper and some wool and all set.

BFF SAL 23 part one

 well unless we get fed up with it and there is no part two. It could happen.

I have already deviated from the original design on this cover kit, I miss counted so there will be optional spot the difference opportunity with this SAL

As usual we have approached the stitching differently, although we were both agreed that the edge would be variegated threads and not dotty stitching of three shades of green  and a white. 

My BFF chose her variegated on the night, I had a post session hunt for suitable so I can try it out next week.

So this is the position I reached with our seasonal stitch as my BFF calls it.

CLICK HERE to see her progress. Now before deciding on the double kit as SAL 23 we had discussed moving onto something a bit bigger afterwards, we do like to vary the size and style. We had decided on a designer  and a few potential images. However, when mentioning it towards the end of the stitching session neither of us could recall what it was. None of it, source image designer theme! We looked at each other aghast.  Minds blank we scrabbled for anything to jog our memory. Mmm errm oh it was something she had not something I had. It was a bit bigger than a kit but not massive? It was ?? An then suddenly she remembered and we laughed so hard we were in tears at the madness of it.  And then sent a message in messenger saying what it is just in case we forget again!

I am a bit late posting, too tired on Wednesday evening and other things on Thursday (more on that later) so my BFF was first to it this week.

Fidgety fingers

 and did not want to start anything new or work on anything complicated.

Needed  a something.

So, well knitting, no not That cable project but another long term project that was once intended to be a waistcoat but is no longer.

It is wool from my BFF, a big ball of wool (dress making scissors for size reference) and after a few rows the fidgets were gone.

Then back into the bag it went, project hibernation once more.