• Customer projects completed

    Dapple Dachshund on 28-Count Linen

    March 4, 2022 - By 
    Dapple Dachshund on 28 count Lien

    This cute project – a multi-coloured dapple dachshund on 28-count linen – was very difficult. Not because of the pattern or the number of needle changes needed but because of the stitch size. Usually on a 28-count linen you would work as you would for a 14-count aida. So, I began this piece as a 14-count project.

    However, as I began to stitch down the first leg, I realised the little chap would be too big for the material size – what a mistake to make! I managed to get my head around the fact that the stitches I needed to do were absolutely minute – 14 stitches to an inch is fine but 28 stitches to an inch well that is a whole different ball game. But any stitching errors were tricky to rectify so I needed maximum concentration levels. We all know that is never easy when you are working full time and running a busy teenage-filled house.

    You can view other customer projects by clicking here ☺️

    Completing the Dachshund on 28 count Linen

    front right leg

    With the error addressed, I started completing the miniature dachshund’s front right leg. Thousands of miniscule stitched which took hours and hours and hours and hours! One A4 page of pattern down – another three to go.

    Using unspecified threads supplied with the kit, they tanged easily and often needed untwisting or unknotting which is not something that usually occurs with DMC or Anchor threads.

    What to do next? The first part of the head or the other bottom part? Choosing to go up rather than across I started to get a feel for the animal’s character.

    dapple dachshund on 28-count linen

    The dapple dachshund (on 28-count linen) was coming to life. Constantly checking my rows and stitches, I was cross stitching in a way I never had before. Sectioning off the stitching chart and making sure I didn’t go beyond each section ensured I focused on one area at a time. This in turn, meant I could easily check that everything lined up and was in its exact location. Less mistakes equals less time unpicking!

    3 pages of A4 down and one to go.

    Eh voila! Complete.

    Dachshund Kits can be purchased here

  • Customer projects completed

    Cat Stack Cross Stitch kit.

    May 30, 2020 - By 
    Cat Stack cross stitch kit by Bothy Threads.

    For Cat Lovers Everywhere: Cat Stack cross stitch kit from Bothy Threads.

    Where to buy Cat Stack cross stitch kit by Bothy Threads.

    Kit contents:

    • 14 count white Zweigart Aida
    •  pre-sorted stranded cotton
    •  ‘Lana’ (a woolly thread)
    • a needle
    •  stitching diagrams
    • completion instructions.
    • Finished size 18 by 34cm. This kit uses full cross stitches, backstitch and a few French knots.
    Also available, Dog Stack Cross stitch kit.

    Cat Stack’s one of a series of cross stitch kits developed from original artwork by Kate Mawdsley Kate Mawdsley.com

    The kits fairly straight forward in terms of the cross stitching and backstitch and would be ideal for beginners. All the crosses are full stitches. The backstitch can be completed in long runs, as it is a modern pattern. This makes this the backstitch quicker to complete than some other backstitching designs.

    French knots.

    • Cat stack cross stitch using French knots
    • How to use French knots
    • Cat stack cross stitch kits

    The only advance stitch you may need is a French knot to complete the cat’s eyes. Once the French knot is mastered, depending on your skill level, the overall effect is wonderful. It really gives each cat (and the birds) different personalities.

    However, When positioning the French knots, be careful not to position them incorrectly. Doing so just makes the cat’s look ‘odd’. With that said, don’t be afraid to undo it and have another go. Try offsetting them from the holes if necessary to achieve the look you require. For a quick tutorial on ‘How to tie French Knots’ See HERE!

    Lana thread used in Cat Stack cross stitch kit

    How to fluff up Lana thread when Cross stitching. Kit example is Cat Stack cross stitch kit by Bothy Threads
    Fluffing up Lana threads for Cat Stack cross stitch kit.
    Image showing fluffed up Lana thread.

    This kit contained a first for me – Lana thread. I have never worked with Lana threads before which made it interesting to use. Also, I found them to be thicker than stranded cotton that’s normally used in most cross stitch kits and has the appearance of pure wool. On completion of the stripy grey cat, the Lana thread’s ‘fluffed up’. To achieve this rub a piece of velcro across it carefully. So as not to damage the yarn but to give it a fluffy appearance. You do need to be cautious about not catching the stranded cotton face and paws with the velcro. I would recommend practising fluffing up the Lana on a spare piece of cloth or Aida as shown in the image.

    Cat Stack cross stitch kit Pattern and Instructions.

    The stitching instructions are very clear and set out the order in which things should be done, both for stitching the design. They also explain how Bothy Threads stitched the design along with some useful top tips.

    The pattern chart is clearly printed on two lots of two A3 sheets of paper.  With one set of two for the cross stitching chart, and the second set for the backstitching and the placement of the French knots. Charts can be marked off as you stitch although I found it unnecessary as the design is in blocks of colour requiring only a few needle changes. Overall Cat Stack was a joy to stitch with different techniques, the use of Lana, French knots and delightful colours.

    • A Stack of cats cross stitch kit
    • Cats cross stitch
    • Cross stitching cats

    Unfortunately, this particular project required the purchasing of more of the stranded cotton owing to the need to unpick my client’s work as sadly it had been started in the wrong place. Also, it was a little tangled so the threads were unsalvageable. This meant that, even though excess threads had been given in the original kit, there was not enough extra of one of the colours.

    Image Showing incomplete stitching. Where to get a Cat Stack cross stitch kit.

    The brown striped cat  (cat 1) with some stitching unfinished while I waited for the cotton to arrive.

    The Threads used in this kit are Mouliné Madeira threads.

  • Customer projects completed

    Thistle Bees by Lanarte. PN-0021870

    August 24, 2018 - By 

    Thistle Bees.

    Lanarte.

    Thistle bees by Marjolein Bastin.

    Lanarte is the latest commission I have received. Lanarte produces beautiful Cross stitch kits, which you can see or purchase by clicking on the link in this paragraph. This was my latest commissions using my favourite DMC threads.

    Thistle BeesIt’s from the animal’s collection on 14ct white Aida fabric with dimensions 23 cm x 32 cm. You can purchase this kit by clicking on the image below.


    The kit is also available to purchase as an Evenweave kit below.

    This kit came with the largest stitch pattern I have ever seen – almost double the size of the actual project! The pattern was, therefore, easy to read but was tricky to physically handle due to its size.

    In addition to this, there are no half stitches or French knots needed in this picture. The back stitch is minimal, thankfully, and worked in long stitch which seems to be how all the modern patterns create their finishing touches. In light of this, it was quick and easy to finish off – normally a task I dread!

    Beware:

    BEWARE of the border. The threads come on a numbered card which corresponds to a given symbol on the stitching chart, as usual. However, when it comes to the border the symbols are numbers which I assumed was the given colour number, but I was WRONG! It was only when I finished and looked at the completed project I thought “something doesn’t look right!” So, I checked the picture that came with the kit and to my horror found I’d used the wrong colours. The numbers around the border represented completely different colours to those on the thread card and should have been a single thread not a double. It did clearly state this on the pattern but I had just assumed and not checked. Oops! Time to unpick and restitch.

  • Customer projects completed

    Love Blossoms by Bothy Threads

    March 20, 2018 - By 

    Love Blossoms by Bothy Threads.

    Love Blossoms by Bothy Threads is the second cross stitch kit I’ve had to complete, by them. They have a large selection of other beautiful cross stitch kits that can be seen or purchased here.

    Love Blossoms by Bothy threads 14ct cross stitch kit complete with yarns, instructions and all embellishments.

    Click on the image to Purchase it here.

    The design is on a 14ct Aida and comes with all threads and embellishments as shown in the picture.

    You need to be a fairly competent stitcher to complete Love Blossoms. It comes, complete, with metallic silver and gold yarns that from previous experience I know are difficult to work with. They kept snagging, separating and tangling as I pulled them through the Aida but found using them in shorter lengths meant I wasted less.  I would not, therefore, recommend the kit to a beginner. Of course, you could swap the silver thread for a light grey and the gold for a beige brown but I think it’s worth sticking with the metallic threads because the overall effect is beautiful.
    Securing the threads is difficult because of the spacing between the separate sections. You must not be able to see them from the front. However, with careful planning, it is possible but it will increase the amount of time it takes to complete each section.

    Back Stitch.

    The backstitch, although time-consuming, is what makes this project come together. Each separate flower, leaf and butterfly suddenly become transformed into this extraordinary piece of artwork. This together with the backstitching of the word LOVE at carefully positioned points in the tree canopy make this, I think, the most detailed and gorgeous project I have worked on.

    Embellishments.

    You add the embellishments (lace flowers, plastic flowers and gold beads) when you’ve completed everything else. Surprisingly they were a lot easier to apply than I first thought they would be. Keeping them in place requires one or two simple stitches, explained in the stitching pattern. Love Blossoms comes with an assortment of embellishments which means you will have spares if you follow the pattern.  However, you can add more to create a more personalised finish to the project if you so desire!
    Love Blossoms by Bothy Threads is hard to complete. However, I am extremely pleased with the finished result. You will need patience and you will have to follow the pattern accurately. For tips on how to do this see my cross stitch tutorial. I would not recommend this kit to a beginner however an advanced intermediate should have no problem completing the cross stitch kit.

    2 years later…..

    The cumstomer contacted me again to add in the names and date to finish this project off. The colour theme for the wedding was gold and forest green. They sent me the coloured yarns to co-ordinate with this but couldn’t decide which colour to complete the writing in. I stitched one name in gold and the other in forest green. You can buy DMC threads at AMAZON UK or AMAZON USA . Of course, I sent photos to the client who made the decision to have the backstitch for both names and the date in forest green because it stood out more against the white aida. The heart, in between the names, I cross stitched in gold and outlined in forest green whilst the hearts between the date were completed in red. Unfortunately, due to privacy reasons, I am unable to add a photo of the completed project.

  • Customer projects completed

    Bedtime Boofle Bear DMC BL1014/48 Sampler

    October 31, 2017 - By 

    I have now completed my next project, another lovely kit by DMC, called Bedtime Boofle Bear. It will now be winging its way back to its owner in the UK. Dmc have a wide range of beautiful cross stitch kits which you can view or purchase here.

    Bedtime Boofle Bear sampler.

              You can buy this kit here.

    What’s in the Bedtime Boofle Bear kit?

    This Boofle Bear Sampler is a 14 Count Cross Stitch Kit
    and contains the blank Aida, needle and presorted good quality threads along with fully charted instructions.

    The kit is quite easy to complete and I would suggest that it is ideal for anyone who has had some cross stitch experience because there are some half stitches and quite a lot of backstitch detailing which I found quite fiddly particularly on the stars. I preferred completing each star as I went because the thought of having to go back to it was quite daunting.

    Bedtime Boofle Bear cross stitch kitFor customer privacy, I have had to scribble out the name and date of birth of the lucky little girl.  I did find that the name box on the sampler only allows you to place your child’s first name. However, with some adjustment, I managed to fit the date of birth also as requested by the customer.
    There are several beautiful Boofle Bear kits by DMC, like this one – which you can view by clicking on the large image above. Having looked at them I think Bedtime Boofle Bear, for me, is by far the cutest.
    As with most of the DMC kits I have done, this one had easy to follow instructions and stitching charts. As with all DMC kits, the threads were of a very high quality.
    If you would like to purchase this kit for yourself you can do so by clicking the link in the picture at the top of this page.