Hi everyone,
Yippee, it’s finally off the frame! This is the largest, most complex, and by far the most fun piece of blackwork I have stitched to date (my sixth). Full credit goes to Liadain at Practical Blackwork for charting the design named Pentecost 2. Clicking the link will take you to Liadain’s blog where she explains the inspiration behind the design. It is so generous of her to share the chart with us. Thank you Liadain!
I stitched with one strand of Anchor shade 1029 on 16 count aida. The finished piece is 18.25 inches square and it is actually perfectly square. The camera lens has slightly distorted the shape.
I stitched along with Claire and you can see her version on her blog by clicking here. Claire created interest by introducing a second colour and the more I look at it, the more I keep finding secondary patterns. Hop over and see for yourself 
It was good to have a stitching partner in crime. Claire certainly kept me ticking along at a reasonable pace. You may remember that we both tackled the penultimate border (working from the centre outwards) in a slightly different way as we decided to change the chart in a few places. One advantage in doing so is that we each have a unique version. As far as we know, even Liadain hasn’t stitched this chart yet. So there may only be two versions of Pentecost 2 in the entire universe, unless you know otherwise If you have stitched this design yourself, I would love to put a photo up here. Just email it to the address at the right of the page.
The next photos show the intricate details.
What next? Well, Claire and I have been swapping ideas about the kind of things we like to stitch since well before we started Pentecost 2. She mentioned the Ink Circles designs and I showed them to my other half. He logged the name of the company in the “Prezzie Ideas” section of his brain. He’s very good at that! Guess what Santa brought me….
Correct! I now have the Cirque des Cercles chart which Claire has had in her rainy day stash for ages. Isn’t it wonderful when someone remembers what you’d wished for months ago…..he knows how to keep me occupied
So our next project will be Cirque des Cercles which can be purchased via the Ink Circles web site. You are very welcome to stitch along with us if you wish. We are currently in the process of choosing fabrics and threads. I wonder whether I can be tempted away from my beloved purple this time…. Will I be stitching on black or white 16 count aida? I’d love to stitch on black and I’m going to try to sort out some lighting with a practice piece on royal blue aida this morning. If that works out well, I’m going to go for the black. Wish me luck!
There is a gallery of previously completed Cirque des Cercles here if you’d like to take a look. Any suggestions as to what thread I should choose would be gratefully received. Also, if you’ve already stitched this design, I’d love to hear from you.
That’s it for now,
Avis x
Sewing Beside the Sea 
claire93
/ December 29, 2013When I think it took us less than four months, and that we weren’t just working on this design . . . I think we both deserve a pat on the back ^^
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ December 29, 2013Was it really only four months? That is a surprise! I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I’m looking forward to the next one now 🙂
claire93
/ December 29, 2013yep less than 4 months in fact – but when you’re having fun, time flies by
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ December 29, 2013So true 🙂
Debbierose
/ December 29, 2013Well done – fantastic effort for you both – looking forward to seeing your circles come to life in 2014
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ December 29, 2013Thank you Debbierose 🙂 It’s is proving to be a bit of a nightmare trying to choose threads for the circles!
witchylin
/ December 29, 2013You both certainly do deserve pats on the back. They are lovely and the different threads make them look unique. The next planned design from Ink Circles is quite a challenge. I had a look at the website, each one shown of that design was completely fresh even though the basic patterns are the same. Don’t think I will ever have the patience to do such a pattern. Congratulations to you both for a job so well done. 🙂
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ December 29, 2013Thank you Lin 🙂 It was made a whole lot easier for me when Claire was nearly always finished her stage first 😆 I’ll almost certainly choose a variegated thread for the new one. That way, there’ll be no thread changes and still plenty of interest.
minerva
/ December 29, 2013Well done! It looks absolutely fabulous! Are you going to frame it or make it into something else now? Four months is fantastic – your next project looks equally spectacular but I suspect it might be longer than four months! Good luck, can’t wait to see what colours you choose.
Alison x
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ December 31, 2013Thank you. Yes, it will be framed and hung above the mantle piece in the living room. I’ve chosen black fabric with DMC 111 for the next project. I’ve already stitched a card using a little motif from Cirques des Cercles. I just couldn’t wait 🙂 Happy New Year to you and your family! Avis x
Izz
/ December 29, 2013Absolutely beautiful, and yes in very good time. I too give you both a pat on the back. will you be framing this piece? if so i would love to see what frame you put it in 🙂
You’ve inspired me to dig out a large cross stitch kit I have had stashed away..lol thank goodness for the stash ! Not to be an instigator but how about a light lilac colour on black aida ?
Izz
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ December 31, 2013Hi Izz, Yes, it will be framed very soon. I’ll share a photo when it is ready 🙂 About your cross stitch kit…..come on, what are you waiting for? I’m intrigued as to what it is. We can have a three way stitch along 🙂
I have now chosen the fabric and colour. It’ll be DMC 111 on black evenweave. I’ve only worked on evenweave once before so I can’t wait to get started. Happy New Year to you and your family. Avis xx
Patch
/ December 29, 2013Wow, it looks fantastic. Well done you 😉
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ December 31, 2013Thank you! Happy New Year 🙂
Jule
/ December 29, 2013This is gorgeous! 🙂 I’ve got a slight suspicion that the Ink Circles will take you a little longer than four months. 😉
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ December 31, 2013Well, I’ve just made a card from one of the motifs because I couldn’t wait to try it. I’m already liking this pattern very much. Happy New Year Jule 🙂
sonyamayhem
/ December 31, 2013Stunning!! Such beautiful neat stitching. Now I’m feeling guilty about my unfinished cross stitch started a year ago… or was it two years…
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ December 31, 2013Thank you 🙂 OK so that’s two more people with things to finish….come on, get in that cupboard and dig it out. We can all have a great time stitching along together 🙂 Happy New Year. Avis x
*Wisher*
/ December 31, 2013*cheering up and down* wonderful finished ladies.. a pat on the shoulder and congratulations on finishing such a grand masterpieces.. Great job!
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ December 31, 2013Thank you Angela. It’s all systems go on the next one now 🙂
wendy
/ December 31, 2013Amazing, just lovely! Well done on such a fab finish, and so quickly!
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ December 31, 2013Hi Wendy, I suppose it was quite quick really. Work does get in the way of crafting sometimes 😆 I would sew all day everyday given the chance 🙂 Happy New Year! Avis x
rutigt
/ January 1, 2014Fantastic! Good luck with your new Project 🙂
Gun, Sweden
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ January 1, 2014It’s going to be fun and we’ll probably need a bit of luck 😉
majoworkshop
/ January 2, 2014It’s a beautiful piece…well done.
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ January 4, 2014Thank you very much 🙂
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ January 9, 2014Thank you. Very kind of you to link 🙂