Hello everyone,
It’s time to introduce my new SAL project. I’ve kept you all in suspense for long enough and I just hope I didn’t build this one up into something it really isn’t!
As you know, me and Claire are copy cats (well I am anyway). We’ve been enjoying doing the same projects for what seems like ages now and I find it very motivating. It goes a bit like this…
Claire emails me to say there’s a sale on at Sew and So. I go to have a look and don’t always fancy buying. Claire emails again and says she’s bought several kits! In fact, sometimes she buys more than one of the same kit because she likes to give presents. Then, when I see what she’s bought I sometimes want one too. Anyway, Claire bought this design called Getting Ready by Ronald West and it was a real bargain (Just over £5 for the complete kit) so I put one in my basket as well. I do love Design Works kits because they are such good quality. I also love the odd looking characters in this design. There’s a whole series, all with rather rotund cartoony people. I think they’re fun but I also accept they’re not to everyone’s taste.
Anyway, this is what we’ll be stitching for a while.
I’d put all the threads onto the card and wrote the symbols next to the correct colours and was all ready to start but I just couldn’t work from the tiny chart so I enlarged it and decided to mark my working copy as I went. That made life so much easier. I’d already decided to work in sections so needed to judge how much I could probably get done every three weeks. I don’t only work on the SAL project you see. There’s always lots more crafting going on behind the scenes here.
I thought 12 sections would probably work as this design is stitched solidly across the fabric. I like to paperclip the chart to my fabric at the side of the frame and I’ve made a good start here.
This is the section finished except for the backstitching.
Then I decided to do the backstitch rather than keep it all until the end. What a difference it makes.
So, that’s 1/12 completed. I think each section will be like a mini finish for me. There’s more than enough stitching in one part for three weeks (54 x 54 crosses) so I might not get a whole part done each time but I’ll try. Me and Claire usually agree which bit to stitch for each stage and then we can push each other along but she doesn’t work on a frame so she’s doing things differently this time. I’ll let you pop over to her blog and see for yourself. I’ll be stitching the section to the left of this one for next time.
Everyone else in the group is doing something different. Please take a look at how they are progressing with their own chosen SAL project. I promise you won’t be disappointed. We live all over the world so you may need to allow for time differences but we post local time, every third Sunday.
Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina,
Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Catherine, Mary Margaret, Timothy,
Our next updates will be posted on the 29th October 2017. See you then!
About the SAL
This SAL (Stitch Along) is slightly different to other SALs in that we don’t all stitch the same design at the same rate. We choose ONE unfinished project, or ONE new one, and show progress of its completion over a series of three weekly updates. There are no deadlines and no set amount to stitch. The result is that the space in our drawers full of WIPs (works in progress) is gradually being freed up to store lots of new crafty goodness. It’s surprising how much motivation I’ve gained from being in this SAL. If you’d like to finish a project you’ve left unfinished for a while, or start a new one with us, you can join us by leaving a request in the comments below or sending me an email. The address is on the right of this page. I’ll send you a few simple rules to agree.
nanacathy2
/ October 8, 2017This is a lovely project.
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 8, 2017Thank you 🙂 I don’t know why it appeals to me but it does.
craftycreeky
/ October 8, 2017I love this design, makes me smile 🙂 I’ve never tried doing cross-stitch in blocks but I can see how it would help with motivation.
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 8, 2017Yeah, it works well for me but I need to be sure to keep the same tension or else a ridge would appear between sections which wouldn’t look good.
Debbierose
/ October 8, 2017Very nice. It’s a cute quirky design. I like it very much.
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 8, 2017I think so too. Glad you like it 🙂
claire93
/ October 8, 2017and we’re off !!! I do love starting a new project, and this one is going to keep us amused for a long while ^^
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 8, 2017Well, I’m planning on 12 stages but only if I can keep up this pace.
katechiconi
/ October 8, 2017Wow, you weren’t holding back with this start, were you? I like the idea of dividing it into sections, even though I can’t work that way myself – I always want to be working on a different part. It means we’ll see the design evolve more completely. Fun!
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 8, 2017The motivation for me will be to finish a section each time. Maybe it’ll work. I hope so.
katechiconi
/ October 8, 2017Fingers crossed 🙂
Catherine
/ October 8, 2017What a great project, and quit different from your last piece. I love the figures in this piece, very quirky. You will have fun with it!
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 8, 2017I like the faces and fun settings. I’m enjoying it so far.
kathyreeves
/ October 8, 2017Are those characters wearing hats with legs!?!! I will definitely be watching this progress!!😂 great choice you two!
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 8, 2017Haha! Maybe 🙂
Jule
/ October 8, 2017Seems like a fun project – looking forward to watching it grow 🙂
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 8, 2017I don’t think I’ve done a project as big as this which is completely filled with stitches. I’m enjoying the rich colours.
Ginny @ Mytimestitching .com
/ October 8, 2017A fun and whimsical project. I think it’s great you are doing it with a friend so you can push each other along. You are doing great. I look forward to watching you stitch this one.
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 8, 2017It’s been enjoyable so far. I have to say that not everyone likes the picture at this end.
lucyannluna
/ October 8, 2017Looks like a big project good luck
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 8, 2017It’s about 12″ x 16″ so not too big.
ccflo3
/ October 8, 2017Nice project. I usually do backstitching as I go so I don’t have it all left at the end. I tend not to finish if only backstitching is left.
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 8, 2017I’m pleased I’ve done it this way. I usually leave it until the end but it’s easier to do backstitch in smaller parts.
lbick
/ October 8, 2017What a fun project! Great ideas working in sections and doing the line work as you go along.
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 8, 2017I sort of followed your lead on this. I usually leave it until the end but watched your progress and liked how you did it on another project.
lbick
/ October 8, 2017Glad I could inspire 😀 I find that this way works best for me. I have a lot of unfinished items that just need backstitching 😜
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 8, 2017Oh no! Lot’s of SAL finishes there then 😉
lbick
/ October 8, 2017Great idea!
I’ll have to get them all together and see what I can get done. Thanks for the inspiration!
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 8, 2017Give each of them a number and have a WIP lottery. First one out of the bag gets finished first. Another blogging friend does that and it works for her 🙂
lbick
/ October 8, 2017I really like that idea! I think I’ll try it. Thanks for the suggestion.
Jackie
/ October 8, 2017Looking forward to see this one progress.
Jackie
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 8, 2017So far, so good 🙂
marymargaretripley
/ October 8, 2017Wow yes does that backstitching make a difference! I will probably do the same as I get each Gourd and Onion stitched on mine. I like your choice of project too. I never thought of breaking a project down by section.
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 8, 2017Thank you. I’m looking forward to all the mini finishes 🙂
Christina
/ October 8, 2017I just told Claire how interesting it will be to see you two work on the same project but from different spots. It will be like two surprises instead of one, even though it’s the same piece. I see you started in the middle. The colors are very nice and of course the back stitch makes them pop even more!
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 8, 2017I prefer to start in the middle and work outwards mainly because I work with the fabric on a frame. We all have our favourite methods. I know Claire works with a cat on her knee which doesn’t lend itself to a frame hehe!
Christina
/ October 8, 2017I know that feeling 😉
rutigt
/ October 9, 2017I love the choice of embroidery! It is funny, made me laugh when I first saw it, it´s great!!!
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 9, 2017There’s lots of others in this series and they’re all fun. I’m pleased everyone seems to like it so far 🙂
wickedstitcher
/ October 9, 2017The characters are so cute!!! I’m always amazed at how back stitching brings the piece together and adds all the detail with just a few stitches.
In regards to working in blocks, I work larger full coverage pieces that way and once I started the next block i was mortified of the visible “seam” between them so i will impart some friendly knowledge… lol
I’ve tried a few different options for correcting this. if you don’t use a pin stitch and run your threads underneath the back of the work then just continue this, just run them across the “seam” on the back into the work you already have completed it keeps everything filled in and avoids the seam showing on the front. or, feather your edges, so every 2nd or 3rd row working down continue past your block of work into the next block by 4 or 5 stitches just so every row isn’t ending in the same column.
i’m in awe of your last piece i cant wait to see it framed.
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 9, 2017Thank you so much for the great advice. I’m working on a frame so the fabric is really taut. I’ve started the second block and so far my tension across the edge is good. I’ll certainly continue to thread the ends through the edges and if I see any ridges or differences I’ll change tack. It’s good to know in advance that I may come across a problem with suggestions for fixing it.
Connie Butner
/ October 9, 2017I love the way you have decided to work this piece. I too enlarge and mark my charts as I go along – otherwise I would totally get lost!
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 29, 2017Me too. I’ve completed loads of projects without marking in the past and had no problems but I think for larger projects it’s essential.
stitchingranny
/ October 10, 2017First off Avis, because I missed last time round I wanted to congratulate you on your beautiful finish.
I am honestly not sure about the new design, it maybe because I cannot see it clearly in the picture, but at the end of the day it would be a boring old world if we did all like the same things all the time. What you have done so far does look nice.
Helen xx
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 29, 2017Don’t worry. We can”t all like the same things 🙂 I’m pleased you liked my last finish. Thank you 🙂
magpiesue
/ October 16, 2017I think that’s a great idea, to do the back stitching as you go along. I know it would give me more motivation to work the next section. Now I’m going to go have a look at your finish from the last update (although I know it’s going to be spectacular!)…
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ October 29, 2017The backstitching as I go is certainly working for me. I’ll definitey be continuing in the same way.