Here is my SAL update on the Cut Thru Garden Shed cross stitch kit. Designer credits are here. If you need a reminder of how it’ll all turn out in the end, you’ll find a photo in this post.
This is where I was up to last time. No idea why the background is so blue.
Here’s my next splodgy square. The raincoat and brolly are complete. That’s easy to see………but what’s that in the middle?
It’s much clearer now. Did you get it before scrolling down?
I’ve been doing a few jobs around the house and garden lately and I’ve been talking to my 14 healthy sunflower plants every day. I would’ve had 15 if the stupid wood pigeon hadn’t attempted acrobatics on top of one plant. He snapped the top six inches off, including the flower bud! Anyway, this morning I went for my usual wander around the garden and found one of the buds was opening. Sunflowers make me smile.
As you can see, it’s a very healthy specimen. It isn’t fully open yet but it’s looking good so far. This is a small variety called Helios Flame. It stands about 30 inches tall. I’ve got all the plants in a bed quite close together and haven’t needed to stake them yet. I’ll see how they go as the flowers open because they’ll be quite heavy. Hopefully the seeds will develop and the birds (pigeons are not invited) can have a feast. Do you have a favourite, easy to grow flower? If you have any suggestions I might give them a try next year.
Please enjoy the latest SAL project updates from the rest of the group by clicking the links below. We live all over the world so you may need to allow for time differences. Posting takes place every third Sunday, local time. Our next updates will be posted on the 21st July 2019.
Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Clare, Mary Margaret, Renee, Jenny, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon
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.
Sewing Beside the Sea 
Renee
/ June 30, 2019I would not have guessed what it was without the back stitching. Fantastic progress! Your sunflower is gorgeous.
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ June 30, 2019Thank you. I’d never have guessed myself either.
salpal1
/ June 30, 2019The garden shed is coming right along! Good job!
The sunflower is pretty, I imagine a bed of them would be quite cheerful! I have little pockets of them around the yard where the chipmunks have stored seeds, but we have been so lacking in sunlight that they are still just seedlings.
I like to grow cosmos for the bees and humming birds, that is easy to grow in this area, and zinnias are also easy here, and cheerful.
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ June 30, 2019I’ve called the sunflowers my field of gold. It’s hardly a field but I can imagine 🙂 I sowed a whole pack of cosmos and they didn’t show. I tried a second pack and I’ve got one weak plant from the whole lot. I’ll try again next year as they do look lovely. I’ll look up zinnias too. Thanks for the ideas 🙂
salpal1
/ July 1, 2019I love the field of gold! No one said it had to be a large field…
I am sorry about the cosmos! I hope next year is better for them. i like zinnias for a bouquet, they are so colorful and cheerful!
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ July 16, 2019Oh yes, me too, they’re gorgeous!
stitchingranny
/ June 30, 2019My guess was completely wrong as I thought it looked like a mushroom, but great progress once again Avis. I couldn’t pick any favourite flower as I just love them all. Most of my borders are overhung with roses or Wisteria etc and we get a lot of wind so tall sun flowers are out but I will have to look out for these minature versions Avis.
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ June 30, 2019A mushroom haha! Yes, we’re beside the sea so it’s too breezy for the tall sunflowers here. I do love roses and I actually managed not to kill a miniature rose this year.
Pyros & Patch
/ June 30, 2019Hello!Sweet the kitten on the stool ! Your sunflowers are wordeful.You could try growing marigolds (tagete).There are easy to grow and last until autumn.Their color is yellow-orange.Good Summer!
Carmela
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ June 30, 2019Yes, marigolds are lovely. I’ve grown them before but will definitely try them again. I like calendulas too. They’re also yellow and orange. Happy summer to you too 🙂
gingerninjacrafts
/ June 30, 2019Aw I thought that was a cat and yay I was right, so cute! Your sunflower looks so beautiful, I’ve got a few that are surviving but no flowers yet, I think everything is a bit delayed with weather being a bit cold earlier in the month. I’ve tried my hand at nasturtiums this year in the garden. I must admit the plants don’t really look very pretty but I’ve got a few flowers coming out and they are gorgeous even though the leaves look a but yellow! Jenny x
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ June 30, 2019I’ve got a packet of nasturtium seeds that I’ll plant next year. I’m too late to start them now. The flowers and leaves are edible and they pack a peppery punch. Yes, we’ve had a slow start to summer too. What part of the world are you in? I’m on the north east coast of England.
gingerninjacrafts
/ June 30, 2019Oo I have never tried eating them! I must give them a go. We are just south of Edinburgh so not too far away really.
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ June 30, 2019Ah, then we have the same weather. I’m east of Newcastle 🙂
gingerninjacrafts
/ June 30, 2019Just down the road! x
lbick
/ June 30, 2019Love your garden shed. I figured out it was a cat, but he is super cute with the backstitching done.
Love your sunflower, beautiful already. Going to be even better once it gets fully open. Thanks for sharing it with us 😀
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ June 30, 2019Thank you. Hopefully, I’ll get a few more flowers 🙂
nwpaintedlady
/ June 30, 2019I had it pegged for a cat. Backstitching certainly is the ticket for this project. I am just amazed at every reveal of the depth of detail in this project. It’s gorgeous! Love sunflowers and I am wondering why I have never grown any. Such a gorgeous variety 🙂 Sharon
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ June 30, 2019Thank you. I don’t know how the designer packs so much into these Cut Thru charts but I love them all. Maybe you could grow sunflowers next year. I started mine in paper cups and planted out when they were too tough for pests to nibble. It worked 🙂
Christina
/ June 30, 2019I guessed a kitty before scrolling down! So cute 🙂 Progress well made Avis!
The sunflower is beautiful! I can imagine a group of them together, wow!
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ June 30, 2019I’ve now got two flowers 🙂 I’ll try to remember to post a photo of them all next time (if they all flower).
Christina
/ June 30, 2019Yes, that would be lovely!
magpiesue
/ June 30, 2019I might have guessed a cat if I hadn’t scrolled down so quickly. 😉
One of my favorite flowers are peonies. They could stand to be staked but hardly ever are. Once the bloom season is over it doesn’t matter anymore in their case. 🙂
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ June 30, 2019Oh yes, I love peonies too 🙂 A neighbour of mine has some very dark red ones and they do really well. Thanks for the idea!
craftycreeky
/ June 30, 2019I guessed cat, love the expression on his face! Your sunflower is gorgeous, you can’t help but smile when you see them 🙂
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ June 30, 2019I love the giant ones but didn’t fancy having to prop them up. It’s too breezy beside the sea.
claire93
/ June 30, 2019I must have cats on the brain because I immediately recognised that splodge for what is was ^^
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ July 1, 2019That’ll be right LOL.
kathyreeves
/ June 30, 2019Sure enough it is a cat! Do post a photo with all your sunflowers blooming, what a great sight that will be! As for flowers…I planted zinnias and they died, the morning glories didn’t but no flowers yet. I planted some marigolds too, and they are still tiny, but ai’m hoping that come August and September they will be in their prime. Our sunflowers are now pushing about 5 feet, so they still have a ways to go, though I can see the buds on a couple. 😄 They are so cheerful!
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ July 1, 2019Wow! Your sunflowers are giants 🙂 I love marigolds too but haven’t had any success with morning glories. Must try those again because they are rather beautiful. Sorry to hear about your zinnias 😦
kathyreeves
/ July 1, 2019My flower skills are poor at best. Last year the deer uprooted the pansies I bought!
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ July 16, 2019It’s so lovely to have deer close by but not as amateur gardeners!
rutigt
/ July 1, 2019I couldn´t guess, but I´m glad there´s a cat in the shed 🙂 Love the sunflower!
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ July 16, 2019There’ll be more sunflowers next Sunday. I love them!
Jocelyn Thurston
/ July 1, 2019Yes, doesn’t the back stitching bring that little kitty to life!
Lovely garden talk which I love. I had sunflowers every year back at the farm and my largest got to 10 inches across. They are such a happy flower. Poppies are a good perennial and pretty hardy. But it’s fun just to be trying to grow things.
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ July 16, 2019I’m really enjoying the garden this year. I haven’t really had time before and just kept it tidy but it’s been a lot of hard work and fun so far this year.
Catherine
/ July 2, 2019You have made great progress, and I didn’t see the cat sitting before you showed us the outlining. What a difference it makes! I love your sunflowers too.
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ July 16, 2019Thank you Catherine. I sometimes buy a bunch of sunflowers for indoors from the local florist. They always make me smile.
teamwilsun
/ July 4, 2019Love the moggie — but then again, I always do! And your sunflower is beautiful, would love to see a photo of your field of gold! I have some yellow flowers of my own in the garden, but dandelions aren’t nearly as welcome as sunflowers!
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ July 16, 2019I’m not a cat lover myself but I can see why other people do. My field of gold has 14 sunflowers open so far. Can’t really cal that a field but it’s “my field” 🙂
Carole
/ July 7, 2019I guessed it was a cat. But you probably knew that LOL
Your sunflower is lovely. I saw fields of them in France many years ago and they looked quite spectacular. Apart from my veggies, I’m only growing ornamental grasses, but I’ve got a lovely range of colours, shapes and heights so they’re really pretty. And the cats love them to hide in 🙂
Sewing Beside the Sea
/ July 16, 2019Yes. I knew you’d guess it was a cat. I’ve also seen real fields full of sunflowers. They’re amazing! I actually dug out all of my inherited ornamental grasses as I hated them with a passion. I’d left them for many years but never liked them. I was like a woman possessed once I’d made my mind up they had to go. They heard some choice words while I was digging I can tell you LOL. That’s how I’ve ended up doing so much more gardening this year because they left huge holes. You never know, I might end up swapping back to grasses in the future as they were so much easier to manage.