All posts in category Getting Ready

Getting Ready – Stage 16

Hello everyone,

Another three weeks has flown by! My SAL project called Getting Ready is from a kit by Design Works. The picture is part of an artwork by Ronald West.

This is where I was up to last time.

Here’s where I’m up to now. The middle section is all finished and there wasn’t a lot of backstitch to do.

I’m hoping to have this project completely finished in time for the next update. The top left corner will be the rest of the blackboard and some backstitched writing so there won’t be many colour changes. No problem!

I’ve already chosen my next project so that’s the best kind of motivator for me. As you know, I made a working copy of the chart for Getting Ready and then chopped it into 12 equal sections. I found it easy to work that way, concentrating on stitching one square section at a time. It’s been motivating me to finish each part. I’ll definitely be using that method again next time.

Please hop around the rest of the lovely SAL blogs by clicking the names 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 30th September 2018.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Tony, Megan, Catherine, Deborah, Connie

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.

37 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on September 9, 2018 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Getting Ready

Tagged cross stitch, Design Works, embroidery, Getting Ready, Ronald West

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on September 9, 2018

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2018/09/09/getting-ready-stage-16/

Getting Ready – Stage 15

Hello everyone,

Time for another update on my SAL project called Getting Ready. It’s from a kit by Design Works and the picture is part of an artwork by Ronald West.

This is where I was up to last time.

The lady now has a head! No backstitch detail yet. I’ll complete that once the top of this square section has been done.

We’re welcoming Connie back to the SAL this time. Please pop over to say hello and hop around the rest of the lovely blogs by clicking the names below. There’s a lot of really lovely stitching going on. We live all over the world so you’ll need to allow for time differences. Posting takes place every third Sunday local time.

Our next updates will be posted on the 9th September 2018. Where is this year going?

About the SAL

40 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on August 19, 2018 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Getting Ready

Tagged cross stitch, Design Works, Getting Ready, Ronald West

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on August 19, 2018

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2018/08/19/getting-ready-stage-15/

Getting Ready – Stage 14

Hello everyone,

Here is the update post for my SAL project called Getting Ready. It’s from a kit by Design Works and the picture is part of an artwork by Ronald West.

This is where I was up to last time.

I’ve now got the top right corner squared off.

Here it is with the backstitch added.

Each of the square sections I stitch are 54 x 54 crosses and I’m trying to average getting about half of one of those squares done every three weeks. That’s 1458 crosses plus backstitch. As each cross is made up of two stitches that’s 2916 stitches or 5832 passes of the needle through the fabric. I appreciate this is nothing like the density of a Heaven and Earth Designs cross stitch on 18 count fabric but I just thought it was quite staggering what my crafty little hands get up to while I’m daydreaming.

We’re welcoming Deborah into the SAL this time. Please pop over to say hello and hop around the rest of the lovely blogs by clicking the names below. There’s a lot of really lovely stitching going on. We live all over the world so you’ll need to allow for time differences. Posting takes place every third Sunday local time.

Our next updates will be posted on the 19th August 2018 when Connie will be joining us again.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina,

Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Mary Margaret,

Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Tony, Megan, Timothy, Catherine, Deborah

About the SAL

32 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on July 29, 2018 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Getting Ready

Tagged cross stitch, Design Works, Getting Ready, SAL, stitch along

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on July 29, 2018

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2018/07/29/getting-ready-stage-14/

Getting Ready – Stage 13

Hello everyone,

Here is the update post for my SAL project called Getting Ready. It’s from a kit by Design Works and the picture is part of an artwork by Ronald West.

This is where I was up to last time.

I’ve now started along the top which means the waiters have lost their legs!I’m nowhere near the finish line yet but I can feel I’m steadily working towards it. There’s no hurry to finish as I’m still really enjoying this one. I thinks it’s the first all over stitched project that I’ve ever done.

Please use the links below to see how we’re all progressing on our chosen SAL project. We live all over the world so you’ll need to allow for time differences. Posting takes place every third Sunday local time. We’re welcoming Catherine back to the group this time.

Our next updates will be posted on the 29th July 2018.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina,

Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Mary Margaret,

Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Tony, Megan, Timothy, Catherine

About the SAL

32 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on July 8, 2018 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Getting Ready

Tagged cross stitch, Design Works, Getting Ready, SAL

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on July 8, 2018

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2018/07/08/getting-ready-stage-13/

Getting Ready – Stage 12

Hello everyone,

Here we are again. Another three weeks have flown by and I’m still working on other things but maintaining good progress on Getting Ready at the same time. This one is from a kit by Design Works. The picture is part of an artwork by Ronald West.

This is where I was up to last time.

I’ve now squared off at the top right and done the backstitch detail as well. It feels good to have tidied that bit up. Now there’s another chunk to stitch across the top and that’s it. I seem to have inadvertently fooled a few of you last time. Several readers commented that there might be a happy dance this time. Sorry to disappoint. There’s still a way to go yet.

Our next updates will be posted on the 8th July 2018.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina,

Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Mary Margaret,

Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Tony, Megan, Timothy

About the SAL

39 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on June 17, 2018 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Getting Ready

Tagged cross stitch, Design Works, Getting Ready, SAL

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on June 17, 2018

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2018/06/17/getting-ready-stage-12/

Getting Ready – Stage 10

Good morning everyone,

It’s time for another update on the SAL project today. It’s from a kit by Design Works based on part of a painting by Ronald West.

This is where I was up to last time.

I’ve now squared off the centre bit to reveal part of a lady being held aloft!

I promised last time that the peach coloured splodges would become faces with a bit of backstitch. That’s better!

No prizes for guessing where I’ll be stitching next.

Our next updates will be posted on the 27th May 2018.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina,

Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Mary Margaret,

Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Tony, Megan, Timothy

About the SAL

36 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on May 6, 2018 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Getting Ready

Tagged cross stitch, Design Works, Getting Ready, Ronald West, SAL, stitch along

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on May 6, 2018

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2018/05/06/getting-ready-stage-10/

Getting Ready – Stage 7

We’ve had loads of snow this week and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching all the blizzards sweeping across from east to west because I was lucky enough to stay at home most of the time. It’s the type of snow that’s very dry rather than dirty and slushy so it’s nice and easy to walk on. Unfortunately it’s a bit too dry for building snowmen or I’d be out there having fun!

Anyway, I’m doing that very British thing (apparently)…talking about the weather, so I’ll get on with what I’m supposed to be showing today. This is where I was up to last time. The picture is called Getting Ready from a kit by Design Works.

This is how far I got with the next square. The bottom has now been scrolled around the frame so you won’t see that bit again until it’s all finished. I’ll be continuing to stitch the blackboard on the left for next time and I’ll hopefully get the backstitch completed on this section as well.

Our next updates will be posted on the 25th March 2018.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina,

Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, Linda, Mary Margaret,

Heidi, Connie, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Tony

About the SAL

36 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on March 4, 2018 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Getting Ready

Tagged cross stitch, Design Works, Getting Ready, SAL

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on March 4, 2018

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2018/03/04/getting-ready-stage-7/

Getting Ready – Stage 3

Hello everyone,

It’s time to show you an update on my SAL project today. The design is called Getting Ready which has been adapted from an artwork by Ronald West. This is a Design Works kit and I’m really pleased with the quality of the fabric, threads and chart.

This is where I was up to last time. I’d completed 1/6 of the whole thing.

I’ve now completed stitching to the right of the last section.

So now, 1/4 of the design is all finished except for the backstitch on the right hand part. That’s why it looks a bit wishy-washy compared to the rest. I’ll do that next and then I’ll be working underneath the table on the left side.

Me and Claire are stitching the same kit but we’re doing different areas each time. Everyone else in the group is making 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,

Heidi, Connie, Jackie

Our next updates will be posted on the 10th December 2017. See you then!

About the SAL

34 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on November 19, 2017 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Getting Ready

Tagged craft, cross stitch, Design Works, embroidery, Getting Ready, handmade, Ronald West

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on November 19, 2017

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2017/11/19/getting-ready-stage-3/

Getting Ready – Stage 2

Hello everyone,

It’s time to show you an update on my SAL project today. The design is called Getting Ready by Ronald West and it’s a Design Works kit.

This is where I was up to last time. I’d completed 1/12.

This time I started stitching to the left of the last section.

I managed to finish another 1/12.

Here it is with the backstitch completed.

So that’s as far to the left as this one goes. One sixth complete. Next I need to work to the right and that will be the full width of the design done.

Me and Claire are stitching the same kit but we’re stitching different areas each 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,

Heidi, Connie, Jackie

Our next updates will be posted on the 19th November 2017. See you then!

About the SAL

31 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on October 29, 2017 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Getting Ready, Uncategorized

Tagged aida, cross stitch, Design Works, Getting Ready, Ronald West, SAL, stitch along

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on October 29, 2017

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2017/10/29/getting-ready-stage-2/

Getting Ready – Stage 1

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,