All posts in category Kokeshi Friends

Kokeshi Friends Finished

Hi everyone,

It’s time for an update on my Kokeshi Friends cross stitch by Joan Elliott. I’m very pleased to show you that it’s finished. Hurray!

This design has been a pleasure to stitch. The colours are so cheerful and it was easy to choose manageable chunks to stitch every three weeks for the SAL. My friend Lin very kindly gave me her thread stash and I only needed to find a couple of colours from my own supplies. I also had the even weave fabric in my drawer. So, not only has this been a joy to stitch, it has also been very economical too.

The opening edges of the kimonos were to be stitched in metallic thread but I tried and gave up on that idea very quickly. I replaced the metallic with another colour already used on the kimonos and I think it looks fine. I also changed the butterflies and stitched a back stitch line down the length of their bodies. I ummed and aahed about doing that, but they looked like flowers to me, so I had to change them. I also decided against the French knots which indicate the flight path of each butterfly in the original design. I don’t enjoy sewing them and I’m not keen on how they look either (at least when I sew them) so they had to go. Now, I just need some ideas on how to finish this piece. The size of the stitched area is 5” x 12”. Will it be a cushion or something completely different? Do you have any suggestions?

Me and Claire have been stitching the same designs for a while. Next time we are going to do something different.

Please visit the rest of the group today to see how they are getting on with their projects. You may need to allow for time differences as we live all over the world. I know there’s at least one more finished project on display this time.

Claire, Gun, Carole, Wendy, LucyAnn, Kate, Cathy, Jess, Sue, Constanze

The next update will be on 22nd May. See you then!

31 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on May 1, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Kokeshi Friends

Tagged craft, cross stitch, Cross-stitch, embroidery, evenweave, floss, handmade, interior design, Joan Elliott, Kokeshi Friends, Needlework, SAL, Sewing, thread

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on May 1, 2016

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2016/05/01/kokeshi-friends-finished/

Kokeshi Friends Stage 8

Hi everyone,

Welcome to Miss Turquoise on the left. She is the final doll in this design called Kokeshi Friends by Joan Elliott. This one stitched up really quickly. I made no mistakes for a change.

There’s only one stage left to stitch so the finish line is in sight. Claire is sewing the same design as me and the other ladies in the SAL are all doing different projects.

Please click on the links below to visit everyone else’s blogs and see what they are all up to. You will notice we have a new addition to the group. Her name is Constanze and she lives in Germany.

Claire, Gun, Carole, Wendy, LucyAnn, Kate, Cathy, Jess, Sue, Constanze

Do you have a work in progress that has been pushed to the bottom of your pile of projects? Why not join us? You can do so by sending me an email. The address is at the right hand side of this page.

Our next update will be on 1st May when I hope to have a finished project to show. See you then!

24 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on April 10, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in Kokeshi Friends

Tagged craft, cross stitch, Cross-stitch, embroidery, evenweave, floss, handmade, interior design, Joan Elliott, Kokeshi Dolls, Kokeshi Friends, Needlework, SAL, Sewing, thread

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on April 10, 2016

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2016/04/10/kokeshi-friends-stage-8/

Kokeshi Friends Stage 7

Hi everyone,

Welcome to Little Miss Lilac on the Left. She is the penultimate doll in this design called Kokeshi Friends by Joan Elliott. Miss Lilac stitched up really quickly as she is quite petite compared to some of the other dolls. I would have had her finished a lot quicker if I hadn’t attached the wrong shade of pale peach floss to the thread holder. There I was merrily stitching away, radio on, sitting by the radiator. You can imagine the cosy scene. Then I realised Miss Lilac was rather tanned compared to the others! So much for focussing better this time. The right hand side of the project has now rolled around the frame so you’ll have to be patient and wait to see the full design when it is finished.There’s only one doll left to stitch plus a few details, so the finish line is in sight. You will notice I’ve been very good by continuing to finish the backstitch as far as possible. I’ll consult with my cross-stitching guru Claire about the number of stages we have left. I suspect there’ll only be two (or will we make a run for the finish line, I wonder). Claire is sewing the same design as me and the other ladies in the SAL are all doing different projects.

Please click on the links below to visit everyone else’s blogs and see what they are all up to. Regular readers will notice a new stitcher in the group. Sue, who writes at From The Magpie’s Nest is joining the fun 🙂 Welcome aboard Sue! I’m really looking forward to seeing what you have chosen to stitch.

Claire, Gun, Carole, Jule, Wendy, LucyAnn, Kate, Cathy, Jess, Sue

If you are sitting reading this and thinking that you’d like to finish some of your ancient, or even recent, works in progress, why not join us? You can do so by sending me an email. The address is at the right hand side of this page.

Our next update will be on 10th April. See you then!

32 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on March 20, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Kokeshi Friends

Tagged craft, cross stitch, Cross-stitch, DMC, embroidery, evenweave, fabric, floss, handmade, interior design, Joan Elliott, Kokeshi Friends, Needlework, SAL, Sewing, thread

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on March 20, 2016

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/kokeshi-friends-stage-7/

Kokeshi Friends Stage 6

Hi everyone,

Another three weeks have flown by and it’s time for an update on the SAL I’m taking part in. This time, the newbie is Miss Green on the left. I’ve also done as much back stitch as possible on the two dolls to the far left. I usually prefer to leave all the back stitch until last but I’m pleased I decided to do it as I go this time. It isn’t much fun backstitching in black thread around black crosses. I didn’t actually enjoy this stage as I was finding it hard to concentrate on the kimono. I miscounted and unpicked several times which is no fun on even weave fabric. Anyway, I can hopefully put the errors behind me. I must focus better from now on!

There are only two dolls left to stitch, so probably a total of three more updates. The design is called Kokeshi Friends by Joan Elliott. Claire is sewing the same design as me and the other ladies are all doing different projects. Please click on the links below to visit their blogs and see what they are all up to.

Claire, Gun, Carole, Jule, Wendy, LucyAnn, Kate, Cathy, Jess, Jacqui

Our next update will be on 20th March. See you then!

20 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on February 28, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Kokeshi Friends

Tagged cross stitch, Cross-stitch, DMC, embroidery, evenweave, fabric, handmade, interior design, Needlework, SAL, thread

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on February 28, 2016

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2016/02/28/kokeshi-friends-stage-6/

Kokeshi Friends Stage 5

Hello everyone,

It’s SAL update time again. I’m really happy with my progress on this project so far. For this stage I completed the large doll on the far right and quite a lot of the backstitch.

The design is called Kokeshi Friends by Joan Elliott and it’s fun to stitch. Claire is sewing the same design as me and the other ladies are all doing different projects. Please click on the links below to visit their blogs and see what they are all up to.

Claire, Gun, Carole, Jule, Wendy, LucyAnn, Kate, Cathy, Jess, Jacqui

Our next update will be on 28th February. See you then!

23 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on February 7, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in Kokeshi Friends

Tagged craft, cross stitch, Cross-stitch, DMC, embroidery, floss, handmade, interior design, Joan Elliott, Kokeshi Dolls, Kokeshi Friends, Needlework, SAL, Sewing, thread

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on February 7, 2016

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2016/02/07/kokeshi-friends-stage-5/

Kokeshi Friends Stage 4

Good morning everyone. Here we are again. Another three weeks have whizzed by and it’s time for another SAL update. Kokeshi Friends by Joan Elliott is coming along a treat. I still haven’t done any of the backstitch so if you want to see how it will bring this pattern to life, pop over to see Claire’s version. We are stitching the same design.

Here’s where I’m up to now.

The other ladies in the group are all stitching different projects. Pop over to see what they are up to via the following links.

Claire, Gun, Carole, Jule, Wendy, LucyAnn, Kate, Cathy, Jess, Jacqui.

Our next update is scheduled for 7th February. See you then!

26 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on January 17, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Kokeshi Friends

Tagged craft, cross stitch, Cross-stitch, DMC, embroidery, evenweave, floss, handmade, interior design, Needlework, SAL, Sewing, thread

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on January 17, 2016

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2016/01/17/kokeshi-friends-stage-4/

Kokeshi Friends Stage 3

Hi everyone,

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas (if you celebrate it). It’s time to share an update of my Kokeshi Friends cross stitch designed by Joan Elliott. Claire is also stitching this design and the other ladies in the group are working on their own exciting projects, all equally gorgeous. I’m really enjoying stitching this one, even though it is on evenweave fabric.

Here’s where I’m up to now. The back stitch can wait.

Click on the other names below to see how everyone else is doing. Most of us are posting updates some time today but we all live in different time zones so you’ll need to allow for that.

Claire, Gun, Carole, Jule, Wendy, LucyAnn, Kate, Cathy, Jess, Jacqui.

Our next update will be on the 17th January 2016. See you then 🙂

23 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on December 27, 2015 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Kokeshi Friends

Tagged craft, cross stitch, Cross-stitch, DMC, embroidery, evenweave, fabric, floss, handmade, interior design, Needlework, SAL, Sewing, thread

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on December 27, 2015

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2015/12/27/kokeshi-friends-stage-3/

Kokeshi Friends Stage 2

Hi everyone,

It’s time to show a progress update on the Kokeshi Friends project that I’m stitching along with Claire. The design is by Joan Elliott. I’m really enjoying stitching this one so far.

The other ladies in the group are all making different projects. Do pop over and take a look at what they are up to by clicking on their names below. They’ll be posting updates some time today.

Claire, Gun, Carole, Jule, Wendy, LucyAnn, Kate, Cathy, Jess, Jacqui.

Our next group update will be on 27th December. Hopefully, I’ll see you all again before then 🙂

Avis x

18 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on December 6, 2015 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Kokeshi Friends

Tagged craft, cross stitch, Cross-stitch, embroidery, evenweave, fabric, floss, handmade, interior design, Joan Elliott, Kokeshi Friends, Needlework, SAL, Sewing, thread

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on December 6, 2015

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2015/12/06/kokeshi-friends-stage-2/

Kokeshi Friends Stage 1

Good morning everyone,

I’m really pleased to announce the start of a new cross stitch project for the SAL. It’s Kokeshi Friends designed by Joan Elliott. The chart was originally published in issue 200 of The World of Cross Stitching magazine as Kokeshi Dolls and it’s now available under the name of Kokeshi Friends from various outlets including 123 Stitch and Casa Cenina.

As usual, me and Claire will be stitching the same design. We’ve started with the centre doll, Miss Pink. Here’s my progress so far.

I’m stitching on white 28 count evenweave over two threads. There are a few fractional stitches so the evenweave helps with those. The wrapover edge of the kimono should be stitched with metallic thread. I tried and failed and ended up unpicking it and stitching with plain colour regular floss instead. The metallic thread was all too lumpy bumpy for my liking. My friend Lin will be very pleased to read that I’ll be using all but two of the required colours from a box of threads that she gave me a few weeks ago. I couldn’t believe how many of the recommended shades I didn’t have in my own stash. However, when I looked in Lin’s box, there they were. Thank you again Lin 🙂 I told you they wouldn’t go to waste in my hands 🙂 To buy this lot would have cost me a small fortune!

The rest of this group is also posting updates on their lovely projects some time today. Please allow for time differences as we live all over the world. Just click on the names to visit their amazing blogs and see what they’ve been up to.

Claire, Gun, Carole, Jule, Wendy, LucyAnn, Kate, Cathy, Jess, Jacqui.