I’m introducing my new SAL project today. It’s another cross stitch kit and a change of style for me this time. Here it is:

As you can see from the packet, it’s an Anchor kit of a design called Highlands Landscape. My sister bought it for me for my birthday last year. She likes to keep me out of trouble. I love the picture because the Scottish Highlands is one of my favourite places to visit. I could happily live there but unfortunately the Highland midge finds me far too tasty so that isn’t going to happen!

The design finishes at at 5.5 x 12.5 inches which isn’t huge but it’s full coverage and there’s a lot of confetti stitching as well as blended shades which use two different threads at once.

I’ve enlarged the chart as usual and chopped it up into 21 squares of about 30 x 30 stitches each. I’m going to try and complete 3 of those squares for each SAL update. The top half has hardly any back stitched detail but the foreground has a lot so it could take 8 or more updates to complete.

I started at the top left corner. Some of the stitches are just diagonals and others are full crosses, giving a little bit of texture to the clouds. The photo doesn’t show it very well.

By the time I started the second square I was getting more used to changing from half to full crosses so I didn’t have to unpick as much.

Here’s the first 3 squares finished.

It’s been fun to stitch something completely different. I always enjoy the starts and finishes most of all. The biggest challenge this time will be keeping up the pace I’ve set myself. I know I don’t have to finish this much every time but when I set myself a challenge…

Please enjoy the latest SAL project updates from the rest of the group by clicking the links below. Several members are starting or restarting a new SAL project today. I can’t wait to see what they’ve chosen. 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 5th January 2020. Yes, 2020!!!

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Jenny, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, 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 sending me an email. The address is on the right of this page. I’ll send you a few simple rules to agree.

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.

I got straight to work on the next part following the last update and finished the next stage in record time. I’ve had two spare weeks to play in the garden this time 🙂 Here it is without the back stitched detail (missing the rolled around bit at the top as well). Can you see who’s joined in this time without looking at the last photo first?

No? See if you can spot him/her now.

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 3rd November 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, Daisy, Anne

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 sending me an email. The address is on the right of this page. I’ll send you a few simple rules to agree.

This is my first progress update on the Cut Thru Garden Shed cross stitch. Designer credits are here.

For the last couple of kits I’ve stitched, I made a working copy of the chart and then chopped it up into equal sized squares so I can work on one section at a time. I then pin one square of the chart to the fabric and stitch until it’s completed. It’s like having a mini finish when I complete a square and I find it usually motivates me to get more done.

When I divided this design up I completely ignored the fact that some squares are fully stitched and others have hardly anything to do. I just took the widest width and height and divided the entire area. I’ve started at the top left so the first section has lots of sky which is unstitched so it doesn’t look like I’ve done very much this time.

I’ve decided to do the back stitch after each section is completed as it worked well last time and it saves waiting until the end for some of the design details to appear. What a difference it makes! If you need a reminder of how it’ll all turn out in the end, you’ll find a photo in this post.

I’m really enjoying working with 16 count fabric again. I think it’s probably my favourite size for cross stitching. I’ll be stitching to the right of this part for the next update.

We’ve got a new member to introduce to the SAL from today. Her name is Clare. Welcome aboard Clare!

As usual, it’s worth hopping around the rest of the lovely SAL blogs by clicking the names below. You never know, you might be inspired to make something too. 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 11th November 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, Clare

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.

Hello everyone,

Today is SAL project update day. I’m still stitching 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 started the final square at the right of this row. No more backstitch yet. That’ll be done for next time. Not too many colour changes to manage on this bit.

I’ve been busy on several projects other than the SAL one lately. Once I pick those knitting needles up…

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.

Our next updates will be posted on the 17th June 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

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.