All posts tagged wildlife

Woodland Sampler – Stage 13

Happy New Year everyone!

It’s time for another SAL project update. I’m stitching the Woodland Sampler by Anchor. The design number is PCE958.

This is where I was up to last time.

This is where I’m up to now.

The doe is completed except for the legs. There wasn’t much back stitching to do so that’s finished as well. Thank you to everyone who recommended keeping up with the backstitching. I’m going to be glad I followed advice by the time I get to the end. Here’s a photo of the whole thing so far.

I think it’s all greenery in the section below the doe and there’s more of that to the right so it’ll be quite boring to watch this one grow for a while.

Our next updates will be posted on the 30th January 2022.

Please check out what everyone else has been up to by clicking their names below. We live all over the world so you may need to allow for time differences.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen

About the SAL

Please note this SAL is not accepting any more new members until further notice but this is what it’s all about anyway. 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.

35 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on January 9, 2022 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Woodland Sampler

Tagged craft, cross stitch, embroidery, Needlework, SAL, wildlife, Woodland Sampler

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on January 9, 2022

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2022/01/09/woodland-sampler-stage-13/

Woodland Sampler – Stage 10

It’s time for another SAL project update. I’m stitching the Woodland Sampler by Anchor. The design number is PCE958.

This is where I was up to last time.

This is where I’m up to now.

I’ve filled the gaps in the greenery and the rest of the fox cub. There’s some backstitching to do which I think will make the fox look even more cute. I intend to do the backstitched detail on the fox and leaves next and then there’s a couple of easy patches of sky to complete. Then it’ll be back to greenery again.

Please check out what everyone else has been up to by clicking their 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 28th November 2021.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen

About the SAL

34 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on November 7, 2021 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Woodland Sampler

Tagged cross stitch, embroidery, Needlework, SAL, sampler, wildlife, woodland

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on November 7, 2021

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2021/11/07/woodland-sampler-stage-10/

Woodland Sampler – Stage 7

It’s time for another SAL project update. I’m stitching the Woodland Sampler by Anchor. The design number is PCE958.

This is where I was up to last time.

I’ve now stitched right across the top quarter of the design.

I can honestly say if it wasn’t for the fact that my sister bought this kit for me, plus the motivation and virtual whip cracking of this SAL, I think this project would’ve been destined for the back of a cupboard. I spent all of my crafting time on this for the last two whole weeks and two days. Claire has been cheering me along throughout so she deserves special credit, especially when I finally got to do the back stitching. You’ll be pleased (but not as pleased as I am) that I’ve completed all the back stitching HURRAY! I hope you can see the difference. If not, click and zoom because it was way too much effort to miss, particularly on the owl’s head. What a nightmare!

My plan (when I recover) is to begin stitching under the owl and work across as usual. One of my favourite animals is coming up next and there’s not too much back stitch. Any guesses what it’ll be?

Please check out what everyone else has been up to by clicking their names below. Laura is taking a break for a while so her link has been omitted. I hope she’ll be back soon. 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 26th September 2021.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Cathie, Linda, Helen

About the SAL

25 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on September 5, 2021 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch

Tagged cross stitch, embroidery, evenweave, SAL, wildlife, Woodland Sampler

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on September 5, 2021

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2021/09/05/woodland-sampler-stage-7/

Woodland Sampler – Stage 5

It’s time for another SAL project update. I’m stitching the Woodland Sampler by Anchor. The design number is PCE958.

This is where I was up to last time. The squirrel was peeping at the next stage 🙂

This is where I’m at now. I’ve completed more of the sky, some overhanging leaves and a peacock butterfly. I’d hoped to have stitched the greenery along the bottom of this section for this update but it wasn’t to be. I’ll be working on that next.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Helen

About the SAL

32 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on July 25, 2021 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Woodland Sampler

Tagged cross stitch, embroidery, SAL, sampler, wildlife, woodland

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on July 25, 2021

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2021/07/25/woodland-sampler-stage-5/

Woodland Sampler – Stage 4

It’s time for another SAL project update. I’m stitching the Woodland Sampler by Anchor. The design number is PCE958.

This is where I was up to last time.

This is where I’m at now.

It’s growing very slowly. There were lots of fractional stitches to do but I’m plodding along. I did some of the trees and sky plus the squirrel’s muzzle. It looks a bit strange I think but I checked the chart and the backstitched detail will put that right. I did panic at the beginning of last week because I’d only managed to do a few stitches since the last update but I picked up a bit in week 3.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Helen

About the SAL

36 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on July 4, 2021 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Woodland Sampler

Tagged cross stitch, embroidery, red squirrel, SAL, sampler, tawny owl, wildlife, Woodland Sampler

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on July 4, 2021

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2021/07/04/woodland-sampler-stage-4/

Woodland Sampler – Stage 3

It’s time for another SAL project update. I’m stitching the Woodland Sampler by Anchor. The design number is PCE958.

This is where I was up to last time.

This is where I’m at now. Can you guess what the latest animal is without reading further?

I decided to leave the back stitching until I’ve finished all the way across the top. I might regret it! The greenery under the owl is now filled in and I’ve got most of the red squirrel done. I was hoping to finish this piece of the chart but there’s a lot more background to add. I hope to at least square it off in time for the next update.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Helen

About the SAL

26 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on June 13, 2021 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Woodland Sampler

Tagged cross stitch, embroidery, red squirrel, SAL, sampler, tawny owl, wildlife, woodland

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on June 13, 2021

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2021/06/13/woodland-sampler-stage-3/

Woodland Sampler – Stage 2

It’s time for another SAL project update. I’m stitching the Woodland Sampler by Anchor. The design number is PCE958.

After all my whinging last time I now accept this one isn’t going to be easy or fast to complete. I’m fine with it now. I keep telling myself it’s just a mindset. This is where I was up to last time.

This is where I’m at now.

There’s a lot of back stitched details to add but I’ll do those when the tawny owl is all finished. Most of the stitching on the body is full crosses so it’s been quite enjoyable to do even though there are a lot of colour changes.

After reading the comments on my last SAL post I realised I’d given the wrong name to the stitches I’d been having trouble with. I was moaning about half stitches which I now know to be the same as tent stitch and petit point. They’re easy! It was actually side by side three quarter stitches (i.e. two three quarter stitches in one square) that were trying my patience. Sorry if I mislead some of you. You probably thought “What’s she going on about? Half stitches are easy!” and rightly so.

Mary Margaret has sadly decided to leave the SAL. I hope you’ll pop over to see what she’s getting up to now and again. She’s informed me she’ll still be crafting. Please check out what everyone else has been up to by clicking their 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 13th June 2021.

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Megan, Deborah, Renee, Carmela, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, AJ, Laura, Cathie, Linda, Helen

About the SAL

38 Comments

by Sewing Beside the Sea on May 23, 2021 • Permalink

Posted in Cross stitch, Woodland Sampler

Tagged cross stitch, embroidery, SAL, sampler, tawny owl, wildlife, woodland, Woodland Sampler

Posted by Sewing Beside the Sea on May 23, 2021

https://sewingbesidethesea.wordpress.com/2021/05/23/woodland-sampler-stage-2/

Tiny Treasures – Happy Dance

It’s time for another SAL update. Tiny Treasures was designed by Liz Almond and the original chart is a free download from Blackwork Journey. This is where I was up to last time.

As you can see there were only 8 boxes to complete so me and Claire decided to sprint to the finish line. We did it!

This is why we’re Happy Dancing this time 🙂 It’s a long way to scroll down!

As usual I made the process so much more difficult for myself by changing and adding to lots of the original designs from the beginning. Once I’d started to make everything more densely stitched to suit my thread choice I had to keep it up or the top bit would’ve looked wrong. I struggled towards the end to redesign or come up with something completely different from the original but I managed. All the boxes and flowers are different. There’s 70 flowers and 52 boxes. I think I’ll finish it up as a wall hanger. If not, it’ll be framed but I’m not in any hurry to get it done.

The design finished at 10 x 27 inches but you could choose any number of the boxes and flowers to make something a more suitable size for your needs. It’s been a very enjoyable project to stitch, especially as the chart and instructions are so clear.

Do you want to know what I’m going to stitch next? OK then, I’ll tell you. I’d already pulled something out of my stash and put it to one side ages ago but then it was my birthday and my sister bought me this gorgeous kit. It’s a cross stitch design featuring some of my favourite animals, namely foxes and hedgehogs. I think it’ll take a long time to stitch this one but it’s perfect for the SAL in that it has several different animals that I can do in stages.