October Plans

At the start of the year I made a list of 24 projects I want to stitch this year for my "24 in '24".  The order I stitch them in is going to be determined by the WIPGO Board.  Jessie-Marie calls two numbers each month and those will be the two projects I stitch that month.  One small and one medium.

In September, the numbers were 4 and 11.  These related to TraLaLa Couer de Sorciere and Hands on Design [never.more].  I have completed both of them now.

stitched on 32 count Taupe evenweave

stitched on 32 count Khaki linen

It would be nice to get these both FFO'd before the 10th, wouldn't it?

In October, the numbers are 8 and 17.  These relate to Cottage Garden Samplings' Halloween Sampler and Drawn Thread's Spot of Summer.

The Halloween sampler was always going to be my Dark October project regardless of when it was called so I allocated that as number 8.  I started this in January for Dark 13 and stitched one word per month. Here's where I was before the start of October:

Here's where I am now - 5 days and 5 new words added

stitched on 40 count Witches Brew linen from Zweigart

My evening piece is supposed to be Spot of Summer from Drawn Thread but I haven't started it yet.  I am thinking of rolling this one and Spot of Autumn over to next year.

Instead I have been stitching the Steady Thread Halloween SAL:

stitched on 30 count tea-dyed linen

I'm not keeping up with the releases, this is still only Part 1 but it's a lovely stitch and I'm really enjoying it so I'll keep going with it.

Finally, I have got behind on my blog posting again so don't be surprised if an older post pops up in your Reader!

October TUSAL

   

It's TUSAL time!  

Here is my TUSAL jar with my current projects:

At the back, we have Cottage Garden Sampling's Halloween Sampler.  This has been my Dark Thirteen piece all year and now my focus piece for October.

stitched on 40 count Witches Brew linen from Zweigart

The smaller piece has been my evening project throughout September and is close to a finish now.  Hands on Design [never.more]

stitched on 32 count Khaki linen

Finally, I am behind in blogging again thanks to a bug that made me very tired and sleepy so expect to see some back-filled blog posts over the next few days!

September WIPocalypse Learning to Stitch

            

WIPocalypse is hosted by Measi's Musings

Each month we have to share the projects we want to complete before the End Of The World. Since 2011 I have chosen a number of projects to focus on that year, starting with my "11 in '11" and increasing to "24 in '24" for this year. This month I stitched on 5 of them and had four finishes.

2. Shepherd's Bush Halloween Trifles

11. Hands on Designs [never.more]

12. Living on the Rainbow Haunted House

16. Tra La La Couer de Sorciere

24. Cottage Garden Samplings Halloween Sampler

Finally, Measi always gives us a topic to discuss:

September – How did you learn to stitch?

I actually stitched my very first piece in Year 2 in Primary School.

After that, there was a long break until I saw a friend cross stitching a design for her baby son in 1993.  I was intrigued and thought it looked easier than sewing or embroidery because of the squares on the fabric.

I bought a small kit and started immediately, following the instructions in the kit:

After I'd got the basics I moved on to stitching with metallics, stitching on black, stitching on linen etc.  In the pre-internet days there was no-one telling you that something was supposed to be difficult!  You just tried it out to see how you got on.

Some of my techniques remain from the original kits - I'm a centre starter and much prefer to start that way.  Some developed from my own habits, I stitch using "secured needle" because it's practical when travelling and with cats or small children around.

The main change I have made is from stitching ////// then \\\\\\\ for rows to stitching each X individually.  I realised I prefer the tension and the look of the stitches when I do them individually.

September Smalls

        

The Smalls SAL is hosted by Rachel

For my Smalls stitching this year, I have chosen 12 smaller designs and numbered them for my WIPGO Board.  Each month one Small will be stitched in the evening timeslot and hopefully finished within the month.  

August's choice was Shepherd's Bush Halloween Trifles and I had finished two of them for last month's post.  Here's the 3rd:

stitched on 32 count Tigerlily Murano from Sparklies

For September, the draw called for [never.more] by Hands On Design and here's where I am with this one:

stitched on 32 count Khaki linen

Finally, I'm a long way behind in posting again!  This post has totally missed the deadline to link up.  Sorry Rachel!

 

September Gifted Gorgeousness Link-up Post

        

Welcome to the September Gifted Gorgeousness link-up. The link-up date continues to be the 15th and I will keep the link-up open until the end of each month so you have plenty of time if you are late posting.

The format remains exactly the same, there is a list of rules on the main sign-up page if you want to check what is required but basically anything connected to the word "gift" is allowed, whether it was a gift TO you or is a gift FROM you.

Last month, my evening piece was a chart I gave to a friend as a Birthday present and then she gave it back to me to stitch for myself!  I'm using the offcut of Sparklies' Tigerlily Murano for these.

Shepherd's Bush - Halloween Trifles

stitched on 32 count Tigerlily Murano from Sparklies

My focus piece for last month was Joan Elliott's Faces SAL, stitched on gifted fabric:

stitched on 28 count Snapdragon Jazlyn from Crafty Kitten

This month, both my focus pieces are also gifts!  The charts were sent to me by a lovely friend who was clearing some of her older stash.  During the day I am stitching on Couer de Sorciere by TraLaLa:

stitched on 32 count Taupe evenweave

In the evening it's this little repeating design from Hands on Design, [never.more]

stitched on 32 count Khaki linen

Continuing progress on this one as we cool down to Lime again:

Steady Thread - Tree of Life Temperature SAL

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stitched on 28 count Meadow Mist linen from Silkweavers

I record the temperature each day and then stitch the leaves on the Sunday morning.

I've caught up at last!

My Dark 13 design is stitched on gifted fabric, a beautiful 40 count linen called Witch's Brew from Zweigart.  My plan is to stitch one letter per month until we reach October and then complete it during Dark October.

stitched on 40 count linen called Witch's Brew from Zweigart

Finally, it is your turn to show us your Gifted Gorgeousness for the month.  Please use your name or your blog name in the field and NOT the words "September Update" so I can easily see who has linked up this month.  And link to the actual post, not just your blog.  It is easier if you copy and paste the link, rather than typing freehand.

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September Plans

At the start of the year I made a list of 24 projects I want to stitch this year for my "24 in '24".  The order I stitch them in is going to be determined by the WIPGO Board.  Jessie-Marie calls two numbers each month and those will be the two projects I stitch that month.  One small and one medium.

In August, the numbers were 12 and 15.  These related to Joan Elliott's Faces SAL and Shepherd's Bush Halloween Trifles.

A very successful month saw both of these finished, including all three of the Trifles.

stitched on 28 count Snapdragon Jazlyn from Crafty Kitten

Boo

Eek

Halloween

all stitched on 32 count Tigerlily Murano from Sparklies

In September, the numbers are 4 and 11.  These relate to TraLaLa Couer de Sorciere and Hands on Design [never.more].

stitched on 32 count Taupe evenweave

I'm making really good progress on this one as I started early!  Once I finished the Faces SAL I thought I would start this one immediately rather than wait until 1st September.  I have quite a bit of FFO'ing to do and some larger projects it would be nice to work on.  Plus people keep releasing gorgeous Halloween designs I want to squeeze in!

stitched on 32 count Khaki linen

This one is my evening stitch.  I don't have the button but I will probably add a spider charm to the middle instead.

Finally, I am way behind in my blogging so you may see older posts suddenly appear out of date order.  I have made a start on four posts from August that need finishing and publishing.  So far, I'm up to date with September though!

September TUSAL

  

It's TUSAL time!  

Here is my TUSAL jar with my current projects:

On the left we have Couer de Sorciere from TraLaLa:

stitched on 32 count Taupe evenweave

On the right is my evening project - [never.more] from Hands On Design:

stitched on 32 count Khaki linen

Finally, you'll see more of these on my Plans post coming up soon.

October Stitch from Stash and Pie

 It's time for Pie!

This was Dark October and I worked on three Spooky projects, the primary one being my CCN Spooky Conversion of Main Street.

I started this in May 2020 with the conversion of the Bookshop into Grimoires.  Then stitched three buildings per year until this month when it was finally finished.

I tried to keep the shops related to the original shops and the colour schemes too.

The trees became autumnal trees

I love the carniverous plants adapted from a Stitchonomy design

What's your favourite shop?

The next project up was the final Scary Apothecary design from Hands on Designs - Spider Legs.  I used two different Jodyri Threads for the variegated grey and pink.

stitched on 28 count Radioactive linen from Chromatic Alchemy

nice bit of sparkly orange metallic in this one:

I also made a pie for my evening stitching:

To start with, I focused on my Halloween Sewing Basket which is now fully finished just in time for Halloween!

Then I decided to knock out the Just Nan Spooky Smalls I started during my Just Nan-athon.  There were three of them and I finished all three.

Batty Jack

Horrified!

Fraidy Frog

Finally, Stitch from Stash.

I intended to buy the fabric for the next four Zodiac Girls earlier in the year but Sparklies closed their order books for a couple of months to try catch up with stock.  As soon as Kate reopened I was straight in with my order and it arrived very swiftly too.

Here's the three Water signs on their respective fabrics thanks to The Design and Fabric Viewer.  I also bought Capricorn which will be on next year's "24 in '24"