First Winds of Autumn by Blackbird Designs | Cross Stitch

First Winds of Autumn

Winds of Autumn

Blackbird Designs

Designed by Barb Adams

Stitched by Brandi Fitzpatrick

Fabric - 36 ct. Vintage Beeswax by R&R Reproductions

Threads - WDW - Amber, Bright Leaf, Chickpea, Cinnamon Twist, Marmalade, Molasses, Palomino, Roasted Fig, Sage, Sweet Potato

Bittersweet September by Blackbird Designs | Cross Stitch

Bittersweet September

Winds of Autumn

Blackbird Designs

Designed by Alma Allen

Stitiched by Brandi Fitzpatrick

Fabric - 32 ct. Vintage Country Mocha

Threads - GA- Autumn Leaves, Chamomile, Endive, Gingersnap, Goldleaf, Heirloom Gold, Tomato, Walnut, Sarsaparilla, Woodtrail

Waiting for the Harvest by Blackbird Designs | Cross Stitch

Waiting for the Harvest

Winds of Autumn

Blackbird Designs

Design by Barb Adams

Stitched by Brandi Fitzpatrick

Fabric - 32 ct. natural linen by Zweigart

Threads - WDW Grapevine

My Notes

After finishing up October 31st by Blackbird Designs I had leftover fabric and threads so I decided to whip up this beauty. The called for fabric is 32 ct. American Chestnut by R&R Reproductions and the thread is GA Dark Chocolate. But as I said I had leftovers so I used that instead.

Barb includes an alphabet to personalize the piece so I took advantage of that and used my initials instead of hers.

I finished it in the same way that I finished Spell of the Moon by Blackbird Designs. I used leftover fabric for the backing and some mystery yarn for the trim that I just whip stitched on. I'm very happy with how it turned out.

 

Spell of the Moon by Blackbird Designs | Cross Stitch

Spell of the Moon 

Winds of Autumn

Blackbird Designs

Design by Barb Adams

Stitched by Brandi Fitzpatrick

Fabric - 32ct Natural linen by Zweigart

Threads - 

    CC - Black Coffee

    GA - Harvest Moon

    WDW - Pelican Gray

My Notes

My metal basket on my buffet was in need of a few more fall/Halloween pieces so I decided to turn this into a little pin pillow. The called for fabric was Tin Roof by Weeks Dye Works. I didn't have any on hand so I just used a scrap of natural linen by Zweigart and I like the results. To me Natural linen is a perfect blend of browns and greys. I did have all of the called for threads so I used them.

I used a piece of grey fabric leftover from my October 31 drum that I previously finished. The trim around the edge is some mystery yarn that is in my scrap yarn basket. I personally like to use yarn to finish edges. It's so easy to whip stitch on and I always have something laying around that seems to work. My tip on yarn is to use a drop of glue (like Elmer's) on the ends and they will keep from fraying. 

I also added one of those adorable bulb pins with some buttons just because Helen D. does it so I wanted to as well. I took her advice and ordered a bag off of Amazon so now I have enough bulb pins to do more projects than I ever will in my lifetime!

If you don't have the Winds of Autumn booklet from Blackbird Designs you need to get it. It's just full of wonderful Halloween and Fall pieces.

Happy Stitching!

 

October 31 by Blackbird Designs | Cross Stitch

October 31

Winds of Autumn 

Designed by Barb Adams

Stitched and Finished by Brandi Fitzpatrick

Fabric - 32 ct Natural linen by Zweigart

Threads - WDW Grape Vine

My Notes

I am so in love with this piece. It's my first finish as a drum. I've always been intimidated by the process but for this one I decided that Barb's finishing instructions sounded doable so I decided to give it a try. 

The linen that was called for was 32ct. Tombstone by R&R Reproductions. My local LNS (Cecelia's Samplers) was out so I just went with a basic Natural linen by Zweigart. The called for thread was Onyx by Gentle Arts. I used Grape Vine by Weeks Dye Works. I thought it went better with the linen and I had it in my stash.

For the finishing fabric I would have loved to use the same as Barb did, but it was a Blackbird Designs fabric that was no longer available. So I just took myself to Hobby Lobby with my stitched piece and found a piece of grey fabric that I thought went nicely. 

I pretty much followed the assembly instructions as they were written. I sewed it by hand using a ton of pins to keep everything in place. My advice is to just take your time and it will all come together. At about the halfway point I wasn't sure it would, but it did! I didn't have sawdust to stuff it with so I just used crushed walnut shells.

After everything was sewn together and stuffed I finished it off with the decorative Herringbone stitch along the top seam. I used a strand of  WDW Grape Vine. Let me just say that my Herringbone stitch skills could use some work but I'm happy with how it turned out. By the way I watched several YouTube videos on the stitch to remind myself how it is done. That was helpful but to me it is still an awkward stitch. But it's pretty when it's finished!

I hope this encourages you to give this one a try. If I can finish it you can finish it!

Happy Stitching!

 

Oct. 31st by Brenda Gervais | Cross Stitch

Pattern: Oct. 31st

Designer: Brenda Gervais (With Thy Needle and Thread)

Fabric: 36 ct Legacy linen by Picture This Plus.

Threads: I used the called for threads. Weeks Dye Works - Straw, Tiger's Eye, Pecan, Palomino, Sage, Caper, Pelican Gray and Olive. Gentle Arts - Cinnamon, Woodrose, Walnut, Pumpkin Pie, Toasted Barley, Wood Trail, Toffee and Wheat Fields. Classic Colorworks - Eggshell and Perfect Piecrust. Classic Colorworks Belle Soie Silk - Limestone

She's finally finished! I absolutely love this one. I decided to frame it once it was finished. I took it to be professionally framed but the cost was going to be just over $100. I love her . . . but not that much! So I found a stock frame from Michael's and laced and framed her myself. I'm pleased with the results.

Changes

 I used 32 ct Iced Coffee linen by Fabric Flair. This is my first time using Fabric Flair and I liked it. I stitch in hand and it draped just right. Fabric Flair is a printed fabric and it is printed on one side only. The other side is just white.

I used all of the called for threads with the exception of Limestone (Belle Soie Silk). I substituted Caterpillar from Classic Colorworks.

I stitched one over two which is my choice on 32 ct. I like the rustic prim look and two over two is just too bulky for me.

The only change that I made to the pattern was to add stripes to the apron. I used Gentle Arts Pumpkin Pie and just backstitched the stripes in. My reasoning for this is to help the visual effect. With the called for fabric and the fabric I chose the apron is very close in coloring to the background fabric. It makes the witch's bosom look enormous. (Just glance at the picture and I think you'll see what I mean.) When I added the stripes it changed the perspective. I think it would also work to change background fabric color to one that contrasted with the apron color.

This is a nice sized piece. The frame I used was a 10 x 13. I also think that it would make a cute fall pillow. There aren't any specialty stitches so you could do it on 14 ct aida if that's what you prefer.

Enjoy the stitch!

Got Luck? from Plum Street Samplers | Cross Stitch (free pattern download)

Pattern: Got Luck?

Designer: Paulette Stewart

Company: Plum Street Samplers

Fabric: 14 ct hand dyed mystery fabric

Floss: DMC 580, 581, 3348

I am addicted to Floss Tube and all of the brilliant ideas on there. One of the things that they have made me realize is that I just don't have much seasonal stitching to display. So I decided to rectify that this year. 

One of the other things that I've realized about myself is that I tend to collect all the cute freebie designs from my LNS and the designers' websites but they just go in a file to be forgotten. Well I'm tired of that so I'm going to stitch them up this year! 

Paulette Stewart from Plum Street Samplers puts out some of the most adorable designs. This little piece is a free download on her blog. It's been in my stash for awhile so I decided to stitch it up.

Details, Details, Details

The pattern stitch count is small (44w X 43h) so I decided to turn it into a little pillow for my coffee table tray. I dug through my scrap fabric and found a piece of hand dyed Aida that I'm not really sure about. I know it is 14 count and it's really soft so I am leaning towards it being from Picture This Plus but again I'm not sure. It's got a really pretty variation of pastel greens and yellows so I decided it would be perfect.

The directions tell you to use any fabric you like and three thread colors; two different greens and ecru, or three different greens and no ecru. I chose three different DMC greens. The dark green is 580, medium green is 581, and the light green in place of the ecru is 3348. 

The only thing that I changed on the pattern were the words. The original calls for the words Got Luck? but I charted out our last name instead. My husband's family is Irish so it works for us.

To finish it I chose a coordinating fabric and made a small pillow. I filled it with crushed English Walnut shells. I like that better than poly-fill for my small pillows. It's just a personal preference. I like the weight of it better and they can also be used as a pin cushion.

I'd like to add a little trim around the edges like chenille or something, but I didn't have any that would match in my stash so that may happen later. 

Did You Know?

Okay I may be the last person to realize this, but just in case I'm not, here goes. I've been buying these crushed walnut shells in a small batch at my local quilt store. It's not the cheapest thing to buy it that way but I had no idea. The other day I looked it up online to see if I could order it and have it shipped with Prime. 

Guess what . . . crushed English Walnut shells are also used in the bottom of reptile cages. So I went to our local pet store (Pet Co.) and low and behold they sell this stuff in huge bags for a fraction of the price. Good grief! 

Hope this inspires you to stitch one up for yourself. If you do tag us so we can see your finished project and cheer you on. We're RambleSAHM on all of our social media platforms.

Happy Stitching!

Lantern Lane from Little House Needleworks | Cross Stitch

Lantern Lane

Chart No. 134

Designed By: Diane Williams

Company: Little House Needleworks

Fabric: 28 ct Jobelan from Wichelt in Babbling Brook

Floss: Belle Soie silks are the suggested threads with hand dyed cotton alternatives from Weeks Dye Works and Classic Colorworks

Finishing: Thrift Store tray

This piece was such a wonderful journey for me. For the past several years I have really struggled doing anything on linen. In fact I pretty much had given up. I was thinking that I would just be content with using 14, 16, and 18 count fabric. My eyes just wouldn't focus on anything else.

Several years ago I switched to multi-focal contacts that I love. But my eyes really struggle seeing the individual threads. I'd tried a magnifying light and even used reading glasses (+1.50) over my contacts. Nothing seemed to work. Then by a total fluke I stumbled upon a solution.

I accidentally picked up a higher power of reading glasses (+3.50) and I could see the threads. I still can't do linen, something about the slubs in the threads makes it hard to see and I get off too easily. But for now I'm able to use the evenweaves like Lugana and Jobelan. So excited to be able to stitch over two threads again. It makes specialty stitches so much easier!

So Lantern Lane is my first foray back into the world of two over two. It is such a pleasure to work on different fabrics again. If you're struggling too . . . keep looking for what works. You'll find it if you keep trying different things. Just don't give up!

If I Were To Stitch This Again

This pattern lets you choose between Belle Soie silks or hand dyed cotton. I chose the cotton, but it is such a pretty piece that I wouldn't hesitate to do it in silks if I were to do it again.

My only complaint about the over dyed cotton was that the Fawn (WDW) and the Eggshell (CCW) were too close in color. It makes the window sashing and shutters just blend together. I would change the Fawn (WDW) to a slightly darker shade.

I also would sub the Black Coffee (CCW) for DMC 310. I couldn't see enough variation to warrant the use of the more expensive thread. But that Pea Pod (CCW) and the Lancaster Red (WDW) are worth the extra.

I needed two skeins of the Cocoa (WDW), Lancaster Red (WDW), and the Pea Pod (CCW). I don't stitch each individual x as I'm going along. I stitch from bottom left and work over and up. I do a row of half crosses and then come back and cross them. I like the more subtle variation you get that way. So if you are an individual x crosser you may need more thread.

Finishing

To finish this piece off I just dug around in my stash and came up with this tray that I had picked up from a thrift store. I cut a piece of foam board to fit in the bottom. Then I used spray glue and attached a piece of batting to the foam board. Finally I used the lacing method that Brenda Gervais from With Thy Needle and Thread uses. She has a good tutorial here.

By The Way

This was a stitch along (SAL) that used the hashtag #LanternLaneSAL . If you do this piece use that hashtag so we can all see it.

I picked this pattern up at my local needlework shop (LNS). If you don't have an LNS that you use I'm sure mine would love to help you. They are Cecilia's Samplers and they ship all over the states. You can order online or by phone they are the best!