Progress Report - I am doomed !

 Two panels on my Wessex Drawstring Bag are now complete and instead of stitching, unpicking and re-stitching I have decided to do the mathematical calculations and stitch tacking threads first.   But given the obstacles to date I am still pleased with progress.

So I did calculate, measure and count but still.  Can you see the error?   So tonight I will be “unstitching “  I am so annoyed with myself!  This project is doomed!

Again, it is another fine day here if a little windy, so I am going to sit outside and get a good dose of Vitamin D.  But first I must “slip slop slap” with the sunscreen.

Finally….

 Well, persistence has paid off and finally panel one of the bag is finished.   That’s it for tonight! 

There are four panels to this bag so I’m hoping for more control and less reversing for the next panel.

Meanwhile my evening chores call so I’ll sign off and be back again it’s another report soon.

Yes! Again!

 I’m beginning to wonder why I even started this dratted project!   This time I did read the instructions and I closely inspected the photographs I’ve taken of my friends finished piece.   But still, every stitch on this panel has been unstitched and redone!   I’m fed up with the whole thing and it’s gone into the naughty corner for the night and I will read a book before bed.  And tomorrow I will pull out all the cut incorrect threads and start this band again.

From this to this….

 My good friend Fiona always used to remind me to “read the instructions”.  She was correct!   I have had to undo every last stitch of this piece and will start again.   One thread of floss on 32 count linen taxed my eyesight but the “reversing” is now done.

From this

To this

So now to begin again and this time follow the instructions!

Long Time No Blog

 It is ages since I have updated my blog and I hasten to reassure any who are still reading this that I am quite well and indeed have just returned from an extended holiday in Japan visiting friends.   After a break of 36 years I had a Japanese Christmas and New Year - and the cold weather that accompanied this season.   New Zealand may have been sweltering under a hot summer but the days were cold in Japan.   Still it was a lovely time.  I took lots of photographs, ate a lot, walked thousands of steps each day and did no embroidery.   Such was my guilt about the latter, I packed my threads and fabric in my cabin luggage for the return flight but was so tired I slept all the way.

Now I’m home and catching up on washing etc I fully intend to set a regular schedule and make friends with my needle and thread again.   A Wessex Stitchery Drawstring Bag is started and I have promised my Japanese friend a hardanger “curtain” for her to hang over her dressing table mirror!   Yes, I was surprised at that too but she definitely wants such so I’m in the process of purchasing the 32 count linen and appropriate DMC Perle on line and will soon make a start on that.   Meanwhile, there’s laundry, shopping, garden, catch up with family and friends and generally a resetting of daily life.

And on Friday, Little Sister and I go to make bookings for The Great UK adventure.   I have an interesting life:)

Christmas Ornament finished.

 Today I finally finished this small Christmas Ornament and with this I think the 2023 requirements are fulfilled.  As I won’t be in New Zealand for Christmas I have to make sure they are all ready and sent to the nieces and nephews before I depart.

What do you think of this one.   Partway through I regretted stitching over one but it was the only way to ensure the finish was an appropriate size.  And I wanted to use everything from stash.  Success on both counts.

What shall I stitch next I wonder?   The first weekend in November I am doing an embroidery class which is a Ukrainian Whitework clutch purse.   So until then I may just dabble and sort through charts and linens in the stash cupboard without starting anything fresh.   I don’t want too many projects on the go at once!

And a finish

 Regulations in New Zealand forbid me from driving for two weeks after my surgery so what am I going to do while imprisoned at home?   Finish my Blue Hussif of course.   So last night as the results of our General Elections rolled in and the Blue colour of the winning National Party filled the screens, I put the finishing touches to my Blue Hussif.   I’m rather pleased with this one and it already has a safe place in my Cabinet of Wonders

I’m rather pleased with the detail on this  - the covered button fastener mirrors the pattern exactly becoming almost invisible.  And the attachment of the needle pages and pin cushion fit exactly the pattern of the quilting on the inside.   Quite a fiddle to get all this correct but well worth the trouble.

I’ve now started on the last Christmas Ornament for this year.   I’m not sure what the linen is - an oddment from my stash - but I’m stitching it over one and wondering why on earth I ever though this was a good idea?  But sometimes it’s necessary to get the final item to a correct size for the tree.   I’ll show progress later on this week.