BerryBeautiful

I stitched Susan Penny's design Berry Beautiful which was kit included with Cross Stitcher Magazine #383.

The design includes cross stitches and few beads. the white strawberry flowers were meant to be left black, but I stitched them with white & light pink loose end shades. 

I didn't make the hanger of the kit as it was supposed to. Instead I made a practical scissor keeper which you can use also as a pincushion. This design reminds me about my own scissor keeper. I wanted to stitch this for a friend far away as a birthday gift in March. 

TotallyTropical

This is  Durene Jones' design. It is included in Cross Stitcher Magazine #384. A friend of mine gave me pack of kits included with magazines as Christmas 2023 gift. 

This kit came with card and envelope. Instead of making a card of it I decided to make something else of it. For the card I found a perfect picture from my stash. 

I made a biscornu of it. Only once before I've made a biscornu. This one is not actually a pincushion but can be used as one. 

This is scissor keeper. I made one before. After 11 years I still have it despite the tassel needs a bit updating. The design includes cross stitches, half cross stitches, back stitches and long stitches. I added a button to keep up the biscornu shape and a re-used cord to attach it to the scissors.

For the back I used a tiny piece of matching fabric. I had also that in my stash. I really enjoy doing all king of things that need concentration and working with hands! I always say my nerves rest on it despite I am often told it gets on ones nerves when you need to do so exact and precise work for hours! No, my nerves and soul rest on it! I am sure I can find many soul mates!

Biscornu

I love biscornu pincushions! This is Susan Penny design from CrossStitcher (March 2021, page 3-4) gift kit. My friend Sue from overseas sent this for me because she didn't need it so I was happy to stitch it! The design includes cross stitches, back stitches and French knots. The linen fabric is green with white polka dots! How cute. I usually don't like polka dot fabrics but I simply adore this green-white one! 

Thimble Cottage Needlebook

This Thimble Cottage Needlecase was something I really needed for MySelf. So I became very happy when I found out what a friend gave me as a gift. For ages I had planned to make a needle book for Me&MySelf. It is a free gift from Cross Stitcher magazine. I don't know which issue. I used sewing machine to finish the needle book and instead of stitching a heart on the roof I used pretty flower button. I neither made any fastening / closing up system because I keep it flat inside My folder where I have My unfinished stitching.

Beautiful butterflies

This beautiful butterfly design is a free gift of The World of Cross Stitching Magazine. I don't know which issue because a friend gave this to me. The beads were not included. I added them to personalize this design. It came with a card but I am going to make something else of this.

Summer rose card

This design is free kit that came with The World of Cross Stitching Magazine. I don't know which issue because I got this from a friend. The kit included a beautiful card but not the beads were mentioned. I added the beads to create a personalized touch for the design. I am going to make something else than a card of this...

Alpine Strawberry

This time I stitched Penelope's counted cross stitch kit Alpine Strawberry. It reminds me of summer and garden. It is a gift from a friend.

I love all the shades of it!

Suddenly I noticed there was a mistake!!!!

Can you see it?

I had mixed the shades Golden Green and Moss Green!!! Look at the leaves! But I think that was just ok so I did nothing to it. 😊

It is beautiful anyway and a small messing up can not be seen when the package is not around. At the end I think it just doesn't seem to matter in which way those two shades are.

SnowMan

Oh, I stitched this cute little SnowMan by Mouseloft. It is a gift from a friend and very nice one day project.

It was easy cute little cross stitch project with back stitches. It's been far too many months since I stitched for the last time!

Ta-dah!

KnittingNeedleCase -tutorial

Do you remember that on January the 7th I was still Feeling Xmas?

I'm in a craft challenge where you will do something self and hand made on 2016 to your friends who are in the challenge with you. On January the 11th I told this is going to be something for DearJ. 

This project really turn out to be a bit challenge because MyDearHelga refused to sew this to the final end. The start went fine. We had no troubles at all. But at the end it turn out disaster and too thick for her sensitive soul. Hmpf!

This is a tutorial but there are no exact measures for sewing. This is an idea of it all what you can do to make your own KnittingNeedleCase.

I used felt, fabric and cotton wool.

I used white felt as lining to protect the back side of stitching. I turned the seam allowance on the right side to make it look pretty.

I used red quilting as decoration on grey felt.

The fabric I used is cotton and designed for quilting.

Cotton wool is pretty thin and I placed it between the felt and fabric to make the case to be more protective for the needles and hooks.

The stitched part forms the pockets for the needles and hooks. So there is actually 2 layers of fabric between which is the cotton wool. And then there is on the top this stitched part.

I stitched the middle part of the fabrics together. That seam forms out a fold like a book.

I stitched the smaller pockets for needles and hooks. Again; through it all.

I also folded a flap of grey fabric to keep the needles and hooks in their pockets.

Here you can see how I stitched the pockets through it all so it can be seen on the other side too.

I sew the bias tapes in the way that they can be used as fastening system with bows.

The stitching for the pockets and sewing the bias tape were the parts my sewing machine refused to sew as too thick. I was a bit disappointed. But at the end I accepted this fact and went to my mother-in-law. She has ancient proper old fashion sewing machine which is made of real steel and eats any kind of fabric; even real fur and leather... Oh those good old times!

Here it is; for DearJ. She will get it on the next weekend!

It is for all year-round use despite it reminds us all about winter and Xmas. I know she knits a lot also for Xmas so hopefully this reminds her about it that we all who receive her pretty hand made gifts by Christmas time think her with warm all year-round!

The cross stitching is designed by Fiona Crouch

for CrossStitcher magazine issue 273 year 2013

Christmas Tags kit was a free gift with the magazine

I designed the KnittingNeedleCase. Hope this tutorial helps you to have an idea how you could make yours.

8xXmas

Now I have finished 8 tiny figures for mystery project! It is January but still Feeling Xmas!

I used Christmas Tags free gift from CrossStitcher magazine issue 273 year 2013. It is designed by Fiona Crouch. I didn't make tags of the figures but I personalized a bit by stitching small lines below and above the pictures. Later on you'll see what this mystery project is all about.