Brummie Blogger

Tree of Stitches - Smyrna Stitch

That Peapod green was calling to me so I took a wee break from my new project and did the first specialist stitch on my tree. I hadn't done Smyrna Stitch before but it was really easy. I just had to make sure all the crosses were done in the same order so they looked the same. I really love this shade of green, especially now I can see what it looks like with all the variegation showing. I'm glad I held out for it instead of settling for the other shade.

Thanks again Tree for coming to the rescue with those two skeins.

This is what it all looks like so far.

The next stitch should be French knots or Colonial knots depending on preference, but the general advice is to do part four next instead. That way it's easier to get the placement of the knots correct. And, that way I can put off doing those pesky knots for a little longer.

Tree of Stitches - The Trunk

An update already. Oh yes indeedy. I enjoyed stitching this. I love this thread and tried to use it so that the paler areas looked like shading on the trunk, rather than just stitching in straight lines. It wasn't always possible but it made it more interesting trying.

This is what the completed trunk looks like

I was quite keen to carry on and do the first of the speciality stitches that make up the canopy of the tree but I hit a bit of a snag. I'd ordered three skeins of Peapod by Crescent Colours. One skein went into the kit for this project where there were two that I'd already snaffled from another kit. The other two were returned to the kit that I'd snaffled from. With me so far? So, in my Tree of Stitches kit, I had two older skeins and the one new one. Dye lots not an issue with variegated threads so I wasn't worried about any slight differences.

Last night I took out the threads and looked at them all together. I was awfully glad that I hadn't started stitching with the older threads while I was waiting for my order to arrive. This is why.

Not exactly a slight difference, hmm? The one on the left, which is the one that I'd set my heart on using, is a nice grungy sort of green. The new one on the right is a brighter, more perky green and that's the one that I now have three of. (two being in the kit that I originally filched from).

So, the question is, which one is the real Peapod. (I need to know this for the sake of the chart that is kitted up and specifically requires Peapod.) Do I want to use the new one for Tree of Stitches when I really wanted to use the old one? And if the old one isn't Peapod, what on earth is it so I can order another one?

I think maybe I need to go shopping again. I need more Peapod. I'll order three more from a different shop and see what comes. If it's a different colour again, at least I've got two different ones to pick from. I may order something else grungy looking while I'm at it, as insurance. And I need to order a few threads for another project so I may as well get those too.

In the meantime - back to Coffee Menu.

Another new project

I really wasn't going to start any new cross stitch projects for a while. Not until I'd finished at least one, and preferably two of my current WIPs. But then I kept seeing this one on the Cross Stitch Forums and on people's blogs and in the end, I just couldn't resist.

It's designed by Abi Gurden at The Stitch Specialists group and is a learning piece with different stitches. It was a SAL, but because it's now finished I've been able to download all of the parts. The group looks very supportive so if I get into any difficulties with it I should be able to get plenty of help. The instructions look very detailed though so I'm hoping I'll be fine.

The design is lovely. I don't have a picture to post so you'll just have to watch it grow. All the trees that people have done are so different as they've used different colour schemes. I'm planning to do the trunk in brown but all the rest will be green. I'm using 28 count Cashel linen with a slight marbling effect. It's actually the offcut from Coffee Menu.

 

I was going to try to just use supplies from my stash and I have found just the right colours. Unfortunately, I've had to nick them from The Library which I had kitted up so I'll need to order more to replace them. And, I don't have quite enough so I need to order them now.

I may just order the stash for the new SAL that the group is doing while I'm about it. It is rather nice and would look gorgeous on some blue fabric. Or maybe some green...