a finish

Just in time for Halloween...

The Very Scary Mystery Sampler is framed and finished!

   I'm pretty amazed that I found an odd sized frame for cheap online that perfectly fit my piece.  My amateur framing job is far from perfect, but finished is finished.  This lovely is now hanging in my living room and will likely keep its place long after Halloween is gone.

it's nearly halloween time

   Last night I put the last few stitches into the Very Scary Mystery Sampler.  This last piece was my favorite of the sampler to stitch.  I mean... do you see that kitty?!

Pattern: Lizzy*Kate, Very Scary Mystery Sampler, Part 3

Fabric: stitched over 2 on 28 count Charles Craft Irish Linen - tea dyed

Floss: all DMC, using conversions provided by pattern

   I stitched the entire piece as charted using all DMC floss, colors as called for by the pattern.  I think I did pretty good considering this is my first cross stitch piece worked on linen and it's the first time I've worked a pattern that calls for a few special stitches.   

   Here's the whole piece.  Embellishments and beads are coming soon...

   My finished size comes to 6.25" by 18.25" after stitching over 2 on 28 count linen.  And amazingly, I found an 8" by 20" frame online which has been ordered.  So, I'll be experimenting with mounting and framing this piece.  It will be finished in time for Halloween!   

1/3 left to go

   Last night I finished up Part 2 of the Very Scary Mystery Sampler.

Pattern: Lizzy*Kate, Very Scary Mystery Sampler, Part 2

Fabric: stitched over 2 on 28 count Charles Craft Irish Linen - tea dyed

Floss: all DMC, using conversions provided by pattern

   This part of the sampler seemed to drag on forever, even though it only took a week (at most) to stitch.  I think it's because Part 3 is so great, I can't wait to get started on it!

   Not sure how I'm going to finish this once it's done.  It's a large piece especially since I stitched it on 28 count.  I'll probably need a custom frame.  I don't own a sewing machine, so my finishing options are pretty limited.  

   It will definitely be displayed somewhere for Halloween even if it includes my unfinished, masking taped edges.  Here's the entire piece so far:  

branching out

   I recently got the bug to branch out past cross stitch kits (mainly from Dimensions) and fell down the rabbit hole with the Lizzy*Kate Very Scary Mystery Sampler. Being new to working "kit-less" I stocked up on DMC floss and picked up some linen from my local big box craft store. I can safely say that I will never go back to working on aida. I'm not too happy with the linen used for this piece, but working with linen nonetheless has solved my cross stitch issues I encountered while using aida.  

   Here is my first installment, sans beads and embellishments.

Pattern: Lizzy*Kate, Very Scary Mystery Sampler, Part 1

Fabric: stitched over 2 on 28 count Charles Craft Irish Linen - tea dyed

Floss: all DMC using conversions provided by pattern

  I love this first piece of the sampler! Lots of variety and color changes to keep things interesting. Unfortunately, the linen is practically transparent. So, I've had to develop some interesting stitching techniques to keep threads on the backside from showing through. It's getting a bit more tricky on part 2 of the sampler.  

Look for an update soon!