Cinderella Walhanging

 

It's finally finished

      After many years, I finally finished this Cinderella counted cross stitch kit.  I think I have had the kit for over 25 years.  I started it and then it got put to the side after I got my embroidery machine.  A few years ago I pulled it out again.  The threads were so tangled together!  I tried working on it but each time I would put it away and then pull it out again I spent most of my time untangling it.  

Working on the backstitching

      Then something I hear on Gretchen Rubin's Happier podcast made all the difference.  She talked about wanted to water color every day but found she spent too much time pulling out her supplies.  She had an aha moment that if she left out her supplies on a small cart, they would be much more available.  Eureka, I decided to do something similar.  I set up a large folding table in front of the windows in my living room.  I then laid out all my carded threads with the tails hanging off the edges.  No more tangles!  I did have to take it all down for Christmas, but as soon as the decorations came down in January, I put it all back up.  

Detail of backstitching

     I tried to spend a half hour every week day working on it.  I finished the cross stitching, then the backstitching to bring it to life and finally the hundred or so beads were sewn on.  I did have to buy some more embroidery floss.  Not sure if I lost some or did it get so tangled I had to toss a color or two.

Needs to be pressed

     Then I had to press out all the wrinkles and hoop marks.  I took it to a local studio, Perkowitz Art Studio to get it framed.  She helped me choose a mat color that enhanced the piece and a pretty but not too ornate frame.  She did an amazing job!  

Hanging up

     Originally I was going to hang it on the wall on the stair landing going upstairs but in the meantime we purchased a second home, a condo in Cedar Rapids.  The piece is now hanging in my sewing room at the condo along with the eight Cinderella plates I had purchased YEARS ago.  I also found a cute plaque at a resale shop in Cedar Rapids that I hung with it all.  Eventually I will repaint the walls in the sewing room, but at least now I can see it whenever we go out there.

Thanksgiving Sweatshirt

 

Finished sweatshirt

     Just a quick blog this week.  I embroidered a sweatshirt to have to wear at Thanksgiving time.  I think I bought the sweatshirt from Amazon.  I washed it in hot water so if it was going to shrink, it would be before I did the embroidery.  I ironed on a polymesh stabilizer and used my magnetic hoop.  The design is from Designs by JuJu.  A quick and easy stitch out.

Embroidery detail

     It will be fun to wear this next Thanksgiving.

Neutral Brampton Shorts

Finished shorts

       I made these shorts with fabric I bought from my ASG trip to San Francisco 2024.  I made them last May and wore them a couple of times last summer.  They fit okay, not sure I like the bag waist fit on my body though.  

Pattern and fabric

     When I bought my fabrics at Stonemountain and Daughter, I took a photo of the pattern with the cut fabric so I would remember what I bought each piece for.  This was necessary as the fabric was getting shipped to me and I wouldn't remember otherwise.😁

Back pocket detail

     I did both the in-seam pockets and the back pockets plus the the sash.  The fabric was maybe just a little too 'stiff' for the tie sash.  Maybe a more flowy rayon would work better.

Hem detail

     The pattern was easy to follow the directions and the fabric was a dream to work with.  

Grey Floral Kashi Tee

 

     Just finished this for myself.  I had bought this so so soft knit at JoAnn Fabrics before it closed.  I used another Itch to Stitch pattern.  This time the Kashi tee.  I chose the v-neck version with long sleeves.  I did not use my serger for the construction, just for finishing the hems.  I used the stretch stitch on my sewing machine for putting it together.  

     The instructions for the v-neck were very good, went together smoothly. I can't wait to wear this.  I can see wearing it with my sage green pants, grey ones, blush or white.  So many possibilities.  I highly recommend Itch to Stitch patterns.  The directions are excellent and so far most of the things I've sewn have fit well.