Erica's Stitches

At the start of this year I set out to make Hardanger bookmarks.  So far, I've done one. The problem?  I picked the wrong fabric to start with.  Although I love the colors of the threads on black, black was the wrong color and I avoided the project and it dragged on and on. Now, my zeal for bookmarks has faded and I'm on to other projects.  Hopefully, I'll get back to bookmarks at some point. This is a variation of this free pattern .  I was afraid that the pattern wouldn't fit on my scrap of fabric so I shortened it by changing the main motif from 4 to 3 and adding two smaller ones on the ends.  It totally changes the shape of the whole bookmark.  I also went overboard with eyelets (but, I tend to do that).

I bought this kit on a whim from Nordic Needle.  It's called "Strawberries and Cream" and it's from Serendipity Designs. I had so much of fun stitching it.  It's a quick and simple design and finishing it was a no-brainer - I just copied the picture on the package.  But, the colors are very subtle, even more so than in the picture.  I accidentally sewed the fabric backing facing the wrong way so the back is just as subtle as the front. But, back to the colors, or lack of colors.  Right now I'm craving brighter colors and was tempted to stitch another one in the wildest colors possible.  Instead, I'm taking scraps and making bookmarks of the wildest colors that I have.  So far I have half of one done and scraps to make many more. I didn't expect to be doing hardanger again, but I am.

With the right supplies Hardanger is easy.  Although the elapsed time since I started was longer than I wanted, the actual stitching didn't take too long. Hardanger the wrong way involves the wrong supplies.  In my case it was 28 count linen with pearl cotton 5 and 8 from a kit.  With my own 28 count linen and pearl cotton 8 and 12 it went smoother. The results:  I am not frustrated and the only thing in my trash can is snippets of thread and the cut-away linen.

Subtitle - Why is that crazy lady out on her porch taking pictures of a wastebasket? Yes, that is Hardanger in the trash.  I have given up! It is a cute little tree that I thought I could finish rather quickly in my spare time.  I had the kit about a month and when the time was right I started stitching.  I thought I'd have a tree a few days later. Wrong!  It went slower than usual.  I was making more mistakes and having to undo them.  I was halfway done with the klosters (for the 2nd time) when I realized the problem:  28 count linen and pearl cotton 5 and 8.  The thread is way to big for the linen.  It pushes the holes together and it makes it harder to count.  I figured that I'd made a good start and if I was careful I wouldn't make any more mistakes.  Wrong!  While the klosters where difficult the buttonhole was nearly impossible.  Still I struggled on.  I got frustrated.  I got headaches. The next time...