Erica's Stitches

Good news - I'm ready for Valentine's Day - next year.  I didn't quite get done in time. For a simple finishing I turned it into a card. First, I made a fringe by trimming to 3/8 inch from the stitched border and removing all but the last thread.  This can make a mess. Next, I took a heavy white thread and sewed it down on a piece of card stock. The running stitches between the stitched border and the remaining thread are nearly invisible. All that's left is to turn it over and sign it. On to the next project!

I was taking pictures outside because the light is better.  I stopped and came back and was struck at how absurd the card lay propped up next to some dead plants. Up close, it looks better. Here it is even closer. The big stitch is a Smyrna Cross (or Double Cross) and it's my new favorite stitch.  It is a cross stitch with and upright cross stitch on top of it. It's done here with DMC Color Variations thread and I love the subtle color changes.  I also love the texture that the stitch brings to the finished piece.  I am imagining a landscape done mostly in Cross Stitch with the Smyrna Cross, and possibly other stitches, used to give it more dimension.  I wonder if I'll ever get around to it. The Smyrna Heart pattern is for sale at Patterns Online.

It's back. I made this heart during the springtime and sent it in to the Piecework Heart Ornament Contest. Needless to say, it was not selected. At the time I was imagining intricate embroidered hearts with lots of fancy stitches.  I had wool out for other projects and the colors were perfect for hearts. The thread was from a sampler pack of remnants from a yarn shop.  It was a 3 ply cotton yarn that stitched beautifully on the wool.  I have since looked for and been unable to find a whole skein.  I found something very similar but the colors change about every yard instead of every inch. And beads!  Had to add beads. I picked up the latest Piecework with the contest results yesterday.  All the winning hearts are fabulous.  I am so jealous of the bleeding hearts.  I wish I had the patience to stitch something like that. Oh well, Piecework will have another contest announced in the fall.  I'm going to try something more ambitious and...