Slow Sunday Stitching - May 25, 2025 AND 2025 Rotation #3, Slot #2 (Not Counted Thread)

Another decent, but not outstanding week.   Lots of end of the school year stuff, graduations and promotions that cut into the stitching time.  Including Alexis being promoted from 6th grade to middle school.  Yes, she's still in the boot from her broken foot, but it's a lighter walking cast now.  At least she's done with the crutches.

I'm managing to keep up with the Temperature Stitches Daily Log and the Mead Dragon - I'll have month end pictures of both of them next week.

The travel project/charity knitting is coming along.  I'm about halfway to the crown decreases.   

And the big news is that the Eagle is DONE.  See the Finish post for all the details on the piece and its history.  

This means that I will be moving on to a new project in the 'not counted thread' category when this slot comes around again in the rotation.  I have a number of projects that are candidates for a new start - two kits, two more of the 1940s buttonhole cutwork projects that I inherited from my mom, a vintage needlepoint kit that my mother-in-law brought me back from Germany (along with THREE German knitted lace books) and a miniature carpet in silk gauze.  But I think I'll start a project that was gifted to me by a co-worker about a year before I retired.

Wilma, my co-worker, came from a family of needleworkers; she is a quilter, and her sister did all kinds of embroidery.  When her sister passed away, she inherited her sister's stash.  She didn't need all the DMC threads, so she offered them to me at yard sale prices.   Of course, I said 'yes, please'.   When she delivered them to me, she had put all the threads in a nice fabric tote with a stamped embroidery design unworked on the front.   

The stitch guide was tucked into the bag.   I like the suggested colors, and I think I'll line it when it's done to protect the stitches and make it a little sturdier.   I need to dig out one of my hoops for this project and finish getting the floss into Floss Away bags so everything is set up and ready to start when the "not counted thread" slot comes around again.   

I give credit to the SSS crew for all the cheerleading on the Eagle.  You folks got me off high center on that project - big hugs to everyone.   Here's this week's link party to see all the great projects that people have on the go.

FINISHED NEEDLEWORK: Vintage Crewel Kit "Majestic Eagle"

Hopefully this the last of my 'zombie' projects that were abandoned mid-stitch only to come back from oblivion during decluttering.   This project was started in approximately 1983.  I know this because it was in a box that somehow did not get unpacked when Walt and I moved into this house!  It was shoved in the back of the storage area for some unknown reason.   The rest of the box was shredded (old financial records) and this project came back into the rotation 4/15/2023.  All I can think is that Walt packed that box; he must have shoved the needlework in there in a packing frenzy, and I didn't notice.   At that point I had over 30 needlework WIPs and it's probable that I didn't even notice one was missing.  I'm just grateful everything stayed in the project bag!

The kit is by Sunset Stitchery, designed by Eileen Violet.  Crewel wool on an off-white plain weave cotton background fabric that's a little heavier and closer woven than Congress cloth.  I did have to replace one of threads - the pine green yarn had degraded over time.  None of the other threads seem to have been affected.   Luckily, crewel wool is still made by Paternaya/Colonial and the color is only a dyelot difference.

I learned a lot doing this piece.   I definitely prefer the security of a chart with counted thread work.  But that won't keep me from finishing the remainder of the pieces in the 'not counted thread' stash.  

Finally framed for Christmas 2025.  Rustic frame without glass; frame is from Hobby Lobby.

Slow Sunday Stitching - May 18, 2025

I'm sort of slow off the blocks today.  I even skipped church.   Yesterday was exhausting.   I ended up driving over 6 hours on Saturday, much of it on rural roads - narrow, some gravel not paving.  But Carl ran his second non-school 5K.

It was in a little town west of us and was in support of a local nature/walking/running/biking trail that is entirely volunteer run and locally funded, so worth the effort!   The race name is "The Toad Strangler", which I find hilarious.  The 'medals' were homemade and very cute.   Surprisingly, the race was formally chip timed and Carl cut almost six minutes off his time in the last race.  It helped that Saturday morning was perfect running weather.  As long as he wants to run, I'll pay his fees and get him there.

I took my charity knitting, since I didn't know if I would have a table to sit at for needlework (I didn't, so good call on the knitting).   This is another Leftover Sock Yarn (LOSY) Hat and should use up the last of the neon pink yarn!  "Another Goth LOSY Hat" - no clever name on this one.

I did get some needlework done this week.  Keeping up with the daily Temperature Log stitch.  And I finished the first ten hours on the Just Nan piece "Butterflies, Blossoms and Bees".  See the changeover post for picture and commentary.  No progress on the other Just Nan piece - the finishing on the pin cube, but I did decide that it's going to have a simple fixed pincushion top.  The charm on one side is quite heavy and rather a snagging hazard, so the pincube will have to be a display only piece.  Now I just have to find the right fabric for the cover of the pincushion area.

So on to slot #2 of the current rotation.  The vintage crewel eagle is back out to play.   I got the first of the three pine needle clusters on the bottom branch done except for the bullion knot pinecone in the center.  These sets of needles are much smaller than the upper ones, yet no simpler in construction.  But they are coming along!

As far as the last current active project goes, I've already fallen a bit behind on the #WIPintoshape challenge.   Yesterday, Andrew ran a half marathon, which meant I needed to put in over 200 stitches on the Mead Dragon.   With driving my own runner all over the eastern part of the state of Kansas, I did NOT accomplish this goal.   So, I need to play catch up today.   

Still, it's been a good week.  Linking up with the SSS crew (current round up list).  Going to hop over and see what everyone has been up to.

Slow Sunday Stitching - May 4, 2025

 Happy Star Wars Day!  May the Force be with you.....

Busy Week this last week, with several doctor's visits and other distractions, but things got accomplished anyhow.

Since it's the first Sunday of the month, the first thing to report, is the Temperature Stitches Daily Log project.   Pattern by Sarah, Stitchin Mommy (on YouTube and Etsy).  April's specialty stitch was Satin Stitch, two strands done in an alternating brickwork pattern.  Up close, there are issues with coverage.  The 28 count Cashel Linen is irregular enough to cause some gaps, even though I was very careful to lay the threads side by side.  

But when you look at the whole piece from actual viewing distance, it's acceptable to me.   I love that the one unseasonably warm day we had mid- month makes a fun little 'bullseye' in the pattern.  So nice when Mother Nature cooperates!

Next monthly project is the Mead Dragon.  See the monthly report post for the comparison picture and all the stats.   This piece is also my "Pictorial" project in my rotation.  

Some FFOs (always fun to log a finish).   The Mill Hill "Bell Ringer Santa"

And the "Wildcat Hat" for charity.  'Wildcat' because it's in the Kansas State University colors. To be fair, I should probably do a blue and red one for KU, but I don't have the materials so phooey to the Jayhawks!   (Can you guess where my loyalty lies - I met Walt at the KState Union😍)

In addition to the FFOs, I did work on the finishing for the Just Nan Pincube made of four small ornament freebies.  Here's what it looks like with all four sides attached to the base.  Four more seams on the sides and it will be a cube!  I still need to make the pincushion top and install it for the April WIPIGO calls, but I'm very close to being caught up with the calls to date.   And I've rearranged my board (starting after the May calls) to include the KC Plaza Stitching Bag.  So good progress on reducing the inventory in the 'under the bed box'.

And I finished up Rotation #2 with the Majestic Eagle crewel piece (changeover post here).  Got the upper pine branches finished except for the little bullion knot pinecones that will need to go in at the end. 

On to Rotation #3 for this year.  

1.  "Temperature Stitches" Daily Log remains my top of the morning stitch with one specialty stitch each day.  I have the first couple of days of May done - Rhodes Hearts this month.  I love them.
2. "Mead Dragon" continues in the Pictorial slot with a daily goal of at least 100 stitches.   Andrew @TheRunnerStitcher has a 'marathon training challenge' that starts next Tuesday.   He's challenged his followers to stitch 10 stitches for every mile he runs working up to his next marathon.  So I'm going to tack those stitches on to my '100 a day' goal.  Easy enough in the early stages, but I reserve the right to cut back to my original goal if the total gets overwhelming.
3. WIPGO (Finish and Frame Board) - The goal for this rotation is to complete the Just Nan Pincube. I want to get it out of the way so I can focus on the KC Plaza Sewing Bag assembly.
4. "Majestic Eagle" comes back in the Not Counted Thread slot.  Really hoping for a finish on this one; there's only the three smaller pine needle clusters and some bullion knots left to go.  (Hope I didn't just jinx myself since this is the 'cursed project'.)
5. New Start in the Modern Slot "Butterflies, Blossoms and Bees" by Just Nan.  I'll be mounting the linen and getting the first stitches in this afternoon.  It's small and will be a pillow finish or a doorhanger pillow finish (the only difference is a hanging loop). 
6. Historic/Vintage slot remains Black Bird Designs "Blessings and Kind Wishes". I'd like to get this one finished by the end of June.  There's a BBD with a Christmas theme that I'd like to start for 'Christmas in July'. 

I'm grateful to the folks at the Slow Sunday Stitching link up party each week for motivation and accountability.   I have finished and fully finished so many more projects since I started reporting there. (Link to the current round up.)

Rotation Changeover - 2025 Rotation #2, Slot #4 (Not Counted Thread)

Good progress on the vintage crewelwork kit "Majestic Eagle".   I got all the upper foliage done except for the little pinecone bullion knots that will go in at the end.

Next time this comes up in the rotation, I will focus on the three sprays of needles that are under the bottom branch.   They are both smaller and less complex than the upper ones, so I am hoping for a finish in the next round (fingers crossed). 

Slow Sunday Stitching - April 27, 2025

As promised, there's an Eagle!  With pine needles even.

That section has more stitching in it than is first apparent.  The centers of the clusters of each batch of needles are satin and long/short stitches, with long stitches radiating out. The stitch diagram is not particularly useful since it gives only a vague description of what colors go where, referring the stitcher to the cover photo for color placement.   That's fine, I still have the cover photo.  It's beat up, but still legible.  The issue comes where stitches overlap.  I think I've done a pretty good job just above the eagle's beak, but the next section has some places where there seems to be three layers!  I will just have to take my best shot and wing it as needed!   Kind of par for the course for this project.   May I say that I like the security of a chart with counted thread better?   

I'd like to get this section done before the end of the month.  With all the overlaps, I really don't want to stop 'mid-stream'.  It would be hard to pick up again.   I may just do a marathon this afternoon to try to get that whole 'all three layers' section done in one sitting so there's a smaller chance of getting lost.   

Staying caught up on the daily temperature log and also on the 100 stitches a day on the Mead Dragon.  I'll report on those in detail next week. 

I am up to the crown decreases on the purple and white striped hat for charity.  

AND the current perforated paper Santa is well into the beading.  Just the rest of his coat to go before I can start on getting him to FFO status - beard/moustache, making the hanger, cutting him out and applying the backing. 

Sometimes when I get multiple things close to the finish line like this, I can't decide what to focus on first.  Dither, dither LOL.  Maybe I'll roll dice!  Fessing up to my SSS crew (link to this week's round up).

Slow Sunday Stitching - October 20, 2024

I'm still going strong with the knitting.   I'm really enjoying the Musselburgh Hat.   It's about halfway down the straight section and is the perfect TV/reading/watching flosstube project.  The color in this photo is a little dark, but closer than the earlier ones taken on a dark background.

I got to the end of the rotation time on the Vintage Crewel Eagle this week (see the changeover post for feather closeups).  The eagle is done and "just" the foliage left to stitch.  I say "JUST", because there are six greens to go - using long stitch, and pueblo stitch galore plus bullion knots.

With the eagle at a good stopping spot, I turned my attention to the Mead Dragon.   My monthly goal on this project is 2500 stitches and I usually work on it in the background and only show it at the end of the month.   It's front and center right now, and I reached a big goal on it, so here's a mid-month photo.

Back when I started this at the end of January, I set myself a goal of finishing 30,000 stitches on full coverage for this year.   Mead Dragon is now at 31,000 per the Pattern Keeper app, and 31.85%.   New goal is to get to the 1/3 mark.  That confetti background is such a pain, but so effective.  It's hard to see, but the front wing is worked down to where the background is.  (Blogger should let you click for a larger format.)

Well, I'm off to church and then Home Depot, so I'll catch up with the SSS crew later today. (Link to current round up). 

Rotation Changeover - 2024 Rotation #3, Slot #4 (Not Counted Thread)

 After much frustration and an actual stab wound (crewel work is done with a sharp needle and it takes some doing to get an outline stitch through the layers of a dense long and short stitch), the feathers on my Vintage Crewel Eagle are completed!  Including all the highlighting and the outline stitches down the center dividing line of most of the long flight and tail feathers.  

I did not have nearly enough wool yarn to do the outline stitches of the quill shafts in the palest brown, so I color matched to DMC 612 and used three strands of the cotton.   I think the smoother, shinier floss actually does a better job of emphasizing the quill shaft than the wool would have done.      

There were three areas where the bright orange wool was used to put some highlights on the feathers - all in outline and straight stitches.   Understated, but effective.

The tail was just barely started at the beginning of the rotation.  Here's where I was near the start of this round.  (I think I was just one or two of the little fan shaped feathers into the tail at this point.  I forgot to take an official 'start' picture.)

When I get back to this project in the next rotation, I will finally be working on the foliage.   I have six greens - a couple of olives, a pine green, a dark, medium and light green.   As far as I can tell from the stich diagram and the cover photo, the top spray of needles is the farthest back, so I will be starting there when this project comes around again in Rotation #4 

Slow Sunday Stitching - September 29, 2024

 

Look at that, the eagle has his tail feathers.  I actually reached this point at just over five hours on the rotation.   That didn't take as long as I would have thought.  I know I'm always super self critical, but this is not my best work.  The long and short stitches are a bit wonky because they are right up against satin stitches in the same color.  You use the long and short (or the similar stitch named in the instructions as the Pueblo stitch) when the space to be filled is over an inch /2.5cm wide.   These feathers were just around that, but I think they might have looked better with all satin stitch.   At any rate, they are done and I'm not taking them out.   I wouldn't have enough white to redo them; wool yarns aren't really reusable if you frog, especially these fragile vintage wools.

The next step is to put in the veins / quill shaft along each of the long feathers using an outline stitch.  And a few of the breast feathers get an outline to create a highlight.

But I decided to set the eagle aside for a few days, since once again I'm coming up to the end of the month with a few hundred stitches still to go on the Mead Dragon.  So, I'm working on that again today and tomorrow to see how far I can get.   Look for the month end round up for that project on Monday or Tuesday.  

While scrolling Facebook, I found out that there's a "knit for charity" group that meets at the library (on Saturday afternoon per the 'About' tab).   So, I cast on another LOSY (left over sock yarn) hat and headed over yesterday afternoon.   Only to find out that the meeting day has moved to Thursday morning!   I will try again later this week.  The internet is helpful only if it is up to date 😉

At least the SSS crew is always available.  Link to this week's round up.

Slow Sunday Stitching - September 22, 2024

It wasn't a great crafting time this week.   Every now and then I get sucked into a book, or a fanfiction or some non-needlework project to the detriment of my stitching, and all of the above happened this week.  I bought two more of the tall garden beds and two planters to replace some wood beds and plastic feed tubs that have reached the end of their useful life.  The new beds come in a flat pack, so getting everything assembled has been ... interesting.   Once I get them all set up and filled, I'll have to take a picture.  My grandson told me that I will have a "Pinterest garden".  😄 It's not going to be THAT neat and tidy.   I'm only going with these beds because they are tall enough that I will not need to bend over much. (A nice side effect is that the local wild rabbits can't get into them).   

When I have surfaced from reading and gardening, I've been working on the vintage crewel kit, "Majestic Eagle" and have a decent start on his tail feathers.   There are three large feathers and a half dozen small feathers.  I had a couple of the fan-shaped grey feathers along the underneath of the tail started when I got back to this project last week.   Finished those off and the one small feather that is just above, then I started on the first of the larger feathers.  All the white on white in this section is rather boring.   I need to find an audiobook or podcast to put on.

And a full on shot for a good thumbnail for the SSS link. 

Slow Sunday Stitching - September 15, 2024

Well, look at that, an old friend has come out of hibernation and back into the rotation.   My poor vintage crewel project "Majestic Eagle" is back on my floor stand.   I don't know why I've shorted or skipped this project each time it's come up in the rotation since March.  I've been very bad about keeping to my Rotation Rules!  So, I'm going to try to give it 15 hours instead of 10 to sort of catch up a bit.  I want to at least finish off all the tail feathers and get to the pine needle background.   The needles are in two layers - long and short stitch where the solid orange is on the pattern, then long straight stitches and bullion knots over the top to make up the actual greenery.   I also have some backstitching to make the center spines of some of the flight feathers stand out.   This may look very close to being done, but there's lots yet to do.

I have had a productive week, though.   Two finishes (one an FFO) and two things framed and off the WIPGO board.  The project bag is still a heap of pieces on my table, though.  I need to get back to working on that.   And I still have one of the September WIPGO calls to do - it's a flat finish, so should be fairly quick once I figure out the fabric for the backing.

Tiger, Buffalo, Wildlife Santa ornament, Birdhouses SAL (links to finish posts with the details).

As promised, here's the next perforated Santa ornament.   The "Feline Santa" is the last in the "Animal Santa" series.  I haven't really started it yet, but I did get the center of the perforated paper ground established and all the flosses sorted.   It's ready to go when I have an appointment or wait time.  This one is unique - the fish is a separate piece that's free standing on a floss 'stringer'.   I was thinking that I might do it on a different colored paper to highlight that.

Linking up with the SSS crew.

Rotation Changeover - 2023 Rotation #5, Slot 1 (Not Counted Thread) completed AND Slow Sunday Stitching - October 29, 2023

 Wow, I have had this project done to this point for a week and intended to post it LAST Sunday, but I got distracted by a new Stitch A Long!

I am ready to start the tail feathers on the Eagle!  I'm very happy with the way he's turning out.

 Here's where I started this rotation for comparison.  Got the last of the wing, the second leg and the rump feathers all done this time around.

As far as the 'running out of yarn' issue, you can see that the Colonial Persian Needlepoint yarn that I bought is just slightly less red and a little brighter than the kit yarn, but I think it blends in just fine.  With this many shades of brown, one more doesn't stand out.   And it's pretty close in value.

Next week will see progress on the November section of the new SAL.  I'm going to try to do a little bit extra so that in December I can extend the top border all the way across the piece.

ETA:  Month end check in on the Sugar Skull.   1,213 stitches in October, so I met my 1K stitch goal.  Total on project is 16,803 and I'm averaging 1,528 stitches per month since I started it back in Dec 2022.  I've only managed to hit my stretch goal of 2K twice in that time.  Full coverage takes a LONG time, I've discovered between JC's USMC Seal and the Sugar Skull!

Actually remembering to link up with the SSS crew this week LOL!

Slow Sunday Stitching - October 8, 2023

I made great progress on the vintage crewel kit this week.  The wings are DONE!

And a close up so you can see the texture provided by the different stitches - satin in the small feathers on the leading edge and the secondary flight feathers with long/short stitch and split (pueblo) stitch on the coverts.

And I got started bringing the next to the darkest brown down into the area at the base of the tail.   The only issue is - see that one half yard strand of wool up in the left corner of the top picture.   That's all of that color that's left.  And there's all the 'dotted' area on the canvas to fill.  With satin stitch, which eats yardage.

Luckily two things prevent me from panic.  First, this type of yarn is still being made (by Colonial Yarns).   Unfortunately, it's not by the same company (Paternaya) that was active back in the 1980s when this kit came out.  So the color cards are not perfectly the same. And dyelots are always a thing, no matter what timeframe we are talking.  But secondly, this eagle is dozens of shaded colors.  What's one more?  So long as I find a Colonial needlepoint yarn in a shade that fits into the ombre I'll be fine.

We don't have a local needlepoint or needlework (cross stitch) store in my town, but there are two needlepoint shops in the KC area.  One is just 15 minutes from my office and open over my lunch hour.   I feel a small road trip coming on - LOL

Linking up with SSS (current round up).

Rotation Changeover - 2023 Rotation #4, Slot 3 (Not Counted Thread) completed AND Slow Sunday Stitching - September 24, 2023

This slot in my needlework rotation may have been slow getting started, but man, once I got some traction, I could not put this project down this week and ten hours flew by! (So many color changes!!!)

Where I started for comparison

I finished all of the flight feathers on the forward wing and got started on the cover feathers on the lower underneath part of that wing.   The dashed lines that I've drawn in there are markers for the change in angle of the stitches.   

As one progresses down the wing, the angles changes from horizontal to almost a 45 degree angle.   I want to be sure the shift is a gradual one.

I'm going to put some hours into the Sugar Skull (in excess of the usual Full Coverage Friday bit) and then continue on with this project for my first slot in the next rotation round.   It's going so well that I don't want to put it away.

I've been knitting away on the Brown Yoke Sweater, too.  Plain stocking stitch in the round = boring photo, but 'comfort knitting'.   When I get to the underarm, I'll need to try it on again and check to see where (or if) the bust shaping needs to happen.   Even though I am heavy set, I am not particularly 'busty'.   Since this is a sweater with fairly generous ease, I may or may not need to put in short rows in the front.

 Blue marker is in the last of the waist shaping decreases, so everything above that is this week's work.

Linking up with the SSS Crew (link to current round up).

Rotation Changeover - 2023 Rotation #3, Slot 2 (Not Counted Thread) completed

The "Majestic Eagle" is at the end of its ten hours; I totally do not want to put this one away.   The wing feathers are so close to being done!  I got all of the secondary flight feathers finished and also all their coverts (which are the medium sized feathers that cover the base of the flight feathers on both sides of the wing).  But one thing about a timed rotation to manage your projects, if you are reluctant to put a project away, that means you'll be excited to pick it up again.   

And where I started this ten hours for comparison.

Slow Sunday Stitching - May 7, 2023

Starting in on Round #3 of my rotation for this year by continuing on with my vintage crewelwork Eagle kit.   I'm hoping to get another ten hours in before I go on vacation starting this Friday after work. (Here is where I got to in Round #2 with the first ten hours on it.)   I'm doing a 'staycation' and after I work on the Sugar Skull on Friday, I will be focusing on my Kathy Barrick piece while I'm off; I'd love to get a finish on it, but that may be overly ambitious.   The other focus on my days off will be the garden, must not forget the garden, since it's demanding attention.   

If I don't get the ten hours done on the Eagle by Friday, I'll come back to it later in the rotation.  In my 'Rotation Rules', it's legit to work for a while on a project, stop and work on something else, and then return to the original project.

I've put in two hours on the eagle since this round started and made good progress on the tertiary flight feathers, getting them all completed.  I've started to work on the couple rows of small feathers that are the line between the body and the underside of the left wing.  Then I'll get back to the flight feathers; they are fun to do because they have fairly large sections of one color. 

BTW, I did put in a bit over 500 stitches on the Sugar Skull last Friday, working on the right cheek and upper jaw bone color.   Photos once the bone in that area is finished and the colors there are in. Linking up with the SSS crew (current round up) for inspiration and encouragement.

Rotation Changeover - 2023 Rotation #2, Slot 5 (Not Counted Thread) completed

 My vintage crewel piece, "Majestic Eagle" is looking a lot less scattered these days.   When I brought him into the rotation, he only had the bottom branch and his feet and beak completely done.  Because I was working in color order, there were random feathers everywhere partially done.  

With his entire head and back wing completed, he is looking quite handsome at the end of ten hours, I think.  Still quite a few random patches, but he will get there.

I have all of next week before I start my vacation.  I am staying home, but I intend to do a virtual retreat the first weekend - 5/12 (starting at 5 pm) thru 5/15.  This will replace #25HoursOfCrossStitch that I didn't have a chance to do back at the end of April. 

I've committed to working the entire time on just two projects:  My Day Complete and the Sugar Skull.  I'm really hoping for a finish on the Kathy Barrick piece.  We'll see - there's at least a third of it left to do, including most of the lettering. 

Between now and then, I'm going to keep working on the Eagle.   I'm going to start filling in the front wing from bottom to top, though I may fill in a bit more of that upper edge just to 'connect the dots' a bit more.   

I was getting a little distortion of the fabric from how dense the satin stitch is in that back wing, so I dug out my stitch clips and that solved the problem by applying a bit of side tension. The ground fabric on this is a very heavy cotton plain weave - very nearly light canvas weight, so it's a rather hard stitch.   I can't work on it for more than a half hour or so at a time before my hands start complaining.  So I probably won't get through the entire slot of ten more hours in the next week, but I'll try.

Here's where I started for comparison: