September Sampler Accent - Periwinkle Promises

I have most of the months of the year in this series, and each one has the same pleasures - and pitfalls.

Firstly - the pleasures. The instructions are excellent, very comprehensive and new stitches are clearly diagrammed. There's plenty of thread included in the kit. The jury is still out on whether stitching with silk is any better than plain old cotton - I don't really think so, but it is nice to work with for a change. Once the outer borders are done, the project grows rapidly, especially if - like me - you substitute regular cross stitch in for the Smyrna stitches!

The pitfalls - the amount of fabric is so measly that I can't put it in a hoop big enough to work the whole border on at once. Another 1.5" all round would solve that!

There's a lot of bands of double back stitch in these little pieces, which is fine although a little monotonous at times, but the dividing bands do grow so much quicker than that border. I hate the borders on these things - I do it first to anchor the design, but it is the thing that puts me off doing more than one in a row!

This will be made into a pillow for my smalls basket.

Design Details

Fabric: 29 count Glenshee linen, natural
Threads: Soie d'Alger silk
Designer: Barbara L Rakosnik, Periwinkle Promises
Kit Details: September Sampler Accent - Periwinkle Promises (c) 1998
Stitch Count: 47H x 59V
Stitches Used: Cross Stitch, Running Stitch, Double Back Stitch, Back Stitch, Mosaic Stitch, Smyrna Stitch, Straighht Stitch,
Threads Used: Soie D'Alger in 4144, 4624, 4623, 4622, F13, 1835, 1846. Cross stitch in one strands.
Embellishments: Cream Mill Hill beads
Modifications Made: None. Many smyrna stitches subsitituted by cross stitches