Make Much of Time - Historic Needlework Guild

Design: Make Much of Time
Designer: Historic Needlework Guild
Threads: Silks as charted
Fabric: 28 count linen

I finished the stitching for this early in the year, but it was only during my recent finishing frenzy that I constructed the final item! This was a kit I bought some time ago. The stitching was pretty straightforward, mostly over two with some over one lettering - I love the motto, I think it's one I try to live by :o) The construction was reasonably straightforward - the instructions were clear, but I backed the piece with lightweight iron-on interfacing before cutting, to reduce fraying. I'm glad I did, otherwise the gathering and stitching the strawberry 'hull' would have been trickier and even more messy than it was. I had to start it twice because the first attempt had bits of the stuffing caught in the spider web!

Strawberries Pincushion - Historic Needlework Guild

I found the "charm" I used to finish this off on a Sheffield street - it was a lost earring - a small gold heart studded with sparklies - I think it suits the piece very well!

This is a basic pincushion/mini pillow - the fabric backing is a floral print in matching colours which has been in my stash for years and years, as not only am I not buying more embroidery stash, I'm not buying fabrics and finishing items either until I'm back in employment!

Crewelwork Strawberries Pincushion - Historic Needlework Guild

I finished this piece as a pincushion because I wanted something simple and classic to set off the design. The backing is a piece of very old Laura Ashley cotton print, and the cording is your standard purchased cord. As an experiment, I stitched the cord on before I stuffed the pincushion, and it worked well - it was easier to manipulate, and I could hide the ends in the final piece of the seam after stuffing.

Strawberry Pincushion - Historic Needlework Guild

I seem to have a subsection in my stash for strawberries - they've crept up on me with me noticing, I must say - but it becomes more obvious when you list your stash alphabetically!

This was another Historic Needlework Guild kit, which was fairly quick and easy to stitch. I omittted the over-one stitching in the centre, and won't be attaching the heart charm that came with the kit, but I'm not sure what to replace it with. I'm going to have a browse through the scrapbooking charms and things my local LNS has, and I might even have a trip to Hobbycraft tomorrow, on my way back from the circus that I volunteer at.

I will probably make this into a pin cushion, as I think it would look a bit dull framed.


Design Details

Fabric: 28 count linen, antique white
Threads: unknown stranded cotton
Designer: Alice Okon
Chart Details: Strawberry Pincushion (Little Exquisites Collection) - Historic Needlework Guild (c) 1997
Stitch Count: 64H x 64V
Stitches Used: Cross Stitch, Four Sided Stitch, Algerian Eyelet
Threads Used: unknown stranded cotton in three shades of pink, ecru and two shades of green. Unknown gold metallic. Cross stitch in two strands.
Embellishments: None.
Modifications Made: All cross stitch stitched over two. Silver heart charm omitted.

Alphabet - Historic Needlework Guild

(The piece is actually straight, this is just a bad scan!)

I bought this kit from eBay a while ago, and stitched it on Saturday whilst listening to the 20/20 Finals day on the radio. Cricket commentary and needlework are an excellent combination, as I don't switch off my hearing so much when stitching, which I tend to do when either reading or sitting at the computer - this took me about seven hours all told

As per the last HNG kit I stitched, hoop positioning was a bit of a pain, as the fabric was cut very small and to stitch the borders I had to keep moving the hoop - I hate that!

I stitched the design pretty much as charted, although I changed the Queen Stitches (which I hate doing, they're very fiddly) to Diamond Rhodes stitches - much quicker, plus they give a nice raised texture!

The design has been finished on the chart picture as a very fancy small cushion, but I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it - it certainly won't be anything so girly - it will probably just be framed and hung with the rest of my traditional style sampler collection.


Design Details

Fabric: 28 count linen, antique white
Threads: unknown stranded cotton plus gold metallic
Designer: Alice Okon
Kit Details: Alphabet, Little Exquisites Collection by The Historic Needlework Guild (c) 1997
Stitch Count: 66H x 66V
Stitches Used: Cross Stitch, Algerian Eyelet Stitch, Diamond Rhodes Stitch
Threads Used: unbranded stranded cottons in seven colours. Two strands used throughout. Metallic thread used in one strand blended with one strand cotton
Embellishments - Sterling silver heart charm
Modifications Made: Diamond Rhodes stitches substituted for Queen stitches.

Bird in Tree

I bought this kit from eBay a while ago, and stitched it early this year. I've only just got round to pressing it and scanning it though!

It was quite straightforward to stitch, although hoop positioning was a bit of a pain, as the fabric was cut very small - I hate that in kits!

There is supposed to be a silver heart charm attached over the pink heart, but I've decided to omit that. The birds and the heart were also supposed to be stitched "over one", but as there was no fine detailing - the stitches were done in blocks of four - I stitched "normal" cross stitches over two! I also substituted Rhodes stitches for eyelets, as I find them easier.

The design has been finished as a flat fold needlebook, but I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it - I may even try to frame it to go with the collection of the traditional style samplers I have in the bedroom.


Design Details

Fabric: 28 count linen, antique white
Threads: unknown stranded cotton plus gold metallic
Designer: Alice Okon
Kit Details: Bird In Tree/Love Birds, Little Exquisites Collection by The Historic Needlework Guild (c) 1997
Stitch Count: 71H x 59V
Stitches Used: Cross Stitch, Satin Stitch, Rhodes Stitch
Threads Used: unbranded stranded cottons in ten colours. Two strands used throughout. Metallic thread used in one strand blended with one strand cotton
Modifications Made: Silver heart charm omitted. Over one charted areas stitched over two. Rhodes stitches substituted for Algerian eyelets.