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.

Strawberries

Design Details

Fabric: linen, cream
Threads Used: crewel wool
Designer: Barbara Jackson
Kit Details: Strawberries - American Legacy Collection. Historic Needlework Guild (c) 1997
Stitch Count: not applicable
Stitches Used: New England Laid (Romanian Stitch), Stem Stitch, Satin Stitch, Split Stitch, Seed Stitch
Modifications Made: none

I'm not really hugely big on freestyle embroidery, because I find it all a bit too unpredictable - the repetitive nature of cross stitch on a grid (even if the fabric is fine) means I can switch off my brain to some extent and reach a meditative state, whereas with embroidery I have to concentrate a lot more on getting my stitches even, going in the right direction etc etc.

This is the result of my first completed attempt at traditional crewel work - the finished piece is about 3 inches square. I've done some of the stitches before, but I'd never attempted New England Laid stitch before, which was used to fill in the berries - I was pleased with how they turned out.

I find stitching with wools not very relaxing either, as they need a bit more effort to get them through the fabric, and they wear quite quickly - so you need to use shorter lengths, hence finishing off and starting off more often too!

I may finish this as a pincushion, or as the centrepiece of a larger cushion.