Shamrock Biscornu and Fob - Free Cross Stitch Pattern!

Design: Shamrock Biscornu and Fob - freebie available here

Designer: Linden Bee Designs

Stitcher: Sheila

Threads: DMC

Fabric: 28 count Monaco, tea dyed

Sheila kindly offered to stitch this for me, as I've been pushed for time lately, and hasn't she done a great job?! She chose the "antique" colourway on the chart, and stitched it on 28 count Monaco in the tea dyed colourway. I'm always amazed when something takes shape in reality from a thought in my head ...

Sheila, thank you so much for doing this, I hope you enjoyed it!

Another reader of my blog, Irene, has also finished her biscornu already, but I will save that post for later as these ladies each deserve a turn in the spotlight!

If anyone would like a copy of the chart, leave a comment on the pattern post and I will get it out to you!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy Dance! Holly Berry Sampler

 

 Design: Holly Berry Sampler

Designer: Bent Creek

Threads: DMC conversion

Fabric: 28 count evenweave, Silkweaver Solo, unknown colour

Embellishments: Dress-It-Up buttons (Keepsake Christmas)

This is the third and final piece in a series that - once upon a time - was going to be a Round Robin. The group collapsed, but I was fortunate enough to get this piece back, and I've worked on it sporadically ever since. 

This was just waiting for buttons, but it took a while for me to find the "right" red - the charted Poindexter buttons were £0.75 EACH and that just wasn't going to happen ...

You can see all three samplers below - my dilemma is - do I frame them separately, or all as one piece, and have a Christmas tree on display all year round? What do you think, stitching friends?

Shamrock Biscornu and Fob - Free Cross Stitch Pattern!

St. Patrick's Day is fast approaching, and I thought a little design to celebrate would be in order. This co-ordinates with the Thistle Stitching Accessories set I made for St. Andrew's day, but I have restrained myself and kept it to just the biscornu and fob this time - at least for this freebie!

I've chosen both a subdued "antique" and a "bright" colourway for this design. It is currently being model stitched by a very kind volunteer, so I don't have pictures yet. Like most of my biscornu designs, it only uses three colours, which makes coming up with your own colour scheme really easy :o)

There are two alternatives for the back of the design - one for Ireland, and one for Luck!

There's a matching fob with this design too, included in the chart pack!

If you would like a copy of the chart, please comment below and leave an email address unless yours is visible in your blog profile. Some people ask for charts but I have no way of getting them to them :o( Charts are sent in PDF format.

If you do stitch this design, I'd love to see the finished article - and there will be a prize for any I show on my blog!

Although there is no charge for this chart, a donation to the MS Trust for this chart would be appreciated. Pennies will do - and you can make payment via the link in my sidebar or by clicking here

There is no obligation to make a donation - you will be sent the chart whether or not you choose to make a donation, as I appreciate that some people are not in a financial position to do so.

This pattern is offered for personal, non-commercial use only. Items made from this pattern may be sold on a small scale basis such as on Etsy or at craft sales. Sales for charity are positively encouraged! This pattern and the text and photos contained within, may not be copied or reproduced for any purpose other than personal use. Please direct people to this blog rather than forwarding the pattern, thank you! Copyright 2010 N M Wray

January Biscornu - Linden Bee Designs

Design: January Biscornu - freebie design available here

Designer: Linden Bee Designs (i.e. me!)

Threads: DMC in three shades of blue

Fabric: 14 count aida

"January brings the snow, makes our feet and fingers glow..."

I've adapted my own design here too - firstly by stitching it on white, and secondly by removing the inner border on the reverse. I just can't leave things alone, can I? But that's what I like about stitching - designs are only suggestions! 

This was quite simply finished with a whipstitch in the medium blue shade, and 4mm white "pearl" beads in the centre, as the design is quite busy as it stands.

If anyone would like a copy of the chart, follow the link above and leave a comment!

January Scissor Fob - Linden Bee Designs

 

 

Design: January Scissor Fob - freebie design available here

Designer: Linden Bee Designs (i.e. me!)

Threads: DMC in three shades of blue

Fabric: 14 count aida

"January brings the snow, makes our feet and fingers glow..."

This design comes from the first of my series of biscornu with matching fobs for 2010 - now there's an ambitious statement - and despite it not being in my favourite colours, I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out, especially as it was originally charted for dark blue fabric - as I've previous discussed!

I was thinking of finishing it with a beaded edge, but I didn't have anything suitable in my stash (the horror!) and so it has a basic whipstitched finish. I did find a snowflake charm in my stash though, and used that in place of a tassel.

I love the charms - they come in a set of six, three different designs, and are heavyweight. And cheap! £0.99 from the remaindered bookshop or the 99p store. There's lots of different styles of design too, so I've stocked up, because you never know with 99p stores when things are going to go out of stock...- that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

If you would like a copy of the chart, leave a comment on the link page.

Thanksgiving Blessings - Free Cross Stitch Chart!

This is a design especially for my American friends - I wish you the joy of the holiday, and I hope that you have a lovely day, surrounded by peace, plenty, family and friends.

I hope you like the design. If you would like a copy, please leave a comment below with your email address, as this is a little too big to display as a jpeg.

If you do stitch this chart, I'd love to see a picture - and there will be a prize for the first one I get! 

Edited to add: If you feel so inclined, a donation to the MS Trust for this chart would be appreciated. Pennies will do - and you can make payment via the link in my sidebar or by clicking here.

This pattern is offered for personal, non-commercial use only. Items made from this pattern may be sold on a small scale basis such as on Etsy or at craft sales. Sales for charity are positively encouraged! This pattern and the text and photos contained within, may not be copied or reproduced for any purpose other than personal use. Please direct people to this blog rather than forwarding the pattern, thank you! Copyright 2009 N M Wray

Autumn Leaves Fob - Heart in Hand

Design: Autumn Leaves Fob from Fall Fobs chart

Designer: Heart in Hand

Threads: DMC as charted

Fabric:14 count plastic canvas, brown

You got a sneak peek of this in my previous post - I stitched this as a little 'extra' for the exchange as I was running late with it. It was very simple to do - I used plastic canvas, and backed it with matching paper before adding a floss ring. It would have looked more finished had I been able to put in an eyelet, but I didn't have one that was deep enough.

Fall Needleroll - Heart in Hand

Design: Fall Needleroll from Fall Fobs chart

Designer: Heart in Hand

Threads: DMC as charted

Fabric: 28 count evenweave

I stitched this for Gaby over on the Hooked on Exchanges blog. It seems like most of my stitching these days is for exchanges, I've lost my mojo for 'selfish stitching' but it is so much fun to give - and to receive - to friends all over the world.

I think I will have to stitch this piece for myself though - I loved the colours and the style. I stitched it in the DMC that the chart called for, but I did alter the colour of one of the pumpkins. I think my favourite part though was the specialty stitch band at the bottom - the combination of colours and textures looks great!

I finished off the needleroll with a little acorn charm, and some organza ribbon. This picture shows a little flash glare:

French Country IV Pumpkin - JBW Designs

Design: French Country IV Pumpkin

Designer: JBW Designs

Thread: GAST Pumpkin

Fabric: 28 count evenweave

This was finished in 2008 (although I blogged about it in January this year).

The frame was a charity shop (thrift store) find, complete with double mount - it had a dull cheap print in it and it would have cost me less than £3 (US$5). Of course, I'd stitched the pumpkin on a piece of fabric a little too small for this, so it took quite a while to centre it up and to make sure the edges were hidden! The ripples you can see I think are from the glass, as the piece is actually smooth in real life!

Remember, Remember - Free Cross Stitch Design!

I have to admit, I'm a little conflicted about the 5th of November. Are we commemorating a religious fundamentalist terrorist or are we celebrating the triumph of democracy over those who would seek to destroy it? Or is it perhaps an even older pagan celebration - Samhain - which has been re-purposed like Easter was?

Whatever your take on it, I hope you like the design. If you would like a copy, please leave a comment below with your email address, as this is a little too big to display as a jpeg.

If you do stitch this chart, I'd love to see a picture - and there will be a prize for the first one I get! 

Edited to add: If you feel so inclined, a donation to the MS Trust for this chart would be appreciated. Pennies will do - and you can make payment via the link in my sidebar or by clicking here.

This pattern is offered for personal, non-commercial use only. Items made from this pattern may be sold on a small scale basis such as on Etsy or at craft sales. Sales for charity are positively encouraged! This pattern and the text and photos contained within, may not be copied or reproduced for any purpose other than personal use. Please direct people to this blog rather than forwarding the pattern, thank you! Copyright 2009 N M Wray

Winter Fob - Trail Creek Farm

Design: Winter (freebie - link seems broken)

Designer: Trail Creek Farm

Threads: DMC (my choice)

Fabric: 28 count annabelle, pale blue

I stitched this for an exchange which was going to a Southern Hemisphere partner - and I realised that it was actually summer there, so this got set aside and I mailed something more suitable! I've backed it with co-ordinating pale blue fabric and it's stuffed with polyfill.

Home is Best - Lizzie*Kate

Design: Home is Best

Designer: Lizzie*Kate (a very old freebie)

Threads: DMC Color Variations and DMC

Fabric: 28 count evenweave

I stitched this for Lucy on the Hooked on Exchanges blog - the theme was 'Summer House' and as at the time Lucy's blog was all decked out for the Fourth of July, I thought she might like a piece with the Stars and Stripes - it turned out she did :o)

I backed the pinkeep in blue fabric with little cream hearts in it, and the pins pick up the colours of the threads I used.

Trick or Treat - Lizzie*Kate

Design: Trick or Treat from the Hallowe'en Sampler Leaflet
Designer: Lizzie*Kate
Threads: DMC as charted
Fabric: 28 count evenweave

Another 2008 finish. It's still waiting to be made up into something, but I should be able to get it made up this autumn - I have a lot of suitable backing fabrics in my stash, given my fondness for autumnal colours! The colours in this photo don't really show up the background fabric very well, it's a bit more yellow. It's rather an odd fabric, I don't know where I acquired it from - possibly a trade or an exchange - as it's rougher than normal evenweave. I like it though - it gives the piece a rustic homespun appearance.

Winter - Trail Creek Farm

Design: Winter (freebie available here)
Designer: Trail Creek Farm
Threads: DMC, own choice
Fabric: 28 count linen oddment

I stitched this in 2008 and haven't blogged about it. I know I made it for the HoE Christmas Exchange, and then realised that as my partner was in the southern hemisphere, where it was summer, it perhaps wasn't appropriate!

I will be making this up into a scissor fob, hopefully for this winter!

Spring - Prairie Schooler

Design: From Spring Samplers (out of print)
Designer: Prairie Schooler
Threads: DMC as charted
Fabric: 28 count jobelan, antique white

I stitched this for the Year Round Prairie Schooler Exchange. My recipient was a very special blogger, and I wanted to make a special piece for her. I'm glad to say Barbara seems to have liked it!

The piece is from an old out of print chart, and I stitched a section of one of the samplers. I really enjoyed it, and I can't wait to stitch it for myself - the colours blend beautifully, and the motto reminds us all that in every life, pleasure always comes - even if we have to go through bad stuff first!

I did alter it very slightly - I changed the quilt block section for another from the chart, and I added my initials in the alphabet section. Barbara's were already there :o)

I used the country style fabric you can see here to back the piece and I made it into quite a large pinkeep.

I'm sitting out of the current round of exchanges, but I'm looking forward to joining in again when I get a little more time.

French Country IV: Pumpkin - JBW Designs

Design: French Country IV: Pumpkin
Designer: JBW Designs
Threads: can't remember, I think it was a GAST
Fabric: 28 count jobelan, off cut (unlabelled) from stash

I realise I haven't posted a lot of cross stitch this week, and that most of my readers are stitchers, not knitters :o)

This stitched up fairly quickly as I recall, and it was a lot of fun, working out each of the little motifs. There's a lot of almost instant gratification with this project, as each of the motifs is so small and work up so quickly!

I've added the other charts in this series to my wishlist, although I'm trying to stay on the no-stash wagon for a while - at least until my birthday next month!

Halloween Exchange

Jill F did a fantastic job on this exchange - not once, but twice - the original exchange went missing in the mail :o( and Jill very kindly (and very quickly) put together a whole new package - so huge thanks to you, Jill!

I am now the proud owner of - and he's on display now, I'm not waiting for next year - this rather cute ghostie and pumpkin - and can you see the beaded edging? It's fantastic!


And here are the super goodies Jill included in the package - metallic pins (as you know if you read my blog, I'm a bit of a pinkeep diva!), a tuck pillow, a monogrammed notepad, an amazing selection of buttons (I think my favourite are the gravestones, I M Knotwell made me smile!), a handmade card, two spools of ribbon, and a felt pumpkin pincushion - it matches my living room decor perfectly, so will be on display all year too!

Thank you again Jill, I love it!

Fall Into Autumn - Rainbow Gallery

Design: Fall into Autumn Designer: Erica Michaels for Rainbow Gallery (freebie available here) Threads: own choice (mainly Anchor stranded cottons) Fabric: 14 count aida, cream Finishing: Pinkeep

Although I'm currently not active on the Crazy Exchange group, I recently completed a birthday exchange for Marlies there - I had already received you see, my birthday being in February. It was really nice to have another exchange to put together and I found lots of nice autumnal themed items to add to the package - it's amazing what one can get in a fairly small padded envelope! LOL

The card is one I made myself, as is the floss tag. Also added to the package were two small charts, a small kit, some backing fabric, beads, rayon floss, metallic floss, multi coloured floss and a small spring hoop!

Marlies told me she felt very spoiled, so I feel my work is done :o)

December Sampler Accent - Periwinkle Promises

Design: December Sampler Accent
Designer: Periwinkle Promises
Threads: Silks as per kit
Fabric: 28 count raw linen

This will be added to my basket of smalls come December, despite The Hermit's dislike of all things Christmas :o) I have most of the monthly sampler accents, and I'm finishing them all as mini pillows, without tassels. The fabric you can see in the second picture is the fabric I chose for the backing.

Summer House - Little House Needleworks

Design: Summer House (freebie)
Designer: Little House Needleworks
Threads: DMC Colour Variations and Six Strand Sweets
Fabric: 28 count evenweave, colour unknown

This is the Little House Needleworks exchange I did for the Hooked on Exchanges group. My partner was Annette, and as she is in the USA I thought that Summer House seemed appropriate. Carol S. had very kindly sent me a whole bunch of freebies so I could participate - and now I have another favourite designer to add to the list! This was a joy to stitch - the colours blend beautifully - even though they were my pick, and not the charted colours... - the frog stayed away, and the whole design seemed to 'hang' just right.

The picture above is the whole package I sent to Annette, and below is a picture before I added the trim to the pin keep - you wouldn't think something so simple as a piece of braid and some pins would make such a difference, would you?

I love doing the exchanges on HoE, I have three more lined up over the coming months and I'm looking forward to each and every one of them!

I think I might restitch this design for myself, and make the flag either a maple leaf or a Union Jack.