November IHSW: Assisi, Batiks and September

Hey Blog Buddies,

I had no finishes this time around--and I knew that would be the case going into the weekend--so I decided to do something a little zany for me:  three starts!  I'm feeling a little chatty today, so maybe you should get a "cuppa" or an energy drink before we embark on our journey...  ...Got everything you need?  Good, let's go!

As the year draws to a close, I keep glancing at the 2012 goals list on my sidebar.  Now I knew quite a while ago that I wouldn't be able to finish all the projects, but it would be nice to at least put a few stitches in all of them.  So that is the reason for the three starts.

First, I chose Christmas Elegance by Milady's Needle.  Here is what the pattern looks like:

I chose the top left version,

only I'm doing it in green silk.

The difference between the top and bottom versions

is that one is the negative image of the other.

In other words, the top trees have the background stitched

and the bottom trees are the opposite.

They call the top versions Assisi stitching.

Normally in Assisi the entire background is stitched

and the design is left blank.

That's true here only for the tree.

Since I was doing the design with one strand

on 40-count linen, I was somewhat concerned about coverage.

The directions suggested doing "Two-Sided Italian Cross Stitch"

for better coverage, and the stitch was even diagrammed.

The best way I can describe it is

a cross stitch with a back stitch on the left and bottom.

This makes for a very dense, chunky stitch,

even if you're using only one strand!

I did the border in regular cross stitch and

decided to do the potted tree in Two-Sided Italian Cross Stitch.

You would not believe how long it took me

to stitch the pot!

And no, ripping the pot out at this point

is not an option.

Ripping anything more than a couple of stitches of

Two-Sided Italian Cross Stitch is not an option!

I don't have a crystal ball,

but this little guy might not get finished

by the end of the year.

Next I decided to go for another challenge:

Elisa's Backporch Circle Dance quilting pattern.

Sewing curves (shudder).

Here is a photo of the pattern to refresh your memory.

I wasn't crazy about the fabric in this photo,

so I decided to start over with some very bright batik fabric instead.

Don't worry--I hadn't gotten far

and the above fabric was used to make

some very cute ort bags this summer.

No sewing yet, just cutting,

and only 12 pieces of each element cut.

I'll need to cut 40 total of each of the smaller elements,

and (ahem) 106 of each of the larger.

But it's a start--and I love the fabric!

The last is not technically a start

since I've been working on this project a good part of the year,

but it's a start on a month.

Yes, Crabby All Year is back after an extended absence!

You can tell this is September, right?  No?

Well you'll be able to recognize it soon,

because I plan to finish September

before I move onto anything else.

That wraps up my November IHSW.

To check out the other hermitters,

visit Joyce's blog here.

Hope you had a grand weekend,

and got some stitching in, too.

Thanks for visiting!