The Newsletter of the Shepherd's Bush Stitch-along!
January 2001
Hi, everyone!
Here's the first SB Stitchalong 2001 Newsletter! I've tried to keep the format VERY simplified to avoid problems receiving, but if you do experience any difficulties, please let me know! Looking forward to hearing from you, and to seeing your posts on the board (with scans, please - they're wonderful!!).
Enjoy a wonderful New Year's! Betsy
Hello, and a warm welcome to the 2001 Shepherd's Bush Stitch-along! How wonderful it is to have nearly 80 stitchers from all over the world participating in this year's group!
If you have never participated in an Internet stitch group, you're in for a treat. Many of us live far from our local needlework shop (LNS, of you don't know the lingo yet) or don't have any stitching friends or relatives to share our hobby. And if your husband is anything like mine, he may support and even encourage your needlework pursuits, but may find it hard to get excited over the newest Weeks Dye Works colors or the latest news from Charlotte Market! So here's a place for learning, for sharing, for asking questions, and for just plain fun.
So how does this work? As I'd posted on the SB Cross Stitch Corner bulletin board, the stitch-along will feature one freebie design per month and a small card design per quarter. In each newsletter, I'll feature a short set of comments on the freebie of the month, along with (and this is where you come in) your comments, suggestions, or ideas. The "Card a Quarter" will be divided into three sections - one section of the card per month - with a newsletter feature on that section (or you can stitch these mini-samplers in any order you'd prefer). No - I won't come to your house to check your progress, or examine the backs of your pieces or even require you to stitch anything you don't want to stitch - yea! J So let's get started!
JANUARY FREEBIE: Sheep in the Meadow. "Sheep in the Meadow" is a simple and sweet design - great for getting into a "sheepie" mood!
Fabric: This design is charted for 28 count platinum linen, although cream would work just as well. A standard cut of this count fabric for framing purposes (3 inch allowance on all sides) would be 8 inches wide x 12 inches high. The design size is 19 stitches x 72 stitches, or about 2 inches by 5 inches. Be sure to cut your fabric appropriately for whatever count you're using and in consideration of your finishing plans. I chose a cut of 32 count Natural linen (since I had a huge piece in my stash), but be warned - the colors are very delicate, and I found myself substituting because they didn't show up well on the darker fabric (especially the Needle Necessities 113 Blue).
Fibers: The piece is charted for Needle Necessities overdyed floss and DMC, but you can substitute all DMC. Here are some suggestions from one of my needlework teachers:
NN 113 Blue DMC 793 NN 119 Cream DMC Ecru, 822, or 3782 NN 138 Green DMC 3816 NN 156 Rose DMC 316 NN Taupe DMC 3781
You could also use Gentle Arts Sampler Threads! Try Pink Azalea or Victorian Pink instead of the Rose, Pine or Evergreen for the Green, or Bluejay for the Blue.
Embellishments: Stroll through your stash…do you have leftover beads from other projects? Try them on row one instead of the cross stitches, or on one of the flower & vine rows for buds or leaves. Also notice the directions for row 4: "Stitch on three antique buttons of your choice." A great choice might be three flat-finish craft buttons in coordinating colors or two small mother of pearl buttons. Check your sewing box, your stash, or make a trip to your favorite needlework or craft/fabric store, but beware - measure the size of your buttons and BE SURE you've left sufficient room to accommodate them. You can always move your stitching up or down a few rows (or even eliminate a row) according to your button size.
You'll encounter the same problem with the bottom fence area, which calls for a "sheep button of your choice." When I stitched this design a few years ago, the sheep button I used was WAY too big - he looked like a giant sheep monster stomping across the meadow!
For my project, I used three of the squarish fuschia-colored buttons from the Plum Berry Sampler pack (these are made by Just Another Button Company and are labeled to use with Bent Creek's Plum Berry Sampler). The size was just perfect to use three. I also substituted a cream-colored clay heart for the sheep button at the bottom.
Don't dismiss the idea of substituting a charm instead - how about a bee for your meadow flowers? Or if you're giving this as a special gift, stitch the initials of the recipient where the sheep button would have been.
Challenge: Change row 1 and/or row 5 (plain cross-stitch) to specialty stitches - just make sure you allow enough room for the width of the stitch. I used a row of long-arm cross stitches and a row of knit stitch, which looked especially pretty using the overdyed floss. Another little trick I used was to substitute smyrna crosses over two threads for the flowers (which were plain x's). They tend to look like tiny rosebuds on small count fabric!
Watch out for: I didn't find anything particularly complicated about this design other than finding buttons that fit in the spaces given.
I also remember laughing over a few comments last year that the sheep heads looked like elephants with trunks, so you may want to eliminate the bottom-most "x" on the head section!
Finishing Ideas: Don't just let those sheepies lie there! This design would lend itself perfectly to a needleroll or even a bookmark. I got really industrious and made mine into a Tall Treat Bag (on the order of the Christmas and Easter Treat Bags). Here's how I did it:
TALL TREAT BAG INSTRUCTIONS:
You will need about ½ yard of 1/8" satin ribbon to tie your treat bag.
Your cut of fabric, provided that it is 28 to 32 count linen, should be 9" WIDE by 11" TALL (notice that this is the OPPOSITE of the instructions in the Christmas Treat Bag). You should center the design and begin stitching 2 inches up from the BOTTOM of the fabric. (NOTE: The fabric measurement could be affected if you choose large buttons or have increased the design height by using specialty stitches.)
After stitching is complete, count up 40 threads from the top of your stitching; cut and remove the next three threads. This will be your ribbon row.
Count up another 40 threads beyond your ribbon row; cut and remove the next three threads. Fold and hemstitch this edge (any of the SB needleroll or treat bag instructions will demonstrate this hemstitch, but let me know if you encounter any problems). I used the NN 170 Taupe for hemstitching.
Fold the piece lengthwise, right sides together, and stitch up the back using a ¼" seam allowance. Open out the bag slightly, and with right sides still together, sew a ¼" seam across the bottom of the bag (the first seam will be the back seam of the bag; it should now be lying, centered, against your design). This second, bottom seam will run parallel to the bottom of your design.
Turn the bag right side out and stuff with polyester fiberfill. Thread your ribbon through your ribbon row; pull tight and knot; then tie a bow and clip the ends to whatever length you desire.
Hope this makes sense! I'll try to have a scan up as soon as possible to help. (P.S. This is the disclaimer! I am not a professional finisher! I've given directions in good faith and as accurately as I can, but please let me know if you have questions, as I can't guarantee any results. Please note that these are only my suggestions and are NOT Shepherd's Bush "official" instructions.)
Next Month's Freebie: I Love You
TRIVIA CONTEST: I just love contests, especially when they're easy and the prizes are stitching stash! Our monthly contest will focus on a Shepherd's Bush or general stitching trivia questions, along with a hint. As with any good thing, there must be rules, and here are the rules which apply to this contest:
CONTEST RULES: 1) To enter, just send me an email which includes your answer, your name, your board name, and your email address. Please make the subject line say TRIVIA CONTEST. 2) Three winners will be drawn at random from among all the correct entries submitted. 3) I'll notify all winners by email and request a snail mail address so that I can mail your prize to you. NOTE: Please DO NOT bother Teri or Tina (at Shepherd's Bush) or Judy A. for any answers!!
Here's the January Trivia Contest Question:
What is the origin of the name "Shepherd's Bush"?
HINT: Check the opening page of the Official Shepherd's Bush website at www.shepherdsbush.com. Three lucky winners will each receive a mini-pack of Mill Hill beads (in four colors) and 5 skeins of DMC floss in Shepherd's "Bushy" colors - 316, 500, 902, 926, and 3041 - all of which are featured in freebie designs!
MINI-SAMPLER CARD OF THE QUARTER: The Orchard
"The Orchard" is a simple small design with primarily cross-stitch and 4 specialty stitch "steps". It's charted for 32 count antique white Belfast linen; fabric cut is listed as 11" x 12". It requires DMC floss and one ball of 644 #12 Perle Coton.
"The Orchard" is one of a series of small cards that include The Arbour, The Herb Garden, and The Root Garden. I love the wording: "Elder and quince, blackberries, sloe and wee little currants."
Suggestion for completion for January: Top vine, step one, the elder and quince row, and step 2.
I've not yet begun this design - I'll try for an "interim" newsletter in about two weeks to check everyone's progress!
Please let me know if you're having trouble locating the cards for this year's series (The Orchard, Amaranth, The Herb Garden, and Pine). I did find a few shops that still had them in stock and will be happy to pass along that information!
LAGNIAPPE! When I lived in south Louisiana, I learned that "lagniappe" (pronounced lan-yap), in the Cajun French sense of the word, means "a little something extra, given at no cost, for the benefit of the recipient." So each month, I'm going to throw in a little Lagniappe for you!
Brrrrr! What could be more soothing than a delicious cup of hot cocoa to accompany your stitching on a chilly night? This month's Lagniappe is a recipe that my sister guarantees is delicious (but NOT calorie-free, so beware!!). Make up this mix and keep it handy for whenever you're in the mood!
HOT COCOA MIX:
1 large can or jar chocolate drink mix 1 jar coffee creamer (plain or flavored) 1 bag powdered (confectioner's) sugar
Mix all ingredients and store in an air-tight container. Combine desired amount with warm milk (experiment to see how much mix you prefer per cup).
WANTED: YOUR INPUT! Part of what makes a stitch-along so enjoyable is sharing ideas and experiences so that we can learn and grow. I'd love to hear from you if you have:
1) Dumb Questions! What?!? That's right - send me your dumb (and not-so-dumb) questions! I'd be happy to feature at least one per month with answers and suggestions from "the experts"! 2) Ideas for finishing or for fabric and fiber substitutions; 3) Tips or hints about the next month's freebie or card design, or about stitching in general.
Please email your input to me with an appropriate subject line (like "Dumb Question" or "March Freebie" or "Finishing Idea"). I look forward to hearing from you!
WRAP UP: Well, that's it for January! I look forward to your feedback and input and to a year of stitching together.
God bless you all! Betsy
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