A Change of Scenery . . . Of Sorts

My knitting is in a rather dull spot at the moment, so I'll show you something else that has caught my fancy these days . . . 

I have always loved hand-stitching, and especially embroidery. After all, it was my "first craft." My great grandmother taught me simple embroidery when I was very young. My first project? She wrote my name on a piece of muslin, threaded my needle with blue embroidery floss, taught me the backstitch . . . and I successfully stitched the whole thing right onto the skirt I was wearing! We had to cut if off and begin again. (My first experience of "so shall you sew, so shall you rip"!)

Anyway, I used to do quite a lot of embroidery. Lately, though? Not so much. Hand-stitching has been pretty limited to my Alabama Chanin projects. 

But I've been following several embroiderers on Instagram for a while, and decided to just pick up my "tiny needle" and jump back in.

I started with this little kit from Cozy Blue Handmade. (The photo uptop is also a Cozy Blue kit.) Her kits are all-inclusive and ready for immediate stitching. (They include the stamped fabric, embroidery floss, a needle, the wooden hoop frame, and basic instruction). 

(I have always struggled with satin stitch. I try all the tricks -- I outline the area first, for example and fill it in with seed stitch before doing the satin stitch. Still, it's uneven . . . but I'm working at letting my perfection "flow" right out the window. So there you go.)

I'm really having fun with these little projects right now. In fact, I have a couple more in my line-up!

A change of scenery is good for the soul!

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How about you? What are you working on?

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Make sure to stop over at Kat's today to see what everyone else is "unraveling" this week!

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Also . . . don't forget to check out the Wild Game book discussion happening this week. Find the discussions questions here, here, and here. Be sure to comment for a chance at our book-lover's prize package.

Comments

[eileen]

Your hand stitching projects are lovely and small projects, perfect in this COVID time. Projects that are relaxing, enjoyable and able to have a finish in a timely fashion. Yup, fits the bill for me.

[Carolyn]

Oh, boy, these could be *very* addictive!! Especially loving the new kit on the right (probably b/c of the black background). And I loved your first stitching story! Oh, to have that skirt now!!

[Sarah]

Love these stitching kits! They look very satisfying to work. I used to do a ton of counted cross stitch, and I've been thinking about getting it out again (but haven't done it yet because I worry I'll get distracted from my other leisure time pursuits).

[Juliann]

As I have been decluttering I have rediscovered an embroidery kit and a sashimi kit so I hope to join you with some stitching posts soon.

[Bonny]

I want to click on the Cozy Blue link, but I'm afraid I won't be able to resist! Maybe just one little kit won't hurt and it might even be that new and interesting thing I'm feeling a need for right now. I'm off to check it out ...

[Vera]

First of all I love your stitching story - sewing your piece to your skirt. So classic!! I do like the kits you've chosen - especially the moon phase one. So many are doing these cozy blue kits right now. They are just charming! I discovered some stamped pillowcases in my stash - I might just need to work on them a bit too in addition to my sampler.

[Sylvia]

Thank you for the inspiration and the link! I just ordered the autumn mandala kit (which seems more like winter to me, but the name doesn't matter).
*And Bonny, I waited two hours with it in my browser, and then I hit "cart"!

[Chloe]

Embroidery is amazing. Thank you for showing such wonderful, modern- looking examples.

[Kat]

These are too cute! I love that moon phases stitching! (and I think the satin stitches looks lovely!)

[Margene]

I've had my eye on the two you have waiting in the wings. I like Blue Cozy kits very much. I've got a big AC project (which doesn't get much love) and a sweater (and sock) on the needles. I think stitching will go by the wayside for now. It is nice to know we have the "talents" to do any craft that strikes our fancy!

[Kim Sheehan]

Oh I love these! I have done all of these except the one with the words in the middle. I'm so happy you'[re doing it!

[Shirley]

I’m another Reader who had the nerve to click the link and go down the rabbit hole. I didn’t bother to wait 2 hours to put one of those adorable kits in my cart and click “order.” Can’t wait to receive it and start stitching. Thanks Kym (I think).

[Vicki]

I love that story about stitching your project to your dress! <3

Those kits are so cute. I still have one of my first embroidery projects... big colorful mushrooms on a piece of orange loose-weave something resembling burlap. (It was the '70s.) Satin Stitch looks like it should be the easiest thing ever, but it sure is a bugger, isn't it?

[Carole]

Those are great projects! I never did embroidery but I loved counted cross stitch, it was my craft of choice in the late 80s and early 90s.

[Jane]

The story of sewing your stitching onto your skirt is priceless and classic. I like your change of scenery. I pulled out some quilting scraps this summer and have been making small nine patch blocks and waiting for inspiration.