Stitching Friends Forever

April Post One
Styling with Stitches
Friends who Stitch
Sal Update

Happy Spring everyone!   Have you been wondering where those two derelict stitching friends have been?   Well we both had some very unwanted visitors named sinus, stomach virus, allergies and the flu that never seems to go away. It's like the Ever-ready Bunny - it keeps going and going!  We spent more time in bed than on our feet!  And, as a result our March projects did not get done.  We are happy to have an April post to show you today. We thought Spring wreaths would be a good way to get us started for our "Styling with Stitches" project.

Last year we bought the seasonal "Hello" series by Plum Street Sampler and also the seasonal "Basketful" series by With thy Needle and Thread.   Mary will be using "Hello's" for her wreaths and I'll be making mine with the "Basketful's. Then we will switch patterns later in the year for another project. That way we both will get to stitch all eight of these really cute designs. 
                                                                             
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RJ's Wreath

"Basketful of Spring" was really a delight to stitch.   I loved the design and chosen floss colors.   The bunny is adorable and I love how he pulls his wagon of chicks. That double row of green is a specialty stitch called Algerian Eyelet.  It was done in Baby Spinach which is my favorite green.  It is such a sweet stitch and really easy to do.  I didn't want to stop making that row.

Making a flat finish was challenging for me. I just don't like working with glue. But after many, many hours it got completed.   I would not win a bow making contest either...so I just made two bows and put them together and added a pretty Mother of Pearl button in the center.   The wreath was easy because it was a premade.   Joann's was having a big sale and the wreaths were 60% off.   I could not buy the grapevine wreath and all the pretty flowers for only $14.99 (sale price) and I didn't have to put it together.   Win - win!!!

Wreath is hanging off an old antique shutter I found for $3 at the beach

Closeup of bow with Mother of Pearl button

You really have to get close to see the word Spring as it is very subtle

Basketful of Spring
by With thy Needle and Thread
36 ct. Summer Khaki linen
Called for floss
Wreath and ribbon from Joann's

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Mary's wreath

The first Spring flowers that bloom in my area are daffodils and hyacinths, so I changed the color palette of "Hello Spring" to my favorite Spring colors of yellow and purple.  The only called for color I used was Weeping Willow for the green swirls. 

I did not have RJ's luck in finding a pretty, pre-made wreath but fortunately I have a talented friend who is always willing to help me out with all my projects.  Armed with an assortment of Spring flowers, ribbon and wreath I left the decorating to Cheryl.   I am so happy with how the wreath turned out, I think it sets off Paulette's design so nicely.  My friend, Cheryl was happy too as I gifted her the wreath and stitch.  

I also finished the stitch as a flat fold and copied the pom pom trim as it was shown on the pattern.  I am so pleased with how it came out that I will have to stitch this again for myself! 

Gracing Cheryl's door

I used Whisper thread for the tail

Hello Spring
by Plum Street Sampler
36 ct. Zweigert Antique linen
Assorted threads

                               

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Friends who Stitch

We have some lovely followers that don't have a blog.  They are active stitchers and we thought it would be neat to show some of their stitches here at Stitching Friends.  So once a month we will show you a stitch from stitchers without a blog.   Just send me rjgator96@gmail.com a photo and the name of the stitch, designer and any thing you would like to add and we would be so happy to share one of your stitches here.   It can be just stitched or totally finished.

This month we are so happy to feature Robin and Marilyn with two of their fabulous stitches

Robin's stitch was a gift for a friend who is a stitcher, but also a quilter and sewist.  We have this pattern and can't wait to stitch it after seeing Robin's beautiful finish. 

Sew Happy
by All Through the Night
32 ct. fawn linen
Gentle Arts Sampler threads
Framed by Total Framing

Marilyn's stitch is such an adorable bunny with a cute finish.

A Spring Day
by Heart in Hand

Thank you so much Robin and Marilyn for joining in.   Hope to see you next month.  I know everyone will enjoy seeing more of your lovely stitching.


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Sal Update

We have chosen the series Summer Schoolhouse for our newest SAL.    This is a fun group of patterns to stitch but it will take us quite a bit of time.   We are stitching these charming patterns on 28 ct. Mushroom Lugana fabric over one and we are using all the called for floss.

Meg has joined us and we are thrilled to have her.  You can visit Meg here .

Meg's Sal

This is after 23 hours

RJ's SAL

This is after 20 hours.   I will catch up with our leader Meg this weekend.

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Thank you so much for stopping by to see us.  We are so happy to be back and starting our third year of blogging. Where does time go?   More bunny projects are coming this month so we hope you will stop back in about ten days.   We are catching up with all of your posts that we missed but you can be sure we will be there.  Hope you are having nice Spring days as the weather begins to change. Happy stitching!!!

                                                      Stitching Friends  


                                       April is a Promise of what’s to come. 

                                                        Glady’s Taber