Stitching Friends Forever

September Friendship
Weeks three and four

Something Old Made New
Something New
Christmas Challenges
Free Pattern

We had some delays this month because of Hurricane Irma and computer problems so this week will be a "jam packed" post.  We are combining weeks three and four together.  Enjoy!!!

Something Old Made New

RJ's -   For my old ornament, I chose Six Little Cardinals by Little House Needleworks.  Cardinals have a very special meaning to me so whenever I see a pattern with one I want to stitch it.   This particular pattern was a really quick and easy stitch and a lot of fun to do.   I used all the called for thread colors.  

Before:

After:  To dress up my old ornament, I added some pleated satin ribbon that Mary had from stamping , double check bows and tiny jingle bells.  It's still taking me forever to hand stitch trim all the way around an ornament.   Any tips?

Six cardinals with pleated ribbon, double bows and tiny jingle bells

Six Little Cardinals
Little House Needleworks
35 ct. weeks cocoa linen
called for threads

                                                      ⚜⚜⚜⚜

Mary's -  My old ornament update was a free Shepherd's Bush pattern.  You will find it here:    https://www.shepherdsbush.net/shop/Shepherds-Bush-Designs/Free-patterns.htm

Before:
            

After:  I kept the update simple to keep with the simplicity of the stitch.  A piece of cording that I had on hand and a wooden heart button dresses up this quick, fun stitch.

Free Shepherd Bush pattern
40 ct. country mocha linen
mixture of DMC and over dyed threads

Something New

RJ's - For my new stitch for our friendship month, I'm showing a really sweet stitch called Stitching Friends Forever by Lizzie Kate.  When I saw this pattern I knew I had to have it.   It was a hard one to find but one night I found it on Ebay and bought it quickly.  It's like it was designed for our blog.   Cute story:  I made it for Mary and then a few months later the same stitch came with the same frame in the mail to me.   Mary said "You have to have one too"!  At first I thought she was sending the one I made her back to me.   It was only when I looked closer that I realized there was a different pair of scissors on it.  So I'm actually showing you the one Mary made for me but the one I sent her is almost identical.

Sweet stitch in our favorite Kohl's frame which allows a charm to fit under glass

Closeup of Stitching Friends Forever

Stitching Friends
Lizzie Kate
40 ct. vintage country mocha linen
called for over dyed threads

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Mary's -  These two pieces complete the Valentine Sampler series by Brenda Gervais of With Thy Needle and Thread that I gifted RJ.   Faye of Carolina Stitcher worked her magic yet again.   I love how she added the heart stitch to a box that she painted and lined with a fabric that coordinated so well with the stitch.

Thank you Faye yet again for your wonderful creative vision.  I was thrilled with your finishing and I know RJ was also.

Lovely pin cushion that has embroidered X's all around the seams

You can see the beautiful heart box in this photo along with the rest of the sewing group.

Christmas Challenges

RJ's - I really fell in love with this sweet little sewing Santa by Homespun Elegance.   It is called Santa Please Bring Me from 2008.  I used over dyed threads that I had on hand that looked close to the called for colors.   When it is finished into an ornament, it will have a cute pair of scissors that came with the pattern.      
                          

Closeup of Santa Please Bring Me...scissors will be added to his hand

Santa Please Bring Me
2008 ornament collection
Homespun Elegance
mystery cream linen
over dyed threads I had

  

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Mary's -  This is the second Prairie Schooler Barnyard ornament that I have stitched for my little nephew.  I used called for DMC threads with the exception of GA Gold Leaf for the basket on mystery fabric.  The tail feathers were a challenge.  I initially stitched them vertically, but after spending much time "frogging", I realized that stitching the feathers horizontally was much easier for me.

Prairie Schooler Barnyard
mystery linen
called for DMC and GA Gold Leaf

September Free Pattern

We found this really perfect free pattern called Sister Stitcher.  Since starting our blog, we have certainly become Sister Stitchers.  It was designed by The Primitive Hare.  You can find the chart here:     http://www.theprimitivehare.com/free/sister.pdf

It's hard to believe we have completed six months of blogging.   It was way more work than we ever thought and way more fun than we ever could dream.    We thank all of you for coming and becoming stitching friends.   Next week will be our October Styling with Stitches.  Hope to see you then. RJ and Mary  

A friend is what the HEART needs all the time

Henry Van Dyke