non-embroidery post!

Nothing embroidery related to see here...we have had a few days of such beautiful spring weather and I wanted to share these pictures! The ornamental cherry tree is in bloom:The white camellia has finally bloomed:

These lilac bushes which are really old are in full bloom.

They are so fragrant!

And these bright red tulips: and finally these little grape hyacinths. I love these because their blooms last for such a long time.

100 stitches - cross stitch

I stitched this hen picture long before I started working through 100 Stitches. I wanted to stitch a frame around the image and really liked the way these "x-es" looked. I didn't realize I was actually doing the cross stitch!
These x-es are individual cross stitches, but the 100 stitches book only demonstrates doing the cross stitch in a line. The following pictures are my step by step attempt at the cross stitch in a line. I am starting with six strands of floss - dmc color #907, using a #24 chenille needle on 100% cotton quilting weight fabric.

I will be working this stitch from right to left. First come up through the fabric at what will be the bottom right of what will be the first "x":

Next, go back down through the fabric at what will be the top left of the "x".

Pull the floss all the way through to form a simple stitch. Now come back up through the fabric at what will be the bottom right of the NEXT "x":

Now go back down through the fabric at what will be the top left of the next "x":

Pull the floss through to form the next stitch:

Continue on in this fashion for as long as you want your stitching line. When you reach the end, it is time to stitch back to the beginning to complete all the x-es! To do this, first come up through the fabric at the bottom LEFT of the end of your stitching line:

then cross over that simple stitch and bring your needle back into the fabric at the top right

Pull the floss through and this will form an x:

Next, bring your needle up at the bottom left (right next to the bottom right of the first completed x. Then back down through at the next top right:

Keep on in this fashion until you are back to the start of the stitching line:

You will end up with a beautiful line of the cross stitch!

This impressive and versatile stitch is #19 and is in the flat stitches section of 100 Stitches.

Sweet dreams moon

I had so much fun stitching this little moon:

Here on the close-up, I am showing off the back stitch (the cloud outlines, part of the moon, the moon's features and hat outline, the stars and the lettering) french knots (for the cloud accents, hat accents and far-away stars) and the chain stitch (part out the moon's outline). I'm not exactly sure how I am going to complete this - it could be a pillow, it could be framed as a picture, if I knew how to quilt I think it could make a sweet quilt block? It looks good with all different kinds and colors of trims...

100 stitches - split stitch

This little flower is being outlined with the split stitch:

The split stitch is the featured stitch in my latest installment of the 100 stitches project. In the process pictures that follow, I am using six strands of dmc floss, color 907 and a #24 chenille needle. This is stitched on 100% cotton quilting weight fabric.

Here are the steps. First, come up through your fabric on your stitching line:

Push the needle back down through the fabric at your preferred stitch length:
Pull all the way through to form a simple stitch:

Come up through the stitch you just formed. Just split it right in the middle with your needle!

Pull the needle and thread all the way through:

Now go back down through the fabric - again, at your preferred stitch length:


Pull all the way through to form the next simple stitch:

And then, again, come up right in the middle of this stitch:

Just keep on stitching in this fashion:
and keep going:

Until you have a line of split stitches!
This is such a simple, easy to learn stitch! It is also a good stitch to use for quick outlines. According to 100 Stitches, the split stitch resembles a fine chain stitch and can even be used as a filling stitch. I think it is funny that this "split" stitch is #50 of 100 stitches!

This stitch is in the linked stitches section of 100 Stitches.

Shhh...nap time

I just finished stitching this sweet little sun: It is from the Shhh...baby's sleeping embroidery pattern packet and I love the way it turned out. I used the stem stitch for the clouds, the back stitch for the words and sun's face, and the chain stitch and french knots for the sun's rays.
While I was looking for trims to add to this project, I found this embroidered tape stored with some of my older sewing supplies:

I don't remember where this came from and unfortunately, it doesn't match my embroidery floss but it is really beautiful and I have just under three yards of it :) I was looking through my old supplies to find this strawberry fabric.

I love this fabric and the way it looks with this embroidery floss and pom pom trim. I have a project idea for this little combination!

This last picture is of some blossoms from my damson plum tree. I took this picture right after a rain shower. I wanted to capture those waterdrops - you can see the sky and trees in them!

100 stitches - pekinese stitch

Introducing the pekinese stitch: This next stitch from 100 Stitches is simple but dramatic looking! Here are the steps. Start with just the basic back stitch: Add a new row of a contrasting or even same colored floss:
Now bring your needle under the second stitch of your back stitch row - don't pick up any fabric, just slide the needle under the back stitch:
Then bring your needle under the first back stitch - again don't pick up any fabric.
Now pull the floss through:
and head for the third back stitch!
Come under the third back stitch without picking up any fabric and pull through, then back under the second back stitch. That's all there is to it! Just continue on through all the backstitches. Notice in this picture how big the loops are on the right hand side of the back stitching line:
According to 100 stitches, you can either leave them big like this or pull the whole thing tight. It just depends which look you prefer.

The pekinese stitch is #2 and is in the flat stitches category of 100 Stitches. I used six strands of each floss. The colors are dmc # 907 green and dmc #3837 purple. I stitched this on 100% cotton, quilting weight fabric with a #24 chenille needle :)