Our Friends' HAED SAL: QS White Cat

Thursday, September 3, 2009

QS White Cat

I can't believe it has been 3 months since I've last posted so firstly I would like to apologise for my lack of participation in the group. Even though I have done hardly any stitching for weeks - well months really - I've been checking the progress of those of you who have been posting and have seen some wonderful finishes and work being done so well done everyone. I think I got a bit misheartened when one of my other projects (Ink Circles Cirque des Triangles) went haywire and I had to unpick weeks of work and restart due to my own stupidity. A mistake I won't make a second time - have a look at my blog.

This Sunday I had a day to myself so I picked up my QS White Cat and managed to make good progress so at long last I feel I have something worth sharing. Now I can't seem to put it down which was what happened previously so I've decided this will be my main project over the next few weeks.

Here are my before and after pics:-

I have been pondering over what to do with my other HAED project "Cats" as I was really struggling stitching on 25 count fabric. I'm afraid my eyesight is just not good enough and I was not enjoying stitching on this fabric. As I really don't want this to become a UFO I have tried out a few other fabrics starting with 40 count then 32 count but have finaly decided that I am most comfortable with a 28 count fabric so next time I go "shopping for stash" I will buy a new piece of fabric and am going to make this my new start for 2010 (less than 3 months away - it's frightening how time goes by).

I won't be posting next week as I am going on holiday but I will be taking my stitching with me and hope to have something to share with you next time.

8 comments:

MarchAnn said...: What a great restart. It will be interesting to watch your progess now that you are stitching again.
Keep up the good work.; September 3, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Lisa said...: Glad you got your mojo back!; September 3, 2009 at 7:04 PM
Annie Bee said...: Glad to see you posting and your progress looks lovely, such a pretty cat.; September 3, 2009 at 7:48 PM
Joke said...: You did great on this, very brave to start all over with Cats again!; September 4, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Sabine S. said...: You did a lot of stitching during this week! Glad you picked it up and fell in love again.
Sabine; September 4, 2009 at 11:25 PM
Carolyn NC said...: Looking good - glad to see you stitching and posting again!; September 5, 2009 at 8:10 AM
Wendy said...: That is a nice progress!! Can't wait to see the cat grow.; September 6, 2009 at 6:59 AM
Anonymous said...: excellent progress on this piece - hope you get lots more done in the coming week; September 6, 2009 at 8:19 AM

Tutorials

How to Carry Threads
This is really easy...it takes a while to get used to though....and your back will look terrible...this you will have to live with...One thing...You will be working your 10 x 10 grids in colums...it makes it easier...
1. Start with a 10 x 10 grid..
2. Find your first symbol...and stitch all of that symbol in your 10 x 10 grid....When finished...
3. Find the same symbol on the 10 x 10 grid below it...take your needle and bring your thread up like you are going to make the first 1/2 of the X ...but don't do it...just unthread your needle and lay the thread down..
4. Go back to the first grid you were working on...and stitch the next symbol the same way....when finished bring your thread down....
5. continue each symbol until your first 10 x 10 grid is finished....
6. start the next 10 x 10 grid ....you should have thread there already for you to pick up and stitch...
Posted by Vickie 3/7/2009

Tent Stitching (Wikipedia)
Tent stitch variants
There are three types of tent stitch, all producing the same appearance on the front of the canvas but each worked in a slightly different way and having particular characteristics, uses, benefits and drawbacks. These variants of tent stitch are known as basketweave, continental and half cross tent stitches:
Basketweave tent stitch - The basketweave form of tent stitch is worked in diagonal rows up and down the canvas. The yarn on the back of the canvas has a typical basketweave appearance, with alternating horizontal and vertical stitches. Basketweave is the best stitch to use for covering large areas of canvas as it does not distort the canvas as the other two forms of tent stitch do.
Continental tent stitch - Continental stitch is worked horizontally or vertically across the canvas. On the back of the work, the stitches appear diagonally across two threads. This method uses more yarn than half cross stitch tent stitch but is more hardwearing.
Half cross tent stitch - Half cross stitch is worked horizontally or vertically across the canvas. On the back of the work, the stitch appears vertical or horizontal, not diagonal, and crosses only one thread. This method uses less yarn than other stitches but is not very durable as coverage on the back of the canvas is a little thin.