Our Friends' HAED SAL: Sabine's Astronomer

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Sabine's Astronomer

I'm afraid The Astronomer and I had a rough week, with little progress. I do believe we hosted the ENTIRE frog family for the week! Two stitches in, six stitches out. Every -single- day -this- week. I also ripped my thread and learned how to accidentally make french knots on the back of the fabric without even looking! But I am proud of myself for fixing all those mistakes, because honestly, who would notice a misplaced ultra very dark brown stitch in a sea of black? No one. But I know, and it would forever stick out like a blinking neon sign, so I fixed it. So here they are, before and after:

I've pulled the welcome mat from under the frogs, so lock your doors! I don't know which way they're heading. Have a great stitchy week everyone!!!!

Sabine

9 comments:

Astrid said...: sorry but you made me laugh with your french knots !!! they suppost to be at the front side Sabine !!! LOL....and frogging is very painfull. if it is one stich wrong I take de right color and mak a x over the wrong color. Sometimes the wrong color isnt geeting out easy..... Try it if there is a wrong stitch again. ( ihope not for you); October 4, 2009 at 1:27 AM
CathE said...: I've locked my doors - and put up a big "No Entry" sign to keep those frogs away. I'm sorry they've been visiting you for so long but I can still see progress. And good on you for fixing the problems. I hope you have a better week this week.; October 4, 2009 at 1:52 AM
Joke said...: In spite of the problems you had, your progress is wonderful! Good to add some colours into the black :-); October 4, 2009 at 4:46 AM
Jan said...: Even with the frogs you made a lot of progress. Isn't it nice to put in something other than black?; October 4, 2009 at 5:00 AM
Cindy F. said...: Great progress Sabine!! Gosh I hope those frogs aren't heading to my house! I can't tell they've been at your house at all with that much stitching accomplished!!; October 4, 2009 at 6:14 AM
Marie said...: I love your post ! You made me laugh !!
Your progress is very nice to see, I'm so looking forward to see this piece growing !

Happy stitching !; October 4, 2009 at 11:02 PM
Carolyn NC said...: For someone who frogged, you sure did accomplish a lot of stitching!; October 5, 2009 at 12:14 PM
kerbear said...: I hate those darn frogs! It seems like they always come in herds too! And I had to laugh about your french knots because I end up doing that sometimes too! Still even with all the setbacks, you made great progress and I really love this!; October 5, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Wendy said...: Wow! Sabine, nice progress. Keep upt the great work, I want to see this one grow ;); October 6, 2009 at 2:00 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.