Almost Ready to Cross Stitch

First, I wanted to mention that my friend, Denise from Just Quiltin, and I were talking about cross stitching the other day. She told me about a pattern she had ordered. You know I want everything anyone else has! She sent me the link and said “Oops . . I must have bought the last one!” I looked at it and then I said to myself . . I cannot be friends with Denise any longer. She gets me into too much trouble! Not really. She’s already promised to be my friend forever and I’ll do the same for her and I think, since she’s about 100 states north of me . . oh, maybe just 96 now that I’ve moved . . all our eternal friendship means is that we talk each other into doing things neither of us would do on our own.

So, I went searching for the pattern and found it at another online shop and ordered it. Then I said “Hey, Denise! We should do this together and hold each other accountable!” so we can finish it sometime in the future. She said “OK!” and then I said “Hey, Denise! Let’s see if any of our blog readers want to do it with us!” She said “OK”! So, you’re all invited but we’ll give you more details later. Like real soon . . maybe tomorrow.

Back to my cross stitching . . I think I have everything I need to get started.

I have no idea who “Pat” is but Silver Needle recommended Pat’s needles so I bought 25 of them in size 28 and then ordered 25 in size 26 and 5 in size 24. I now have size 24, 26 and 28, in a couple different brands. I always like John James for hand sewing needles so I wanted to try those to. I don’t even know which sizes are for what but I should have what I need.

I have fabric. I probably ordered too much fabric since I have no idea what I’ll like but I was Flosstubes day and night and some of the people I like love linen, while others love evenweave and others love aida so . . I’ll just try it all.

I have patterns! I have big patterns and little patterns. I have cute patterns and I have serious patterns. I think I’m going to love samplers. It’s funny that my quilts, for the most part and bright, almost neon, colors. The more lime green, gold, purple and orange, the better I like the quilts but I’m finding myself drawn to browns, golds, olive greens – more earth tones for the cross stitching. Maybe it’s this house; maybe I’m growing up. Who knows.

This is one of the patterns that arrived recently. It’s Sweater Weather by Plum Street Samplers. Do you see the dachshunds in sweaters? Oh, how I want a real, life dachshund. I see Vince’s reasoning for saying NO. With a high maintenance dog and a cat that neither of us can quite figure out, we don’t need another dog but I miss Speck so much.

I think I’ll wait til after Christmas Day and maybe start on my first cross stitch piece on Saturday. I shouldn’t have anything else going on and can devote my full attention to the stitching. I think I’m going to do the Playful Cats by Luminous Stitches.

I’m going to make a black cat (Boots) and a gray cat (Addie’s Mr. Kitty). Right now I’m feeling industrious and plan to make two – one for Addie and one for me, but the truth is . . I’ll be doing good to get one finished. It’s done 32 count fabric and the design size is 4 x 8 so . . we’ll see what happens.