Hello blogging friends. Hubby took 1/2 a day off today and he surprised me by taking me to the Rocking Horse to pick up my latest framing.
Isn’t it lovely? I was so afraid of how it was going to turn out because my framing session was not enjoyable. And I didn’t have it framed like the model in the store because I felt it was too much green. My fabric is a darker green than theirs, and I am not a fan of green. So I went with the red mat. And then I was afraid it wouldn’t match the stitching, but I really like it. The frame was my first choice. I didn’t even look at any others and I think it is perfect. So now to find a temporary hanging place for it. Just for a while so I can enjoy it a bit. So sweet.
I am still waiting for threads for the Mystery Sampler. My LNS says they are on back-order from the manufacturer, so no telling when I will get them. However, a very sweet gal on the sampler group has offered to send me 3 skeins that she has as she is undecided about her sampler. Stitcher’s are such sweet people ❤ While waiting on threads, I have been working on Ella. Here is where I left her last night:
Not too much added since my last post, but every stitch counts, right? The empty area in the dress is getting smaller, so I am excited about that. Once I finish the bottom of the dress, I will have to move the scrolls up and work from the middle up. But that will be a lot less stitching than the bottom. This photo also represents my fabric perfectly, as it is a beautiful sunny day with 60 degrees! It is 16ct Aida Pandora from Hand Dyed Fabrics by Stephanie.
I also started my Temperature blanket the other day. What is a temperature blanket you ask? Well, it is a blanket that is crocheted or knitted, with each row based on the high temperature of where you live. So I found this color scheme on-line and tweaked it a bit for my blanket:
I ordered my yarn from LoveKnitting and if finally arrived on Thursday. I am using Stlyecraft DK instead of worsted weight. Here is my start:
I am using a G hook and chained 250 stitches. I decided to do my blanket 3dc, sk 2. Then do 3dc in the skip 2 space of the previous row. Today, while in the car, I noticed my blanket is bowing and my ends are not even. I should have started with maybe an I hook and then switched down to a G after my foundation row. I will have to brush up on my chaining on the ends and where to stick my hook for the first stitch. So today I will be ripping this out and starting over. I will probably be doing a different stitch, too. Something where I can make sure I have the right amount of stitches every row. My crochet skills are still not very well without a specific pattern and some visual tutorials, so I will be sure to have all that when I re-start. It will be a fun blanket to stitch on every day or do a couple of rows once a week, based on the high temps. If you are wanting to get started on your own Temperature blanket, you can knit or crochet, whatever pattern you want, whatever yarn and color scheme you want. I do believe that Lion Brand also has some info on their website. For the high temperatures, there is a website called weatherunderground.com that you can get the history of high temps in your area.
So, what are your needles creating today?
My Time Stitching 
Joy looks just perfect. Wow you have so many things on the go. I love that you have started a temperature blanket xx
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Thank you, Nicola ❤ I do seem to have a lot going on right now. And can you believe that I want to start a few more projects? Wow. Off to re-start my temperature blanket. Hope I get it right this time.
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Your Joy definitely turned out pretty! Makes me want to do it! Maybe will start when it gets closer to next Christmas. I can’t wait to see how the temperature blanket turns out!
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Thank you, Johanna ❤ I know you have everything to start it 😉 They are such quick stitches, too. You will enjoy them when you get to them. Now off to re-start the blanket.
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I love your framing! It’s always a little daunting I find- far too many options and always second guessing yourself. You should be very proud and display it prominently! Have fun with your temperature blanket. I’ve heard a few people making them this year. Next year maybe I’ll try something with embroidery!
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Thank you, Catherine ❤ Choosing a frame and mats can be very nerve wracking. The day that I went in, there was a gal and her mother with a stack of about 30 pieces! They took up most of the counter and I had this very small space and I was very distracted and I second guessed my decisions the whole way home. I am so glad to see that what I chose worked beautifully. I have already had to rip out my blanket 😦 Hopefully round 2 will be perfect.
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Your JOY is stunning!! The framing is perfect. Love the other stitching & crocheting, as well. What talent!
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Thank you, Marsha. I am quite smitten with it and will leave it out for a little while if not for the rest of the year 🙂 I have already had to rip the blanket out and start over. Hoping this time will be better 😉
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The red complements it perfectly. I have 4 or 5 cross stitches that I completed a few years back that I ought to get framed, and seeing how lovely yours looks has reminded me! 😊
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Thank you so much, Mrs.Craft. I do think I made the right decision with the red. It really sets off the green and makes the little fairies pop out. I definitely think you should start getting your cross stitched pieces framed. It really puts the final touch on them and then they can be displayed.
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I really should!
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I also love the temperature blanket. I’m so tempted to do one but my ‘list’ is so long I think I’d tip myself over the edge by adding more!
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Thank you ❤ I have already had to rip my 5 rows out and start all over. I really don't need another project added to my list and brain (because I always think about them and obsess about them) but I thought this would be a nice on-going project for the year and I can take it in the car. I am not a skilled crocheter, so I still have difficulties with tension and starting out and keeping my ends straight. Hopefully this time will go much better 😉
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Good luck! I’m sure you’ll make a fab job of it. 😊
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I love the way you framed JOY! It is perfect. The red background with the silver frame is gorgeous. Right choices, definitely. Sets off the green just perfectly.
Going good on all that Yellow as well. Wow, soon you will be done at this rate.
I love the blanket. It is going to be a fun crochet. 🙂
Enjoy the coming weekend.
🙂
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Thank you, Joey. I do think the red is the better choice now that I have seen it done. Green mats just would have been too much. I am quite happy with the piece and hubby likes it as well. So for now, it is sitting on the floor in my dining room. I have no idea where I will hang it. Something will come to me, I am sure. Ella and her “Yella” are going. Not as fast as I would like, but she is coming along. The blanket had to be ripped out yesterday and started over. Hopefully this time will go better. I will take it with me today when I take my Mom to the doctor’s and hopefully get some rows put back in. I will post again soon 🙂 Enjoy your weekend, also. I hope it is filled with lots of sunshine and crafting 🙂
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The framing of JOY is a compliment to your stitching! Such a beautiful job and they will look wonderful in your house, I am sure. The temperature blanket is also a great idea. If I didn’t have a blanket on the go and another in the queue, I would join you, though mine would still have lots of cold temperature colors.
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Thank you ❤ I still have to find a place to hang JOY, but for now I can see it propped up on the floor in the dining room every time I pass by. The temperature blanket is coming along on the second attempt. Somehow I have lost 4 stitches. Probably in those dang ends that give me so much trouble, but they don't seem to be leaning in yet 😉 My colors are pretty dark and dreary so far. Can't wait to get to February with some different colors 🙂 Enjoy your current blankets and maybe next year you can start a temperature blanket.
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Joy looks so pretty!!! The framing suits it perfectly. And the temperature blanket will be interesting. How long will you go on for? I am thinking about my next project, plotting a sweater, while I plug away on my socks. 😀
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Thank you, Salpal1 ❤ I am enjoying my JOY piece even though it is still sitting on the floor. My temperature blanket is coming along. I have 15 rows now and have somehow lost 4 stitches along the way. But I am not worried about it yet 😉 I was hoping to make it a year long blanket, but that might get way too big. I will continue with it until it is as long as my bed I suppose. I will just have to wait and see. Can't wait to see what you next project will be. I know it will be beautiful 🙂
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That sounds like a good plan for the blanket – if it is too big for the bed, what good is it?
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That framing is beautiful. Joy looks amazing.
I love the stitch you used on the temperature blanket. Mostly you see them with a plain stitch so it’s nice to see one a bit more fancy 🙂
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Thank you, Carole ❤ On my restart of the temperature blanket, I decided to go with a plain stitch – half double crochet. I thought it would make it easier to keep count of my stitches, but somewhere I have already lost 4 stitches. I'm not too worried yet. I know they are lost in the ends somewhere. I am not good at knowing how many to chain at the end nor where to put my hook in the beginning. But my ends don't seem to be leaning in just yet, so I will continue on 🙂
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If you’re losing stitches, it’s usually because you’re not working into the turning chain at the end of each row. The easiest way to make sure you don’t miss that, is to use a stitch marker in the turning chain when you do it, and when you come back down that row, you’ll know where to put that last stitch 🙂
The first stitch of the row will be the two chains that you do when you turn. You miss the stitch that the chains are sitting on and work the second stitch into the next one. You’ll soon get there, but don’t worry about the odd stitch missing/extra here or there. If you do a border row around when it’s finished, you won’t see them.
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Thank you so much, Carole. So I will put a marker in the first of the 2 chains that I do. Then when I come back and get to that point, I skip the marker and put my hook into the next stitch. I will try that and see if it helps. I am positive that is where I lost my stitches because I never know what to chain, which way to turn and where to put my hook next. I will give it a go when I pick it up next. Thanks ❤
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Perfectly matching frame for Joy – I think it looks beautiful!
It’s really sweet of the girl in your group to offer you some threads. Hope you get to work on the sampler soon. I kinda miss it! 😁
Ella is coming along nicely. Every stitch is progress! (As I keep reminding myself when I feel that things are slow. 😉)
Hope the temperature blanket turns out well this time around. Good luck, Ginny!
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Thank you, Anita ❤ I am so happy with JOY. I haven't found a place to hang her yet, but I do enjoy seeing it sitting on the floor, leaning on the wall in the dining room. I will find a place soon. So many other things calling to me lately. I am anxious to get back to the sampler as soon as threads arrive. Ella is coming along…one stitch at a time 🙂 And the temperature blanket is coming along. I have lost 4 stitches, but I am continuing on. I will post soon.
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Joy is so pretty.
The red mat really sets off the dresses.
Ella is looking great.
The Temperature afghan will be pretty with those colors.
I’m still plugging away at WIPS.
Some of the smallest pieces take a long time! 🙂
Marilyn
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Thank you, Marilyn ❤ I think I made the right choice with the red mat. It does draw my eye right to the little pixies. Ella is coming along and I can see an end to the bottom of the dress in the not too distant future. Good luck with your WIP's and enjoy every stitch 🙂
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‘JOY’ has turned out beautiful. The frame complements the linen beautifully and I agree about the mount. The temperature blanket looks like a good project. I have never heard of them before and I am looking forward to seeing its’ completion. You are so busy! 🙂
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Thank you, Mogsya ❤ I think I made a good choice with framing and mat. The temperature blanket will be a nice ongoing project throughout the year. I do feel so busy sometimes. And yet I still want to add projects to my list on ongoing busy-ness, LOL
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Goodness me, JOY is perfect in every respect. An inspired piece of framing – well done!
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Thank you, Christine. She turned out pretty nice. I am still admiring her on the floor of my dining room 😉 Can’t seem to put her away just yet.
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Joy is absolutely gorgeous!!
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Thank you, Laura. I can’t wait to hang it up for the holidays 🙂
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Hi Ginny I stumbled across your beautiful rendition of Nora Corbett’s fairies “JOY”. I would love to do it like this as well. Do you share your color changes with others? If so I would be most grateful to receive them.
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Thank you, Angela. I received the color conversion from a local cross stitch shop, The Rocking Horse. I am not sure if the conversion is still on their website, but if not, you can contact them.
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