Bella Filipina Designs · cross stitch · Cross Stitch Patterns · Fabric · Hand Dyed Fabrics · Mermaids · Mirabilia

Cross Stitching Chaos


Hello my blogging friends. It is now past mid-June and creating a blog post has been longer than I had planned. So many things get in the way and yet I can’t remember most of them. I had a big cross stitch post planned, but plans change and I have decided to go in a different direction.

So, what have I been stitching? Well, my cross stitch projects have seemed to have expanded in the last few months. I was stitching on 2 Mirabilia’s and the Fox & Rabbit Mystery Sampler. But after the events that unfolded on Social Media over the weekend, I couldn’t even stitch on Saturday night…at all…on anything! That almost never happens with me. And on Sunday night I started yet another cross stitch project. So much for trying to get through my WIP’s. Anyway, a lot of my recent nights have been spent stitching on Rosamund by Mirabilia. I fell in love with her the moment I saw her and immediately started stitching on her as soon as I received her and the fabric.

Rosamund by Mirabilia

I am stitching her on 16ct Aida Salem from Fiberlicious Yummy Fibers. I worked with the dyer to get the fabric painted so that I wouldn’t lose the edges into a frame. There are only 2″ on the sides for framing, and I am wondering if any of the black will show. But for now I stitch on.

Sweet Rosamund

I rarely ever do a face first when I am cross stitching. I usually work from the middle down and then the middle up. I feel that if I do her face first, I may get bored and my progress to get her done will really slow down. But since this is a vertical design, my needle automatically went to the right and wow! She is beautiful and I do love stitching on her.

Beautiful Rosamund

And this is where I left off before the weekend.

Sweet Rosamund

I am really enjoying stitching on this Mirabilia. But after the Mirabilia designer posted on social media that she thought the Bella Filipina Designer was copying her designs, I couldn’t stitch on her Saturday night. There were so many negative comments going around and I just felt awful about the whole thing. I thought it was very distasteful what the Mirabilia designer posted. I love both designers. I think they each have their own style, that is different from each other. I am sure I will get back to Rosamund and Blossom, but last night I decided to do this:

Esmeralda

This was a recent limited design by Bella Filipina Designs for the Casa Cenina shop in Italy. I am so lucky to have gotten her and very quickly I might add. I am not using the 32ct fabric that was included in the kit. I am going to stitch her on 16ct Aida Oberon from Fabrics by Stephanie. I thought it would be perfect for Esmeralda. After all the time it took me to find the perfect fabric and a scroll frame that wouldn’t drive me crazy, I don’t have much stitching to show. I will next time.

So what are you stitching on?

Knitted Shawl · Knitting · yarn

Some Knitting Finishes


Hello Blogging Friends and Happy June! So sorry I have been absent for a couple of months. I have been doing a lot of stitching, but also a lot of thinking, reflecting and soul searching. I have come to the conclusion that you just can’t please some people, no matter what. I have accepted it and am now moving on.

So let’s talk about what I have finished. First up is the Liva Cardigan.

Liva Cardigan finished

I am pretty happy with the way this cardigan turned out. This photo is before blocking. The sleeves are a tiny bit short, but since they are knitted in garter stitch, I think I can stretch them a bit when blocking.

Beautiful Mitered squares

I do love how the back of this cardigan looks. The Mitered squares look so awesome. This was a new technique for me and I enjoyed knitting the squares. This sweater has been on the blocking boards since yesterday, so I am assuming it will be a few days before it dries.

The blocking

Hopefully I have stretched the sleeves enough and not too much. I can’t wait to wear this in the fall or on a cool night to the lake. The Liva pattern I used was in a book put out by Berroco and the yarn is Topaz by Berroco. The pattern is also available on Ravelry.

Next up is the Fairy Correspondence Shawl. This one turned out so pretty and I loved all the different stitches. So fun.

Fun stitches
Fairy Correspondence

This one turned out beautifully! The designer, SoftYarn Designs, never disappoints with her mystery knit a long’s. I used 3different yarns for this shawl. The 2 purple yarns are From Jilly & Kiddles in colors Tour de France and Bonjour. The pink is Ishtar from AJHC Wools.

Fairy Correspondence Shawl

The drape on this shawl is just gorgeous and I am so pleased with it.

Next up is a Baby Blanket for a special little someone arriving this summer.

Sweet baby blanket start

I have been wanting to use this yarn for quite some time. The very large skein is actually 4 different yarns tied together and they are so soft. The pattern is Making Waves Baby Blanket and was on the inside of one of the ball bands. I believe that it is also available on Bernat’s website.

Making Waves Baby Blanket

The pattern was easy to remember, so it made for easy knitting. Except that 3 of the 4 yarns are quite bulky and using a size 11 needle did cause my hands to cramp at times. But I pushed through, and knitted in short chunks at a time.

Beautiful waves
Making Waves Baby Blanket

This blanket is so soft and warm and cuddly. And it really is a quick knit.

Sweet, soft and cuddly

I am going to miss knitting on this beautiful blanket. It did keep me warm while knitting and it is so soft. It will keep a sweet little baby warm and snuggled in. The pattern called for 3 of the very large skeins, but I only used a small amount from the 3rd skein. So I will have to find something to use up the rest of the yarn.

So that is what I have finished stitching. In the month of May I also created or finished 32 scrapbook pages. Woo Hoo! Next time I will share what I have been cross stitching.

So that is what I have been up to the last couple of months. What have you been up to?