Cy - And another block bites the dust

Work on the crazy quilt is ongoing.

Trying hard to catch-up and get the last couple of blocks completed during the first half of January, so that I can then stitch them together into my wall hanging before the end of January.

Progress has been made on the October block over the last two days.

Here is where I am at the moment - almost complete. 

Freestyle Rhodes Stitch

Dice - inspiration for this came from the silver dice that was in my Christmas cracker.

The Crochet piece for this block. With a row of Chain Stitch at the base.

An Invented Stitch - probably been invented before I created it, but it is not in any book of instructions that I know of. Starts as a 'sort of' ladder stitch but with a knot on each side that 'pulls the stitch into a 'blocky' looking zig-zag.

Cast-On Stitch in a variegated mercerized cotton.

Royal blue ribbon couched down with thinner black ribbon. (beads have been added since this photo).

The central butterfly needs finishing. Then on to the next block. 

I'm hoping to get one block a week done now until I catch up, so you should expect to see a block reveal for each of the next two weeks.

Got to give myself this goal so that I can bite away at it and finish along with the rest of you here.

Here are the (almost) complete block pics.

I might add a little more bling after I've done the next two blocks.

Wahoo! the end is in sight now.

Happy Stitching

Deborah - Gasping Toward the Finish Line

I think I'm nearly caught up. I have two of the last three blocks finished and am making progress on the third. These are three miscellaneous blocks that have as their only purpose the completion of the CQJP 2012 project. I will probably make them into small wall hangings or Alzheimer's quilts - the smaller one anyway.

First, here are my last two TAST stitches:

The Berry Stitch

Knotted Cable Chain 

And below, the last three blocks of the year

This one needs more work, My daughter has expressed an interest in my making this into a wall hanging for her.

One more day to go.

Cy - CQJP & TAST catch-up

CQJP

Would you believe I have just this week started my October block.

My trip to UK helped me to get a bit behind with this project, but I hope to play 'catch-up' over the next couple of weeks. 

Later today all my kids will be home for Christmas, staying here on the farm for as long as they are able to.

They pretty much fend for themselves and enjoy each other's company, and have a great laugh. I'm looking forward to it too.

We have declared that this Christmas will be a 'home-made' Christmas. No bought presents.

It will be so much fun to see what they have all created for each other.

I'm expecting a few surprises along the way from the 'not-so-creative' son. I'm sure we will all be laughing till our jaws ache by the end of Christmas day.

It will be an interesting Day.

So, on to the CQJP and TAST.

My naked block for October

TAST stitches follow:

The first is a variation of the Portuguese Border Stitch. 

I threaded a bead onto the 'ladder' part before stitching the wrapped bits up each side.

I'm not sure I got the side bits right for a Portuguese border, but hey, I'm in experimental mode.

 Next is the  Knotted Cable Stitch.

And then I added the Arrowhead Stitch in a combined lime green and blue metallic thread.

Next is the Berry Stitch, or I think I might call mine the 'Triple Berry', as my variation has 3 chains stacked together. I like this effect but wish I'd used a better contrast for the centre chain as it doesn't show up very much on the grey fabric.

And..... just in case you are missing my crochet, haha...... here is a piece I made yesterday as part of a 'home-made' Christmas present. The flowers aren't attached yet as I need to make some leaves and arrange them before I stitch them all in their final places on this vintage looking wrist-band.

I love the coffee & cream colour scheme. It needs blocking yet.

  Seasons Greetings   

to all my friends, followers, and co-stitchers here.

I wish you all a very 

  Happy Christmas  

Happy Stitching

Susan: Berry Stitch, et al

I did do a little TAST this week. Did the berry stitch for my heart. I had hoped to finish, but I didn't. I made a lot of progress though!

About the same more to go at the top and then it's on to the next border. I'll be working on this today, then making more borders on Monday and stitching on them next week. It's amazing how many hours I have without work interfering!

Carol - Berry Stitch

 

Berry Stitch



Embroidered on facing page for Asia and sewn as 2 separate detached chain stitches.

 

 

Playing catch-up!

Christmas baking, wrapping presents, entertaining and being entertained are all getting in the way.  Wishing my stitching friends a Happy Christmas and Healthy New Year.

Angela~ Berry Stitch Roman Headband

I was totally under-whelmed by the Berry Stitch.  It does have it's uses but I'm not impressed with it.  It was easy and quick though, a definite plus with Christmas upon us.

I managed to finish the page even though pressed for time as my parents are coming to visit and there is sooooo very much to do to get ready.  As my English friends say, the house is a tip!

The berry stitch was used for Julian's headband and the large circle at the front of it, 2 strands cotton floss except for the large circle which was 6 strands.

This image is from a coin struck during his reign.  If you like ironies you will enjoy knowing that Julian was the last emperor in the first Christian dynasty which began with Constantine.  Sadly, Julian was called 'the apostate' because he rejected Christianity.  Apparently he was a fairly good ruler and he was the last non-Christian ruler for the Roman Empire.   

Judy~Berry Stitch~ TAST

To me this stitch looks like an ultra thick detached chain.  As you can see, precious little stitching happened this past week, mostly because I was working on this guy and a few other elf projects.  This snowman is on a sweater for my grand daughter, and since I did a tiny bit of embroidery on it thought I'd share it. He was supposed to have french knot eyes and buttons, but I used tiny buttons instead.  One thing I've learned from all of you is to take the leap and experiment with a pattern.  Thanks!  Now back to the elf projects!

TAST: Wk 50: Berry Stitch

The TAST Stitch for the Week of December 10th is the Berry Stitch.

For more information & instructions, check here on Sharon B's blog.

 

 

Photo Courtesy of Pin Tangle