TAST 2012 Weeks 42 and 43 - Italian Border Stitch / Buttonhole Wheel Cups

I missed last weeks stitch - too much going on (and I'm a bit late with this too) - so this week's offering has both the Italian Border Stitch and Buttonhole Wheel Cups.

It's a small sampler but I really like how colourful it is.  It also includes my first attempt at a Shisha.  I've used DFN and perle cotton threads.

It's always worth taking a look at the highlights. There are always some excellent and inspiring examples. Take a look at week 42, and this one from week 43 which was so sweet.

Look What I Made - Kid's Backpack

This is older boy's new backpack.  I made it.  It's been upcycled from a waterproof chair cover that hasn't seen the light of day for about 10 years! I'm doubly proud of it because I made it from scratch.  From deciding how I wanted it to look, to drafting the pattern and working out all the measurements to get it to fit together, to actually putting it together.  It wasn't all straightforward, but when I cut the last of the loose threads and turned the bag the right way out, I felt elated.  When older boy said he loved it I was thrilled. I suppose that must be what he feels like when he presents one of his much-loved creations to us for approval.  I like it so much I'm going to make a smaller version for baby boy to take to nursery.

TAST Week 41 - Knotted Loop Stitch

After a failed attempt at using the Knotted Loop Stitch for windmill sails, I thought that the stitch would be perfect for the leafy fronds of a palm tree.  I'm very pleased with how it turned out, especially the trunk.  I used Jannlyn DFN threads. They are quite chunky, which has given the piece a lovely textural quality.

Granny A Day - Week 40

My red, white and blue blanket is starting to take form. Thankfully I decided to have a go at joining a couple of squares, because I found out that I'll need to join the squares in as I go during the white round as well as the outer blue rounds to avoid some REALLY fiddly sewing up afterwards.  Just a sneaky peek so that I can do a big reveal later ;)

I also managed to add a couple of rows to the baby blanket enlargement project.  I need to pick up the pace a bit as the weather's turned cold recently.

TAST 40 - Beaded Hedebo Edge Stitch

This week's stitch is the Beaded Hedebo Edge stitch.  Go over to Pin Tangle for a description of how it's done.
In a flash of inspiration I thought that the stitch would look great worked in metallic thread as tinsel on a Christmas tree, so that is my offering.
The end result isn't as good as I envisaged.  As I didn't have beads I thought that buttons could work, but I think the ones I used are slightly too big for the tree; and I haven't got the hang of French Knots, which were also supposed to take the place of some of the beads.  The metallic thread was a little tricky to work with as it was difficult to keep all the strands together.  But having said that I think it's a fair effort and I might have another go at it. I think it would be cute on the front of a Christmas card.