Wipocalypse - post #5 and exciting new projects ...

Hello all,

Thank you for your good luck wishes and support. I have now completed 3 exams, and only have another 3 to go. I do feel a lot lighter, and with the sunshine outside as if summer is coming (a very rare occurrence in the North East). So for this update I have 2 new starts/projects, and this months progress report. Also, now that I am approaching 100 followers I can let you know that I will have my 1st ever blog giveaway once I hit the said number (and obviously after my exams were this event to happen before 3rd of June).

Exciting New Projects: 

I recently got the following kit 'Field of poppies' by Yiota's XStitch :

chart and pre-wound threads

Isn't it beautiful? It is based on one of the Van Gogh's paintings. It is my new addition to this year's Wipocalypse list (I'll be changing the list slightly ... after exams). You have probably saw the amazing pre-wound threads phenomenon across several bogs. I love it! I have several Anchor kits that have the threads on a card ... and the numbers are not aligned properly. I might have mentioned some maia kits of peonies/poppies I bought on sale in my local craft store which is generally limited and overpriced (those will be future living room cushions) around January. I have wanted to start them for some time ... but that would mean winding all the threads onto bobbins first. The 'Kiongozi - Dance Leader' had the same annoying unaligned threads issue that drove me insane. What is even worse is when the threads are all tied together and you have to guess which colour is which. I am not very good at that task.

I have almost finished 'Kiongozi - Dance Leader' and thought I'd use that mini box for storing bobbings. They did not fit. I hate that box! The only bobbins that ever fit there are the ones that came with it, I have forgotten this little detail - silly me the current bobbins there are all placed at an angle. But I do have 2 bigger boxes for storing threads on bobbins (3 times bigger), one that has all leftovers from kits/projects once they're done, and the second I got for the HAED I am currently working on and wound/prepared less than a fifth of those (the rest are still in wallets or loose in my draw). Shame to leave a box half empty, so this is where my new project threads went:

and now they are all in a box

You can see them all sideways fitting perfectly. I have a feeling the card they are on is a lot better quality than what I normally wind threads onto.

closeup- all wound up and numbered!

They would have been such a perfect fit into my smaller box, all separate if only the box was a little deeper. I have no idea why that company produces perfectly good big ones, and annoying little ones.

The chart in my new kit is printed on good quality thick paper. And the symbols/squares are rather large (will be great for stitching in the evenings while watching films). Four A3 pages in total.

part of chart

 And finally the fabric (slightly cut unevenly but a minor detail):

evenweave

There is an option to get either 14, 16, or 28. I requested evenweave (count 28). After all thats what cool kids stitch on ... and I am a sheep that likes to follow (well sometimes).

about to grid

I was about to grid when I realised that I have never stitched on evenweave before (you'd think I'd realise that sooner) and what if I don't like it? or I won't be any good and ruin it? So I set it aside for another smaller project (also addition to Wipocalypse list to follow), to see how I'll do with evenweave. It came just before my 2nd exam (very quick delivery) in a sturdy envelope ... that even my favourite postman with his inability to read 'please do not bend' was unable to ruin. 

Yiota's XStitch is UK based, but ship internationally and also do downloadable charts (they have several free ones on the website that one can try - I have the one of the cat). Their website is http://www.yiotas-xstitch.com and you can find the easy count guideline I use from http://www.rseasycount.com/

And now the other new project I mentioned (it is in fact not new per se as I have signed up to do this awhile back). It is for this year's Margaret Sherry's SAL I am going to take part in, for more info click:

Margaret Sherry Lovers - Group Blog

It is the SAL #4 Puppy Love.

And my progress on one of them is:

Fabric is evenweave dyed with fennel by my lovely mum (featured in previous post). This is my first attempt at using evenweave, and I am yet uncertain. It is definitely better for half stitches (if one is stitching over 2 threads); and with projects like these, one would be able to see the background and eveneweave is a lot more appealing than having massive squares. Downside: it is taking me longer to stitch on it as I am not yet accustomed to it. I am increasing speed gradually; I bet it is a pain to grid.

That was the 2 new projects/additions, and now onto the current wips' progress ...

Wipocalypse - post #5:

'Kiongozi - Dance Leader:

April 2013

May 2013

It is all stitched up, and ready for backstitching (oh how I hate the backstitching).

QS Literate Dragon:

February 2013

I can't believe how fast time flies, and that this was untouched for so long.

May 2013

closeup of the worked bit

Till soon,

Again a finish, some progress, and lots of gridding

Wipocalypse - August 2012 update - part 2

For this update I was hoping to have 2 finishes, but will have to settle with one.

The final card to the 'Country Trio' is complete:

It only took 2 evenings to do in the end. The problem with this design was that the chart was in the magazine my sister decided to borrow awhile back, and she happens to live on the other side of the country! Eventually she has agreed to scan and e-mail me the chart. [Of course I have now deleted the copy on my computer in view of copyright and all.]

Continuing on the update: this month held little progress on the HAED:

August 2012 - part 1

August 2012 - part 2

then the recent start had a few extra colours stitched:

August 2012 - part 1

August 2012 - part 2

The HAED was a little big and uncomfortable to stitch during the film sessions in the evenings, so I picked something smaller. Or rather had my mum pick. I decided to stitch either 'Venice' or 'Dance Leader' after completing the small card; she chose the second.

Speaking about mum ... I have mentioned last time that she was going away for 3 weeks, so during them I have concentrated on something for her. Since her return I have been working on the 'Handpicked by Fizzy' during my lunch hour at work (which slowed the progress down). I was hoping to complete this project for this update, but still need to do almost all of the backstitching. I might take this project to work on the train to London this weekend.

August 2012 - part 1

August 2012 - part 2

My mum is also in need of some leftover threads for her sketchbook on colour for the latest module of her course. So I have moved on to another project I have begun awhile back:

March 2012

It is a Dimensions kit, which means I won't be able to use the leftover thread for any other projects pretty much. So I just need to complete it now.

August 2012 - part 2

Although it does not look like much extra was stitched (which is true - only 2 hours went into stitching), I have spent quite a few nights gridding ... hope it will help make the stitching go smoother and faster.

Till soon,

            

Finished finally

This project has taken me longer than I have expected to finish ...

'Watembea Nyumbani (Walking Home)' original art work by the Kenyan artist Gakonga. It has been done on 18bpi cream Aida fabric, much more strenuous for the eyes in comparison to the 14count I normally do.

An Anchor kit I bought on sale ... it is also something different to what I'd choose. I am already working on the next one, but again I have picked a rather big project, so might have to update the progress.

It is also slightly askew ... hopefully this will change with ironing. 

Till next time,

Lija