What Project to Do Next?

[seniorcats]

It's time to start stitching a BAP (big a**ed project) except I can't decide which one to start. What do you think?

#1 Forrest Friends from Heaven and Earth

#2 The Snow Man from Heaven and Earth

$3 White Peacock from Kustom Krafts

#4 Cirque de Cercles from Ink Circles. Other color versions can be seen here http://inkcircles.com/html/Cercles%20Gallery.html

Help me decide.

 

[swanlake]

i like the first and the third one

 

[JadeIcing]

First one there is a bunny! Than send to me! :biggrin2:

 

[TinysMom]

seniorcats wrote:

WOW - my favorite. I love stuff like this. (Feel free to send it my way when its done).

 

[SOOOSKA]

I love the first and second ones.

When you say stitch do you mean needlepoint?

Susan

 

[seniorcats]

Hey Peg, I might. I have some friends who have stitched it in several color schemes. Check out her web site www.inkcircles.com

I also have Circus of Triangles and Hanky Pysansky in my stash. Decisions, decisions.

 

[Leaf]

seniorcats wrote:

This one is stunning.

 

[NorthernAutumn]

Make with da Bunnies!
I cast my vote for option #1...

 

[Dublinperky]

I like the peacok one! It is so beautiful. I wish I could do something like that. I am trying to get my mom to teach me who to cross stich so maybe someday I can make stuff like that.



Aly!

 

[undergunfire]

TinysMom wrote:

seniorcats wrote:

WOW - my favorite. I love stuff like this. (Feel free to send it my way when its done).

DITTO!

I actually have a bronze decorative plate that looks like this....with elephants and roman people entwined in it.

 

[seniorcats]

Peg and Amy, I decided to do the Ink Circles next. I've heard it goes quickly. Thanks all for helping me make a decision.

I ordered the Forrest Friends pattern to put in my to do pile and also ordered this one - there's a rabbit in it.

Susan, these are all counted cross stitch.

 

[polly]

You sure like to go for the intricate ones huh!! they are beautiful. the one you chose looks like it doesn't have a lot of back stitching more like its a lot of full stitches very lovely. makes me think I need to get mine back out again!!

make sure you post pics when its finished

 

[seniorcats]

I don't think the Heaven and Earth designs have any back stitching. The InkCircles chart doesn't. Definitely get your stitching out! Here's a site with loads of freebies.

http://xs.houseofkats.com/free-favorite.html

 

[SOOOSKA]

Gosh I use to do cross stich many moons ago. How long will it take you to complete a picture?

I really should get back into doing these types of things.

Susan

 

[seniorcats]

A big picture will take a year. I haven't done that many really big ones. One lady stitched the Sistine Chapel ceiling and it took 10 years! That's dedicated stitching.

http://www.lulu.com/jmwroberts

This is one of my favorite places to buy charts. They are large print and easy to read. I love the Days Gone By designs. Slicker Parade is on my long 'to do' list.

http://www.xs-and-ohs.com/

 

[TinysMom]

You're doing the ink circles as counted cross stitch?????

OMG.....I love counted cross stitch but could never do anything that intricate. I bet it will be so nice when it is done.

You *almost* make me want to start cross stitching again - to make one of those. I don't know why I like stuff like that so much....

But I think it would be the final straw that would drive me over a cliff....I gave up cross stitching because my eyes just couldn't handle the small squares, etc.

How big will that pattern be when finished?

 

[seniorcats]

You need to start stitching again! It's great for stress relief. I am using a variegated floss to get the special effect so it won't be that difficult. There won't be any thread changes. A lot of people have used varigated or hand dyed and you just cross each stich as you do it. I've seen so many different versions including the gallery here http://inkcircles.com/html/Cercles%20Gallery.html

One stitcher chose to teh circles in one color and the rest of the stitching in a diffeent scheme. Or you could use crayons on the chart and find the right colors for you. I am doing the classic version of varigated gold on black. Then, I will do the triangles design using over dyed varigated floss plus 2 other colors - all autumn colors. I think.

I have a hard time seeing the smaller fabric holes too. 10 years ago DH bought me a Dazor as a Christmas present. It's a circular lighted magnifier and makes all the difference. There are all kinds of magnifiers available now and some are very reasonable.

Size on the design. If done on 16 count fabric or 32 count over 2 threads will be 15 1/2 by 12. The smaller the fabric count, the smaller the design. 247 stitches by 185 stitches. Just divide the stitches by the fabric count 247/14 or 16, etc

There is so much new stuff on the market it's amazing - hand dyed floss like Carrie's http://www.carriesthreads.com/and hand dyed/painted fabric http://www.crossedwing.com/fabrics/index.html

Some stitchers are duplicating the really expensive stuff with inexpensive fabric paint and Ritt dye. I'm going to be giving it a try. It adds a whole new dimension to stitching. I am just in awe at all the new stuff out there.

 

[TinysMom]

You have no idea how much you are tempting me to get started again. I will need to think about it. I went and looked at that website again (Ink Circles)- man - I want to do like 90% of them.

The thing is...I have given up stitching twice. When the twins were two years old - I gave it up because I would get SO engrossed in stitching - that I wasn't spending time with them and Art would come home and I wouldn't have done any housework or made supper because I was so wrapped up in a project. He never complained (bless his heart) - but after about a couple of weeks of this - and realizing I couldn't control it - that it was like an addiction to me - I stopped. I decided that my kids would only be young for a few years and I wanted to enjoy them....I could stitch later.

Then I started again a few years ago - but my eyes had changed. It was really hard to get back into it. I can do crewel and like it - and I like needlepoint too - but counted cross stitch is just so darn hard on me. I like embroidery too - but not as much as crewel (which goes so much faster 'cause you're using yarn and not floss).

I will think about it - about if I can control this obsessive thing that takes over whenever I start something new - whether it be needlepoint or scrapbooking or whatever...

But I really do like that design and that isn't a bad size at all. I'm wondering if I could find a pattern that is smaller to ease back into things...but making the decision to pick one out - that's hard.

I also don't have craft stores nearby so I'm limited to what Walmart has - or ordering off the internet....

 

[seniorcats]

Hee hee, I am an enabler. Let me know and I will send you some stash to get you started again. My problem is,loving all needlework and having to make a choice of what to do.

 

[TinysMom]

These are the three designs that I like the best. I just can't decide which one I like...and of course I may go with a smaller image anyway.

When I did cross stitch years ago - I did a lot of the various logos for foods, etc - like the salt shaker logo on navy fabric and Maxwell House, etc. I wish I could find those again - I may have tossed them at some point along the way....I don't know. We've had so many moves...

I really am considering this - it would get me off the computer for one thing. I just need to really consider if I can handle a project like this again.

I'm thinking about picking up a cross-stich kit (small) at Walmart next payday and trying it and seeing if I still enjoy it. Or searching through all the boxes in the garage to see if I can find my old kits. (I don't know if you ever heard of "Creative Circle" - they did home parties like Tupperware, etc - I sold for them twice - and loved it).

I think though - I might like crewel better - I know when I picked some up to do about four years ago - I LOVED it..but then we moved and I could never find where I put the kit...