My grandparents are pretty awesome. One of the awesome things they achieved together recently is 50 years of marriage. As a present, I decided to make them a cross-stitch sampler, using a design from the Historical Sampler Company. I really like their designs, which have a vintage look and use muted but beautiful colours.
Here is the finished sampler:
Unfortunately I always seem to underestimate how long cross-stitch takes, so I was still furiously sewing when I went to visit, and only just managed to finish before I had to leave! (I like to tell myself that next time I’ll know better.) This is partly because I didn’t like the original border design, so I made up my own – this took a long time to plan and execute, especially as I was using a few different colours for the flower buds, etc. I might have done this a bit differently if I’d known how long it’d take, but now it’s done, and I quite like the look of it. It was my first time using linen rather than aida, which is another reason it took longer. I really like linen, although it’s harder to keep the design straight, and it crumples easily (one of these days I should get a bigger sewing frame).
I was planning to get it framed but ran out of time – which is just as well, because my grandparents would prefer to turn it into a decorative table runner.
Next – I will continue to knit my First Jumper Ever (I hope to finish before the end of winter, or spring at the latest), and start on the gorgeous kitty cross-stitch I got given for my birthday last year. I also need to make a simple fabric pouch with an elastic closure for my newest toy, my lovely Kindle. Usually I make presents rather than things for myself, so this is exciting…but may not last.
