Counting on Needlework

Here are some of the items I worked on over Memorial weekend.  I have to be in the mood to do finishing work and was happy to get these two items done. The first is a thimble purse to be worn as a necklace.  The design is by With Thy Needle and Thread .  The pattern came with the purse frame.  I used a scrap of 40 count linen and overdyed threads I had on hand.  It is stitched with one strand of floss over two threads of linen.  It is lined with a coordinating cotton print fabric.  The pattern suggests using waxed hemp cord for the necklace, but I thought a chain would be more comfortable.  As you can see, the purse from the closure to the bottom measures about three inches.  I like the tree and the scattered alphabet.  And, yes, I put a thimble inside. The other finished project is a small sewing set by Little House Needleworks from the pattern called Fresh from the Garden.  The quilted sewing case and pincushion are pres...

I don't know how you are, but I always imagine I will have more time than I actually do to devote to my projects.  I just know I will stitch faster than I have before, knit faster than I have before, or read faster than I have before.  I plan too many things to do and then fall woefully short in the end.  For one reason or another I have not been working on this every night.  With the three-day Memorial weekend upon me, though, I plan to make more progress. I have a bag of stitched projects that need the finishing work done on them and so I might do a little of that, too.  Also, there's sourdough that needs baking and green chile chicken enchiladas to make up (I always do extra for the freezer).  And, we're going to a movie - Solo: A Star Wars Story.  I'll probably have to do a little laundry and cleaning, too.......

Since 2001 my sister-in-law Annie and I have been attending The Silver Needle's Camp Wannasew .  When we started going, we went in the Autumn.  The last seven or so years we've been going in the Spring.  We've made some lasting friendships through the years and it seems that every year there is someone new to welcome to Camp. This year (as we do every year) after flying in to Tulsa and getting our rental car we made a stop at the shop to take a look around and get our bearings.  There is so much to see in the shop - so many new models - it takes more than one visit.  We always go back on Friday for a second look. While at the shop on Thursday, a fellow camper arrived by taxi from the airport.  She had been assured by Lindy that she would be able to catch a ride with someone at the shop.  Thus began our new friendship with "EdieToo". Let me explain how I envision her name:  Well, her name is Edie L., but we already had Edie S. at our table in...

I've been thinking about creating a blog for a while now.  Blogger says I've been here since 2012.  I never posted anything with that one - it didn't even have a name.  So, last year I deleted it.  After coming up with what I think is a good name for my blog, I am beginning again. "Counting on Needlework" has more than one meaning for me.  Foremost, it pertains to my primary hobby of counted thread embroidery.  Often, when you tell the common person that you do counted thread embroidery, they look a little puzzled.  This area of embroidery includes counted cross stitch, blackwork, Assisi, pulled thread, drawn thread and maybe others.   My secondary fiber hobby is knitting and any knitter knows there is a fair amount of counting and math to this hobby.   Another aspect of the title is the pleasure I derive from my hobbies.  I really do count on them:  for stress relief from my day job as a legal assistant, for that se...