Check your copies!

This is my latest WIP.   It is called Santa Sampler by Needle’s Notion.  

Since I had to wait for the five skeins of Cranberry to be shipped, I started with the white and worked my way from the placard of the sweater up.   The Cranberry arrived and I went to work on the hat which I decided to stitch in long-armed cross.   As I worked from my copy of the pattern, I became increasing aggravated.   It was the lack of symmetry of the pattern that was troubling.   All the while I was really proud of how meticulously I was stitching....even the back was looking good.

But I continued to be vexed by 21 stitches on one side of the face and 17 on the other.    Looking at the photo of the finished piece it was hard to see since the piece is finished as a stuffed stand up.    I expressed my frustration at stitching the other night and Pat (Thank you, I mean it sincerely!) found the problem.   Seems when I was doing that government job of making a copy of the pattern at work, the edge of the pattern did not copy.    Four columns of stitches were not shown on my copy.

Because I stitched each row as long armed cross and ended the thread on each row......I had no choice but to frog 5 to 6 stitches on each row.   It was a bit like weeding in my flower bed.

Below, on the right side is the TRUE edge of the side of Santa's face.

As of this morning, I have managed to weave in all the ends and re-stitch the hat and been able to continue with the white.   So very glad I have been able to salvage my screw up and so very glad this Santa now has a balanced face.

Thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching......

Peat and RePeat it what I say

I have heard people say they really enjoyed a certain aspect of a project or a project itself.   That is how I feel about the trees here.   They have been fun to stitch and since I am so into the instant gratification I love how fast they work up.  They also make me think of southern plantations I guess because they remind me of the cypress trees I saw in Charleston SC and all the moss.

Now I don't know if I am in love with them so much that I will enjoy frogging and restitching them.    Seems I have 3 - not one, not two, but 3 - "T"'s as a pattern symbol.   Since the color photo is only a copier photo and not a professional photo it was hard to tell.    With all the possible letters in the alphabet and possible symbol choices..... I ask why use "T" for three different fibers?!?!?   Words of wisdom: I take away from this the need to re-read the instructions and my notes when picking up a project from a class taken months ago.  The last photo on the right is the correct T that I will re-stitch the trees with.   Now I am beginning to understand why so many of the gals who have already stitched this have complained about running out of floss......