My Year of Cross Stitch

After cross stitching off and on for 12 years, I've decided to finish at least one per month for 2017.

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And a close-up of the blackwork on Barb's present.

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Finally finished Barb's birthday present. Yes, I know there's something trapped behind the glass, but this one was a real bitch to frame. Still, came out good for my first pattern design and my first swing at blackwork.

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First finish for April is the New Irish Blessing designed by Badass Cross Stitch (http://badasscrossstitch.tumblr.com/) It looks a little wonky in the photo because I had to contort myself to get out of the reflection. LOVED working on oatmeal-colored Aida. SO much easier on the eyes.

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Finished the second of two relatively matched projects for two of our friends. Came up with a possibly new technique that kept me from going crazy with the single stitches in the rainbow section - I'll make a how-to later.

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Got the idea (stole and slightly modified) from a post in the WTFYW Cross Stitch Facebook group and had to get it out of my head. I'm conflicted about this one since technically, I'm finished.

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Finally got Barb's Valentine's Day present finished. I made a pattern for one that I was going to make for her and realized a little too late that I'd run out of time, so I picked up this pattern from Lizzie Atwell of InStitchesBristol on Etsy.

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Getting ready to start in on some Big Damn Heroes. Phoebe is unimpressed.

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Here’s the second for the year. Perspective’s a little weird to get me out of the reflection. I got the pattern here: http://www.ivebeencreating.com/cross-stitch-for-a-geek/

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Here's the first finished this year and my official January finish. I've had all of it done except the framing and the initials for a few days, but I was almost finished with my side project, so I waited to wash, iron and mount both at the same time. Not my pattern - copied from a photo on Pinterest.

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Quote by Carrie. Stitches by me.

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I might have to put this one in the queue...

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Now that I've got all of my floss reorganized and bindered, I feel like Mitt Romney.

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I figured the best way to kick off where I’m going is to first show where I’ve been. While I feel like I’ve done a ton of work over the years, it turns out my current pile isn’t that big. All the more reason to kick of My Year of Cross Stitch.

Click on each photo to see a short-ish description of when and why they were made.