Happy Dance - Snowman Sweater

 

Started: 1/12/2025

Finished: 1/20/2025

Total Time: 7 hours and 5 minutes

This is another part of an Emma Congdon design of nine ugly sweaters and can be found in  Cross Stitcher Magazine #377.

It's stitched as charted with the called for DMC floss on white 14-count plastic canvas. I did change the carrot from 783 to 721 since carrots should be orange and not gold.

It's now an ornament that will be given to the local Ronald McDonald House this coming Christmas.

Next up: Little Miss Cross Stitch

Happy Dance - Trees Sweater

Started: 11/15/2024

Finished: 1/12/2025

Total Time:5 hours and 2 minutes

This is part of an Emma Congdon design of nine ugly sweaters and can be found in  Cross Stitcher Magazine #377.

It's stitched as charted with the called for DMC floss on white 14-count plastic canvas.

It's now an ornament that will be given to the local Ronald McDonald House this coming Christmas.

Next up: Snowman Sweater

Happy Dance - Loaded Truck

 

Started: 2/28/2023

Finished: 3/12/2023

Total Stitching Time: 11 hours and 34  minutes

This was designed by Cheryl McKinnon (Tiny Modernist) and can be found in Cross Stitcher Magazine #391. 

It's stitched as charted on 14-count beige Aida with the called for DMC. 

It's supposed to hold a set of utensils, but I'm going to make it into an ornament for Ronald McDonald House.

Next up: Blow Bubbles

Happy Dance - Jolly Jumper

 I know I haven't been around much this past year, but 2022 was rough with health issues, extended travel (this part was good) and a death in the family.  Also, I've been having trouble accessing blogspot.com so haven't been able to read blogs much.  Has anyone else had this problem?

However, it's now 2023 and I've decided it's time to get back to blogging, in hopes that it will be a better year.  So, here's my first happy dance of the year.

Started: 12/25/2022

Finished: 1/4/2023

Total Stitching Time: 9 hours and 38 minutes

Jolly Jumper was the free cover kit with Cross Stitcher Magazine #323 and was designed by Susan Penny.

It's mostly stitched as charted with the provided floss on 14-count vinyl Aida, which was also provided, but I did make several changes.  1) I didn't stitch the squares separating the arms from the body of the sweater.  2) I also didn't stitch the white backstitching separating the penguin's arms from his body. 3) I misplaced the beads included in the kit, so I left them off.  (I found them this morning when I stepped on them with bare feet.)

The kit came with felt backing and a pin back.  I plan on using the backing, but will add a hanger of white beads to make an ornament.  This is the first ornament to go into the box for Ronald McDonald's House next Christmas.

Next up: Lights Kitten

Happy Dance - Mrs. Christmas

Started: 12/27/2018

Finished: 1/5/2019

This is the free cover kit from Cross Stitcher #338 and was designed by Susan Penny.  It's stitched as charted with the materials in the kit.  There are finishing instructions as well as the chart for Santa himself included.

I do plan to finish finish this later this month and will also be stitching Santa at some point.  Hopefully, they'll both hang on my tree next Christmas.

More October Finishes

Started: 10/9/2017

Finished: 10/11/2017

This was in a Enjoy Cross Stitch at Christmas magazine.  It was stitched and finished using the free materials included.  The only change I made was to substitute green floss for the yellow floss called for by the chart as it didn't seem very Christmas-y.  Kyleigh has taken a liking to this ornament so it will probably be one of her Christmas gifts this year.

Started: 10/12/2017

Finished: 10/13/2017

This was part of the Challenge Lucie section of Cross Stitch Crazy #225.  It's stitched as called for with DMC on 14-count white Aida.  I've since found the same girl on a seahorse which I'd also like to stitch.

This is for Kyleigh's quilt because she likes mermaids and dolphins.

Started: 10/14/17

Finished: 10/17/2017

Started: 10/17/2017

Finished: 10/20/2017

These two hearts were the free cover kit from an older Cross Stitch Crazy magazine. They're stitched as charted (and finished) with the materials in the kit.  I did have to use some DMC from my stash as I ran out of two of the colors.  Fortunately, they matched exactly.  I also had to use my own 14-count Aida for the second heart since the pre-cut heart included in the kit was too small.

I made them into Christmas ornaments, but they probably won't be going on my tree.  I took these and several other pieces to a boutique at our church.  These didn't sell, but three others did.

Started: 10/20/2017

Finished: 10/28/2017

This Kokeshi Doll card was the free cover kit for the March 2013 Cross Stitcher magazine.  It's stitched as charted and also finished with the materials in the kit.

This one also went to the Christmas boutique, but didn't sell.

Catch up Post - Miscellaneous Happy Dances

Ladybug Cow

Started: 4/22/2017

Finished: 4/24/2017

The pattern for this came from Silly Cows and was stitched for WOCS (World of Charity Stitching).  It's a fun theme that we've done several times through the years.

February Fairy

Started: 3/2/2017

Finished: 4/21/2017

March Fairy

Started: 4/25/2017

Finished: 5/16/2017

Both of these were stitched from the free Calendar from the December 2016 Cross Stitcher magazine.  The designer is Lily of the Valley and I plan to do all of them at some point.  Both are stitched on 25-count Lugana with the called for DMC.

Cardinal Hangup

Started: 5/22/2017

Finished: 6/4/2017

This is from Diane Arthurs (Imaginating).  It's stitched on 25-count white Lugana and will eventually be made into a banner.  I'm keeping this one!

Happy Dance - Snowman in Jar

Started: 2/15/2016

Finished: 2/17/2016

Cross Stitcher Magazine #297

 

 This was stitched on Dwarf 18-count Aida from Picture This Plus with one strand using the called for DMC.  

 

The original design by Durene Jones is below:

Instead of stitching the background, I stitched it on Dwarf 18-count Aida from Picture This Plus with one strand of the called for DMC for the rest. I also eliminated the jar and just stitched the design.

This is my February ornament for the 2016 Christmas Ornie SAL.  The theme this month is Snow.

Happy Dance - Cupcake and WIWO - 9/21/2015

Started: 9/16/2015

Finished: 9/21/2015

Cross Stitcher #295 Cover Kit

Designed by Maria Diaz

I stitched this with the included materials.  The fabric is either evenweave or linen which was a bit of a challenge.  This is going into my Save for Unknown Purpose drawer until needed.

WIWO - 9/21/2015

I don't have a WIWO post this week, because I didn't stitch on the Ballerina Bear at all this week.  Unfortunately, I've misplaced the booklet (Cherished Teddies Sports and Occupations, Vol.1) and I'm very afraid that it may have ended up in the trash.  You see, I've been going through all of my old UK magazines and saving the items I might stitch someday and I'm afraid it might have gotten mixed up with the discards.  I still have my working copy of the chart; I just need to figure out what the symbols mean.