The hardest part hasn't been the stitching, although I've had my share of problems. I usually do with repetitious patterns. I stitch a different section than I'm on and end up having to tear it out and restitch it the right way. I usually use a highlighting marker for this (erasable of course), but decided to forego it. Maybe I shouldn't have.
The hardest part has been finding out when my uncle and aunt's anniversary is. Their side of the family didn't know and neither did my aunt's sister. I thought I knew but it was wrong. My cousin found out the answer by having someone ask at her daughter's housewarming, which was last night. At least that is what I think they were all doing over at the new house Kaley just bought. It makes sense, but few things do make sense. Anyway, I finally have the date. My uncle was wrong, thinking it was before his birthday; it is after his birthday by the same amount of time -- 6 days. When I called to ask my uncle, which was my last resort, he didn't know for sure. He told me he didn't even know my aunt's birthday until they had been married a year (and had a child).
Anyway, here are the pictures I've taken since I began this project on Wednesday last. I put everything else aside to work on it and have spent some time working on it this weekend. I'm still trying to decide whether or not I want to do the outer border or leave it and use a decorative mat. Time will tell.
This is the motif that gave me so much problems. It's a lovely Celtic knot but the design is everywhere. I did the central section in about an hour or so.
I chose this design from My Big Toe Cross-Stitch Designs and used Gentle Art Sampler threads (Mountain Mist & Raven). I could have used DMC, but I like the variable color in the threads recommended for this piece. It was stitched on 32-count cream Belfast linen.
The central section. Yes, those are my fingers hold the fabric as straight as possible.
Two of the 4 sides done. Looking good, but you cannot imagine how much effort it took to get there. I had to rip out whole sections because I wasn't looking at the right section of the repeating design.
And now there is a date. Names, too.
When in doubt, rip it out and start over. Next time I'll use the highlighter. It's easier keeping track that way. Now I finish a section of the central and outer design, one at a time. It's slow, but so is getting off track, ripping it out, and stitching it all over again the right way.
I may have to put together some wedding and anniversary designs and leave out the names and date just so I won't have to rush when it comes time to send the gift.
Happy stitching.
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