Zombie Stockings

Well, I'm getting down to the wire, but it looks like I'll make it -- as long as I send the stockings next day instead or Priority Mail, which isn't much of a priority and takes a week instead of 1-2 days even when sending it two states away. Go figure.

I finished my granddaughters' stockings and they have been delivered and are ready to hang Xmas Eve, so now all I need to do is finish a friends' boys' stockings and get them out by Monday -- Next Day of course. Don't forget to click on the photos to make them bigger.

Those glowy greenish ornaments actually do glow in the dark. They're from Kreinik's Halloween line of blending filaments. They really do glow in the dark.

Why, yes that is a severed finger hanging from the top of the tree and it glows in the dark too.

Yes, that black dog on the left actually is standing on a human brain, or at least my idea of a brain that goes with the same style of design as the rest of the stocking, and the squirrels are fighting over a zombie hand coming out of the dirt. It is after all an outdoor xmas tree for the animals and they always like a little fresh -- or even rotten -- meat.

Dylan's stocking has been more of a challenge. I finally figured our how to finish Miss Zombie 2013 and I designed as I stitched.

The skull looks rather nice I think, especially since I added some Kreinik black blending filament that shimmers in just the right shade of black. I think it works.

The last ornament is still unstitched, but I've narrowed the choices down to two. I'll decide which one works best and put it in there tonight. I love the mix of mistletoe and holly berries and greenery and I think the whole thing works -- well, as well as any zombie Xmas themed stocking can work. Adjustments have been made but I'm mostly happy with them.

In the meantime, try something new, stretch yourself, and happy stitching.

Stockings ready to hang

Since I got all the pieces for finishing my grandchildren's stockings yesterday, I got busy, and I do mean busy. I haven't sewn anything this ambitious by hand in ages, so I decided do sew all three stockings by hand. It took all day, but the results are nice.

Here are Addy and Tori's stockings put together without the lining and hanger. I saw some metal snowflakes and decided to add them to the design. I used winter cream felt for the backing.

 Jordan's stocking is put together with its blue felt backing.

I went with a plain white cotton lining last year, but I had some christmasy material that I got by mistake when I ordered quilted fabric. I should have checked because the fabric should have been pre-quilted and not ready for quilting. Never one to waste anything, I used it for the lining this year and for a bit of color at the top of Addy and Tori's stockings.

I made a hanger out of the cross stitch material for Addy's stocking.

The lining fabric was so pretty I decided to use it to make the hanger for Tori's stocking.

A braided yarn hanger is all that I added to Jordan's stocking to make it ready to hang. The lining is hidden inside waiting to be filled by Santa Christmas Eve.

All three stockings and linings were sewn by hand. I can still do that - the sewing I mean. It would have been faster on the sewing machine, but I decided to put a little extra time and love into these stockings. They're done and ready for mailing now. The kids won't see them until Christmas morning, but hopefully their parents will like what they see.

Don't forget to click on the pictures to see the expanded view. Happy stitching.

Almost There - Britty Kitty

I had some time last night so I worked a little on my granddaughter's Xmas stocking and actually made some progress. I will finish it this weekend. All that will be left is to cut out the fabric and sew it all together with an appropriate hanger. After last year's stockings, I know I can stitch all the stockings together in no time at all and the hand stitching for the lining is nothing. I enjoy hand stitching. I used to make stuff teddy bears with faux fur and sewed them all by hand.

Now to the reveal.

This is last weekend's work.

Last night's contribution. Almost there. I think the Rainbow Gallery white Wisper thread and Kreinik blending filament and #4 braid give it an added dimension that is very nice. I can't wait to see where spontaneity takes me next.

Happy stitching.

Brittercup Stockings with a twist

I finished my granddaughter's stocking yesterday. I haven't had a chance to work on it since last Saturday, so it is nice to have the stitching all done. Since I had more time, I decided to begin her sister's stocking, but changed some of the colors. Now I think I should have gone with a darker background to make the white cat visible, but it is visible when seen in person. I used Rainbow Gallery white Wisper thread which is an angora blend and the ornaments are in shades of pink, my other granddaughter's favorite color.  Lots to go yet but it will be finished by next weekend.

This is where I got to a week ago Friday. Not bad for a night of insomnia and needing something to do with my hands.

The finish as of yesterday afternoon while watching Damnation Alley.

That ghostly cat figure at the top of the tree is a cat done in Rainbow Gallery white Wisper thread. It looks much better and much fuzzier in person.

Not too bad for a few days of work and I'll have the last stocking done by next weekend for certain. I may even add a bit of metallic blending filament to some of the pink ornaments for a bit of sparkle and dash.

Happy stitching.

Getting there

There were times I thought I'd never get this one don. There are so many color changes: a couple stitches here and then a few more over there and then over there and over there with no discernible pattern to the stitches. That is what makes this stocking in particular a real bear to do. But here I am in the final stages, beginning the outlining and putting the name on the stocking. (click on picture for close-up)

The name is done by couching, running two gold wire threads around in the shape of letters and tacking them down with a coordinating color of floss. I don't mind couching when it's free form or even a little structured, but doing letters . . . not so much. 

Dimensions makes this particular pattern and they do include everything. A whole lot of gold wire for blending elements, couching, and outlining, and a less than adequate amount of floss for the rest of the project. Some colors are in short supply, which is why it is necessary to make the stitches perfect the first time. There is almost no room for error in this complex pattern. Dimensions provides sufficient beads and gold wire, but not enough thread in the colors that matter the most. I don't know about you, but I don't like substituting DMC (or Anchor or whatever brand you use) for the packaged thread. Colors within different dye lots can be very different, so imagine colors from a different company. You would have to have either a color chart from the company (preferably with actual thread and not just a photo) in order to get as close as possible, but don't count on getting a perfect match. The odds are not in your favor. 

I'm proud of what I've accomplished, in spite of the frustration, agony, and nearly chucking the whole thing, but then I hear my mother's voice telling me I never finish anything and I keep going. In fits and false starts at time, but the results are plain to see. I'm nearly done. 

The picture is lovely and will look even better once all the back stitching is finished, and there is a sense of pride in getting this one finished at last. I bought the kit from 123stitch.com and recommend them for their customer service. I would have preferred to have just the pattern and buying my own materials, but there is not that option with Dimensions, and especially not Dimensions Gold. I have found that Dimensions often miscalculates the materials, giving more than enough for some and not enough of more crucial threads. Still, it is a beautiful pattern and, aside from the fussy little stitch changes, not too difficult if you're a seasoned stitcher.

If you want to make this particular stocking, get your kits now. Dimensions also retired some kits sooner than others.

Happy stitching.