The joy of straddled stitches!!!

The pictures of the diagrams used in this message are all property of Heritage Stitchcraft who gave me permission to use them.

Last week I started stitching a brand new project: The Hawker Hurricane I want to give as a present to my nephew.
I had installed myself on my couch with a nice cup of coffee on the side table and my cats purring away next to me.
I started winding bobbins, quite a lot actually, but that didn't put me off! I really, really had my mind set on that airplane!


So I started stitching as soon as I could and stitched 2 evenings...


... I had already noticed the chart wasn't the easiest one I had ever looked at, but as long as I concentrated I would surely be able to stitch it all flawless.
And then I noticed 3 symbols in 2 squares and I lost it! I noticed even more of these weird symbols and I lost it even more. Before going to bed I learned about the existence of straddled stitches and I lost it completely!!!
I am used to the English language when it comes to stitching but my brain got really foggy when I tried to understand about these stitches. I just couldn't understand how it worked.
I tried to get help from google but all I got was messages asking about how to make them stitches so I clearly wasn't alone in the fog.
I also tried to get help on 2 stitching forums but I got contradicting answers.
Someone pointed me out to this tutorial: Heritage Stitchcraft, but it was of no avail for me.
I had never imagined cross stitching to be stressfull, but it got to the point it made me so nervous my friend told me to put it aside for a bit as I was starting to go gaga!


I did mail to Heritage Stitchcraft however and got an answer from them. They were going to send me some diagrams as it was rather difficult to explain in words.
I was relieved I was going to get the proper answer but I was annoyed as that meant I had to wait for the postie to arrive with it.
I put everything aside and started stitching something rather easy whilst waiting for the postman.


Yesterday evening I got home from work and I discovered a nice parcel in my mailbox.
In it I found great diagrams that depict very clearly how to go about making these straddled stitches.


One of these diagrams, the most important one, I put at the top of this message.
I took pictures of the other diagrams and I am encolsing them here as I think they can be usefull, not only to me but to other stitches as well!
Everybody knows how to make a full cross stitch, but still...


This is what horizontal half stitches look like.
Good to know because I thought if I had 2 symbols in 1 square it meant I had to blend threads.... I was wrong!!!


You can also encounter vertical half stitches...


... and what about diagonal half stitches...



Needless to say all these stitches are meant for Heritage Stitchcraft kits and charts. I'm not 100% sure they also apply for other brands.
Also need to point out these stitches are best made when using evenweave and working over 2 threads! I wouldn't want to stitch straddled stitches on 14 count aida! I think I'd give up after the first try!

Anyways, I do hope you all understand the art of straddled stitches by now.
I for one am over the moon! Not only because I finally get it! But also because of the fantastic and quick help I got from Heritage Stitchcraft!
And I'm also very happy with the knowledge that stitchers all over the world still try to help one another! HEARTWARMING!!!!

This was a rather long message but I'm sure it will be usefull for a lot of stitchers.
I am going to finish the small blue rose I'm stitching at the moment and then I will tackle the Hawker Hurricane for once and for all!

Thanks for the visit, leave a message if you feel like it and stitch till you itch!!!

Evening all!
I have loads to tell you but not enough time to write it down at the moment.
It concerns straddled stitches...
... they are rather hazardous for your health...
... but the problem got solved thanks to a great English company:
Heritage Stitchcraft!!!
I will get back on this subject when I have a bit more time, now I'd like to show you the tissue holder Marion made using my cats design:


Doesn't it look gorgeous?! Danke Schönn Marion!!!
Be sure to visit both her blogs, they are great!
Stickerin and her freebie blog

Can't stay for now, I'll be back soon!

No Government? Great Country! #ShameBE

No Government? Great Country! #ShameBE

Need I say more????!!!!

What I have been doing the last couple of days.... well, I thought I'd show you in a short slide show:



I picked up this WIP and have been stitching on it since the 28th of January. I'm halfway through but I don't know when it will be finished. I will have to put it aside soon as I ordered the materials I need for another project I want to make for my nephew, the Hawker Hurricane airplane.
I will keep you posted on this WIP and the airplane one too. And I will put up some more freebies too as we go along.

I've got to quit for now. I've got some housework chores to attend to (laundry... YUK!!!) and I feel like a little bit of stitching later on.
Have a nice day all!

Cats - Cats - Cats - Cats - Cats - Cats
Some of you have been waiting long enough, so it's high time for this one!


This is based on the little kitty cat that's always welcoming you on my blog.
I've made it with the Dutch welcome equivalent as I've noticed I almost never see any cross stitching charts with Dutch words on.
I haven't had time to stitch it myself yet, so be sure to send me pictures if you do!

I've also made a chart with another Dutch expression saying "Hi" = "Hallo"



The charts can be found here:
The "Welkom" chart: CLICK
The "Hallo" chart: CLICK

I rather like these charts a lot and I'm sure I'll do more stuff with this little cat, I just don't know when though...

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a nice weekend!

I've managed to ruin a small project.
First time that happens to me.
Guess there's always a first for everything.
I was stitching a little kitten charm freebie. Don't ask me where I found it, I can't figure it out anymore. I tried but it's got some Japanese signs on and I can't read that so I haven't got a clue.
Anyways, I was stitching it.... front and backside...


I finished it...
... and I ruined it...

Guess that's what happens when you try out something new whilst having the flu!
I think I'm going to try and stitch it again, on plastic canvas this time, but not immediately.
Right now I dug up the half doll alphabet I started stitching last year and I finished another letter yesterday evening. This is what it looks like so far:


So I'm going to continue stitching that one. Starting the letter "H" today. Looking lots better than the kitten charm if you ask me!!!

Signing off for now, will be back soon!

I've got a bit of the flu so I'm not going to be around much at the moment.
I just wanted to show you a picture of the nice valentine cube Marion made using my design. I'm so glad she sent me a mail, i's always nice to receive pictures of what you make with my little designs! THANKS!!!



Signing off for now. Can't really concentrate on anything.
Take care all!

Some more Valentine material!
I know some of you are eagerly waiting to find a certain kind of cat design here and I hope I don't dissapoint them by putting up 2 more valentine designs instead. But, rest assured, my cat design will appear very soon!
But, as Valentine is near I decided to pamper you with some singing hearts! In a small grid version and a bigger one. It's up to you which you prefer and which you want to stitch. I personally like the big chart and I might stitch it, though I haven't got the foggiest idea when that would be... At the moment I'm stitching another freebie of mine to show you somewhere next month and after that's finished I have to start stitching this Hawker Hurricane as a present for my nephew who'll be 8 next month and who's just discovered WWII and it's airplanes.
Enough about cats and airplanes for now. It's time for some singing hearts!
This is what the charts look like:

The "big" version

The "small" version

The charts can be found here:
click for the big chart
click for the small chart

Yes, yes, yes, I know you want cats!
And I promise you, the next charts will be cats!!!
In the meantime, I hope you like my singing hearts and please send me pictures of your stitches! I'll be sure to put them up on my blog for everyone to drool at. Miaow Miaow for now and thanks for the visit!

Want to stitch someting for Valentine maybe?
What about this cube key ring?
I've stitched it on plastic canvas and it's looking good!
It's rather simple to make, 6 sides, 6 letters: I LOVE U and a lot of hearts that's all there is to it and it says it all!

This is what the chart looks like:

How to make it?
Just click here

Hope you like it and if you stitch it, be sure to show me the results!

Totally, utterly and completely fed up with it!
Yes, that's right. This had to become a biscornu but all the frogging I did to get this far isn't worth it anymore. Not only did I have to frog like a pro but I also managed to stitch my crosses in different directions.All in all the whole bleedin' thingy drove me nuts! So yesterday I decided to quit trying to make it and started a new one. The new one looks promising too and I'll tell you more about it later. Right now I don't have time as I've still got some household chores to attend to.... yuk!