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Hello everyone!
As so many people have encouraged me to show my beginner's work here, I will do it now!

This is the first picture, which is not finished obviously but I left it at home and won't be able to complete it before January. This is a kit by Rico (in Germany they give you everything you need in the kits, even a hoop!)



And this is my newest piece, the one with the confetti (look at the lower right corner, it is so difficult but looks rather nice, I believe).

It is the Autumn Forest by RTO.



Here is my start:



I am very excited to read your comments. My biggest problem is that the thread sometimes seems to loosen, especially when there are only two crosses. I can't do the "loop start" as I am only working with one strand on this one, so I try to "catch" the beginning of the thread with my stitches.

Great job on both your pieces. The bunny is precious and you have made a great start on your Autumn Forest. I have several pieces that I am stitching one over one also and the confetti can be tricky. I anchor the stitch as best I can by weaving the end of the thread through other stitches in the back. If it is in an area that doesn't have other stitches yet, I leave about a 1/2 inch of thread which I stitch over when I add stitches there. (I hope this makes sense - I'm sure someone else will be able to explain this better or have a better suggestion for you). It can be tricky with one thread, which is why I prefer to do tent stitches on larger projects, but I started these before I knew about tent stitching. There are other methods for anchoring single stitches, but like loop starts, the ones I know use two strands. Looks like you are doing a great job though as Autumn Forest is lovely.

Carole

They look really nice. I love the autumn scenes. Reminds me a little of Autumn when I was a kid on the Luneburger Heide. Happy memories.

For the starting problem, take a look at this page: http://www.scarletquince.com/pinhead_aida.php which describes a very secure pinhead stitch. I have never deliberately used one, but when working on my last 2 projects I have accidentally got them where I don't want them (discover I've gone through the wrong hole, and don't quite back out of the same place) and it's impossible to get them out.

Regards,

Richard.

Very pretty bunny and the start on your autumn project looks fantastic!!

Thank you everyone, and Richard, I'll definately try the pinhead stitch, it looks perfectly secure!

The projects are lovely.

And Richard beat me to it. I was also going to suggest the pinhead stitch. I've used it on many occasions and it is quite secure. It'll be a little bit tougher doing it on aida, but it is quite doable -- no harder than doing fractional stitches on aida. Waste and away knots will also help you keep those confetti stitches secure as long as the confetti is eventually solid-filled or close to solid-filled. For stitches sprinkled out away from the 'main body,' the pinhead is your friend.

the Bunny and hope to see more of him next year. What a fabulous design that Autumn forest one is and you have made a great start to it. Yes it is sometimes difficult when stitch 1/1 especially with confetti but well worth it definitely.

A lovely update

Thanks!

Allyn, now I really want to givt the pinhead stitch a try. Sadly it will have to wait until Sunday, because I'll be in Kazan for the weekend!

Squirrel, I really like the Autumn Forest, but now all I want to do is stitch christmassy things. So I'll have to make an efffort to finish the forest, as I don't want it to be laying around unfinished for ever.

Your bunny is super sweet - I love him. And autumn forest - love love love!!!! I think you're doing a fabulous job on it, too!!

Those are some beautiful designs that you have chosen. I love to see pictures of other people's projects. They keep me motivated when I don't have much time to stitch.

Thank you Debby and AlwaysGoofy, for me this is also highly motivational! But more often than not I will see someone's project and have the wish to stitch that one, too.

I think that's a problem most of us here have too.

The ones I'd really love to stitch are Pescatus Mechanicus (HaED) & the Nova Totius map (SQ). I'd like to stitch 'Dancing with the Cat' too. And I already have 4 years worth of work already lined up in 2 projects of my own. Oh, not to forget 'Song of the Angels' - would love to do that one and ... Got to stop. Otherwise I never will.

Regards,

Richard.

Haha Richard, I can see where this is leading
Of course I don't have that much stash, but I just assume that it will just pile up over the years. Now I already have 5 kits, a few magazines and books, so I should have enaugh for the next two years.

Over the last week I have made quite the process, I think. It is now nearly half finished.



And as I told yesterday, I am so excited for the DMC nativity freebie that I want to give it a go. These are the colours:

Lovely update! looking forward to this one and your Nativity piece.

Carole

I'm excited to see the Nativity in progress, and I am still loving the Autumn design...beautiful colors and beautiful stitches.

Thank you both for your comments. I'm still unsure if I want to finish the Autumn Forest first or start the nativity scene right away...

Lovely stitching!

I was also going to suggest the pinhead stitch to start when working with one thread, it's what I do.

The colors for the Nativity scene are so pretty!

Good progress!

Thank you
Oh and I forgot that I now use the pinhead stitch all the time, it is so secure, simply a life-saver for me!