Re: SAL Hardanger Sampler 2015 Another Finished MAR 31 2016

[rcperryls]

I am so loving stitching this!! More than I had even thought. And am surprised how quickly some of the designs stitch. Guess I'm way too used to HAED projects. I do find Mary's instructions not that easy to follow and I am soooooo glad that I have a growing list of "how to's" from Mabel. Though Mary does suggest that if you haven't done Hardanger stitching to get her "Easing into Hardanger booklet".

Square one completed:



Square two (before and after cutting and stitching dove's eyes - which hopefully will be more consistent by the last square)





Both squares



On to square 3 today!

Carole

[Serinde]

I think they look wonderful! Sorry that you're having trouble with Mary's instructions. I find them very easy, probably because it is through her patterns I first learned hardanger (consequently have "head scratching sessions" with other designers' patterns!)

(Easing into Hardanger is a very good primer for the technique, however.)

[rcperryls]

I think you are right about the instructions. Took me a while to figure out Mabel's also, so I think it is a matter of who you first learned from. Regardless of that, I love this design and unfortunately that means I have a second Hardanger designer that I am loving. I think you said somewhere that by the end of the Sampler we will be able to stitch Dove's eyes and Cable stitches perfectly. What I find intriguing is how with such few stitch varieties she is able to create 15 unique, but fitting so well together, designs. And I wouldn't want to try to stitch this at all without first stitching the borders!! Are you planning on framing yours? Making a hanging?

Carole

[wendywombat]

Like Serinde, I am used to Mary's designs and instructions having learnto with the Easing into Hardanger book. I then found Mabel's instructions hard to follow for a while.
You are zipping through this wonderfully and it's looking great. so pretty.
,

[Squirrel]

My goodness Carole you are flying through this and it is looking amazing too. Well Done.

[wendywombat]

Finally....my last few.
I've got the penultimate to finish then the Final one to do.

[Serinde]

Nice nice nice!

[rcperryls]

Nice nice nice!

quite nice!
as in absolutely elegant!
Can't wait to see the finish.
I'm almost done with the top row and then only 12 more to go!

Carole


eta: question ladies: When you are stitching the Dove's eye, do you bring the needle up through the fabric to start the eye. The picture of how to do this is when you are stitching it right after doing a woven bar so the thread is already in place. Mine are so irregular and yours are so lovely, I think I must be doing something wrong.

[wendywombat]

I don't make my dove's eyes the way that Mary suggests.
I weave the bars completely, then I bring the thread up through the kloster block and make my doves eye that way. It's NOT the way that is suggested in the instructions and often they aren't that even. I then push the threads about with my needle to even them up. If you saw them close too you'd see lots of errors no doubt but in a photo they look fine.

[Serinde]

Let me think... I approach dove's eyes in two different ways, depending on the design.

A single dove's eye surrounded by kloster blocks: I start and finish the stitch by slipping the working thread behind the middle stitch of the kloster block. So, after securing the thread, to start the dove's eye I bring the needle to the front and to the left of the central stitch in the block as close to the cut edge as I dare. I then take the needle under the middle kloster block stitch so that the working thread is to the right. Then I work the dove's eye in the usual way. To finish off, I bring the working thread under the first thread of the dove's eye (as usual), then bring the needle up through the fabric and slot it behind that middle kloster block stitch, just like you did to start. Now take the working thread straight back through the fabric as tidily as possible and finish off. This give more of an illusion of the thread having looped around all the kloster blocks, and should make it difficult to see where you started or ended the dove's eye. Sounds more complicated than it is!!

I also shift the needleweaving around with a needle and/or my thumb sometimes to make it look better.

I do a dove's eye from a woven bar pretty much the way most instructions say to.

[Squirrel]

You really are making great progress Wendy and soon it will all be done. I think your Dove's eyes look great.

[wendywombat]

LAST ONE!!!



Finished it last night and D/H ( ) has done the last 2 photos for me.

And not to forget........

The Whole Darned thing!

I've decided to call this "A Sampler for Springtime" as the colours remind me of fresh green leaves, the pale yellow of Cowslips and Pink Almond blossom.




What an enjoyable project. And thank you to Serinde for doing this with me.

I shall now sit back and watch Carole's and everyone else who decides to stitch this.

[Serinde]

That is totally lovely, and what an apt name. Really beautiful.

[Jewell Stitcher]

That is really beautiful well done!! Love those pastel colours

[rcperryls]

I will say the same thing I said to Serinde: If mine turns out 1/2 as lovely as yours I will know it was a huge success!!!!!

I am continuously amazed at what elegant designs can be made with such few stitches. How are you planning on finishing yours? Frame? Hanging?

cairee and Jo: Are you working on yours or are you going to be leaving me all alone now to stitch this?

Carole

[karen4bells]

Amazing!!! I wish I could discipline myself to do something like this!!! Serinde and Wendy your work is awesome and Carole, I definitely look forward to your updates!!

[Cecilia]

Serinde & Wendy - completely beautiful work. I love both colour choices equally.

[19Roland19]

That is so beautiful.

[Squirrel]

WELL DONE Wendy, it is looking really great. Love the thread you used too.

[rcperryls]

For someone who is used to stitching HAEDs, I love having all these little finishes! And Laverne seems to love it too. Maybe too much?



but not if the weather is as lovely as it's been.



She did eventually move on to the more comfortable quilt I had so kindly put down for her.

The 4th square (I apologize for the blurry photos)



And the sampler to date:



The hardest thing about finishing this soooo much earlier than her birthday is going to be keeping quiet about. Maybe it will have to be a 1/2 birthday gift?

Carole