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Here we go again! Back to counted work, which was started (I confess!) in December, but... you know... stuff happens. This design is by Betsy Morgan from Inspirations magazine. There will eventually be six of them, and they each will form a little pincushion ornament thingy. These are the designs for which I needed the Gloriana thread "Autumn Arbor".

Is it very satisfying doing counted work again after all that free-styling ? They'll make very pretty pincushion thingies!

Yes, it really is. Following a pattern is a joy, even finding the best "path" for the Holbein stitch is simple in comparison.

The year project was entirely different to other free-style stitching I've done, which has mostly been on felt either with a transfer (Nancy Nicholson) or with suggestions for the pattern (Corinne Lapierre). Imagination is exhausting!

But exhilarating!

Of course, I'm not any further forward with the Betsy Morgan thingies, but I have finished a peg loom weaving that's been on the loom for an embarrassing long time. When I say finished, I mean I've completed the weaving, and now it's just the adjustments and two hems' worth of double Damascus knots. Easy! And because I need a table for that, I guddled about in my UFO bin(s) and found a small surface stitching piece I began about 3 years ago and which is perfect for stitching while watching the rugby (Scotland was robbed, btw, just so you know.). Now that it no longer scares me (the stitching, that is), I think I'll finish it and turn it into a pincushion. Why that? Well, my stitching groups is doing a couple of workshops on pincushions for our exhibition, and this means the finished piece won't languish in a drawer somewhere. Win!

Great plan! And a finish is a finish, even if it isn't "finished". What sort of surface embroidery is it? And do you have any pictures?

Here's an image of the Solas Órga Sampler from vol 1 of the Journal of Scottish Yarns. A Susie Findlayson design based on the light well at the Tapestry of Scotland building in Galashiels. I might redo the top section -- the trellis work -- which I did some time ago (3 years? eek!). The colours aren't my choice, but I thought I'd be supportive of the new magazine venture and buy the kit.

You could remake the trellis into a tartan!

I'm hoping to see that light well for myself this summer...

Hope you make it, as it's well worth the cost and effort, plus the cafe is really good. There's enough space around each item so that it's possible to really study them. Of course, you have to start... have a coffee... do some more.... have lunch... find all the unicorns and Wimbledon cup and marvel at the record albums... have a cup of tea. Otherwise it's overwhelming -- I find this even though I know it really well.

As we are very much passing through on the way to somewhere else we won't be able to make a whole day of it, but I'll try and stretch it as much as I can!

Mabel Figworthy wrote: Fri Feb 28, 2025 2:53 pm You could remake the trellis into a tartan!

Interesting idea, but you need more than two separate colours for a tartan, alas.

Not possible with the various shades of the two colours? (Which rather remind me of my Jacobean module, except I had brown as well )

Not enough contrast.

Thought I'd better get moving on Elder Son's potential birthday treat. This is an Ink Circles design called "Assembly Required". I think you get the idea? Every time I finish a bit -- a leg bone, shoulder blades -- I just laugh. And it's so, so simple to stitch: a single variegated thread on Weeks Dye Works "Dolphin" 30ct. Quite small, too: 6" x 4".

Oh my gosh, I love this!

[sings] The thigh bone connected to the hip bone...

That will make an unusual birthday present

You might think so, but he sees the funny side of this stuff. Not in a "Goth" heavy sort of way, but more child-like. Very much "Dem Bones". When he was about 12, I found the absolutely perfect stocking filler: Beanie Babies "Creeper", which was a little stuffed skeleton (I know, right). It's very cute! Anyway, we were spending Christmas with very Christian friends and they were slightly surprised with Elder Son's delighted reaction to see this peeking over the top. I don't blame them -- not exactly what you are expecting at that time of year; more Easter, perhaps. Anyway, Mr Dead, as he is now known, has had various homes in the Central Belt and hung from chandeliers and closet doorknobs, even in a window of a flat in Dundee. Not sure where he is in the new place, but he's certainly a talking point. At this stage, I should think he also needs a bath!

very Christian friends ought to appreciate such a Memento Mori

Here's where I was yesterday, before I discovered I was one (1) square out on the right hand side. Can you spot it? Anyway, I've taken it out and am restitching the offending bones. Sheesh. (Photo's a bit washed out, sorry.)

I love the effect of the variegated thread, very bony!
Was the one square really that noticeable....?