I’m guessing each of us has a favorite fabric we like to stitch on. Perhaps even a favorite count. Me? I’ve always like the smaller counts. In my better-seeing days (some call it my younger days), I gravitated towards 32ct. and smaller. I love to stitch over one. Even dabbled in 40ct. silk guaze.

Now? Well I do still like the smaller counts and still love to stitch over one. Unfortunately, doing so requires the assistance of a magnifier. Without it, even 28ct. is a challenge. Eeeek! But, with it, I can still manage 32 ct. over one. That’s the smallest I dare go or I’ll spend more time ripping out than putting in.

My latest project is one from my WIP (Work in Progress) stash. I’m not really sure why it was relegated to the basket when I was so close to being finished, but alas it was. The piece is One Hundred Years by Lizzie Kate —

The model was stitched on 32ct Light Mocha Belfast linen, one of my faves. I am stitching on this very linen, but chose to do it over one vs. over two. I also am using DMC floss vs. hand-dyed threads. When stitching over one, the color variation with the beautiful hand-dyes just isn’t as noticeable.

Using the magnifier has allowed me to finish this piece as without it, the threads are not defined enough if stitching over two, much less over one. Not sure if you can see the difference with the picture on the top being an unaided shot and the one on the bottom is magnified.

Why did I decide to stitch this piece to begin with? I can’t remember, but when I read the saying even now that my children are grown, it speaks to how I hope I have lived my life.

A Stitch Pack is available with 32ct Light Mocha Belfast and hand-dyed threads.

Keep stitching!

FEATURED CHART & SUPPLIES

Dogs. Needlework. Our Military. Family. Those are my passions and not necessarily in that order.

For years I volunteered many hours in dog rescue. In so doing, I have met some wonderful people. Enter Tom, Marine, boss, coworker and always friend. He and his wife run Silver Paws Haven and Hospice (Silver Paws Haven and Hospice | Facebook, www.silverpawshospice.org). They have taken in so many sick, elderly and broken dogs and cats.

Through Tom, I met his wife Kerry. A fellow dog lover and needleworker, we shared so much in common. As with most nonprofits, they do an annual fundraiser. In chatting with Kerry about their fundraising, I soon committed to stitch a piece to donate towards this effort.

You Can’t Buy Love But You Can Rescue It by Cross Stitch Wonders

Boy oh boy but this one captures what dog rescue is all about. One of the many beautiful things about this design is that you can customize by stitching it on any fabric count and with colors of your choosing. The entire design is in full crosses and no backstitching. We stitched it on 28 ct. Lambswool Jobelan over 1. his is a snapshot I took on Saturday, 2/6 —

Unfortunately, Kerry will never see the completed piece as she passed away suddenly the next day. To quote her husband —

“Her work with Silver Paws will go on …”

Once framed it will be donated to the hospice.

In an ongoing effort to support Silver Paws, 10% of all 2021 sales of this chart, the fabric and threads, must be purchased on the same order, will be donated to further their rescue efforts. I shared our intent with Marcia, the designer, and she fully supports this project —

“Absolutely you may offer it for sale with a portion of the proceeds going to Silver Paws.”

~ Marcia, Cross Stitch Wonders

There are two stitch packs for this design. The first is based on the fabric and color scheme we stitched; the other is of 14 ct. If you’ve stitched a piece in memory of someone, we’d love to get to know them through your story. ~Alice

April 20 will be forty years of marriage. An incredible accomplishment I must say.

Over these years I’ve stitched many a sampler to commemorate this special day. But forty years. I wanted something unique. As I scoured the various sites out there, nothing was grabbing me.

As anyone who has been in a committed relationship knows, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Searching for a design that speaks to 40 years of ups and downs was beginning to get frustrating. And then I came upon this one —

The designer stitched this on a custom hand-dye, 32-count Dark Tan. While I know colors can blow out in photography, there isn’t anything in the photo that looks like “dark tan.” So, I went with 32ct Silvery Moon Lugana.

The model is stitched all in Gentle Art Sampler Threads. When I started this, not all colors were available courtesy of COVID and shipping delays. So I went with a hybrid, part sampler threads, part DMC. Stitching with sampler threads is fun; however, this piece would look great in all DMC as well.

This piece is beautiful and works up fairly quickly. In just under a month, I’m here —

As the featured design ( https://threadedneedle.org/product/through-the-storms/), the fabric and threads used above are available. All DMC can also be used. Let us know if you want the same fabric, another color or a different count. So many choices!

Please post your progress here! Would love to see what you do. Can’t wait to get to know you with needlework as the foundation of our friendship! ~Alice

So glad you’re here! We’re so very excited that you clicked in!

Needlework is my passion as I bet it’s yours. I can disappear into my fabric and threads emerging with a sense of calm. I’ve lost many hours of sleep as I tell myself “one more thread” or “I’ll go to bed as soon as I finish this section.” Know what I mean?

Each time I choose something to stitch, to give it life, there is great thought that precedes it. Who is it for? Why is this design the one that gets to speak? What is the story it tells? Why does this particular one grab me?

This is what drives this site. The stories about projects we’re starting, thinking about starting, hoping to buy, in process or recently completed. Your stories about why you chose a particular design. Who is it for? Is there a specific memory? Somewhere you’ve traveled. Just love a specific something (like lighthouses, flowers, etc.)

This is what we are about. The stories behind what we stitch. Along with the stories, we’ll feature the actual chart, fabric, etc. so that others who may be inspired by the shared story can add to their stash.

By the way, the wicked cute welcome wagon is by Mill Hill. It’s actually two different designs. The first is the welcome wagon and the second is the flower basket on the frame. I haven’t stitched this one in particular, but boy do I LOVE the Mill Hill beaded designs. So this one is definitely in my stash. This welcome wagon and frame are available to purchase here as well as many of Mill Hill’s other designs. Each is complete with beads, thread, chart and needles. Frames are additional purchases, but are available here as well.

Thankful you stopped by. Come with us on this journey. Share your stories. We cannot wait to be inspired by you. ~Alice

Today begins the new journey in reopening Threaded Needle. Today am tooling around trying to get familiar with the tool.