Monday, August 24, 2015

A trio of projects

Hello, Dear Reader,

How good of you to drop by.

Today I am linking to Super Mom - No Cape with a trio of stitching projects:
  1. Embroidery - My Cat Doorstop 
  2. Cross stitch - Work in Progress 
  3. Embroidery - Vegetable Bag 


My Cat Doorstop:

Have I mentioned our bathroom has recently been completely gutted and rebuilt? 

Being worried that our new bathroom door might accidentally be pushed open too hard and damage the new tiles, I found a lovely cat pillow pattern on Pinterest by Rebecca of The Crafted Sparrow which I downloaded.  

Whilst enlarging it, both its shape and face changed, albeit only very slightly as I thought it would look more like my own little lady cat! (who can be seen by clicking here)

Rebecca's cat
Rebecca's cat pillow pattern

Pattern before cutting.
My own pattern

My draft for pattern for cat.
You can see the draft for my pattern on the right. 

Last Sunday was a nice sunny day and a fter a lovely walk in the country we were able to eat lunch on our terrace and afterwards I did a little stitching.

A few stitches in the sun!
Al fresco stitching.


Stitching finished!  Luckily it was still sunny for a photo

The whiskers, mouth and eyes were stitched with 6 strands of stranded thread:  in split stitch, french knots at the base of the whiskers and a satin stitch nose.

Marking out the seam line.
Marking out the seam line.

I used a measure to mark the seam all round.  Just before I started stitching I decided to draw the seam line all the way round as I have found in the past that it is easy to loose sight of where one is stitching, with the foot of the sewing machine in the way, especially around all the tiny corners!

Drawn seam line, after machine stitching.
I drew the seam line before stitching
I then clipped all round the seam before turning and filling with polyester stuffing. I wished I had stitched a ribbon inside the tail so that it had been easier to pull the tail through the right way, as it was I struggled somewhat!  When I was stuffing the tail I was worried it might need wire to keep it up but it does stay up by itself.

Et voila!
Finished cat!
Finished cat!

She is a little smaller than I expected, and when I was making her I was a little worried that being small she might not do, but I have tested her in situ and she does the job! (I couldn't photograph her behind the door or you wouldn't be able to see her.)

Work in Progress:

I recently mentioned that I don't do cross stitch these days, however I do have this project sitting in my cupboard waiting for me to change my mind and carry on again. The pattern is from The World of Crosstitching - around 2004.  I think I stitched a few stitches the wrong way round and I need to undo them and restitch, not my favourite job.

Cross stitch
I will finish it, one day!

Cotton Chart
I do like to know how long a project has taken.

Vegetable Bag

I am finishing today, with some embroidery I stitched last year. I was tired of carrots rolling around in the salad draw of the fridge and I found this pattern in a book by Mandy Shaw.

If I had seen Super Mom - No Cape's Vintage Pattern Series first her musical carrot would have been ideal!


Embroidered vegetable bag
Yes, there are carrots in there!

Now I have the urge to stitch Sue's Vintage Potato and try out that raised cup stitch.


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Do take a look at the other blogs participating in Super Mom - No Cape's Stitchery Party.  There's lots to see.  Such fun!


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Have a super week whatever you are doing and I will be back next Monday if not before.

Bye for now, Barbara xx

20 comments:

CathieJ said...

I love your carrot bag. You should get back to that pretty cross-stitch. Frogging the stitches doesn't take all that long. You have already spent a good amount of time on it. What are a few minutes of frogging. I love your cat too. Great idea to save your new tile.

Christine B said...

Hello Barbara! Really love your little cat cushion... she looks lovely and your cross stitch project is gorgeous, I hope you get it finished! Great idea for keeping the carrots tidy... really lovely little bag! Christine x

FlashinScissors said...

Hi Cathie, Thank you for the lovely comments. I initially thought you were being rude when I read your comment about frogging, however I have since looked it up and now understand. Thank you for teaching me a new word which indeed is very apt. Barbara xx

FlashinScissors said...

Thanks Christine. I do feel inspired to do some more cross stitch but I there are a few other projects I'd like to stitch too. Not sure which will take my fancy first! Barbara xx

Rachel said...

The cat turned out very nicely - I hope she won't complain too much about being a doorstop!

Kate said...

Lovely crafty projects! The cat turned out so cute. Love your stitching; I hope you get to finish it one day.

FlashinScissors said...

Thank you, Rachel. She is very shy and for that reason seems quite happy to hide away in the bathroom.

FlashinScissors said...

Thank you, Kate. I will try to add a few stitches soon and maybe it will encourage me to pick it up more often.

Josie said...

I love the carrot bag - Almost as much as I love your town bag and the stunning 'knitting notes' pouch you made for your mum! Stunning, stunning stitching xx

FlashinScissors said...

Thank you for your lovely comments, much appreciated. Nice to see you back from your hols. xx

Alex said...

Love your alfresco stitching! These are fabulous projects, especially that adorable cat.

deanna7trees said...

the cat turned out great. i love it. i also have some counted cross stitch waiting to be finished but it's a real strain on the eyes so i may just cut it up and use the parts that are finished in some stitching pieces.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Your kitty is adorable, and serves such a great purpose too.

Dotty's Daughter said...

What beautiful sewing and stitching. Miss cat is so pretty. Maria xx

Gillian said...

These are really great. Your stitching is very neat.

FlashinScissors said...

Thank you Alex, most kind.

FlashinScissors said...

Hi Deanna, I just couldn't cut up any stitching! I've even bought embroidery in charity shops after seeing things other bloggers have made with vintage stitchery - they've not been cut up as I just cannot bring myself to do it! Perhaps I will, one day! As for the strain on the eyes - I have long used a magnifying glass hung round my neck to stitch cross stitch, something I don't have to do with embroidery! So my neck suffers too!

FlashinScissors said...

Thank you, Mary Anne.

FlashinScissors said...

Hi Maria, Thank you for visiting, and for your lovely comments.

FlashinScissors said...

Thank you, Gillian. I must get back to it some time!