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 pillow pattern

My own pattern

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.

Al fresco stitching.

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.

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!

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!

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.

I will finish it, one day!

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!

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