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Sunday, October 21, 2018

Swan Stitch-a-Long, part 2

Hi everyone! Just a quick little post today, as there's not that much to show. Here's where I was three weeks ago:



The piece partway attached to my big old floor frame -- big, but not big enough! The feet, the outlining of the feathers and the body and a few "proof of concept" sections on the right swan, but that's it.

And now? Not much different, really...

wow, that's a dark photo -- sorry!
I started frogging the stitching in the tail of the right-hand swan (wrong cream! blast!), I stitched the feet of the left-hand swan, I've started outlining the feathers, and I've started outlining some of the center leaves.

But most important, I got a new frame -- a "table / lap frame" that fits perfectly. So I'm happy to have gotten the swan on a frame that I can unroll as I go.

My plan of attack is as follows: alternate between stitching the "ground" and working on the outlining. The ground is a particularly difficult to scan combination of green and brown that I struggle to differentiate. In certain light it's almost impossible. So I'll take the opportunities when it seems right. The outlining, being in a different stitch, is pretty fun to do, if tedious after a long time. Once the outlining/shaping is done, I think I'll allow myself to do some mindless filling-in with the lighter blue in the center section. It all still seems backward, but means I can do the swans last.

I apologize in advance if I'm missing any updates to the list -- we'll be in Detroit running a half marathon on Sunday, so I'm writing and scheduling this a few days in advance.

When we return to the west coast, I look forward to seeing all the amazing work my fellow stitchers are doing -- but you should take a peek now!

Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, LucyAnn, Kate, Jess, Sue, Constanze, Debbierose, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Steph, LindaHeidi, Jackie, Hayley, Tony, MeganCatherineDeborah,  Connie, and -- belatedly! -- welcome to new member Clare!

20 comments:

  1. I hadn't realised how large it is – I can see why you needed a new frame! There's one new addition to the links list, in case you wanted to update?

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    1. Thanks Kate! I've added Clare. Now if I can just get back to my stitching!

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  2. Sounds a good plan to me! Lovely elegant design :-)

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    1. Thanks Margaret! Now it's just making the time to stitch.

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  3. That's one drawback of a painted canvas, not being able to see the colours in certain light. Good luck with the run!

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    1. Thanks Avis! It's fun to work with a chart because you never have to wonder which color to put in split spaces... but fun to work with painted canvas because you never have to count! The race went well, once we managed to get to Detroit.

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  4. Sounds like you have a good plan of action! Enjoy the stitching.

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    1. Thanks Deborah -- it's making the time, now that I've got it on the frame!

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  5. Hope the marathon went well for you! I struggle with colors like that too, just picking off the canvas would make me crazy I think! Love your new frame, but I bet you love it more!😉

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    1. Hi Kathy - The race went well, if slower than I hoped. Ha -- much like my stitching! The frame does make it easier, so I think I'm on track to make more progress before next time.

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  6. I love this design. Sorry you had to frog some stitching! Looking forward to seeing this one fill in :)

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    1. Thanks Christina! It was my own fault for stitching in poor light and not checking the number on the floss.

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  7. This sounds like a great plan of action, and one that has a few options for you depending on how you are feeling and the light! It’s a lovely project, and I’m sure you’ll get used to all those colours!

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    1. Thanks Catherine! It seems backwards, but I know it's how I'll make progress. I do look forward to getting the "ground" done as I'm really struggling with it!

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  8. Replies
    1. The running was more fun than getting there -- our plane struggled to land in a bad storm, was struck by lightning, and diverted to a small airport in a neighboring state. We ended up calling an Uber so we could get to the race expo and pick up our bibs on time. Quite an adventure!

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  9. Nice progress and your planning sounds great!

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    1. Thanks Gun! I feel like you -- like a week goes missing every time we have a check-in!

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  10. Oh so frustrating to have to frog some of your hard work. Still nice you are back on track now.

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    1. Thanks Helen -- luckily it was long stitch, so it came out easily and the wool isn't damaged. And it's easily re-stitched in the CORRECT color (fingers crossed!).

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