OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern: “Home” by The Workbasket
• Materials: 34 ct cream linen, 2 skeins Gloriana Silk in Charcoal
• Size: 20″ wide x 6″ tall
• Tiime to stitch: < 2 months (Nov. 6, 2013- Jan. 2, 2014)

I never photographed this in progress, but it is a pretty simple project.  I saw this stitched up as a model at Stitcher’s Stash in Fairfax, VA.  I thought it would be perfect for my main foyer, over the front door. Sorry for all the wrinkles (hoop marks)… this fabric is 28″ wide, won’t fit on any of my scroll rods.

At the beginning of last November, I saw a “Home Sweet Home” WIP and it made me want to start this one…. similar sentiment but more my style.  The chart calls for 36 ct fabric but I opted for a 34 ct cream linen, deep in my stash.  The thread is Gloriana silk in subtly variegated Charcoal.  You stitch all the outlines in cross stitch 1 ply over 2 threads, then fill in the larger letters with 2 ply satin stitch on the diagonals, over 1 thread.  Stitching with silk is nice, but this one gets tempermental (tangles on itself) if you use a long length. I prefer Splendor Silk by Rainbow Gallery.  Nevertheless, the true beauty of the silk shows in the long satin stitches.

This is a pretty quick project to stitch.  It got a few weeks of attention in November, then I laid it aside to work on my Thanksgiving decor projects.  On December 29th, with most of the Christmas craziness behind me, I finished the last of the outlining and started filling in with satin stitch.  It took a bit of time, learning to create the most aesthetically effect with the satin stitch, and I cut and pulled out the first length of thread.  Moderate tension is critical, and I found the best way is to complete every other stitch (which go from corner to corner of the existing over 2 cross stitch), then go back and fill in the middle one.  

I’m very pleased with this project, I love the vintage, Victorian aesthetic.  According to the chart, the original design was stitched on punched paper in the late 1800’s.  The book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum was published in 1900.  I don’t know how many stitching HD’s I will have in 2014 (with baby due in February) so this is particularly sweet.