OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern: Stoney Creek Magazine, Winter 2016
• Materials: 18 ct MCG Textiles Anne cloth, DMC
• Size: 5″ x 35″
• Time to stitch: 28 days

My first seasonal bell pull is finished!  
The pattern is fine, with lots of detail, frequent color changes, and a fair amount of backstitching. Though each block is only about 5″ square, the stitching is fairly dense and took awhile to finish. All together, this is certainly a BAP. I wish that I had backstitched as I went along, because it took almost 2 hours to backstitch each block- and there are six blocks- at the end.  I used all DMC, because I didn’t see any noticeable variegation in the Weeks Dye Works that was used in the model (DMC alternates are provided in the chart).  I also omitted the button pack because some of the buttons are positioned over the stitching; it seemed unnecessary.

The fabric is an 18 ct Anne cloth Afghan by MCG textiles, 100% acrylic.  It is very soft and would make a nice drapery blanket, but it was rather flimsy for stitching.  I used a deliberately loose tension lest the stitches “slip”.  The 18 count weave is rather open and loose. Backstitching, with one thread, was a rather delicate process.  I was able to cut the Afghan into 4 bellpulls, so I have enough for all the seasonal bellpulls.  Anne cloth is also a available in 100% cotton, by Zweigart, and I suspect that would be a nicer fabric to stitch on.

My favorite parts are the beachy color palette, and cute little details, like the frog, bubbly drink, and motorhomes.  I also really enjoyed the DMC 4020 “tropical waters” variegated, that is used in a few spots, like the water swirls in the R block.  The blue and aqua colors were so pretty.

 It’s good to have Summer finished, and I do want to stitch the other 3 seasons eventually, but these are huge projects so hopefully I can clear out some more WIPs before my next start. Which will probably be Autumn or Winter, in the appropriate season.