OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern: by Donna Vermillion Giampa
• Materials: 36 ct antique white linen, DMC, Kreinik 002HL BF, Mill Hill Petite Beads & white Nymo
• Size: ~11 x 13 inches, stitched 2 over 2 (18 count)
• Time to stitch: ~70 days (56 days since rescuing from UFO pile, plus time 10+ years ago)

I’m happy dancing like there there’s no tomorrow… can’t believe this project is finally finished after I thought it would never be….

The pattern is fine, but I had no idea what I was getting into when I started it.  It is chock full of fractionals, and if I had appreciated that fact, I would have chosen 28 count fabric rather than 36.  Further compounding the issue, the pattern directs you to stitch quarter stitches as a half plus a quarter stitch…. that is a lot of thread for 28 count and ridiculously dense on 36.  Eventually I started doing the quarter stitches as tent stitches over 1, the backstitch covers the empty thread, and everything is copacetic. 

Then there is the backstitch… there are about 12 different directions for backstitch, and they are written on 2 different pages; some are repeated on each page, while others are not.  So much fun to figure out!  Also, there is lots of backstitch done in 1 strand, and 2 strands of blending filament, which is beautiful but delicate to work with.  Overall the backstitch is extensive, far more than anything else I’ve stitched.  Finally, there is a fair amount of beading, in green and gold; that final step took about 2.5 hours.  Of course I decided to attach the all the beads with a full cross, because they are so tiny, and apparently I am a glutton for punishment.

 The fabric is ok, I suppose, not the nicest linen out there.  At the time I started this, I was used to stitching on 18 ct aida, so I thought 36 would be great, and I got a big enough piece off Ebay for both charts (this design has a companion, St. George & the Dragon, which I may start sometime between now and ∞).  It’s certainly not a Zweigart linen and as I mentioned above, 28 count would be preferable.  The fabric is also rather flimsy and transparent, but it will be fine, mounted on white foamcore. 

My favorite aspects of the piece are the same parts that bedeviled me, all the lovely tiny detail.  The gryphons in the border add a spark of wildness to the scene, and I do appreciate the stained glass effect of the flowers & vines in the border. 

I love the lady’s stoic expression, the trust the unicorn places in her as he rests on her lap, and how enthralled he is with his reflection in the bejeweled mirror.  Her sumptuous gown is the height of luxury, adorned with a blackwork brocade style pattern, and the colors in her underskirt are glorious, with shading that recalls the folds of silk satin.

The sparkly flag features 3 waxing crescent moons, which symbolize growth and creativity, quite perfect for the young maiden.   

I’m exceedingly chuffed to be finally finished with my oldest WIP!  A wonderful start to the year.