OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern by Lesley Teare
• Materials: 32 count antique white belfast, DMC
• Size: 7″ x 8.75″
• Time to stitch: 14 days over 11 months

Presenting my April finish goal accomplished, the Spring Bird!  

This is a small pattern, but it’s full of fractional stitches, many color changes, lots of backstitching… a bit more complicated than expected given the size!  It’s a beautiful pattern, very well done with wonderful color shading.  And I don’t mind backstitching when it brings the details into sharp relief, as it does with this design.  It’s my first pattern by Lesley Teare and I wouldn’t hesitate to stitch another.  Which is good, because this bird is part of (seasonal) series.  

The materials are simple, just a bunch of DMC.  The border has about 7 shades of green.  I suppose you could use a variegated thread instead, to make it a little simpler.    The background of green stitches, around the circumference of the circle, is cross stitched with 1 strand over 2, which gives it a nice delicacy.  I chose to stitch this on white because it’s a pretty busy pattern.

My favorite detail is probably the bird, which is a Blue Tit.  Blue Tits are Eurasian birds, not to be found in North America, where I live, oh well.  I like birds well enough but I don’t really care about all the minutiae.  I love all the flowers especially the bicolor pansy and the bluebells.  

With this finish I am down to 9 WIPs: single digits, woo-hoo! The lightness will be enjoyed a for a few weeks, then I will attempt to rotate 15 projects during Maynia, which means new starts.  I could start another bird from the series, but I think I need a wee break from the genre.