OhSewCrafty Blog

• Design by Joan Elliott
• Materials: 32 ct white opalescent belfast, DMC, Kreinik, Mill Hill
• Size: 8.5″ x 10.5″
• Time to stitch: 25 days

I’m pleased to present my latest JE finish, and I couldn’t be happier with it!  

The pattern is delightful, a color chart printed in an old issue of Cross Stitch Collection magazine, but you can also order the chartpack from Ms. Eliott (JE218 “Joyful Teddy”).  The level of detail is wonderful, with a few fractional stitches and plenty of backstitching.  

There are also metallics in two colors, gold & silver, used for both cross stitch and backstitch.  I made a little modification… as charted there are black french knots all over the fur trim of the jacket.  I understand they are supposed to add texture to the fur trim but I liked it all plush and white as it is, so I left it.  

As for the materials, I opted to use opalescent belfast because I like sparkles for Christmas (or anytime, really, but especially Christmas).  The chart fits on a fat 1/8 of 16/32 count, which is nice.  It’s not a simple stitch though, with all the details and embellishments.  I used all the DMC, Kreinik, and Mill Hill beads, as charted.  I appreciate how Ms. Elliott creates marvelous shading in her charts while using a reasonable number of colors.  

My favorite details are probably the robins with their gorgeous green leaves and little red holly berries.  I love the blocks spelling out JOY, and the teddy’s face is so adorable, perfectly darling, don’t you just want to pick him up and give him a cuddle?  Teddy bears fall on the “cutesy” end of the spectrum, and aren’t normally my jam, but I thought this pattern was perfect for my little boy.

I did personalize it, at the bottom “for Oliver”.  It’s quite tiny, the letter backstitched over 1 on 32 count, but it’s legible if you look for it.  I”m down to 7 WIPs now and looking forward to starting a new JE piece, but I’m not sure which one yet, so no rush.