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Saturday, October 15, 2011

The Best Laid Plans

This post has been in draft mode since the 8th. It got updated every other day but I never took a picture, so I never published the post. I was about to this morning when I realized that I could hold off and just show a finish this evening.


This is Shepherd's Bush's Shepherd's Purse (Talk about lots of apostrophes!). I stitched it as a wallhanging and therefore have flipped two of the bands upside down and moved the letters. I can't decide what to do about the button. In the original it's used to tie the purse closed, but I'm not sure it works for a wallhanging. Any comments/suggestions?


See that band under J-R? Swedish Weaving. I hate that band. And that blue Satin band? It wasn't symmetrical. Very obviously not symmetrical, so I had to frog it. Grr....

Let me take a moment to grumble a little. The threads arrived in one hank. There was Deep Raspberry, Deep Rose, Light Rose, Deep Lavender and Lavender. It took me about 10 minutes in the sun to differentiate the lavenders from the roses. But Deep Raspberry vs Deep Rose? It's a toss up. I just ended up picked one. And then Deep Green and Brown. Not something you'd think I'd have problems with. Except they looked exactly the same to me! I guess I was more irritated because I'd just opened up a Maia kit with had all the colours already in the thread sorter. Really for the cash I'm forking over for a kit is it unreasonable to expect things to come ready to stitch?

And sometimes the instructions referred to purples when it meant lavender. Is it too much to ask for someone to proofread? (Maybe I have an older kit and the newer ones are better?)


Once I started stitching though, all was well. This is a pretty quick piece with crosses and specialty stitches. I think the sheep are kinda weird. Admittedly I've never seen a sheep close up in real life (in a car when I'm driving through deserted countryside, yes) and I don't understand the love the stitching world has for them. Anyone care to enlighten me?

TitleShepherd's Purse
DesignerShepherd's Bush
Start dateOctober 8, 2011
F hoursdateOctober 15, 2011
Total time16.25 hours
Fabric28 ct Putty Cashel
FlossAs provided in the kit

12 comments:

Deborah said...

beautiful finish. It will make a great wall hanging.

Nima said...

that looks beautiful. i love the swedish weaving band...it looks nice

Kaisievic said...

It looks lovely, maybe place the button right at the bottom centre?

Hugs, kaye xoxox

Stitchabilities said...

The sheep do look a little weird, but the whole sampler is lovely well done on your finish. I think the button could go right at the bottom in the middle of the point

Margaret said...

Hello. I did this as a purse a few years ago so used the button as was intended - no help there I'm afraid. BUT I totally sympathise with the thread colour differentiation - I had exactly the same problem and have never done another SB kit since. In saying that I purchased one recently as I thought in the bright summer light over our next few months even half blind me should be able to sort out the colours! Great blog

The Outgoing Introvert said...

That is a gorgeous finish!! Congrats!

Mouse said...

ooo I like your finish and if it was me I would put the button at the bottom and make into a point when making it into a wall hanging so it is a feature :) does that make sense .? lol love mouse xxxx

Kathy A. said...

That is so lovely - so delicate.
I know it is frustrating sometimes when the colors are a guessing game. I have run into that at times too. I am glad you persevered and have a beautiful piece to show for it.

Danielle said...

Haha. I like someone who puts it out there that sometimes stitching a piece is not all puppies and rainbows. Yez, I agree that for the price you pay for an SB kit it would ne nice to have the threads labeled and sorted. I too have had trouble sorting the threads. I love sheep, don't know why, but not in every pattern. Like the sheep in the new LHN design Warm Winter Wollens is very cute, but some are not. Anyway, great finish nonetheless.

Rhona said...

What a beautiful finish! The colours are gorgeous.
I agree totally with you about trying to decide which thread is which name/colour....they never seem to make it easy for you.

paula said...

I have found that way too many designers do not make their samplers symentrical . . . drives me stark raving mad.

Your sampler looks so nice . . .great job with the pain in the butts stitches.

Veronica said...

Lovely sampler. I understand perfectly your sentiments of threads not coming presorted in certain kits. For the price we pay for some of them, it really isn't too much to ask for, in my opinion.

Take care!

Hugs,
Veronica.