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Saturday, February 11, 2012

Cynic with a Pretty Heart

For someone rather cynical about Valentine's I end up stitching something every year. This year is Abi Gurden's freebie for members of the Stitchspecialist group. It's called Heart of My Heart.


I like how the little stick figures are gender neutral. They could be a boy and a girl or two girls or two boys. All the hearts are various specialty stitches. There isn't a single cross in this piece.

I didn't have a suitable red in Perle cotton for the hardanger portion, so I used 2 strands for the Kloster blocks and 1 strand for the weaving. It came out surprisingly well. Good to know that other kinds of thread work. The problem is that I can still see bits of the fabric sticking out where the Kloster blocks were cut and the slide-the-needle-under-and-massage-the-threads-over technique isn't working. *sob*

But the most shocking thing? I switched out the beads for French knots! A couple of them are wonky, but for the most part they look pretty good.

Finishing this is not going to happen for a long time because I want a heart-shaped ornament and I'm not the least bit confident about such a non-four-sided figure.

TitleHeart of My Heart
DesignerAbi Gurden
Start dateFebruary 9, 2012
Finish dateFebruary 11, 2012
Total time6.75 hours
Fabric32ct peach whisper
FlossCC Cherry Tomato, Ruby Slipper, Goldfish, Bandana

28 comments:

Topcho said...

Oh my god Blu, it's beautiful, absolutely beautiful! When I recieved this in my mail box and opened the pattern, I couldn't even imagine it'd be this beautiful. I didn't give it a though, but this is really cool about the stick figures. and I don't know about cynism, but this gaves me an idea. I'd rather spending the V day getting depressed over the fact that I can't make half of these stitches, rather than over something else

The Knitting Cross Stitcher said...

This is so pretty. I love it.

Unknown said...

That is just an amazing piece - beautiful, beautiful!

Jucó said...

This is beautiful, I really like it!:) Congrats:)
Greetings, Jucó

Stitching Cat said...

What a beautiful piece.

Marguerite said...

This is gorgeous! I'm going to stitch this piece this weekend I think, or at least make a start, you have inspired me. I love your colors!
Marguerite

Jennifer said...

That is absolutely lovely!! And I like the french knots instead of beads. I think they work very well with the specialty stitches where the shininess of beads would perhaps have detracted from them.

Myra said...

That is so pretty! I love the different reds.

Deborah said...

Beautiful! The colors are gorgeous and I love all the specialty stitches.

Kaisievic said...

Very pretty indeed. Happy Valentine's Day.

hugs, Kaye xoxox

♥ Nia said...

beautiful work :)

Annette said...

What a beautidull piece!!
Love it

Carol said...

That is one gorgeous finish!! Love all the colors and specialty stitches in it :)

Tatkis said...

Adorable heart, full of hearts!
And many different techniques too!

Hugs,
Tatyana

lesli said...

Absolutely beautiful!! I've always wanted to try the stitching where you cut out the fabric!

just thinking outside the box said...

I am a fellow cynic about manufactured, opportunistic "holidays" but I love that heart. I love the assorted textures on it. What a fun piece!

Annie said...

That is so beautifully stitched! A really gorgeous piece.

Shebafudge said...

WOW! What more can I say? WOW!

Linda said...

LOVELY! What beautiful stitching!

Stitching in the country said...

Looks absolutely beautiful. Now the rest of us will just HAVE to stitch it

Hugs
Kay

Caitlin @ Naughts Cross Stitches said...

gorgeous stitching :D I understand your cynicism to do with valentine's day.

Ziggyeor said...

oh it looks beautiful! Great job on all the stitches.

Valentina said...

Just lovely! Now that I've seen yours I know I can make it even if I don't have red perle cotton and I can use stranded cotton. Really beautiful!

Patty C. said...

Gorgeous - Love the specialty stitches ;)

Nicola said...

I love your Valentine but it is not from me, is mine from you?

geeky Heather said...

That is beautiful. And no Xs...my kind of hardanger! =)

Ginger said...

Beautiful!

JennyPennyPoppy said...

Gorgeous & very nicely done!!