Thursday, April 28, 2011

New Design - Bright Feathers

As promised, here’s a new cross stitch design. It’s based on the traditional Feathered Star quilt design. I plan to stitch it on black fabric.

Bright Feathers - computer simulation


There’s more to come in the next few days. :-)

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Weekly Update - Checkerboard Dots

Well, I said I’d post an update every Wednesday, but I didn’t say what time on Wednesday. ;-)

I’ve made good progress on Checkerboard Dots. I’ve got another row of squares done.

Checkerboard Dots 4-27-11


I’ve got a couple of new designs done and a third almost done. Hopefully I can get those posted in the next few days.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Weekly Update - Checkerboard Dots

Well, it looks like Wednesday’s going to be Weekly Update post day.  Every Wednesday from now on you can expect to see how much progress I’ve made on my current project.

Right now I'm working on my first cross stitch design, Checkerboard Dots.  I started stitching this on 2-23-11 and am now a little over halfway done.

It’s stitched on 28-ct. white Monaco over 2 threads with 2 strands for both cross stitching and backstitching.  The picture will be larger if opened in a new tab or window.

Checkerboard Dots 4-20-11


Sunday, April 17, 2011

New Design - Checkerboard Dots

I actually designed this on 2/22/2011 and started stitching it on 2/23/2011. This is my very first cross stitch design.

Checkerboard Dots -- computer simulation

I was inspired to do this by an optical illusion that I saw online. All the lines in the checkerboard are actually straight – it’s the placement of the dots that creates the illusion of curved lines and the 3D effect.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Intro / FAQs

*Insert banal introductory remarks here*

I’ve recently started designing cross stitch patterns, and some of my acquaintances have expressed a desire to see them. This blog will serve as a place to send those who enquire about my work and to share my designs with the world at large (read: show off). I’ll also be documenting my progress on my various needlework projects (read: showing off again).

I cross stitch, crochet, knit, and do blackwork. I have been known to do macramé (yes, I made a plant hanger), needlepoint, and latch hook. I’ve created original designs in cross stitch, knitting, and crocheting. I often combine knitting and crocheting in the same design.

I plan to post whenever I finish a new design. I may also post older designs or projects from time to time. I will also post a weekly update on whatever project I’m currently working on. The focus of this blog will be needlework, but I may digress from time to time.

I will do my best to credit the designers of the projects I post on this blog, but on some of the older items that may prove difficult (I have a lot of UFOs). If you see your work posted here and I haven’t credited you, please let me know and I will remedy the situation immediately. Also, please be assured that I have no intention of ever profiting from someone else’s work. Being a designer myself and being aware of the work involved in creating a pattern, I have no desire to steal from others. Any work not designed by me will be posted merely to show off my needlework skills – it will not at any time be for sale.

On that note, please respect my copyright and those of the other designers whose work is shown on this blog. Please do not duplicate anything you may see here unless you have written permission to do so.

From time to time I may post freebies. Please do not copy them and share them with your friends. Please direct your friends to this blog so that they can download their own copy and see what else is available here.

All comments will be moderated so as to protect my readers from spam. Any offensive or abusive comments will be deleted. No racism, homophobia, or bigotry of any kind will be tolerated on this blog: everyone is welcome here.

The name of this blog is derived from the cactus whose flower I generally use as an avatar: Mammillaria rhodantha, the common name of which is Rainbow Pincushion. I suppose one of these days I’ll have to design a pincushion with a rainbow on it.

This is my first blog and I’m not familiar with Blogger’s software, so please bear with me while I learn the ropes and settle into a posting style. I hope to have my first design and weekly update posted within the next few days, depending on my schedule.

*Insert banal closing remarks here*