Tammy for All Seasons

I should open with Thank you s to the wonderful ladies who made this Hop possible,  Mdm Samm & Mary Winegar for their motivational and cheering skills and Cori of Chitter Chatter the designer of all of the lovely Pinneys and Brooke Nolan for her wonderful cross stitch designs.

Now on to the Oops.  I have not done any counted cross stitch in maybe 20 years.   I pretty much stopped when I started to quilt.  I find I am more of a speed stitcher than a slow stitcher.

While I remember the basics I find that my eyesight was the biggest hurdle to overcome.  I started using the recommended Monaco Linen but even with my prescription glasses, my cheaters and Michael's even stronger cheaters I couldn't count threads.

I ended up taking myself and a coupon to Michael’s and picking up some Aida cloth.  Bless DMC as they are a full service cross stitch company, floss, frames, needles and blessed Aida cloth.  Once I got the Aida cloth in its frame and my floss organized I was off.

I was also very sick.  This might have been a good thing since it was Christmas week which is usually very hectic in my life.  Being sick slowed me down to a crawl and had me sitting still for large periods  over a couple of weeks.  Perfect way to get back into slow stitching.

So this is where the oops came in to play.  When I switched to Aida cloth the stitches got bigger therefore, the entire project got bigger (I’m blaming this oversight on the cold).  Too big in fact to fit on the front of a Tammy Bag properly.  I took my plastic template of the pattern piece and laid it on the stitching and it just looked like I was trying to put the stitchery on a 2 size too small bag. I’m really sorry I missed the Tammy part of the project. I have a couple of other Tammy bags and they are wonderful.

My interpretation of the spirit of the original project was to make the Tammy bag holding "stufff"  for upcoming stitchery projects so  I went with that concept.  I figured out exactly what type of bag would suit MY cross stitch needs into the future.  

My needs included being able to fit the entire project into one bag.  That meant big enough to hold the snap frame as well as the floss and glasses and scissors etc.  I used Noodle-Heads wide mouth zipper tutorial so I'd have complete access to the contents.  I also wanted a place to keep the pattern safe and unrumpled.  And of course a place to hang the the sweet Fall  Pinney.

Now that I’d gotten this far off track I just kept on going.  I just didn’t feel the ruffles on Cori’s Pinney went with the new bag interpretation.  My new bag is very straight and contemporary not at all feminine  like the Tammy.  Loved Cori's fall embroidery  and applique design so after doing the applique I squared it up.  I did add a spot on the back for needles and pins and I also added a loop with a clip so it could be attached to the bag as needed and unhooked and stashed in the bag during down time.

Coordinated the background to match the tote front and back.

So I guess I’m kinda sorta back into cross stitch.  Probably more into smaller designs  for the time being, but definitely back.  I enjoyed this hop and what I managed to accomplish within it’s guidelines.  Lots of different stitching in addition to the cross stitch.  A little embroidery, a little Blanket stitch and some quilting. I do need to acquire one of those Beam and Read hanging lights.  Base on all of the comments I've been reading that may be the answer to the vision issue.

So thanks again  Cori, Brooke, Mary and Mdm Samm and all of our sponsors, especially DMC.  Thanks also to all of my visitors.  Without you this wouldn't be nearly as much fun.   Please take the time to go and visit all of the other creative stitchers participating in this hop.  Here is the list of today's other stops.

January 16, 2015

Kwilt Krazy

Selina Quilts (you are here)

Hill Valley Quilter

Lakeshore Stitches

Malini's Quilting Adventure

Julia Plunkett will post on Sewwequilt

It Seams To Be Sew