Not a fancy frame for the flag. Off-white mat and wood frame with a slight reddish tint in it. It’s not under glass.
But, getting a good photo is so tough. For this piece, my natural light works great for the color of the threads but reflects on the frame in a couple of places for an inconsistent look. Outside in the sun, the frame either reflected a lot or shows up as a dark brown. Outside in the shade, the reddish color in the wood shows up better but only on the upper edge and right side.
The framer is whoever does the work for Needle Me in Haverford, PA. Nicely done.
These stitches worked up very quickly probably because there was only one thread used per block except for the Scotch Variation in Block 17 (6th blue block from the right). I kept the colors close to each other on purpose.
As far as I can tell Woven Variation (Block 16, 6th blue block) is the only duplicated stitch. It’s also seen in Row 12 White (bottom), Block 10 (10th white block from the right).
Just the border left to go now!
Starting with the blue block on the right (#12) moving to the left (#19), I used the following threads (1 strand unless noted):
12 – Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1105 (2 strands)
Splendor S1002 (2 strands) and Bella Lusso 540
13 – Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1106 (2 strands)
14 – Splendor S965
15 – Elegance E862
16 – Kreinik #12 Braid 051HL
17 – Pebbly Perle P58 and Splendor S858 (2 strands)
18 – Merino Wool 98L/45622
19 – Wildflowers 0076
None of these diagrams have given the numbered stitch order. So, I made stitching the Milanese Variation (Block 16, 5th blue block from the right) more difficult than it needed to be by stitching along the lower edge left to right rather than stitching on the diagonal from lower right to upper left. But, I learned my lesson and stitched the Mixed Milanese (Block 19, blue block on the far left) on the diagonal from lower right to upper left.
Starting with the blue block on the right (#12) moving to the left (#19), I used the following threads (1 strand unless noted):
12 – Splendor S1002 (2 strands) and Bella Lusso 540
13 – Entice E255 (2 rayon and 1 polyester filaments removed)
14 – Entice E212 (2 rayon and 1 polyester filaments removed) and Wildflowers 0076 (2 strands)
15 – Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1105 (2 strands) and Au Ver A Soie 100/3 SMS510 (2 strands)
16 – Merino Wool 98L/45622 and Splendor S965 (2 strands)
17 – Kreinik #12 Braid 051HL and Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1106
18 – Soie Crystale 7041 (2 strands)
19 – Elegance E862 and Splendor S858 (2 strands)
The Kalem stitch (Block 14, 3rd blue block from the right) creates a wonderful pattern that looks like knitting.
Even though the Slanted Victorian Step stitch (Block 17, 6th blue block from the right) is stitched on a true diagonal, the pattern creates a more slanted appearance. Stitching on the diagonal is easier to stitch than an oblique stitch and it creates a similar effect.
The Nabuko stitch (Block 19, blue block on the far left) is also stitched on the true diagonal and creates even a more slanted appearance. I used threads quite close in color making the pattern less evident than the block with the Slanted Victorian Step.
Starting with the blue block on the right (#12) moving to the left (#19), I used the following threads (1 strand unless noted):
12 – Splendor S965 (2 strands) and Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1105 (2 strands)
13 – Bijoux MMT427 (4 strands) and Wildflowers 0076
14 – Bella Lusso 540
15 – Merino Wool 98L/45622 and Kreinik #12 Braid 051HL
16 – Splendor S965 (2 strands) and Entice E255 (2 rayon and 1 polyester filaments removed)
17 – Elegance E862 and Splendor S858 (2 strands)
18 – Pebbly Perle P07 (2 strands)
19 – Soie Crystale 7041 (2 strands) and Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1105 (2 strands)
Two more rows of blue and then the border! Labor Day is just about 4 weeks away.
Maybe because these rows of blue are shorter but I find myself planning what threads are used more carefully than what I did for the red and white rows. I don’t want to clump colors or thread types together.
The Reverse Cashmere (Block 14, 3rd blue block from the right) creates small diamond shapes where you can see the holes. You can’t see through them as I made sure my pathway covered the holes from below. It’s another very subtle pattern and the opening could fit a small bead, if beads were desired. There won’t be any beads on this piece.
The Diagonal Scotch/Byzantine Variation (Block 15, 4th blue block from the right) needs a larger area to better appreciate the pattern. Only the center diagonal stripe shows it.
The Giant Rice pattern (Block 16, 5th blue block from the right) could have been stitched in 2 contrasting colors rather than just 2 contrasting fibers to show off the pattern more.
Starting with the blue block on the right (#12) moving to the left (#19), I used the following threads (1 strand unless noted):
12 – Kreinik #12 Braid 051HL and Merino Wool 98L/45622 (2 strands)
13 – Elegance E862 and Bijoux MMT427 (4 strands)
14 – Soie Crystale 7041 (2 strands)
15 – Pebbly Perle P07 (2 strands) and Au Ver A Soie 100/3 SMS510 (2 strands)
16 – Entice E212 (2 rayon and 1 polyester filaments removed) and Bella Lusso 540
17 – Entice E255 (2 rayon and 1 polyester filaments removed) and Splendor S965 (2 strands)
18 – Wildflowers 0076
19 – Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1105
Using 1 strand on 2 blocks in row 3 really turned out nicely because a little bit of canvas shows through. Otherwise, it would have been a solid appearance because I didn’t contrast the colors. I wonder what using 1 strand in more squares back in the red and white blocks would have looked like. Maybe I am getting more comfortable with open stitches.
This Cashmere Variation (Block 16, 5th blue block from the right) incorporated a Smyrna stitch using a single strand.
This Couching Variation (Block 17, 6th blue block from the right) used 2 strands to couch but the stitches were offset creating some open space.
The Sleeping Oblong Cross is particularly attractive with one thread. I used 2 initially but made a stitching error, ripped, and restitched with a single strand.
Starting with the blue block on the right (#12) moving to the left (#19), I used the following threads (1 strand unless noted):
12 – Splendor S858 (2 strands), Elegance E862, and Bijoux MMT427 (4 strands)
13 – Bella Lusso 540, Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1105 (2 strands), and Splendor S965
14 – Pebbly Perle P07 and Wildflowers 0076
15 – Entice E255 (2 rayon and 1 polyester filaments removed) and Entice E212 (2 rayon and 1 polyester filaments removed)
16 – Bijoux MMT427 (2 strands) and Au Ver A Soie 100/3 SMS510
17 – Splendor S1002 (2 strands) and Kreinik #12 Braid 051HL
18 – Splendor S965 (2 strands)
19 – Pebbly Perle P58 and Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1106 (2 strands)
We didn’t enjoy watching the Phillies slip into 3rd place in the division. So, that made the opera singer who sung the National Anthem the highlight of the game! I did take a break from the game to sit outside on my front steps and watched some fireworks including some of the higher ones from Penn’s Landing. Happy 4th of July!!
In honor of 4th of July, I’m posting an update today and will be working on the next row! Thanks to all the service members past and present.
The wavy part of the Couching Variation (Block 12, 1st blue block from the right) was fun to stitch and I like the effect of the pattern. More than just a little bit of the canvas shows which I didn’t care for. So, I added a single strand of Splendor under the laid thread which helped a little. The wavy part used differently could be even more interesting. Maybe fill areas with beads or staggered to look like water.
Then, the adjacent Slanted Gobelin Variation (Block 13, 2nd blue block from the right) looked too heavy using Entice as it comes off the card. So, I removed 2 rayon and 1 polyester filaments from the strand (gently pull each out separately). I did the same thing with Entice used in Block 18, 2nd blue block from the left.
The Alternating Oblong Cross (Block 19, 1st blue block from the left) has just a little canvas showing a non-direction pattern.
Starting with the blue block on the right (#12) moving to the left (#19), I used the following threads (1 strand unless noted):
12 – Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1105 (2 strands), Au Ver A Soie 100/3 SMS510 (2 strands), Merino Wool 98R/45622, and Splendor S965
13 – Entice E255 (2 rayon and 1 polyester filaments removed)
14 – Splendor S1002 (2 strands) and Bijoux MMT427 (4 strands)
15 – Bella Lusso 540 and Soie Cristale 7041 (2 strands)
16 – Elegance E862 and Wildflowers 0076
17 – Splendor S858 (2 strands), Pebbly Perle P07 (2 strands), and Kreinik #12 Braid 051HL
18 – Entice E212 (2 rayon and 1 polyester filaments removed) and Splendor S965 (2 strands)
19 – Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1106
It’s been a month since I worked on this! I still want to finish by Labor Day. But, each row is short. So, not a problem.
As you can see, I colored the whole area with a light blue copic marker B00, Frost Blue, just in case there are some open stitch patterns.
The Crossed Gobelin (Block 16, 5th blue block from the right) was fun to stitch and I like the effect of the pattern. Just a little bit of the canvas shows. Looks like a good water or sky stitch.
Starting with the blue block on the right (#12) moving to the left (#19), I used the following threads (1 strand unless noted):
12 – Entice E212
13 – Pebbly Perle P07 and Pebbly Perle P58
14 – Merino Wool 98R/45622
15 – Splendor S965 (2 strands)
16 – Bella Lusso 540
17 – Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1106 (2 strands) and Bijoux MMT437 (4 strands)
18 – Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1105
19 – Elegance E862
Just in time to post for the Memorial Day weekend! All the red rows are done now!
For the bottom row, the instructions called for 2 blocks to put the date and your initials and one block of basketweave. But, I didn’t want to do that.
So, for the first block (from the right), I basketweaved a star and the last block (on the left), I basketweaved a heart. Every flag needs at least one star. And, the heart is because I love stitching this piece and I love the USA. For the second to last block, I created a Staggered Mosaic Variation. Using a different color especially for the small cross stitch would make them more evident. The 3 patterns are diagrammed below.
Block 8 has an additional upright cross between the Half Rhodes for more coverage.
Au Ver A Soie 100/3 is a single ply highly twisted spun silk. Of the threads used so far, it has a different looking texture that I really like. It becomes more evident on longer stitches such as Block 11 (from the left) but can be seen with shorter stitches if you look closely as in Block 14 and 18. The Access Commodity website says that it would take 4 strands to cover on 18 count.
Starting with the block on the right (#1) moving to the left (#19), I used the following threads (1 strand unless noted):
1 – Needlepoint Inc Silk 502 (3 strands) and Needlepoint Inc Silk 503 (2 strands)
2 – Elegance E820, Au Ver A Soie 100/3 SMS 499, and Pepper Pot Silk 017 (1 ply)
3 – Entice E239 and Bella Lusso 764
4 – Pepper Pot Silk 018 (1 ply) and Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1005 (2 strands)
5 – Splendor S820 (2 strands) and Kreinik #8 Braid 5505
6 – Pepper Pot Silk 017 (1 ply) and Pepper Pot Silk 018 (1 ply)
7 – Silk Lame Braid Petite SP08 and Splendor S1005
8 – Soie d’ Alger 4624 (2 strands) and Bella Lusso 764
9 – Needlepoint Inc Silk 502 (1 strand) and Needlepoint Inc Silk 503 (1 strand)
10 – Splendor S1005 (2 strands)
11 – Au Ver A Soie 100/3 SMS 499 (2 strands) and Kreinik #8 Braid 061
12 – Elegance E820 and Kreinik #8 Braid 003V
13 – Pepper Pot Silk 018 (1 ply), Soie d’ Alger 4624 (2 strands), and Kreinik #8 Braid 061
14 – Bella Lusso 764, Au Ver A Soie 100/3 SMS 499 (2 strands), and Kreinik #8 Braid 5505
15 – Splendor S820 (2 strands) and Elegance E820
16 – Needlepoint Inc Silk 502 (2 strands) and Kreinik #8 Braid 421
and Pepper Pot Silk 017 (1 ply)
17 – Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1005 (2 strands) and Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1009 (2 strands)
18 – Au Ver A Soie 100/3 SMS 499 (2 strands), Silk Lame Braid Petite SP08, and Soie d’ Alger 4624 (2 strands)
19 – Needlepoint Inc Silk 502 (3 strands) and Needlepoint Inc Silk 503 (2 strands)
Looking forward to getting into the blue threads!
Happy Holidays to all and especially our military and veterans.
The Diagonal Victorian Step stitch in Block 6 (from the left) was tricky. I really had to move along stitching the unit which Connie conveniently highlighted in the diagram. And, even with that, I was very appreciative of seeing the compensation diagrammed for me.
I used just 1 strand of silk on Blocks 5, 6, and 9 which provided full coverage because of the stitches (Oblong Cross, Diagonal Victorian Steps, and Alternating Slanted Gobelin, respectively).
Starting with the block on the right (#1) moving to the left (#19), I used the following threads (1 strand unless noted):
1 – Pepper Pot Silk 018 (2 plus not laid) and Pepper Pot Silk 017 (1 ply)
2 – Silk Lame Braid Petite SP08 and Needlepoint Inc Silk 503 (2 strands)
3 – Kreinik #8 Braid 003V and Bella Lusso 764
4 – Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1005 (2 strands) and Elegance E820
5 – Splendor S820
6 – Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1009
7 – Pepper Pot Silk 018 (2 plys not laid)
8 – Soie d’ Alger 4624 (2 strands) and Kreinik #8 Braid 421
9 – Au Ver A Soie 100/3 SMS 499
10 – Splendor S820 and Splendor S1005
11 – Needlepoint Inc Silk 502 (2 strands) and Kreinik #8 Braid 061
12 – Bella Lusso 764 and Entice E239 and
13 – Soie d’ Alger 4624 (2 strands)
14 – Elegance E800 and Silk Lame Braid Petite SP08
15 – Au Ver A Soie 100/3 SMS 499 and Kreinik #8 Braid 061
16 – Pepper Pot Silk 018 (1 ply) and Pepper Pot Silk 017 (1 ply)
17 – Splendor S1005 (2 strands) and Kreinik #8 Braid 5505
18 – Planet Earth 6 ply Silk 1005 (2 strands)
19 – Bella Lusso 764
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