Melitastitches4fun's Blog

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