2021 wrap up

So let's see what did I do in 2021. It was not a very productive year, but still I finished more than I thought. Instead stitching I read a lot (good!) and played a game called Planet Zoo (not that good). However, I was pushing to clean up the unfinished cross stitch basket, and I have managed to put the finishing touches to the Nativity Sampler, and gave away one with an acryl floss, what I will never finish.

So my list is the following:

Cross stitch:

Finishes & partings:

Heirloom Nativity Sampler by The Victoria Sampler  - finally finished the little hardanger missing, started in 2014 November. I did not managed to take it to the framer, but I will in 2022. The real colors are in between the 2 photos.

 

Heirloom Nativity Sampler - The Victoria Sampler

Anyag / Fabric : 32 ct Smokey Pearl Zweigart

Fonal / Floss : selyem, a mintaív szerint / silk as in the kit

Riolis 1079 Autumn forest - small part done, started in 2018 summer. 

I realised I will never finish it, so I gave it away

Around the World in Stitches by Papillon Creations- 

I did manage to mount it on a cardboard and finally bought a box to be mounted on, but did not finish it fully. I have started it in 2018 and finished in 2020.

 

 

Around the World in 80 Stitches - Papillon Creations

Anyag / Fabric : 32 ct white dmc

Fonal / Floss : Anchor

WIP

I worked on the following WIPs:

Pomarium by Chatelaine, fully done, only the beading is missing! I started in 2016 December

 

Chatelaine: Pomarium

Fonal/Floss: DMC + many silks as suggested in the kit

Anyag/Fabric: Zweigart antique white 32 ct Belfast

Kingfisher by Anchor - started in 2020 July as a holiday travelling piece

 

Anchor: Kingfisher

Fonal/Floss: Anchor from the kit

Anyag/Fabric: Zweigart white 16 ct Aida from the kit

Sans Soucis by Long Dog Samplers - started in 2020 September

 

Long Dog Samplers: Sans Soucis

Fonal / Floss: Caron (#63,#153) Gloriana (#67) Edmar Rayon (#206)

Anyag/Fabric: Tea dyed Zweigart white 32 ct line

Autumn Watergarden by Chatelaine, 1st quarter - started in 2019 August

 

Chatelaine: Autumn Watergarden

Fonal/Floss: DMC + many silks as suggested in the kit

Anyag/Fabric: Zweigart antique white 32 ct Belfast

QUILTING 

A finish: A polka dot quilt for my niece:

I was working on a WIP:

Round the Year by betukbandi- 8 out of  16 done

I also made pillows for the covers I made from them. It is a 2 sided pillow, 2 of them is already done.

 

I had 2 projects other from 2020, but I did not touched them at all.

Winter Maize by Ngaire Brooks: piecing done, applique in line

String - a few pieces done, I started it as a leader/ender project

SEWING & OTHER

I created a baby book

I finished 3 T shirts what I really like

I dibbled some in bag making:

A therapy-bed carrying bag for my sister-in-law bag (she is a physiotherapist who visits patients)

A sturdy bag I gave to my mother

and a some bags for my kitchen 

  

and some more masks since Covid is still on....

Bagmaking - 1st sturdy bag

I have tried to create a summer bag for me. I have my ideas but could not find any bag that fitted - not because it was overcomplicated, more like it was too exact. I have my favourite one for a while, and it started to get a too used look, so I was looking for an exact replacement - but unfortunately it was discountinued and no similar one was in the shops. So I grabbed all my materials and started to sew, and here is the result:

 I made many pics to remember the process, because I reality I want a lighter version, but this greyish one is a forgiving trieal piece.

1) External hidden pocket opening backside strengthened, and pocked sewed on, then turned into the inside. 

2) Internal pocked also sewed on (no picture)

3) Zip added to external material: (handles should come later, I mixed up the process !)

4) Handles sewed on, I uses double sided tape to keep it on place. For the handles I cut 4 long strips and paired them together and folded them.

 

5) final construction

exterior and interior

 

 

Sewing of the interior and exterior: matching the materials facing together

  

Cutting of corners and sewing them together to have a stable bottom:

 

THE BAG IS READY

Baby book

I have finished my first soft book. The planning and choosing of the materials was quite tedious, the actual sewing went quickly! The name is not contrasting enough, but I did not want to frog, so it remained. Otherwise I am quite happy with the result, the 10 months old hopefully will be as happy as me :)

The size is 6,5" for the coversheet and 6" for the inner sheet. For the coversheet I added the applique and stitched the 2 sides together reversed then turned them out. I did the same for the inner sheet, then did a stabilising stitch ariud the perimeter twice and also in the middle, then stitched them together. There are many different materials to stimulate the baby fingers: plush, felt, corduroy, canvas, handstitched embroidery on a cotton background.

Polka dots

I have finished this polka dot quilt for my niece, a few weeks (months?) back. She had chosen several designs, and the first I have prepared for her went finally to the teacher of my son last June. I was thinking choosing a different one, and the rainbow dots gave the idea. It has extra soft minky-like backing, which is also dotted. 

It was a very quick finish, the background is white-on-white 10"x10" blocks with an appliqued circle of 5". I sewed the rows with a half shift to give a little play to the design, and arranged the colorful dots as you can see. 27 circles all together: 8 green, 4 blue, 5 yellow, 5 pink, 5 purple.

I used 27 5"x5" charms for the dots, 30 10"x10 for the background, and 1m 1.5wide minkie for the backing. Approximately 1.5m material for the top, 1m for the back, all together 2.5m (2.5yard) fabric usage to finish.

Polka dots: 49" x 58"

A long waited FINISH!

This week during my homecation I went through many things to be cleaned and fixed, and I decided I will tackle my list of wip/ufos as well. 

I offered the Autumn cottage for adoption, because I do not like the floss included. It is a wool acrylic blend and maybe I am turning to a silk snob, but I realised I really do not like to touch the acrylic. It was quickly taken, and one is off the list.

The second one was a long time piece:it took me quite a while, but finally I have finished my Nativity Sampler from Victoria Sampler. The hardanger part was sitting in my wip (ufo?) basket almost 4 years. It was my holiday tracel piece, and it has a loooong history. First I started in 2011 but on a wrong fabric, so I stopped at the top angels and framed it separately. I restarted in 2014 July, and worked on during the holiday until 2017, when the kloster blocks were ready. And then I was afraid to move further, because my hardanger ventures were long-long time ago. Then the pandemic hit, and no travels were done. Then ... no real excuses, but stalling. After braving myself it was a quick finish, only took 2 afternoons. My hardarnger far from perfect, but not that bad, and I only cut 3 wrong lines :)