Welcome to Episode #2 of the Curious Crafters. Thank you for your warm welcome to FlossTube! We so enjoyed reading your comments and getting to know you. We’re also on Instagram, @we.are.curiouscrafters. Are you? If so, we’d love to follow along on your crafting adventure.
Show Notes
What Are We Wearing?
Anna is wearing an Inari Dress from Named Clothing in a Merchant and Mills linen. She added 8” to the length. It’s one of her go-to dresses.
Carolyn is wearing a Leonie sweater designed by Julie Weisenberger of CocoKnits designs. She loves the simplicity of Julie’s designs and her attention to design and fit. Carolyn knit the sweater in the summer of 2019 and it became an instant wardrobe staple - Northern CA is all about layers!
Finished Objects
Letters From The North — No 4 — This was Carolyn’s first cross stitch piece. It was stitched in the fall of 2020 and personalized for her oldest two granddaughters who were both that year.
Designer: Modern Folk Embroidery
Linen: Lakeside Linens’s Bisque in 28 count
Threads: Soie d’Alger silk, color 515
Stitched: 2 strands over 2 threads
A Merry Christmas Sampler by La-D-Da - This was the piece that lured Anna back into cross stitching in December of 2020.
Designer: La-D-Da
Linen: 36 count Weeks Dye Works’ Confederate Gray in 36 count
Threads: called for DMS
Stitched: 1 strand over 2 threads
Works In Progress
Seasonal Etchings — New start for Carolyn. She’s stitching these 4 seasonal squares individually beginning with the Spring Bunny. Designed by Heart in Hand Needleart and stitched 1 over 2 on Seraphim Fabric’s Chai 36 count linen using the called for over dyed cottons.
Spring Moon — Carolyn is promoting herself to intermediate stitcher now that she can manage three threaded needles at the same time. This made stitching the 2x2 squares on the house so much easier! Designed by Plum Street Samplers and stitched 2 over 2 on Seraphim Fabric’s Regency 32 count linen using the called for over dyed cotton threads. Note: Carolyn measured the linen and found it is stitching up closer to 35 count — that’s why it’s feeling so dense!
Sir Dandy — The patchwork bird is taking shape for Anna - it has a head and half of a body! Designed by Hands to Work and stitched 1 over 2 on Zweigart Platinum 36 count linen using the called for NPI silks.
Mom’s Reading Shawl — Carolyn is knitting this shawl for our Mom, who requested a shawl to drape over her shoulders when reading on a chilly evening. The shawl is almost done! Designed by Carolyn and knit using 3 colors of The Farmer’s Daughter’s Juicy DK yarn.
Handtuch Sampler — Anna is enjoying the satisfaction of finishing each individual motif. Designed by Threadwork Primitives and stitched 1 over 2 on Zweigart Platinum 36 count linen using the called for over dyed cotton threads. Anna learned that dye lots can change over time!
Frederick — Carolyn’s been experimenting with the greens for the stems and leaves. The greenery on the right is stitched with the called for NPI 967, which Carolyn felt looked too grey. She substituted NPI 975 for the greenery on the left, which she prefers — but not enough to rip out the original. Two different greens it will be! Designed by Carriage House Samplings and stitched 1 over 2 on Needle & Flax’s Pemberley 32 count linen using the — mostly — called for NPI silks.
We’re Curious
We are both fascinated with Fraktur folk art and were curious to learn more about it’s history and design. Carolyn has written a separate blog post about our Fraktur Findings, which includes lots of photos, information, and links to resources. It also includes a listing of many Fraktur inspired cross stitch patterns. We will continue to update this list as we all find more patterns! Curious? Read We’re Curious About Fraktur.
Shared Supplies
A few weeks ago we visited Needle in a Haystack in Alameda, CA. The shop is currently open for appointment only. Our goal was to kit up several projects each, which we accomplished quite efficiently in our allot 1-hour time slot. Such a treat to see the threads in person, especially since we wanted to tweak a few colors. Friendly service and easy to make an appointment! Here are the patterns we kitted up:
Carolyn: Oh Joyous Day by Blackbird, Seasonal Etchings by Heart in Hand, Seasons of the Heart by Brenda Gervais, and The Reverend Gourdon Squashbottom (replaced several of the DMC colors with over dyed cottons).
Anna: Sir Dandy by Hands to Work, Winter Wisdom by Cottage Garden, and Floral Motif Sampler by The Scarlet House
Pattens: Three more birds have flown into our pattern library, along with a Forest scene — thank you to the commenters who suggested these! These pattern came from 2 designers: Barbara Ana Designs and Satsuma Street. For a spectacular example of Satsuma Street’s designs watch Jess’s first Flosstube (littlebypikku), she has stitched almost all of the cityscape designs!
Thumbs Up
Anna give a thumbs up to her new cross body bag, the fresh squeezed orange juice machine at her local grocery store, and the woodpecker that hangs out on a telephone pole in front of her house.
Carolyn gives a thumbs up to her new granddaughter, floss rings, and her mini wooden spoon!
Anna & Carolyn both give a big thumbs you to you!