Well I didn't make it out of my drive yesterday in time to participate in the 2-day pilot class. My neighbor took pity and plowed the drive mid-afternoon. It took about an hour and a half, twice as long as usual, because of the depth and heaviness of the snow. I was beginning to get cabin fever.

For some unknown and illogical reason, I didn't want to get started on a new project, even if they were all shouting at me. Actually, I had my mind set on the pilot and wasn't accepting the fact that the class had come and gone...without me! At that point, if I had a tail it would be between my legs and if I had any stress tabs (M&M's) I'd have a bowl full of those too. But instead I ended up pulling out an older UFO (although if it's still on the stretcher, it's officially a WIP, at least in my mind), GAR's Red Kitty.

I love this sampler and don't know why I put it down some months ago. But I was able to make some progress and soon my self talk turned from poor me to OMG, I'll have this completed in no time and another finished project for 2009. What's that they say about life giving you lemons? Oh, now I remember, "When life gives you lemons, put them in your bra." :) Or something like that.

Thanks for visiting on this sunny morning in Colorado.

Anatomy of a Sampler

A year long project published in ANG's Needlepointers beginning in late 1997 continuing to September 1998 turned out to be my most challenging undertaking at that time. The mere size, 9x25" (168 threads wide by 450 long), was daring by my standards; would I ever finish it? I did learn what bankers clips were and how to use them when working on large pieces such as this. I had never tried a band sampler before and figured that it would be a fun way to learn a variety stitches. There are a total of 16 separate bands, designed by individual teachers each featuring their favorite sampler pattern. A combination of floss, overdye, braid and a few beads were used. There are 10 identical dividing bands worked in elongated padded cross. I've tried to highlight some of the details but recommend reading Needlepointers for more information. Also worth mentioning that I had never heard of a laying tool back in the 90's!

BAND 1-Florentine Trellis-by Susan Kerndt stitched in 5 steps including a. Foundation row; b. Hungarian point variation; c. Trellis; d. Diamonds; and e. Beads.

BAND 2-Wheat and Diamonds-by Estelle Kelly. Another 5 step band which included wheat variation, fishbone, running and straight stitches. BAND 3-Composite Stitch-by Gayle Bicknell using floss, overdye and braid. Stitches are sheaf, upright cross, elongated cross, slanted cross, eyelet variation and some straight stitches for the background. BAND 4-Florentine- by Debbie Stiehler suggested finding the vertical center and working the top half of the band across then turning the canvas 180 degrees and finishing the rest of the pattern. Eyelets were stitched inside the diamond motifs. BAND 5-Sunburst-by Pat Morse. A variety of straight stitches following the chart forming a wave with large sunbursts and small smyrna crosses. BAND 6-Satin Stitch-by Lizbeth Napier. Following the chart using straight satin stitches to form butterflies and pinwheels. A running stitch was also used and a small smyrna cross inside the pinwheels. BAND 7-Beaty Stitch and Heart-by Sandra Reddell using beaty stitch, double tent and straight stitches following the chart to form the "hearts." BAND 8-Balloons- by Louise Meier. What a fun band featuring 4 different balloon styles. Stitches include half Rhodes, longarm cross, slanted gobelin,smyrna cross, brick filling, tent, dillon, mosaic, straight, cashmere, eyelet, woven, and reverse tent.

BAND 9-Herringbone and Eyelet-by Mary Clubb. Stitches include herringbone, half-eyelet, backstitch diamond adding a bead. BAND 10-Cloud-by Peg Laflam. The rounded cloud form is actually 2 pairs of interlocking chevrons. BAND 11-Floral Motif-by Ilsa Altherr using alternating scotch, gobelin and outline stitch. BAND 12-Herringbone-by Sandy Rogers. Using a 4-trip herringbone, eyelet, straight and zigzag straight stitches this band was one of my favorites.

BAND 13-Laid Work Tied with Woven Cross-by Joyce Lukomski beginning with metallic brain and overdye with long horizontal and vertical laid stitches working the woven cross over. BAND 14-Satin Flowers and Eyelets- by Sara Lee J.-Allen. Stitches include Satin, eyelet, diamond rhodes, cross, double cross and upright cross. BAND 15-Tied Cross-by Jean Taggart using upright cross and oblong cross.
BAND 16-Shaded Gobelin-by Nannette Costa using very carefully laid upright straight stitches and through the use of color shading made this final band a perfect choice for the bottom of the sampler. Well this is it, it's a lot to take in but I did enjoy sharing it with you and hope to stitch another sampler one of these days. Thanks for viewing.