Mini Mystery Monday: A Floral Surprise

Now that Spring has definitely sprung, and we're fast on the way to full Summer, I thought a floral design would be appropriate for the next Monday mystery.  So grab a handful of threads and join me in this one!

There's no variegated thread in this one, but here are the threads I've pulled to stitch with:

I've grabbed some half-skeins of DMC #5 pearl cotton 3345, 3346, 797, 792 with Kreinik #8 Braid 3280 (that's just what I had laying around, but any other gold will work just as well)...

Basically, you'll need:
     -  TWO greens - one dark, one medium
     -  TWO blues - one dark, one medium
     -  ONE gold braid you have on hand
     -  and an 8" x 8" piece of 18 ct. canvas, either eggshell or sage green is fine for this piece

The size of this piece is apprx. 4.25" x 4.25" on 18 ct. canvas (and apprx. 3.5" x 3.5" on 24 ct. Congress Cloth, if you choose to stitch it smaller; if so, adjust your threads accordingly to finer #8 pearls or stranded floss/silk with a thinner #4 metallic braid).

And here's the graph you can start stitching from:

It's a standard grid/lattice formation that we'll have a lot of fun filling with our mystery flowers later on.  Here's how mine looks at this point, with half of the blue Smyrna Stars stitched:

Well, that's all for the first installment of this mystery project..... Enjoy getting your lattice set up and I'll see you next Monday for more fun stitching!

Mini Mystery Monday #8, pt. 4

We've reached the end of another mystery piece....

There's just a bit of embellishment to add, and then you're done!

Here's the full graph of Version A, with the triangular "flying geese" border and all you need to add are the metallic Rhodes Diamonds that fit within the empty diamond boxes around the border:  

You'll notice that I've put in the background stitches in two of the four quadrants, just to show you how to stitch the background if you want.  The nice thing about using a colored canvas is being able to omit those last background stitches and save yourself some stitching time!

I've also suggested some places to add beads, but you can put them anywhere else you can think of yourself....  Here's the quarter-sized graph (with the background stitches) for you to study up-close:

And here's the full size graph of Version B, with the wild metallic fanned border:

Not much left to do here but add some beads... Although I've added the optional background stitches in the center block area to show you what it might look like.  Again, leaving the background canvas exposed is perfectly fine for this piece and shows off the stitch texture much better, I think.

I've chosen some possible bead locations, but feel free to find your own as well!  And here's a quarter graph for you to study up-close:

Here's what my finished piece looks like (without any beads or background stitches):

Since I was in a very springy mood when I started this piece, I used a handful of pastel threads on pale pink canvas, which doesn't show very well in the photo (pastels never have the dramatic impact that bold or jewel colors do, alas).   And now  I'm thinking that this design would look particularly good in autumnal colors, to show off the Southwestern look of the different stitches.

So I hope you've enjoyed working up this design and will fiddle around with the different borders and try a few versions for yourself in different colors.  And I'll see you again when I have another Mini Mystery worked out for you!

Mini Mystery Monday #8, pt. 3

Have you completed your center block yet?  (Or at least got it well established...)

If so, you're ready for the next part of this mystery: the surrounding border.  And surprise, surprise, you get to make a decision about what type of border you prefer around your block!  The border area is only 8 canvas threads wide, but within that limited area there are still lots of things you can do to change your design...

The first version that I came up with has a more traditional quilt-y border, using those happy "flying geese" triangles that I'm so fond of stitching. And notice how this version has little bits of metallic sparkle added in the flying geese triangles, as well as metallic boxes in the corners -- just one way to make a simple design as interesting as possible.... Here's what VERSION A looks like:

And here's a quarter section graph, so you can see the stitches a little better:

Then I thought it would be fun to create a jazzier border that includes more of the metallic "fans" that are in the corners of the center block.  Because I think of these small designs as perfect for stitched ornaments, I try to sneak in as much glitz and sparkle as possible.... Also, I've used the thinner #8 Braid for the fans in this graph -- with the metallic ribbon used inside the border triangle areas, but you can reverse the thread types if you want, using your metallic ribbon for the fans and the thinner metallic inside the triangles. Either way will provide plenty of sparkle!
So here's what VERSION B looks like:

And here's the up-close look at just one quarter of the design:

Pretty snazzy, huh?
I hope these two versions give you plenty of ideas and even some inspiration to try both designs in different types of threads.

Have fun working with these different elements and I'll see you next Monday, where we'll complete this pattern with just a few more finishing touches.  Happy Stitching!

Mini Mystery Monday, #8, part 1

Well, it's Monday again!  And that means it's time for another Mini Mystery.

I confess I've been working on my larger designs these past few weeks, and haven't been in much of an "ornamental" frame of mind... so when I decided to put another mystery piece together, this fast and easy quilt-y one seemed like a good  one to share next. 

And I thought I'd try something a little bit different this time around... Instead of giving you all the borders to do first, we'll focus on the center block of this little design and work outwards from there. Okay?  I hope that works for you; in fact I'm guessing that lots of you stitch all your projects like that, so I'm going to try it this time around.

In any event, the finished dimensions of this little piece will be 4.5" x 4.5" on 18 ct. canvas (or apprx. 3.5" x 3.5" on 24 ct. Congress Cloth, if you want you stitch it that way; if so, use finer threads like Wildflowers, Encore!, #8 pearl cottons, Treasure Braid Petite, #4 Braid for your piece.)

You'll need an 8" x 8" square of 18 ct. canvas; it can be white or eggshell or you can use a colored canvas.  This design can be stitched without the background stitches (which you don't have to think about until the last lesson), so you'll see the background canvas when you're done, if you want to do it that way -- it's just a bit faster to finish if you don't stitch the background!!

Grab a handful of threads.  I used pearl cottons - my favorite "go to" threads - but of course you can also used stranded floss or silk if those are YOUR favorite threads:
  -  a variegated #5 pearl cotton (Watercolours, Overture, or any other favorite variegated pearl cotton);
  -  a dark colored #5 pearl cotton for the borders;
  -  a bright color of #5 pearl cotton that will be your accent color;
  -  a ribbon metallic that matches/compliments your accent color pearl cotton; and
  -  a thinner #8 braid metallic in a base metal color (silver, gold, copper, etc.)

And here's the graph you can follow for the center section of this little mystery:

And if you want a close-up graph, here's a quarter section that will help you see the stitches better, and you can turn the graph around to stitch the other quadrants of your piece, as you come to them:

You'll see that this design starts out with a quilt-y center block - all stitched with easy Diagonal Satin Stitches.  Easy peasy, right?!? I usually start by stitching the variegated stuff first - I consider that my "foundation" stitching which sets up the framework of the design - then I go on to work the other pearl cottons next, followed by the metallic stitches last.

 Next time we'll embellish the center block with a few different stitches and add the second metallic thread as well.

Have fun picking your threads and starting your block, and I'll be back next Monday with the second installment!

Mini Mystery Monday #7, pt 3

Woo Hoo!   It's time to finish up this Springy floral design!

If you've chosen your floral motifs and filled in the background lattice with the flowers of your choice, now you can fill in the large central diamond.

Now there are LOTS of different things you can put into the center box....

I've graphed out two different options, but there may be something else you'd like to put in your box.  How about a large initial to personalize it for yourself or a friend?  Go looking through your reference books or  stitching magazines  or cross stitch patterns for interesting alphabets that might work for this size of opening.

How about a large button of some kind?  A big fimo or ceramic button that fills up the box ( a flower? a bunny?  or anything else that comes to mind?)  or something that might just need a bit of stitching to fit....

Here's one STITCHED way to finish your center diamond, if you used the large flower elements:

And here's another STITCHED version, that matches the small flower elements:

Or, you can mix and match the different centers with whichever pattern you stitched on your piece.  The choice of how you want to finish off this ornament project is totally up to you!

And then of course, there's another decision you have to make:  beads or no beads?

Hmmmm..... Well, I opted for french knots in the metallic Ribbon Floss to finish off my model, but you can add as many beads as you'd like... or whatever kinds of beads you'd like to show off in your design....

Here's my finished model using french knots instead of beads:

So really, you can see how flexible this design is. There are sooooo many different ways to stitch this design up, I know you'll have fun playing with it.  (After I finished my springy pink and purple version, I wished I had tried a more monochromatic version.... maybe one in the palest pinks or lavenders?  Or what would this look like in soft whites and golds?  Sigh... so many possibilities, so little time to stitch them all.)  Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed stitching it thus far.... and continue to enjoy finishing it up in your unique style.

As always.... Happy Mystery Stitching!!!!

Mini Mystery Monday #7, pt. 2

It's time to stitch the next part of this month's mystery piece.  We get to fill in those diamond shapes with some fun little flowers.  (Did you guess that was coming next?!?)

AND you get to choose between two different floral motifs, so that makes it even more fun!

Here's the graph for the first option:

And here the graph for the second option:

And here's the detail graph for stitching each of the two floral elements:

 Hmmmmm, it's hard to decide which one to stitch, isn't it?
They're both equally fun and easy to stitch....one's a whole little flower, and the other is just the flower face up close... It's totally up to you which one you prefer to use in your piece!

And at this point, you might also decide to use a variegated thread for all your flowers, instead of alternating two different flower colors row by row.  Or maybe you'd like to make all your flowers one color.  Or maybe you'd like to try making your flowers with a silk ribbon so they have a bit more texture and dimension. Well, all of those creative options give you plenty of things to think about to personalize your mini mystery piece....

AND AHEM.... here's another thing.... I made both floral motifs as eyelet-type flowers, because then - TA DA - there's a hole in the center that makes a great place to sew a bead (or a french knot, if you prefer).  Just another fun option for you to think about!!

Have fun with this week's stitching.... and I'll see you again next Monday!

Mini Mystery Monday, #7 part 1

Time to start another mini mystery project... and because it's finally Spring, I decided we needed to create a sweet little floral piece to celebrate.  Does that sound fun to you, too?  Good!  Let's get started....

You'll need a handful of springy threads, like these:
   -  a variegated thread like Watercolours (I chose something like 003 - "Meadow" because it has pink, blue and lavender in it. Another favorite of mine is 088 - "Mountain Meadow", because it's a lighter pastel mix, with pink, blue, lavender and yellow as well);

  -  two green DMC #5 pearl cotton colors - one dark, and one medium or light (I chose DMC 367 & 368);

  -  two DMC #5 pearl cottons that can will be your "flower" colors (I chose DMC 760 & 209);

  -  one metallic ribbon-type thread for your "sparkle" accent (I chose Ribbon Floss 148-021, soft gold);

  -  a piece of 8" x 8" 18 ct. canvas in whatever color you prefer (I chose my "fav" sage green canvas).

And here's the first part of the design for you to start stitching, using this graph:

The overall thread count of this piece is 76 x 76 threads.  Which makes it 4.25" by 4.25" on 18 ct. canvas.  If you want to stitch yours on 24 ct. Congress Cloth, the piece will end up being apprx. 3.5" by 3.5" in size.  (And of course, with a smaller canvas, you'll need to use finer threads as well!)

To begin: from the center point of your canvas, count out or up to start working the "lattice" pattern.  Use 1 ply of the 3-ply variegated Watercolours to stitch your whole lattice area, leaving a nice big diamond-shaped opening that we'll fill later on...  This lattice pattern is one of my favorites, because it's so fun to fill with so many different types of stitches. 

Then stitch the outer scalloped border - skipping two canvas threads beyond your lattice work - with 1 strand of your dark green DMC pearl cotton color.

I'll see you back here next Monday with the second part of this sweet piece.... Until then, happy stitching!

Mini Mystery Monday #6, part 2

This week you'll need to add a few simple borders, so you can see the full size of this piece.

Follow this graph for the first part of this Monday's installment:

And after you have some of the borders established, start making some small boxes in the body of the design, so you can now follow this graph:

It looks like it's going to be a small traditional quilt design, doesn't it?  Well.... it might be,
but then again it might take another turn entirely and become more geometric and jazzy.....

You'll just have to stay tuned and see what happens next...

Happy Monday Stitching!

Mini Mystery Monday #6

Recently, I was printing a batch of my STARRY NIGHTS pattern and my eye was taken by a section of the piece that I thought would make a good little ornament.  Here's the section that caught my eye - it's outlined in lime green:

And because I was in a pink & green mode, I pulled these threads:

    Watercolours 058 - "mocha rose" for my variegated thread
    DMC #5 pearl cotton, 936 - dark avocado green (for the borders)
    DMC #5 pearl cotton, 3350 - dark pink (for the brightest accent color)
    DMC #5 pearl cotton, 962 - medium pink (for the medium accent color)
    DMC #5 pearl cotton, 963 (or 818) - light pink (for the lightest accent color)
    Fyre Werks Soft Sheen FT38 - dark pink (for the ribbon metallic accent)

I started doodling around with some stitches and came up with a really sweet little design.
It's only 3.75" x 3.75" in its finished size on 18 ct canvas.  I used a 8" x 8" piece of "rose blush" pink canvas, but really any color will be fine, since you stitch over all the exposed canvas in this piece. Or if you want to pull your own thread colors, just use a canvas color that works with your threads.

And here's the first graph of this design for you to follow:

Start in the center of your canvas and create this off-set star design first:

Please note that this star is created with an ODD number of 9 stitches in each arm, thus the center empty square is a 9 x 9 box.  (Having a 9 x 9 base to work with lets us easily create a checkered border that has 3 x 3 mosaic squares.)  And you can see that I've poked holes in the center area to denote a 5 x 5 square center that we will fill later with something fun and easy and cute.....

But for this first installment of Mini Mystery #6, just complete your checkers with your DARK border color, so you have something that looks like this (but go ahead and add the variegated stitches that give you the second set of arms on your star):

That's all for now.... I'll see you next Monday with the next fun part!!

Mini Mystery Monday #5, part 3

Well, here we are half-way through February. Can you believe how swiftly the year is moving? Yikes, before you turn around it will be spring and time to pull out those springy projects. (Or maybe like me, you've already started working on some springtime pieces, just because the weather has been so spring-like and not at ALL like winter.)

So.... are you ready to finish this little design? It's an easy one to whip up isn't it? Wait until you see the next few layers I've created for you!

Here's the graph for the next layer of "soft" metallic stitches. Use whichever secondary metallic you've chosen (it may be a different type of metallic entirely or perhaps just a different color - that's up to your unique color and thread palette) and follow this graph:

You're going to be adding some Rhodes Squares that fill up those blank square areas, so work your squares like this:

Although it has just occurred to me, as I write this, that you could fill your blank squares with EYELETS, so you'd have a hole in the middle. And then you add a few beads in this design. Does that interest you? Then work your squares with these type of eyelets:

Sometimes I find it easier when working with the flat metallic ribbons to work my eyelets by going in EVERY OTHER HOLE first. That way I can gauge if there's enough thread coverage of the canvas... and then if I want more stitches, I go around again in the remaining holes. Working this way also "spreads out" or layers the threads in a more symmetrical fashion so the ribbon doesn't bunch up in the hole.

NOTE: You may also need to enlarge the eyelet hole with your needle, so there's room for all the stitches you put down into that center hole. And voila! You have eyelets in your piece.... which allows you to add whatever size or kind of bead you want to embellish your piece with.

At this point, your Mini Mystery #5 can be considered finished.  Here's what my first piece looked like:

And I was very pleased with my serene blue and aqua ornament.

But then  I got to wondering what this design would look like on another color of canvas. Because I was starting to feel a bit of spring fever, I decided to stitch a second piece using white #5 pearl cotton and pale metallic ribbons on Rose Blush (pale pink) 18 ct. canvas.  Here's what it ended up looking like:

But even after I finished the pink model, I wondered what would happen if I added yet another type of metallic thread as a subtle accent color.  This time I chose a finer metallic -- Nordic Gold ND12 -- and followed this graph (which adds an additional layer of stitches to the previous graphs):

And here's how my final pink piece ended up:

So you see, this simple little design has LOTS of potential for multiple versions, colors, and thread choices.  Go ahead and play around with this one.... I hope you enjoy working up a few of your own combinations... and in the meantime I'll be playing with even more threads and stitches to make the next Mini Mystery... 

See you next time, Mystery stitchers!

P.S. & Update.: For those of you curious about the blue & aqua threads I used in the top photo, I used a thread I dyed myself that's very similar to Watercolours 019 "Tropic Seas" with two YLI Ribbon Flosses - 144-009 (ice blue) and 148-045 (aqua/opal). Again, please try any other thread or color combinations that you have in your stash... this is a really good design to play around with!

Mini Mystery Monday #5, part 2

Time for the next installment of our #5 Mini Mystery! It's a pretty darn easy step this week... plus being pretty as well. We're going to add some metallic this Monday, so get your brightest, sparkliest metallic ribbon in your needle, then study this graph:

You're going to add a layer of Rhodes Stars (large ones and smaller ones), plus a few long straight stitches that connect the stars to each other. Work all these new stitches amongst the variegated stitches you've already worked. Here's an up-close stitch diagram of the metallic stars you'll need to add:

And TA DA -- that's all for this week. It's a short one, I know, but adding a little bit of sparkle is always exciting no matter what size the project, don't you think?

We'll add another layer of "soft" metallic stitches next week (the more glitz the better, right?).... plus I'll share an additional/optional "upgrade" layer with you, so you'll have another way to stitch this project up if you choose to. See you then!

Mini Mystery Monday #4, pt. 3

Time to wrap up this small mystery project!!

Let's begin by adding a sweet and simple border around your snowflake design.
And I've come up with two versions, so you can decide which one you want to stitch on your project.

Here's the first one that I stitched on my model:

Start at the CENTER of the border row, counting up TWO THREADs from the tip of your snowflake, and work the zig zag row first, using 1 ply of the variegated Watercolours. Please note that each of your zig zag shapes are made up of four stitches (as numbered on the graph), until you reach each corner -- and that last corner shape is made of FIVE stitches! Next, add the sparkly metallic Smyrna Stars inside the zig zags and the Smyrna Squares in the corners - using 1 strand of your bright metallic ribbon color. Finally, do a simple backstitch row on either side of the zig zag border, to give it a clean finished outline. TA DA... FINI!

But wait a minute... if you want to try another easy border that you'd like to add beads to, stitch this one in the same manner described above:

And here's the graph for the whole design (with both borders included in the graph):

And as you can see in the whole graph, I've shown a few places to add small beads around the snowflake, if you want a little bit more sparkle.

So your sweet new mystery project should look something like this:

I hope you've enjoyed stitching this project which combines a few diagonal satin stitches with a little bit of blackwork. It's fun to see how different techniques can be combined in interesting and easy ways, don't you think?   And, here's a surprise for you: look what happens to this design when you do it in white #5 pearl cotton on RED canvas with a touch of pale gold metallic ribbon:

Isn't that totally amazing how different it looks? Makes me want to go back and stitch the previous Mini Mystery pieces on red canvas as valentine ornaments!!

So give it a try.... this little design lends itself well to all different types of threads, so I hope you get a chance to play around with it and find your own unique combinations....

Mini Mystery Monday #4, pt. 2

Are you ready to add some sparkly metallic color to your new design?

You should have your center star and surrounding "snowflake" stitched by now, so let's add some glittery excitement to your work so far...

There are several places to add some Smyrna Squares and Stars in the design you've already stitched. Using one strand of whatever metallic ribbon thread you've chosen, go ahead and follow this graph to add a bit of bling to your project:

And although I'm sure you know how to make those fun Smyrnas, here's a detail graph to use as a reminder:

How do you like your little snowflake motif now? Pretty cute, huh?

After you have your metallic stitches added, step back a moment and take a good look at this design. It should look something like mine:

Just as it looks right now, can you see how you could create a larger design by stitching four more of these snowflakes, and arranging them in a square so they just barely touch (leaving 1 or 2 canvas threads between each snowflake)? Each snowflake motif is roughly 3.5" in size, so if you did another three of them you could create a larger blackwork design that measured roughly 7" x 7" on 18 ct. canvas. (The design would be considerably smaller if you stitched it on 24 ct. Congress Cloth, as well...) Using some computer magic, here's what it would look like:

Next Monday we'll add a quick border that repeats a few of the snowflake elements and before you know it, you'll have another little project finished!
See you next week...

Mini Mystery Monday #4

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

How are you starting your new year? By reading lots of new blogs? Watching the colorful Rose Parade? Getting out the snacks in preparation for watching lots of football games or movies? Or starting a new stitching project after you've done all of the above?

I've decided to start the New Year with a simple but slightly different type of mystery ornament for you. It's small and fast and you'll see a lot of the background canvas. And because it's the first ornament of winter, let's get a piece of white 18 ct. canvas - at least 6" x 6" in size. [After you stitch this one up the first time and see what it looks like, you might want to play with it on different colors of canvas... but more on that later!] The finished size of this small design is 4" x 4" on 18 ct. canvas, and the actual thread count is 68 by 68 threads. If you want to try a smaller version on 24 ct. Congress Cloth, your design will be 3" x 3" in size - and you should use finer threads, like Caron Wildflowers (or any variegated #8 pearl cotton) with a finer metallic thread such as Kreinik # 8 Braid or Rainbow Gallery's Treasure Braid Petite.

So....first of all, I want you to think about what COLORS come to mind when you think of JANUARY. Do you think of blues and silvers? Lavenders and purples? Aquas?? Hot Pink?!? In any event, go get a variegated thread color that evokes wintry January for you (you'll only need half a skein of a Watercolours thread, if that, so go looking thru your pile of used threads for this project)... Then pick out a sparkly metallic ribbon thread that matches your variegated thread (like Ribbon Floss, Neon Rays+, or Kreinik 1/16th Ribbon).

Since I think of cool blues and purples for January, I chose a medium bluey/aqua combo, similar to Watercolours 019, "Tropic Seas" with a really icy blue Ribbon Floss 144-009, so my thread palette for this project looks like this:

Yup. Just two threads needed for this sweet little project. That makes it easy, doesn't it?

Okay, once you have your threads and canvas mounted on bars, find the center of your canvas and stitch this separated star motif, using 1 ply of your 3-ply strand of variegated Watercolours:

The "c" in the middle of the graph represents the CENTER of your canvas, so count outwards from the "c." And your star should look something like this:

Once you have that star motif stitched, you can continue with the next part of the central design, which is a sort of a snowflake design, done in BLACKWORK! But you're not using a black thread - no, no, no, you're going to continue stitching with 1 ply of the variegated Watercolours thread you've chosen. Anchor your new thread on the back of the star you've just stitched and then work outwards using this graph:

Work your blackwork design in a Running Backstitch, which is done like this:

I highly recommend using this stitch (instead of the standard backstitch, which can leave "shadow stitches" on the back of your work that show thru to the front - especially when stitching on the large 18 ct. canvas) for two important reasons:
1) it keeps the colors on your variegated thread flowing nicely together and doesn't create abrupt color changes;
2) it's tidier, as you move the stitched line over the canvas you don't create any messy "shadow stitches" that show thru to the front.

So there's the first part of your next Mini Mystery project to work on. I'll see you next Monday for the next installment, where we'll add a little sparkle to your blackwork!