Needle and Thread
While sorting, purging, and packing a couple months ago, I went through my craft box that had been packed away many months before. My goal at the time was to purge once more, so I went through the 10 or so crochet and cross-stitch magazines in the box, pulling out only the patterns that might interest me and tossing away all the crochet pumpkin and cross-stitch apple patterns. One cross-stitch pattern caught my eye and my fancy: “Classic in Blue and Gold”, part of the Hope Chest Collection from an old Just Cross-Stitch magazine. I kept it separate from my box which was to be labeled “storage” and stuck it in my “current projects” box.
I haven’t stitched in about 4 years. At about that time I finished my first large, difficult pattern that I really liked only to lose it during a trip. I had been working on it for several years and had less than half the backstitching left to do before I was done, and it vanished. During that same trip, I learned to crochet, and that took my fancy for awhile. I liked being able to make up quick small projects that were practical and giftable. I haven’t had any handwork project for a little over a year now; I haven’t really wanted one, either. But upon seeing this pattern I decided it was time not only to start a new project but to return to stitching.
It is a simple square symetric geometric “timeless design” meant for a pillowtop, but which I shall frame when I am finished. I have also transformed it from “Classic in Blue and Gold” to my own “Classic in Oatmeal and Beige-Gray-Green-Strange-Color-That-Used-
To-Be-My-Living-Room-Paint-And-I-Miss-It.”
Putting together the right colors with my mom was a trick, but all part of the fun.
So, here’s the project so far:
Good luck! How funny that you changed from blue and gold – I would’ve loved those colors. :-) I started a cross-stitch project – before Judah was born. (2 1/2 years ago) Still hope to finish it someday before he grows up – as it’s a classic pooh baby announcement type thing. Going to put it on the cover of his baby book when it’s done. If it’s ever done.
Oooo, it’s looking VERY good!! I like the colors you chose :) But for myself, I probably would have gone with the blue and gold too, but then I’ve been in a blue and yellow phase for awhile now, lol!
Oh Mystie, I love this pattern and the colors are lovely! I can hardly wait to see more of it stitched up! Good job!
Yes, Elly would like the colors of the original, although she might have changed the navy aida to what Matt and I call “Elly blue.” :)
At first I wanted to have the design in “Deep-Brick-Red-Used-To-Be-My-Dining-Room-Wall-Paint-
And-I-Miss-It-Most-Of-All,” but DMC’s selection of shades of dark red was not satisfactory. I really like this low-contrast version, though, and it’ll look good on any background — I am envisioning it on another “Sun-Dried Tomato” wall someday. :)
Oh, yes, you’re right. Navy is not one of my preferred blues. Funny that you have an “Elly blue” and you haven’t even seen my blue wall! It’s very blue. I would miss it, too, though – I know what you mean. Hope you get your “Sun-Dried-Tomato” wall fairly soon!
I did note in your “hide and seek” pictures that the wall was Elly Blue! :)