Sampler SAL - Page 2 - Week 3

Welcome to the next part of the Sampler SAL! I'm so sorry that this is so very, very late! I have not been well and stitching has been a struggle, so it's taken a lot longer than usual to get the embroidery done to show you. It's variegated thread month and this week brings us folded thread, so you can loop start, blended with a solid, and what is often (but not always) called tweeded. There will be a catch-up post as soon as possible to get things back on track.

Sampler SAL - Page 2 - Week 2

Welcome to the next part of the Sampler SAL! This being a weekly SAL it's going to get complicated with how many parts there are, so I'm chickening out early and going for “next” instead. It's variegated thread month and this week brings us diagonals and the old up and down the column stitching!

Sampler SAL - Page 2 - Week 1

Welcome to the fifth part of the Sampler SAL! This time we are starting the second page. This month is, as I announced last week, all about variegated threads: the many ways they can be used to achieve different effects. We are starting with three ways to use the threads — one for the header and two different ways in the elements. This week most of the stitching is cross stitch aside from the page title that's done in backstitch.

Sampler SAL - Page 1 - Week 4

Welcome to the fourth part of the Sampler SAL! This time we are going to finish page one. This week we are again going to use a simple stitch to make a big impact! The stitch of this week is satin stitch! The most difficult part of satin stitch is the tension — pull too tight, and you get pulled satin stitch (where you pull the stitches tighter to pull the threads together) but that's not what we are going for this week. This week all stitching is done with two threads in the needle. I've highlighted helpful hints about the number of stitches to save you from having to count.

Sampler SAL - Page 1 - Week 3

Welcome to the third part of the Sampler SAL! This time we are going to continue with the first page. This week we are going to make stitches made up of a single simple stitch that together make something else: eyelets! The stitch is often referred to as the Algerian eyelet stitch and has several other names (as often happens with needlework stitches) I'm calling them eyelets for short. The base of all eyelets is a single stitch though they might look more complicated than that if you are unfamiliar with them. This week there are two versions of the pattern — the main pattern and a pattern with extra eyelets in case you wish to do some more to practice or because they are fun!

Sampler SAL - Page 1 - Week 2

Welcome to the second part of the Sampler SAL! This time we are going to continue with the first page. The stitches used are still very simple, but we will be doing two different stitches this time. Since visually they look more or less the same from the front I'm giving both backstitch and double running stitch — and for I think the first time ever — I'll show you the back of my work, warts and all!

Sampler SAL - Page 1 - Week 1

Welcome to the first part of the Sampler SAL! This time we are starting the first page. Initially the stitches may be simple, but it's to make sure everyone is on the same playing field moving forwards. Simple also means finished quickly, which isn't a bad thing either. Please wait with embellishing/getting creative till I indicate which spaces are available to do your own thing — there will be space on every page to personalise it with extras if you so chose — or just to practice a stitch a bit more.

Sampler SAL - SAL Announcement Post

For 2021 I thought it would be fun to explore embroidery as a whole with a bit more focus on stitches that are often used in cross stitch and also some of the fancier speciality stitches that seem so daunting when you aren't used to doing them. I also want to do a bit with some finishing methods to help make finishing that much easier.