NFSAL 2019 - September

Welcome to the ninth NFSAL of 2019! This month I remembered that I was supposed to be using only one colour for the NFSAL this year - sorry about that.On the bright side I did have time to stitch it this month!

Friday Freebie: Ornamental Symmetry

This week I was in the mood to use greys for the pattern - nice cool colours to offset the heat of the day as it's been pretty hot here lately and it looks like the heat is here to stay for a bit too! I added the blue as it needed a little colour and this one seemed to fit the bill of being a nice cool colour.

A Fob a Month - 4

 

A bit later in the day than usual as my youngest son came back from a 4 day school trip today and had lots of stories to tell of his time away. I also had some issues when I attempted (and failed) to get this into a pdf file - I shall have to try this again when I'm not so tired. This month's fob was entirely inspired by Pinkythepink's Mucha princess patterns which can be found in her Etsy shop. The blended threads give a smooth gradient of colour making them trick the eye into thinking there is no colour gradient at all. That also gives away this month's challenge in the pattern: blended colours. 

Please don't close the browser tab or window and run away screaming! It's actually not that daunting, it's just a matter of selecting one thread of each colour you need and using them together, you don't need to do anything special at all while stitching that you wouldn't normally do anyway when using 2 threads to stitch with.

Generally the difficulty with blended threads is when you have to do a few stitches here and there but as all the stitches of the same colour are touching one another and you only need to use a combination once it should be fairly straight forward

This month's pattern gives you two options that you can use depending on how you want to finish it. If you wish to make the example I have made you will need less thread and will end up with an almost round shaped octagon. Alternatively you can make it square and perhaps turn it into a biscornu, I am giving the pattern for both.

The pattern also gives you more options! Namely you can choose which princesses colours to use - do you want to do Bella, Merida or Rapunzel? All 3? Or even another colour? The choice is yours! All 3 colour options are below along with a more muted brown in case none are to your liking.

The fob is 1 1/2" high and wide. 28 x 28 stitches

What you need to make the example above:

• 2 pieces of 4" x 4" 18ct off white Aida
• DMC threads in the colour of your choice of fob found in keys below. 
• Your stuffing of choice
• Green thread for the cord, I used the colour that is 0 in the key.
• DMC or thread to coordinate 
• TOHO 11-773 seed beads, they are bluish with a iridescent coating 

You can download the pattern for the fob above here
You can download the biscornu version here 

Notes:

• The black lines indicate the sewing (inner line) and cutting lines (outer line)
• Use 2 strands when 1 colour is mentioned
• Use 1 strand of each colour when 2 colours are mentioned
• If you choose to make the biscornu you will need 2 pieces of 4 1/2 " square 18ct Aida or enough for 34 x 34 stitches of your chosen fabric.

Alternate colourways: 

Bella:

0                              3853
1                              3853 & 3854
2                              3854
3                              3854 & 3855
4                              3855
5                              3855 & 745
6                              745
7                              745 & 677
8                              677
9                              Ecru (only for the biscornu)


Merida:

0                              3808 
1                              3809
2                              3809 & 3810     
3                              3810
4                              3810 & 597
5                              597
6                              597 & 598
7                              598
8                              598 & 3813
9                              Ecru (only for the biscornu)


Rapunzel:

0                              552
1                              552 & 208
2                              208
3                              508 & 209
4                              209
5                              209 & 210
6                              210
7                              210 & 211
8                              211
9                              Ecru (only for the biscornu)


Earth:

0                              300
1                              300 & 975
2                              975
3                              975 & 3827
4                              3827
5                              3827 & 976
6                              976
7                              976 & 977
8                              977
9                              Ecru (only for the biscornu)

Instructions: First stitch the front of the fob, the other side can be either left unstitched or stitched with the same or another colour.

Use the inner black stitch lines to make a template, mark it out on the back of the fabric and cut the pieces out about 1/4 inch away from the inner stitching lines. Pin the loop in place making sure to have them tucked between the layers and only have the ends that will be on the inside sticking out. Turn, stuff, and sew the final seam shut.

Then add the beading by stitching a single bead in place till you reach a corner. at each corner put 3 beads on the needle when you make the stitch to make a little "picot" with the beds. At the bottom of the fob make a group of beaded tassels. I did 2 with 8 beads, one with 10 and the last with 12. You make them by putting the desired number of beads onto the needle, skipping 3 and sliding the needle back down the remaining beads making sure to put the needle through the fabric to attach each one before you start the next.

I hope you enjoy these patterns, please do share a link to yours if you make them!