Project a Month: Noel Pattern by Slow Evenings

Stitching this lovely Noel Pattern is how I will close out my year of Projects a Month! Slow Evenings is the Etsy shop of Miriam Polak who you might know from Instagram as @slow_evenings_embroidery.

Although there were MANY patterns I'd have loved to stitch this month, I chose this pattern because it was downloadable, and with an eye for speed, frankly, as I'd love to finish before the year is done!

About the Pattern

Having a look at this pattern, I must say I am thoroughly impressed! This PDF is 23 pages - filled with all the information you could ever need, plus the pattern, a beautifully illustrated stitch guide, and 2 color guides - light and dark. There are step by step instructions for every stitch! I was very pleasantly surprised at the detail included in this pattern.

This pattern will give me one last time this year to work on my long and short stitch, on those big, beautiful block letters. I can't wait!

Again, this is the Noel Pattern by Slow Evenings, if you'd like to get in one last stitch before Christmas!

12 Months of Christmas: Lady Dancing

Here is Lady Dancing, #11 in the 12 Days series of patterns by Mmmcrafts - and I couldn't be happier with how I stitched her! Sometimes, not always, I was very happy with the colors I chose, and this was certainly a happy moment in my choices.

I did a few thing differently in my stitching of the pattern, if I don't remember something and you have a question, please point it out in the comments! First up, I couched the lines at the bottom of the skirt and on the edges of the shawl, because I couldn't stitch a straight line for some reason! I blame chemo. I also used felt pieces for the "leaves" under the flower on the skirt - thought that looked a bit bolder and more graphic (and neater, since I stink at straight lines). :)

You may also notice that in the overskirt above, I have the position reversed! I noticed my mistake too late, tried to make it work, and ended up having to re-stitch it. Chemo brain struck here, too. Be careful to check the alignment of your pieces, don't be like me! :)

I didn't have a black pipe cleaner for the hair, so I got creative:

I braided black crochet thread and glued it over a green pipe cleaner - I like the way it turned out!

You may also recall that the wooden beads I am using are larger - no reason other than wanting to use what I have rather than buy more. I didn't enlarge the hairpiece any, so it fits a bit smaller, but I didn't mind the look.

Here was my partially finished lady - I rather liked the color contrast here:

Here is my finished lady, with a few of the threads I used:

You'll see I once again used DMC Etoile floss in C915 and C471, and a few other shades of regular DMC floss. All felt used was Benzie Design, I mixed and matched from a few different palettes.

So it's a wrap on Lady Dancing - stay tuned for Lord A Leaping next!

Previous Stitchalong Posts

#1-2: Partridge and Pear; Turtle Dove

#3: French Hen

#4: Colly Bird

#5: Gold Ring

#6: Goose-a-laying

#7: Swan-a-swimming

#8: Maid-a-milking

#9: Drummer Drumming

#10: Piper Piping

12 Months of Christmas: Piper Piping

Well, here we are at our final month of the year, and the suspense is on, huh? Will I finish this series in time for Christmas? Hmmm, indeed! Well, I am happy to be done with this cute Piper Piping, which means I have only 2 left to go before I'm done! This is #10 in the series of 12 Days patterns by Mmmcrafts on Etsy, in case you would like to stitch along!

I last left you with this teaser of my pieces all cut out and threads selected:

Again, I am using all Benzie Design felt - I have started getting a few questions about which specific colors I used - would anyone like that info in these posts? Which colors are you most interested in? Let me know in the comments, please!

Also pictured are 2 of the 3 DMC Etoile floss shades I used. I love the versatility of that pea/olive green floss - I used it on the green felt coat and the beige-ish felt hat, and it looked great on both.

Here's a pic of my process stitching, apologies for the night photo:

I love the Ecru Etoile floss - it has a really nice texture to it - again, it doesn't lay exactly flat, but I think that gives it a nice crewel effect.

Here's the back side of the coat - I used Etoile again on the pink #10 - I believe it was 4 strands there, and all 6 strands for the heavy pink border of the coat. As I've gone along, I've become more and more liberal with my use of glue - I was afraid to muck up my stitching at first, but now I love the way it makes this process so much quicker!

There's something downright charming about this little guy - and as so many have been saying of their finishes on Instagram, every finish is my new favorite!

Here's my finished work, along with a few of the threads I used:

What do you think? I am loving these colors so far, and feeling so lucky to have a huge tin of sparkly Etoile to choose from!

Here's a sneak peek of the colors I've chosen for the next ornament - #11 Lady Dancing!

JOIN THE 12 MONTHS OF CHRISTMAS STITCHALONG!

This stitchalong is easy, and no-pressure! To join, visit Larissa's shop to purchase the Twelve Days pattern of your choice. Tag your pictures with the hashtag #twelvedaysornaments and #12monthsofChristmas on Instagram so we can find them.

Leave a comment here with a link to your blog, or any space on the internet or Instagram where you are tracking your progress. And don't miss the page Larissa has set up with lots of tips for stitching this series: http://mmmcrafts.blogspot.com/p/twelve-days.html.

Previous Stitchalong Posts

#1-2: Partridge and Pear; Turtle Dove

#3: French Hen

#4: Colly Bird

#5: Gold Ring

#6: Goose-a-laying

#7: Swan-a-swimming

#8: Maid-a-milking

#9: Drummer Drumming

12 Months of Christmas: Goose a laying

Hi all! Here I am with #6 Goose-a-Laying from the 12 Days of Christmas patterns by Mmmcrafts, for our 12 Months of Christmas Stitchalong. Sorry again for the delay, what can I say here, but chemo? I am hanging in there and doing all my stitching on my best days!

I had a really hard time deciding on colors for this one, probably because I am trying my best to use what felt colors I have, rather than buying more, and what I have at this point are largely, unmatched scraps. :)

Honestly I'm not very happy with the colors I picked for the front of my egg, but I do love my goose. I once again used a turquoise sequin and gold bead for the eye, rather than a French knot, simply because I'm not very confident of my French knots.

And I do want to say that I owe the entire finish of this project to my OttLite! I received a free OttLite several months ago from OttLite to do a review (which has been slightly delayed due to my chemo schedule) and I whipped it out during one of many early morning chemo-induced insomnia wakeups.

I still intend to do a thorough review of my OttLite, but I just wanted to say I was very impressed with the amount of light my lamp produces, and the way it just makes colors and details pop. These in-process photos were taken in the middle of the night with my OttLite.

One of the many side effects of the AC chemo regimen I was on was trouble with my vision - blurry, itchy eyes, and it's just never bright enough for me to craft - this lamp really helped with that.

I really enjoyed working on this pattern - the egg works up super quick, and there's so many lovely shapes on the goose as well - I think it would work in so many different colorways. Again I used felt from Benzie Design, and stuck to a similar palette of teals, pinks and metallics for my threads.

What do you think of my stitching so far? Inspired yet to join me?

JOIN THE 12 MONTHS OF CHRISTMAS STITCHALONG!

Would you like to join in? Remember, joining this stitchalong is easy, and no-pressure! To join, visit Larissa's shop to purchase the Twelve Days pattern of your choice. Tag your pictures with the hashtag #twelvedaysornaments and #12monthsofChristmas on Instagram so we can find them.

Leave a comment here with a link to your blog, or any space on the internet where you are tracking your progress. And don't miss the page Larissa has set up with lots of tips for stitching this series: http://mmmcrafts.blogspot.com/p/twelve-days.html.

Next up is Swan-a-swimming! Please join us - let's stitch!

Previous Stitchalong Posts

#1-2: Partridge and Pear; Turtle Dove

#3: French Hen

#4: Colly Bird

#5: Gold Ring

12 Months of Christmas: Gold Ring

Without further delay, here is the Gold Ring, all stitched up, #5 in the series of patterns in the 12 Months of Christmas Stitchalong! Apologies for taking so long in my finish, but with 2 surgeries since we last spoke, and a week-long vacation, it was very hard to get motivated to finish!

I had all my pieces cut out before my first surgery in May, right on time:

My motivation level was non existent however, as I recovered, and it was no fault of the lovely pattern! The pieces patiently waited until this week, when I picked them up and finished in a record 3 days!

Why so fast? This pattern has much less embroidery in it, and if you use glue, rather than hand-sewing little bits down, as I do, it could go even faster.

I once again used many of the same familiar threads I've used in the previous patterns in this series. I love how the pink metallic thread looks as a bevel on the central gem:

Here's a closer look at the metallic thread:

Overall, this pattern included quite a bit more hand-sewing vs. hand embroidery, but I found it very enjoyable and easy.

I liked the ring even without the decorative bands sewed on...

I'm not impressed with how I stitched the band decoration - my stitches being rather uneven. Nevertheless, I was determined to press on!

A look at the back:

And the finished front:

Another ornament finished, and only 2 months late. ;) What do you think of this Gold Ring? My take on this one is that it is quick, and very beginner friendly!

JOIN THE 12 MONTHS OF CHRISTMAS STITCHALONG!

Would you like to join in? Remember, joining this stitchalong is easy, and no-pressure! To join, visit Larissa's shop to purchase the Twelve Days pattern of your choice. Tag your pictures with the hashtag #twelvedaysornaments and #12monthsofChristmas on Instagram so we can find them.

Leave a comment here with a link to your blog, or any space on the internet where you are tracking your progress. And don't miss the page Larissa has set up with lots of tips for stitching this series: http://mmmcrafts.blogspot.com/p/twelve-days.html.

Next up is Goose-a-Laying! Won't you join? Let's stitch!

Previous Stitchalong Posts

#1-2: Partridge and Pear; Turtle Dove

#3: French Hen

#4: Colly Bird