I finished the birds on Thursday -- eyes, beaks, feet, and added the "snow" in Kreinik #4 braid in color #21. The snow doesn't show in the photo, but it is there on the evergreen boughs and under the birds' feet.Then, today, I started working on the cuff of the stocking. I stitched the red banding which is textured with white #8 perle smyrna crosses. I began the name and at the top you can see the beginning of the second red/white border of the cuff. That is the top of the stocking.
Because I started the stocking too high and don't have enough fabric on top, I have had to adjust the cuff area. I am eliminating two sets of double herringbone stitches in green that are charted between the red borders and the name, and I selected an alphabet that is only 12 stitches high, instead of the one that comes with the design which is 15 stitches high. I also changed the color for the name from red to green.
After I finish the name and the top border, I have to go back and fill in some red "berries" in the side borders. Looks like I just might have the whole stocking stitched by the end of this month like I hoped.
Grandma

Birds

I started the birds yesterday and am almost finished with them...I need to add the "snow" which is DMC 5200 white with bf to give it sparkle! There are also large eyelets in the "valleys" of the branches. One of the things I should say about this stocking is that I flipped most of it. I left the Bear and the birds the way they are actually charted, but because the rest of the family stockings have the foot going to the right, (and of course this one which which dgd picked out has the foot to the left.) I decided to flip the foot and also the guys on top as well as the borders along the sides so they all line up --the top and the bottom.
Still not sure what to do about the rest (going up) as I really don't have all that much fabric on top to play with.
The birds should be finished by Thursday and that's when I will really have to decide about the name area and all.
Grandma

I've put my foot down

That is the foot of the Christmas stocking!
As you can see, we now have the guys on top, the Bear, and ALL the guys on the bottom! Nest up are the cardinals along the top and dgd's name. I do have to shorten the top 'cause I started the Bear a little too high, but it will work. It's either that, or attach some of the extra linen from the bottom to the top and stitch through the two layers....

but we have to get there first! I also still have some smyrna crosses to put in along side of the Bear in the border -- they are red against the green braid. Soon the stocking will be ready for its trip to the midwest and my favorite finishing friend!

Hope to get this completely stitched before the end of this month -- haha, I can dream, no?

Grandma

I'm Baaaack!

I know it's been a couple of weeks since I put anything up here. We did some traveling and visiting, and I really didn't get a lot of stitching done, but I DID do some more on the stocking.

The "candy cane" stripe on the right is the front of the toe of the stocking, so the foot part is almost finished...there's another blue Santa and the snowmen need to get their arms and noses and one still needs his earmuffs and scarf.

In between I also finished the second installment of the Alla Turca Mystery Sampler by Pelin Tezer.

It looks lighter in this photo than it actually is as it is DMC 311 on White Linen. I really like this way of stitching, and have a couple more of these "Mystery" pieces in the kitted and ready to stitch pile. It is nice to go between the very colorful designs and the monochromatic ones.

I will try to add more soon......Grandma

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Progress

After a wonderfully uneventful flight, we're back in the apartment where my camera charger is and I can now show the progress on my GD's stocking! The teddies and wreathes, and the Santa and Snowman (there will be two of them) are almost done....Santa needs eyes, and the snowman needs arms and a nose.

There is another column of blue santas to the right of the green Holly to be stitched...this week I expect.

Here is a shot of the entire stocking so far...There are cardinals and a name to be stitched at the top above the elf, sheep and teddy bear.
More to come on this.....Grandma