Blackwork Band Sampler Finish

My Foothills EGA Chapter started this Petite Project for our January and March meetings. I really ran with it and finished it last night (started it Thursday). It is a little under 3 inches wide and just under 9 inches long using 28 count linen. So not a big project which is GREAT sometimes.

I wanted to work from stash and the only #12 perle I had that would show up on the white fabric was black. Which is ok and the traditional colors, but when I found out I could use DMC Broder 16, I found some more inspiring choices in my stash (blue #820 & red #312). Woo hoo, I love when that happens!

I give you my version of the EGA Petite Project, Blackwork Band Sampler designed by Julie Fera. The availability of Petite Projects is just one of the benefits of being an Embroiderers Guild of America, Inc.(EGA) member. In this case, this project was a gift from the Chapter to it's members, usually they cost $3.00 (at least last time I checked) but are generally well worth it! Also many can be saved as a .pdf file at no cost. BUT, Petite Projects are a member only benefit.

Here is the front.

Black work is done using a double running stitch such that the back (below) looks like the front. In this case the only exception are the letters (and any goofs on my part). I think I did pretty good with the reverse, if I may say so!! Generally I do not worry or bother about it being reversible if the back will not show and it does not affect the front, but his time I did it all in double running stitch! It was good practice.

It was a VERY fun project. I worked from the top using the master chart and found a few small errors, the only one I did not notice in time was that the instructions say 5 threads between bands 1 & 2, but there was only 4 on the master. I just left it that way and made sure I did the same for the last two bands (also 4 on the master, but 5 on the instructions). Since it looks fine, I am not going to worry about it!! Now I just need to decide how to finish finish it, but I have a few ideas.

Happy Stitching All!!!

Sampler Sunday

I thought I'd show you how far along I am with my band sampler from Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly. It is a sampler they are presenting this year in three parts. This is the top half of the section from the Summer issue (which is has part 2 of 3). So far this is all I have been stitching for the summer and hope to get caught up before the Fall issue comes out!!

I showed you the top third finished on this post.

That is about all for today!!

Editors note: I meant to post this Sunday evening, but stitched instead! So it is Sampler Sunday a day late (and maybe more for other time zones).

What I did on my Summer Vacation.....or

Band Sampler Update

Last week my mother-in-law was in town visiting. I am very lucky and get along (and even like) my in-laws so her visit was not a bad thing! She is also very easy to entertain. We went out to eat a few times, drove over to Evergreen (it was cooler) and walked around. We went to downtown Littleton and walked around. But mostly we all hung out together at the house. She reading, hubby on the computer or watcing TV or doing little things around the house (like laundry :) ), and I mostly stitched!!  Truely a good time was had by all despite the record high temps (house has air conditioning). Miss Maddie slept as usual.

So with all that stiching time I made pretty good progress on my band sampler and thought I'd share.

 Below is a close-up of the left side completed

 Below is a close up of the rest of the piece still being worked on.

This section is the first part of the second part of the three part series (got that?) Go here to see the entire top part (first third of the sampler).  The last third should be in the Fall issue of Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly and I hope to be caught up by then---could need another vacation!

The world's longest band sampler??

I don't know if it will make the world record book, but Sharon B over at Pin Tangle has posted the latest about her For the Love of Stitching Sampler  (a band sampler) which includes the latest band (#447) and some history about the project. It is 74 feet 8 inches (2275.84 cm) long and she has more to add! Do check it out, it is wonderfully amazing.