1. Key tips
I have previously bought my 28 count hand dyed Antique Almond Cashel linen from Anita Little Stitches in Texas, USA. However, people are telling me that it's not made anymore and they recommend 28 count Gingerbread linen from Picture This Plus, or Speculaas hand dyed fabric from Country Stitch in New Zealand. Just be sure it's 28 count or your village will be tiny!
The Gingerbread Village patterns are available from some local needlework shops, or www.123stitch.com or directly from The Victoria Sampler as PDFs.
Sadly The Victoria Sampler closed at the end of 2021, and I don't think accessory packs are no longer available. They were great because the special beads and buttons are part of what makes these houses so beautiful.
I'm a member of a Facebook group called Victoria Sampler Chat Group and the people there are very helpful. Anyone can ask to join.
I put base plates on each of my cottages, even if they are not specified in the pattern. I feel it finishes the cottage nicely, and allows a place for me to record my name and the year I made it.
I have written a blog post explaining how I assemble these 3D cottages (called "finishing"). Click here for my latest tips and tricks for finishing.
2. Links to my blog posts
Below is a list of links to all my blog posts about making my village. Hopefully you will find them useful.
Dec 2013 - The Gingerbread House and the Gingerbread Church
April 2014 - Gingerbread Bakery progress
15 August 2014 - assembling the Bakery
17 August 2014 - The House, the Church, the Bakery and the Candy Cane cottage all finished
August 2015 - Gingerbread Haunted House is finished
Nov 2015 - Finishing tips
Nov 2015 - the village to date, including the Haunted House
Dec 2015 - the Christmas Tree Etui
Dec 2016 - the Gingerbread Quilt Shop
Dec 2018 - the Gingerbread Needlework Shop
Dec 2019 - Updated finishing tips for the Gingerbread Village
Jan 2020 - The Gingerbread Retreat Cottage
Now I'm ready to make the Gingerbread Flower Shop.
3. Photos of each of my cottages
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| Gingerbread House |
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| Gingerbread Church |
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| Gingerbread Bakery |
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| Candy Cane Cottage |
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| Gingerbread Haunted House |
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| Gingerbread Christmas Tree Etui |
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| Gingerbread Quilt Shop |
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| Gingerbread Needlework Shop |
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| Gingerbread Retreat Cottage |
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| the biscornu and scissor keep |
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| a little stocking decoration |
6 comments:
Thank you for the finishing tips. The visual guide is great! How do you feel about the quilt shop pattern? My concern is that it does not fit into the "Village" concept and it would look out of place.
Wendy, these are just exquisite! Thanks for sharing, I have never seen them before. I gave up cross stitch years ago (when patchwork and now quilting took over) as I was bored with the designs, but maybe I need to have a look again! I am always on the look out for things to do sitting in the evening. My La Passa is way off being finished, but I have almost put the last stitches in the 4th large rosette, so feel I am on the downward slide now. That's the theory until I look at and count how many small rosettes there are!!!! I'm loving doing it and have taken great inspiration from yours and your mother's quilts. I love to see what you are always working on.Thanks again for sharing so much. Off to have another closer look at all the detail on these houses.
Hi, What size are the houses roughly, i'm trying to get some perspective of them.
I rarely succomb to using the now over-used word "awesome," but these truly are awesome. Eye feast, not just candy!
You do remarkable work, you have such an eye for matching fabrics I would be scared to match. You neutrals aren't neutrals in the real world, but then how you use them they become neutral. WOW. Then you do this magnificant Gingerbread Village. LOVE IT! Thank you for sharing your vision.
SO BEAUTIFUL. Thank you for the hints and tips. I'm hoping to buy them this coming year but will have to wait and see how the economy will be. Not too optimistic. Finishing seems sensible enough but the hardanger is scary as can be. To do all that work and make one little mistake or more would be awful but it does add to the beauty. Maybe I'll have to try a small hardanger ornament first. I'm working on my Farmhouse Christmas and want to finish it first. I have 2 out of 9 finished. I put it aside in 2018 when my precious dog passed away. Took a long time to get my crafting mojo back after that. Merry Christmas.
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