Friday 10 July 2020

Pandemic Sampler by Long Dog Samplers (1st post)

I've always admired very complex cross stitch samplers.  A couple of week ago Long Dog Samplers launched a Pandemic Sampler to mark the chaos that 2020 has been.  




The full view!!!

I loved the look of the sampler, so I jumped on board and I've started it already.  

I asked my local needlework shop, Nancy's Stitch Studio, to get me in a ginormous piece of 28 count linen in Flax colourway.  I've decided to stitch my sampler with 2 stands of Madeira silk thread. I know it's going to take a tonne of thread, but silk threads are a dream to stitch with and it's hard to go back to cotton thread once you've experienced silk thread. 
 
Day 1





 

I love how it's looking so far! There's backstitching to come, but I'll do all that at the end.  That bird will have feathers in his hat to make him look even more snazzy.  

I know a lot of stitchers start their cross stitch in the top left hand corner, but I prefer to start in the centre and then I know that my design is centered.  



So what have you been up to this week? Have you started anything new?

I feel bad that I haven't had time to reply to comments or linkups lately.  My work has been busy and family life is busy too.  Everyone is making up for lost time now that the COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted in New Zealand.  I'm on the committee for our guild's quilt show in August which is going to be fantastic.  I'm also on the local cricket club committee and we're preparing for the season. 

Don't worry - we do appreciate how fortunate we are to be free to meet again, but the price we are paying is that the borders are closed for the foreseeable future. 

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10 comments:

Gretchen Weaver said...

You are so fortunately that you have a wise Prime Minister and you live on an island. I'm living vicariously through you now. Enjoy all the getting together with family and friends, enjoy all the quilting and shopping! Your counted cross stitch progress looks good so far. That's not my thing. I have the patience to sit and hand quilt for hours at a time but cross stitching is too much! Happy stitching!

Daryl @ Patchouli Moon Studio said...

Wow that looks complicated to stitch and keep track of it all, especially in black.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I would have a hard time to keep track of all those stitches but I'm sure you can do it!

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Oh my stars - that is going to be incredible!!! So glad you are getting back to normal over there!!.....were a little behind *sigh*

audrey said...

This is a great looking sampler! If anyone can do it, you can!:)

Marly said...

Wow, that's a sampler! I admire your skill and persistence. I started an enormous one more than forty years ago: the illustration of a nursery rhyme. After five years my husband said that I would have it finished for the grandchildren. He was wrong! They are now too old too! Great-grandchildren? Who knows!

moosecraft said...

I've downloaded this sampler as well. So very generous of Long Dog Samplers to offer this as a freebie! Can not imagine the time spent designing this one. You have an excellent start on it!

FlourishingPalms said...

Whoa Wendy! Now that I've seen your project in full (versus the snapshot on Instagram), I KNOW you're a glutton for punishment! :-) What a big project to undertake! Though I know that's your style, and I am also certain you will finish this, one way or another. Good for you! When we have a passion for something, there's no stopping us! Keeping enjoying your normal life again, as we are all hoping New Zealand continues to be safe. The end isn't in sight... not even in the distance, and our struggles to be "normal" are real.

Sue Rostron said...

I love that sampler. But cross titch does my head in every time I try it.

Rebecca Grace said...

Oh my gosh, Wendy -- that cross stitch is daunting, but it's going to be spectacular!!