Heaven on Earth

Heaven on Earth

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Stockings and more stockings







I've been busy with Christmas Stockings.  I am finally done with every one's needlepoint stocking but mine.  They've only been 28 years in the making (give or take as there were long periods where I never worked on them).  I'm glad to have them done in time for Christmas this year.  There was a little snafu in that the finisher put the wrong braid on my husbands and had to redo it.  I took it out of the bag carefully and the braid immediately ripped off.  Seems she was in a big hurry and didn't stitch it down tightly or very close together.  I'm still debating whether or not to fix it myself or take it back to the shop for them to have her redo it.  I'm not very happy with it.

The two knitted socks are blocked and the ends woven in.  I still need to attach the twisted braid that I made at the top of both socks.  They were a Dale of Norway pattern.  I like them but can't recommend the pattern.  The directions and graph don't work at all.  When making decreases it was a free-for-all as to the actual stitches working in pattern (not at all).  So glad to be "almost finished with them".
 I was very happy with the bullion stitches, french knots and crewel stitches I used in the hair and the pom-poms on the elves' hats.  When I started this group of 6 Melissa Shirley hand painted pet it-point canvases 28 years ago, the style was flat continental type needlepoint.  Now stitchers are adding great dimensional stitches.  I made mine the same as the first stocking I did 28 years ago, with just a bit of 3 dimensional stitches on them.  I wanted them all to match.

Let's hope I'm around next year to see my stocking (number 6) hung with the others on the mantel.  That's assuming of course, that I get mine done.  I think I'll start as soon as this year's presents are wrapped.

P.S.  Please excuse the poor quality of lighting in the photos.  It's dark and snowing and there's thunder.  I could not get a better photo.  Maybe I'll try again in ....OH SAY, March.  Winter has definitely arrived here.






7 comments:

  1. Oh WOW Bonnie -- they're all stunning! I love the close-up shot of Father Christmas. I'm guessing one could spend hours noticing all of the little details in all the stockings you've finished. What a wonderful keepsake. Beautiful!!!

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  2. Beautiful stockings. I love the dimension you gave to Santa's beard. You must be so proud to hang them up on the mantel. I would be.

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  3. The stockings are beautiful and the hours of work you put in ! Sainthood for you ;) Winter has arrived here as well and I love it but I have to agree it's hard on pictures. Grab a cuppa and light the fireplace,,,,,snuggle in....my kind of weekend.

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  4. Well worth the wait, that's for sure! These stockings are treasures, Bonnie. I sure love the dimension you've added; simply amazing!

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  5. Just three words, which I will shout to you.

    BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL!! xx

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  6. Thanks for your kind words my friends. I hope my family will treasure them. They were a labor of love for sure. I

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  7. They are all beautiful..... each one a work of art, and a labor of love.

    Hope you have a wonderful week, and a very Happy Thanksgiving.

    (It's very cold and dreary looking here today... hope it clears out for Thanksgiving :) )

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