June Smalls: Maybe Stuff That Doesn't Quite Fit but Still Fits

Hiya! It's official. We're halfway through 2018. Maybe you don't want to think about that so let's think about Smalls instead!  We haven't had a linkup post in a while; I assume life just overruled blogging like so often happens.  I'll have to do a bit of shoehorning for this one; there's something new for this blog. ;b

click for info!

First up, the sparkly red floss has been delivered and incorporated into last month's Smalls "finish" so it goes from Finished-Until-Floss-Acquisition to Finished-Finished which is always exciting in the stitching world.

finished for reals

Kind of a simple little felt "frame" for it.  Not quite a flatfold, not quite an ornament.  There seems to be an overwhelming abundance of felt in my stash so I decided I should make use of some of it.  I really like the dark blue felt; it sparkles!  It's also very stiff so I can just prop the whole thing up.  I need to get one of those little picture stands.  Plus a few random pearly buttons for the corners.  Stars would've been nice but maybe too much for a simple design...?  I dunno, STASH BUSTING.

Americana collection grows~

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Next up, a "small" washcloth. I wanted to make another of those star stitch cloths, but this time for our use. Plus I used up the last bit of the moondance yarn which resulted in a smaller and not square washcloth.  I got a little carried away making the i-cord loop so it looks absurdly large on this little cloth hah. It's a little wonky in the picture since I didn't bother blocking it.  But!  I used up the rest of the yarn!  And used up a portion of a small ball of white leftover cotton.  STASH BUSTING.

it will still function!

Technical Details

• "Simple Star Stitch Cloth" freebie pattern by A J S King on ravelry.
• Needles: #9s.
• Yarn: Lily Sugar'n'Cream Ombres; Colorway: moondance.
• My ravelry project page here.
• Started: June ??, 2018; finished June 25, 2018, unknown hours.
  

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Lastly, apparently I have small or possibly alien feet.  I have accomplished something magical for me -- my first pair of socks, YAY.  This was an adventure in seeing how many times I could restart these things before binding off.

fun colors

The first sock I think I ripped back three times.  The first time my gauge was so far off it wasn't even funny.  The stitch gauge was almost double and row gauge was more than double (!!!) what was called for (yes, yes, tight knitter, we've been through this before).  Once I figured that out and switched to appropriate needles, the sock as written was a bit too big so I had to rip it out and readjust.  The third time the sock actually started looking like a sock and fitting like a sock until a certain kitty decided it looked more like a toy and pulled it off of the needles out and undid half the darn thing.  It was easier to murder the cat start over.

Add caption

Since I did one at a time, I tried doing the second one on double points in an attempt to address the ladders between the circulars.  I think maybe five needles would've been better than four but you do your best with what you got.  I didn't like working with the DPNs so after turning the heel (of toe ups, hah) I though meh, and ripped it out to restart on the circulars.  I was curious to know how they would turn out with #6 needles but didn't want to chance them being drastically different sizes.  They are still a little different as I was playing around with the stitch counts on the heels.

Technical Details

• "Basic Knee High Toe Up Socks" freebie pattern by Leslie (Single Stitch) on ravelry.
• Needles: #5 circulars/DPNs.
• Yarn: Premier Yarns Wool-Free Sock, Colorway: oasis.
• My ravelry project page here.
• Started: February 16, 2018; finished June 14, 2018, unknown hours.

I really liked making socks even though these took, like, 8 billion years to finish.  There will definitely be more in my future but I really hope that I can address the ladder issues.   They bug me. But, ALSO STASH BUSTING.

This totally clears me for buying more stash right? \:D/

May Smalls: July!

Hiya! I know I mentioned last post that I didn't have anything prepared for Smalls but was going to go rummaging in the digital stash to see if there was anything exciting in the hoard.

click for info!

Success!  Although maybe it's not exciting, this was a simple, cute stitch that will give me something else to hang/set out for my favorite holiday.

more 'merica

I changed a few things and am fighting a hard battle over trying to not change another.  I added the white in the flag.  It felt incomplete without it.  The fireworks position and shape were altered a bit.  The sparkly floss did not want to be straight but I guess that's okay as fireworks aren't straight...  I tend to like symmetry in my patterns and I am struggling with myself over whether or not to frog "appy" and move it over one stitch.  It bothers me that there is not a "one-space" gap between the H and the rest of the word!

Technical Details

• 4th of July by Tiny Modernist, found here on her freebie page (not a direct link, scroll down a few patterns)
• Two over one on white 14-count Aida.
• Approximately 4 hours stitching. 

what to do, what to do

Mine is technically not complete as I wanted to do the little fireworks (there are supposed to be four total) in sparkly floss and I did not have red like I originally thought!  I had my "odds and ends" box out on the table when my husband returned home and he questioned what I was doing with it (thinking organizing).  I lamented that I didn't have sparkly red and being the good enabler he is, promptly told me to go buy it haha.  Unfortunately none of the local stores carry DMC Light Effects...  I am hoping to venture out sometime this weekend to the Big City and maybe I'll have better luck there.

Also I am still waffling over how to finish-finish it.  Originally, I thought to make a felt ornament but I also think a flatfold would be nice beside the little flag finished during last month's Smalls!  I do not have any patriotic fabric though.   I usually watch the remnant bins for holiday cottons but gosh, it's hard to find anything but Christmas!  Maybe after this weekend or the 4th of July there will be options.
 

See you next time! :D/

April Smalls: 'Merica

Hello to you all!  Here we are for a proper Small SAL post at a proper Smalls SAL time.   I rummaged through my Drawer of Wonder and chose this little kit to work up.  I did not notice it was double-sided even though it says it in plain English right on the front of the package.  Luckily even double-sided it is quite small sooooo...

click for info!

Of course this kit was found in a thrift store, this time by my mother.  I thought perhaps I could cheat on the French knots with little glass beads but alas, they turned out just a tad bit too large.  I don't hate French knots but this plastic canvas was so tough to get the needle through with just stitching.  Then to go on after with the knots... eh, I persevered.  100 little knots later, I had a completed American flag.

Klondike, don't eat that

Boy, they knew what they were doing with this kit!  Each length of floss was just enough to finish one line of a stripe.  The plastic canvas was cut to size which led to a terrifying second flag until I knew it would fit!  The kit also came with the tiny dowel and stand so it could be displayed upright.  And the front and back were mirrored images so it can look correct no matter which way the wind blows.

little LEGO dude, don't eat that

This is actually my first Americana anything if you can believe that.  I'll set it on the little shelf beside the door all by its lonesome self (and the ever-present candy for guests and a husband coming/going) during all the flag-y holidays.   Yay!

Technical Details

• "Stitch 'N Hang kit #2001: American Flag
• Three-over-one on white 14-count plastic canvas
• Approximately 8 hours stitching.

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This is obviously not for the Smalls SAL as it is very much not small (although they certainly had a lot of "small" issues).  I took Final Fantasy III and VIII back to the framer to address some of problems.  She straightened out III and VIII got a new cutout design entirely. In case you've forgotten the speech bubble:

before, plus bonus VII

after - the difference

I am still not happy with the workmanship of this framer and unfortunately I do not think I will be going back to her.  There was not the attention to detail that I guess I was expecting.  III never should have been presented crooked although to be fair, when they are viewed at a flat angle, it is not noticeable.  But wouldn't a framer set them upright?  Or notice the fabric is warped?  I mean it's not like cross-stitch fabric doesn't have "lines" to make sure things are even...  I can still tell it's a bit crooked in the "fixed" version. Is this something only a stitcher (particularly the one who did the work) would notice?  I will say this (again) though: The fabric for III was horrible and could have very well contributed to this drama.

VIII... I'm not sure how I feel about it though it certainly looks better than before.  It was not re-stretched so there is an outline of the previous cutout mats' shape on the fabric.  There is some sort of water damage on the red mat, under the glass.  The red mat was not supposed to have the little "flairs" at the corners.  Apparently the mat cutter available could not do the curve all the way?  She did not discuss this with me and instead just left it (this is the second time I felt like I was "supposed" to like it so she wouldn't have to do anything else).  I did not want to argue the point so I just went with "they're fine" to be done with it.  They may grow on me as I do not hate them, just the surprise that they were.  The water staining and the outlines aren't acceptable.  That doesn't inspire confidence on how the actual stitching was handled.

All-in-all, kind of an underwhelming experience especially for projects that I get SO OVERLY EXCITED over.   Maybe these pieces are just too weird in the cross-stitch world to be easily framed.  I have saved the information and will keep future finished stitches until I can do the 200 miles (~320km) drive to my old framer.  I will probably bring these two with me and see if she can do anything to fix them.  I am incredibly patient, but on the flipside, incredibly picky.  Or maybe my pickiness is justified this time.

Okay, I've complained enough hah~ Tune in next time for another edition of Ishkabibble Babble! :D