Needlework Galleria | Mr X Stitch

Hello, hello again all my marvelous March stitchers! I hope you are all getting your creativity on and making good progress on your projects. Yeah for you! I have been busy too, or I guess I should say busier, and having a blast! LOL! Let's get started shall we? UNFINISHED BUSINESS Last month I showed parts of a valentine I was in the process of making and here is the completed project. I was able to glue all my components to the painted board, with the exception of the beads that I stitched on it. Don't be afraid to think outside the box with your cross stitch because the possibilities are endless. Don't let your ideas or projects lay dormant in your head or in a closet, not when there are so many ways you can make your own beautiful art with them. Here is the finished Valentine's Day project. Fun, fast and easy art with supplies on hand. LOVE THAT STITCH - ISOLATION STITCH Cross stitch has a wonderful variety of stitches besides its namesake that are fun to make and can lend great interest to your work too. Some just make life easier and this is one I found years ago that does just that. This stitch is great for those scattered stitches that are too far apart to drag your fiber across the back. I can't recall where I learned this stitch so many years ago but have used it in all sorts of my projects since then. I've always thought of it as the "isolation stitch". Keep in mind I made this stitch in the examples much larger so you get a better view, it just as easily can be stitched over one. Hope you find it useful too! Step One-Bring your thread to the front leaving about a 2-3 inch tail on the back. Stitch the first leg of your cross stitch. Be sure the tail on the back is under the stitch. Here is how the back should look. Finish your cross stitch on the front. The rest of the work will be on the back. Go through the back of the stitch. Bring your thread through the back of the two stitches as shown. Pull your thread through the X on the back. Clip the thread an equal length to the other and tie in a square knot. The square knot is small and does not make a big bump. Trim the tails close to the base and stand back and admire your beautiful stitch that can be made independently in your work! WHAT THE HEY! Exciting announcement here! The annual Needlework Galleria in St. Charles, Missouri is scheduled for September 18-21, 2019. This really is a big deal for needleworkers and a yearly mecca for cross stitchers from all over to congregate and hang with same passion people. I am planning on attending this year and will be reporting back on it to you in this column. You can find more information by going to the 2019 Needlework Galleria site online. Good Stuff! I hope this gave you, my talented stitchers, some inspiration to grab a piece of remnant cloth, some paint, some beads or buttons and apply your idea with them. Keep in mind everything is trial and error at first and by exercising your creative muscle you make it stronger and the work your own. Until next month remember to Keep Creating! Confessions of a Cross Stitcher is brought to you in association with Cherry Parker Cross Stitch Designs! Sign up to Cherry's newsletter to get free designs from New Zealand!