~ Super Prim Stitching ~

 it all begins with a speck of an idea...

a small seed of inspiration from anything I see, hear, smell or feel.

it could come from where I am, where I've been,

or where I'm going ~

 and from places that don't even exist outside of my own little mind.

one word can conjure up thoughts for me of stories, poems & characters...

and then I have to create.

thread ~ linen ~ wool ~ fabric ~ pencil ~ ink ~ paint

lately as I am preparing for the

Prim Stitcher's Society Retreat and Merchant Mall 

{June 1 & 2 2018 ~ Red Lion Inn ~ Harrisburg, PA}

I have been once again plying my needle and thread and making tiny little x's.

but

trying to make them perfect by counting 

has always been a challenge to my somewhat dyslexic brain...

so after my 'near' perfect models are finished being stitched by myself,

I turn once again to my most favorite way of cross-stitching ~

So those that are familiar with me know that I  love freehand cross stitching, 

or uncounted cross stitch as I like to call it!

not stamped, not on linen...

but I simply hand drawn onto Osnaburg {click HERE for more info} 

then filled in by row {or not!} with my uncounted and crudely stitched wonky little x's ~

no, the look is definitely not for everyone,

{ I once had a very sweet & kind member of a local EGA chapter 

feel sorry for me and offer to teach me the correct way to do it ~ }

a needle, no I don't have a favorite, one with an eye big enough for me to thread though,

some floss ~ in this case one strand for me, 

and a hoop ~ are all I need.

 oh and I use beeswax on my thread ~

I love the smell and feel of it ~

I love how the wax keeps my thread from tangling and knotting up as I pull it through my cloth ~

and I like how the wax keeps my threads from soaking up too much stain when I am finished stitching and want to age my work a bit with walnut dye.

{I sometimes dye my fabric before I stitch, sometimes after ~ sometimes both.}

I started this specific work last year, and put it away to peruse other ideas ~

but it has been here in my sewing room,

looking at me every time I pass by it,

with a most-pitiful, woe-is-me attitude

that I just couldn't walk by it one more time...

this is where I left off last year...

 and this is my progress as of last evening:

I am hoping to complete it soon, 

then make it into a pillow stuffed with fabric scraps & such

here is a good shot of those wonky x's ~

 

I have had a positive response to my posting this over on my Instagram page ~

it isn't new to me, but may be to new followers and readers... 

I am using the hashtags:

 #uncountedcrossstitch, #freehandcrossstitch and #nocountxs 

if you would like to follow or post your own progress photos of your work.

 So, my questions to you on this day are this:

~ does the idea of cross stitching in this way make you nervous?

~ can you break free from the thought of perfectly counted cross stitches?

~ can you unleash your thinking into a more free-form way of prim stitching?

~ are you interested in learning more and would you consider a class from me online for this?

inquiring minds would love to know your thoughts...

 

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori