finished cross-stitches for The Pip

[kate_nepveu]

I made SteelyKid three dragons for her room, which were done a few days before she was born.

The Pip's two polar bears, by the same designer (Laila Ansbergs) . . . well, I took them to be framed today, and they'll be ready by his birthday too! Just, uh, his third birthday.

Anyway! They came out really cute, and he's very excited about them, so in some ways the delay is good. And this time I remembered to take pictures before I got them framed:

Click to enlarge:



[Image: three polar bear cubs peeking in and around an igloo]



[Image: one polar bear cub looking up at a star]

For the stitchers, I did these on evenweave over two instead of Aida, and added quarter-stitches to smooth out curves and fill out backstitched areas.

Now that's done, and time to think about the next project! I think I am going to do this winter bookmark to see if stitching in the hand works for me—if I can get the tension right, it would be so much faster, though I still don't know if I'd like it for big projects, which are what's truly up next. (Also have to ponder colors for it. Thoughts, anyone?)

Comments

[ceb]

So cute!

[kate_nepveu]

Thank you!

[thistleingrey]

These are lovely!

I find I like the support of child-sized appreciation; babies rarely become excited about craft projects just for them. ;)

ETA Do you usually use a hoop, a scroll frame, a stand, other? I've done small pieces stretched between my fingers, which wasn't much dirtier stain-wise than using a small hoop; the type of resulting tendon strain differs, IME (when one forgets to take adequate breaks, in my case, because this was before offspring interruption).

[kate_nepveu]

Heh. Also, Michael's sent me one of those coupons for huge custom-framing discounts, that expired at the end of the month, and the kids were away this weekend, so lots of incentives. =>

I did these with Q-Snaps, which are really great replacements for hoops; I ended up just resting one corner against the left side of my chest. And I have a long-delayed larger project on a scroll frame that's attached to a lap stand, which I was planning to use for all my larger projects. But that's what I was talking about, "in the hand," just using my fingers for the tension; I saw someone doing that at Worldcon and it looked so fast (here, rather than my try to describe it, video). I know people do that for big projects--Chad's sister does--but I'm not sure how I'd like managing all that extra fabric. Like I said, I'm going to try it on a bookmark-sized thing and see how it works.

[thistleingrey]

That is timely! I hadn't heard of Q-Snaps, but they look useful especially in being wider than a hoop; my hand always cramps while trying to hold a hoop, somehow, which is a good chunk of why I've nearly stopped stitching. Thanks for the video link, too--what's displayed looks more comfortable than my splayed-apart setup, with cloth between index and middle fingers at top, and between thumb and the two other fingers at bottom.

[kate_nepveu]

I'm not entirely sure how that person is keeping enough tension in the fabric! It doesn't look sensible to me, though it may be very stiff fabric or the person may be very experienced in pulling the thread -just so-.

There are Q-Snap-like things in Michael's, but they're heavier and the plastic is less sturdy (she says from experience). Since I'm not likely to use mine any time soon, between the aforementioned small-project experiment and the pending big projects, you want me to lend you mine?

[thistleingrey]

That's a very kind offer, thanks, but I'd better not; I don't have an immediate specific use.

The non-urgent project that's been waiting is in a hoop mounted in a tambour frame, which can rest on a table if one has such a surface at the right height or on a lap if one has no neck issues. I've been pondering height/surface since we moved two years ago. :P If anyone finds this of interest: Lacis sold the one I have (find in page "tambour frame" here).

[batwrangler]

Congratulations! I especially like the bear looking up at the star.

[kate_nepveu]

Thank you!

[yhlee]

Adorable!

[kate_nepveu]

Thanks!

[sartorias]

Oh, those are darling!

[kate_nepveu]

Thanks! I think he'll be pleased.

[leighdb]

AWWWWWWW

[kate_nepveu]

Yay, that is a good reaction!

[oyceter]

Awwwwww so cute!

[kate_nepveu]

Thanks!

[genarti]

Adorable!

And I agree with thistleingrey -- there's something to be said for giving a present like this to a kid who's old enough to be excited about it. :)

[kate_nepveu]

He "drew" a polar bear (circular scribbles in blue and white) which is now on the wall in the dining room. I think it was before that, actually, but when Chad saw it he mentioned the ones I was making, so I showed him the top one that was complete and he was pretty excited. =>