Mabel's SAL

[Sarah Gixxer]

That's a lovely design for the tray, Mabel - simple but effective. Can't wait to see you start stitching it. I can't imagine stitching anything that tiny.

Don't forget your Christmas cards though!

[Mabel Figworthy]

I won't, UFO week will be completely dedicated to Christmas cards -- in fact I've told myself I'd keep stitching till the 10th, then start sending. And then I can start on the tray cloth

[meerkat]

Lovely design Mabel, so looking forward to seeing this project..and 60 ct I had never heard of it

[Lizzy]

Lovely design Mabel

[burgundyice]

Lovely!!! So 60ct would be kind of like a quarter of each of my 28ct squares?...

Louise

[Nachstenliebe]

Mabel, you are my hero! I can't wait to see your completed tiny tea tray!
Faith

[Mabel Figworthy]

hero ? me? Why thank you !

[Cockneystitcher]

Look forward to seeing this as i have a dolls house that my Uncle made for me,and not a thing in it yet.

[Mabel Figworthy]

Julie, if you'd like to stitch for the doll's house there are three sites I can recommend:

for complete kits
Janet Granger (go to online shop)
Nicola Maskell (go to gallery)

for furniture and other items (you have to provide the stitching materials yourself)
McQueenie Miniatures

[Cockneystitcher]

Thanks for that Mable.I know of Janet Granger but not the other 2.

[charmagne_capalad]

I haven't ever seen anything smaller than 25ct....and 60ct? ...really knocks me off my feet, mabel!

I'm sure it will be super lovely! Looking forward to seeing your project!

[wasabi]

Although I don't think I've seen all of your WIP's in this thread Mabel, I love what I did get to see, I love all the colors your use and the flower designs a just lovely to look at too, I really likes the Kingfisher project you did the colors in that design look great

[~threadbear~]

That's so pretty Mabel. Can't wait to see it stitched.

[Mabel Figworthy]

Made a start on the tea tray cloth -- chose the colours (in Eterna sillk because stranded cotton is too thick for the gauze), mounted the gauze, tried to use a 28 needle and realised that that really wouldn't work, so back to my trusted petite beading needle.

I decided that as it would have to be cut right next to the stitching, I'd edge it with a row of buttonhole stitch. Fortunately silk gauze doesn't fray, and with the buttonhole edging I should be all right to cut it very tight . Started with the edging as that would define my working area and make counting easier. I found that I had to stitch this in close up with my glasses off as it's very fiddly catching the loop of the thread to make the buttonhole stitch. I'm hoping the half cross stitch for the main bit will be a bit better... Anyway, didn't manage to do a lot but here it is -- first the mounted gauze with the colours I've chosen, then a close up of the buttonhole stitch:

[Nachstenliebe]

It's a great start!!!
Faith

[burgundyice]

What beautiful colours, quite Christmassy in a way! And that close-up... so that's a beading needle, so smaller than my size 28 needle... but still looks huge next to the stitches! Well done, as always!

Louise

[Sarah Gixxer]

That's incredible, Mabel! I don't know how you manage to stitch so tiny and so neatly!

[kazzi29]

good start i love those red colours!

[Rose]

Love the colors Mabel.

I hope your eyes will uncross when you have finished this. I just can't believe you can even see that small.

[JessicaLeigh]

Fantastic! It's amazing how small that fabric is. Your bobbins look huge compared to your project size. I can't wait to see your progress on this one.